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Source: United States House of Representatives – Congresswoman Betty McCollum (DFL-Minn)

WASHINGTON, D.C. — Earlier this evening, Congresswoman Betty McCollum (D, MN-04), Dean of the Minnesota Congressional Delegation, delivered the following remarks on the floor of the House of Representatives during debate on H.R. 5371:

“Mr. Speaker, Donald Trump and Republicans control the entire government. For 42 days, Republicans shut it down. Why? Because they refuse to extend tax credits to help millions of Americans afford their healthcare. If that wasn’t bad enough, President Trump even withheld food assistance during the shutdown. Hunger should never be used as a weapon. This CR continues the Republican health care crisis. The Speaker already said that he won’t hold a vote to extend Affordable Care Act tax credits to reduce health care costs for Americans. So now, my constituents are going to have to choose between heating their homes, feeding their families, or taking their children to the doctor. It’s a terrible deal for the American people. Americans deserve an open and transparent government that works for them. They deserve access to affordable healthcare and nutritious food for their families. That’s what House Democrats are fighting for. I wish the President and Republicans would join us in this fight and share our priorities. I yield back.”

Click here to watch the full remarks on YouTube.

Source: United States House of Representatives – Congresswoman Betty McCollum (DFL-Minn)

SAINT PAUL, Minn. — Congresswoman Betty McCollum (MN-04), Dean of the Minnesota Congressional Delegation, issued the following statement on Monday upon Senate passage of a continuing resolution that fails to extend tax credits that millions of Americans depend on to access affordable health care.

“Donald Trump and Republicans control the House, the Senate, and the White House. For 40 days, they have chosen to shut down government, because they refuse to extend tax credits that help millions afford their health care. They have chosen to use hunger as a weapon against the American people by withholding SNAP food assistance.

“I strongly oppose the Senate’s government funding bill, because it does nothing to address these Republican crises. It is a bad deal for Americans. In fact, their bill cuts $18 billion more from SNAP, and fails to include any guardrails to prevent the Trump Administration from continuing their illegal and unconstitutional misuse of congressionally appropriated funds.  

 “There is no reason to believe that House Republicans will take action to reduce health care costs for the American people. Speaker Johnson has said himself that he will not hold a vote on extending Affordable Care Act tax credits. The Republican failure to extend these tax credits will force millions of Americans to choose between feeding their families or taking their sick child to the doctor.

“What I want is for Minnesotans and all Americans to have an open and transparent government that works for them, have access to quality affordable healthcare, be able to have enough money for their groceries, and to live in welcoming communities. It is unfortunate that President Trump and my Republican colleagues do not share those priorities.”

Source: United States House of Representatives – Congresswoman Betty McCollum (DFL-Minn)

On Thursday, Congresswoman Betty McCollum (D-Minn.), Ranking Member of the House Appropriations Subcommittee on Defense and Dean of the Minnesota Congressional Delegation, released the following statement honoring Speaker Emerita Nancy Pelosi upon her retirement announcement: 

“Speaker Emerita Nancy Pelosi has been an incredible leader for our country. Her steadfast integrity and character were core to making her one of most effective and influential House Speakers in U.S. history. Throughout her Speakership and since she stepped down from that role in 2022, she has continued to be a tremendous mentor, particularly for new women members.

“I have deeply respected Nancy Pelosi since I first met her as a candidate for Congress in 2000 when women members were only 13 percent of the House of Representatives. It was a tremendous honor to nominate her for the position of Democratic Whip when she became the first woman to be elected to that position in 2001. As the first woman to be Speaker, her accomplishments on behalf of the American people were extraordinary and historic: She led the House in passing the Affordable Care Act, led the Democratic caucus through the COVID-19 pandemic and all its uncertainties, and spearheaded the passage of the largest infrastructure and climate change investments in our nation’s history, and so much more. It has been a privilege to have served together throughout the years on our shared priorities of expanding health care access, promoting human rights, and creating better, brighter futures for our children. Our friendship has grown, and she remains a close friend and trusted partner in this work. 

“As Speaker, she faced down the most dangerous threats and abuses of the Trump administration and never backed away from the president’s attacks on our democracy, including on January 6, 2021. Under her leadership, she led the House through two impeachments and entrusted me to lead impeachment proceedings on the House Floor on January 13, 2021 to hold the president accountable for his malfeasance in office. 

“I will always be grateful for Nancy’s constant reminder about what’s important, and how the votes we cast impact the people we serve, especially the children. She has always kept their interests central to her decades of service. I offer my sincere thanks and congratulations to her and Paul, as well as their children and grandchildren. I look forward to continuing to work with her throughout the remainder of the 119th Congress.”
 

Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Emanuel Cleaver II (5th District Missouri)

(Washington, D.C.) – This week, U.S. Representative Emanuel Cleaver (D-MO), Ranking Member of the Financial Services Subcommittee on Housing and Insurance, and Congresswoman Ayanna Pressley (D-MA), along with Senator Elizabeth Warren (D-MA), Ranking Member of the Senate Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs Committee, and Senator Raphael Warnock (D-GA), introduced the Innovation Fund Act to establish a program to reward communities that are taking innovative steps to increase housing supply. The bill creates a competitive pot of highly flexible funding for communities that are building more housing, which can be used to improve community infrastructure, build housing, and supplement water and sewer grants. The bill is included in the landmark bipartisan ROAD to Housing Act, which recently passed the Senate in the FY2026 NDAA.

The Innovation Fund Act:

• Will award competitive grants to cities, counties, other units of local government or Indian tribes that have demonstrated an objective improvement in housing supply.
• Requires applicants to describe how they are currently facilitating the expansion of their housing supply.
• Will prioritize eligible entities that demonstrate the use of innovative policies, interventions, or programs to increase housing supply.
• Allows eligible entities to use the funds to carry out CDBG eligible activities, as matching funds for water and sewer grants, and for initiatives that facilitate the expansion of the supply of attainable housing and supplement initiatives the eligible entity has carried out.

Official bill text is available here.

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Emanuel Cleaver, II is the U.S. Representative for Missouri’s Fifth Congressional District, which includes Kansas City, Independence, Lee’s Summit, Raytown, Grandview, Sugar Creek, Greenwood, Blue Springs, North Kansas City, Gladstone, and Claycomo. He is a member of the exclusive House Financial Services Committee and Ranking Member of the House Subcommittee on Housing and Insurance.

Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Emanuel Cleaver II (5th District Missouri)

(Washington, D.C.) – Today, Housing & Insurance Subcommittee Ranking Member Emanuel Cleaver (D-MO) and Chairman Mike Flood (R-NE) introduced the HOME Reform Act of 2025, legislation that overhauls the HOME Investment Partnerships Program (HOME) in the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD). The bipartisan legislation will streamline regulations to strengthen public-private partnerships in efforts to encourage the building of more housing and rental properties to bring down the cost of housing.

“Americans in every community are struggling to stay afloat financially due to the high cost of housing, which is limiting opportunities for families to get ahead and weighing down local economies,” said Ranking Member Cleaver. “This is a crisis that demands immediate bipartisan action to lower costs, and I’m pleased to join Chairman Flood in the effort to provide relief nationwide. By revamping and revitalizing the HOME Program—one of our greatest tools to expand the supply of affordable housing for working-class families—we can ensure that affordable housing and the American Dream of homeownership are once again attainable from the heartland to the coasts. After months of meetings and hearings with local leaders, housing stakeholders, and American families from across the country, I’m proud to introduce the Home Reform Act with Chairman Flood to lower housing costs in Missouri and beyond.”

“America is in the midst of a housing crisis as families struggle to live the American dream due to the of a shortage of millions of homes,” said Chairman Flood. “The HOME program is a federal program that builds housing supply, but it has previously been weighed down by regulatory burdens that make it hard to build housing. Thanks to the insights of those who work directly with HOME, and the invaluable teamwork of my colleague Ranking Member Cleaver, I believe the HOME Reform Act of 2025 will cut the red tape that has been holding this program back. The reforms in this legislation will result in more homebuilding across the country as we work to tackle our nation’s housing shortage. From Columbus, Nebraska to Columbus, Ohio and beyond, local communities will have an unprecedented opportunity to build affordable homes and directly address the housing crisis gripping our nation. I look forward to working to pass this legislation with broad bipartisan support.”

The HOME Reform Act represents the first major reform to the program since its authorization in 1990 as part of the Cranston-Gonzalez National Affordable Housing Act. The legislation provides greater flexibility for states and localities, cuts red tape, and supports the development and preservation of affordable housing.

The HOME Reform Act is the result of a bipartisan effort kickstarted by Chairman Flood and Ranking Member Cleaver earlier this year to develop meaningful solutions to the housing crisis in America. In April, Congressman Cleaver and Congressman Flood released a joint request for feedback on the HOME and CDBG programs. In July, the Housing & Insurance Subcommittee held a hearing entitled, “HOME 2.0: Modern Solutions to the Housing Shortage.”

The HOME Reform Act is endorsed by Affordable Housing Tax Credit Coalition, American Planning Association (APA), Bipartisan Policy Center Action, Corporation for Supportive Housing (CSH), Council for Affordable and Rural Housing (CARH), Council of State Community Development Agencies (COSCDA), Community Opportunity Alliance, Enterprise Community Partners, Fahe, Habitat for Humanity International, Housing Partnership Network (HPN), Local Initiatives Support Corporation (LISC), Lincoln Avenue Communities, Mortgage Bankers Association (MBA), Manufactured Housing Institute (MHI), National Apartment Association (NAA), National Association of Affordable Housing Lenders (NAAHL), National Association of County Community and Economic Development (NACCED), National Association of Home Builders (NAHB), National Association of Housing and Redevelopment Officials (NAHRO), National Association of Real Estate Brokers (NAREB), National Association of Realtors (NAR), National Community Development Association (NCDA), National Community Stabilization Trust (NCST), National Council of State Housing Agencies (NCSHA), National Housing Conference (NHC), National Housing and Redevelopment Officials (NH&RA), National Multifamily Housing Council (NMHC), National NeighborWorks Association (NNA), Stewards of Affordable Housing for the Future (SAHF), Up for Growth and the US Conference of Mayors.

Official text of the HOME Reform Act is available here.

A detailed section-by-section of the HOME Reform Act is available here.

 

Emanuel Cleaver, II is the U.S. Representative for Missouri’s Fifth Congressional District, which includes Kansas City, Independence, Lee’s Summit, Raytown, Grandview, Sugar Creek, Greenwood, Blue Springs, North Kansas City, Gladstone, and Claycomo. He is a member of the exclusive House Financial Services Committee and Ranking Member of the House Subcommittee on Housing and Insurance. 

Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Emanuel Cleaver II (5th District Missouri)

(Washington, D.C.) – Today, U.S. Representative Emanuel Cleaver, II (D-MO) released the following statement on the latest Senate spending proposal.

“For months now, as Americans plead for reforms that will address our national cost-of-living crisis, Democrats have called on Republicans in control of the White House, House of Representatives, and Senate to work with Democrats in Congress to extend Affordable Care Act tax credits that lower health care costs for working-class families. However, instead of working in a bipartisan fashion to avoid a shutdown and protect the health care of the American people, Republicans chose to slash taxes for the wealthy and well-connected while making the largest cuts to Medicaid and food assistance programs in history.

“From the very beginning of the Republican shutdown, I have said that I cannot support legislation that raises the health care costs of hardworking families across Missouri’s Fifth Congressional District. Unfortunately, the legislation proposed in the Senate will ensure that tens of thousands of my constituents see their health care premiums skyrocket, some by more than double what they are today. That is a heartless way to govern, particularly at a time when the president is giving $40 billion-dollar bailouts to Argentina and spending hundreds of millions to build a gilded ballroom at the White House.

“Therefore, I will not support the legislation if it comes to a vote in the House of Representatives.”

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Emanuel Cleaver, II is the U.S. Representative for Missouri’s Fifth Congressional District, which includes Kansas City, Independence, Lee’s Summit, Raytown, Grandview, Sugar Creek, Greenwood, Blue Springs, North Kansas City, Gladstone, and Claycomo. He is a member of the exclusive House Financial Services Committee and Ranking Member of the House Subcommittee on Housing and Insurance.

Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Andy Biggs (AZ-05)

Today, the House of Representatives passed legislation to end the longest shutdown in American history. Congressman Andy Biggs (R-AZ) issued the following statement:

“Tonight, I voted to reopen the federal government—ending 43 days of unnecessary pain inflicted by Democrats. They shut down the government, held Americans hostage, and walked away with nothing. This is the same deal that was available before their shutdown stunt began. The Left’s political stunt accomplished only one thing: it reminded the country that Washington Democrats will always put power and partisanship above the American people.

“While reopening the government is the right decision, we cannot return to business as usual. Washington’s size and power continue to suffocate our states and citizens. We must seize this moment to permanently shrink the federal bureaucracy, restore constitutional limits, and return power to the states—just as President Trump is doing through his executive actions.

“It’s time to rein in Washington and put our Republic back on the foundation our Framers intended.”

Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Andy Biggs (AZ-05)

Congressman Andy Biggs (AZ-05) introduced three bills reaffirming America’s commitment to those who served our nation. The legislation strengthens care, accountability, and dignity for veterans and their families by reforming outdated systems and expanding access to benefits without increasing taxpayer costs.

• The Veterans’ Cremation Certainty Acteases a long-standing financial and emotional burden on military families by allowing veterans to pre-designate direct cremation as part of their VA burial benefits. The bill extends the VA’s pre-approval process, currently limited to burials, to include cremation services and enables the VA to pay cremation providers directly, reducing or eliminating out-of-pocket costs.
• TheHSAs for Heroes Actallows all veterans to open and use Health Savings Accounts (HSAs) while maintaining their VA benefits. The bill also broadens the range of eligible expenses—incorporating language from Congressman Biggs’s existing Freedom for Families Act—to include caregiving costs.
• The Claims Legitimacy and Evaluation Accountability Nationwide for VA (CLEAN VA) Act strengthens oversight, ethics, and accountability within the Department of Veterans Affairs to protect both taxpayer dollars and veterans’ benefits. This bill:
  • Enforces time-limited disciplinary processes and streamlined appeals for misconduct;
  • Increases penalties for fraud and abuse, expands whistleblower safeguards, and incentivizes reporting through disclosure rewards;
  • Directs integration of AI tools to identify fraud vulnerabilities and ensure accurate, fair disability determinations; and
  • Requires annual department-wide training under Inspector General oversight to reinforce a culture of integrity and compliance.

“This Veterans Day, Congress must recommit to honoring our nation’s heroes not just in word, but in deed,” said Congressman Biggs.

“Veterans deserve more than speeches and ceremonies — they deserve action. These bills deliver meaningful reforms that ease financial burdens, expand healthcare freedom, and hold the VA accountable to the men and women it serves. We owe our veterans the dignity of a government that keeps its word, honors their sacrifices, and works as hard for them as they did for us.”

Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Andy Biggs (AZ-05)

Today, Congressman Andy Biggs (AZ-05) sent a letter to Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) Administrator Mehmet Oz urging the approval of Arizona’s application for the federal government’s Rural Health Transformation Program. Congressman Biggs also invited Dr. Oz to visit Arizona’s rural communities to see firsthand the distance, limited resources, and unique challenges that rural residents face in accessing care.

The letter highlights Arizona’s vast geography and the significant challenges rural communities face in accessing healthcare. More than 500,000 Arizonans live over 30 minutes from a hospital—among the highest rates in the nation—and many rely on limited Critical Access Hospitals rather than full-service facilities.

The Rural Health Transformation Program was created through President Trump’s Big Beautiful Bill, which expanded resources to strengthen healthcare delivery and infrastructure in rural America. Arizona’s application seeks to utilize these funds to expand access and develop innovative local care models for underserved areas.

Congressmen Eli Crane (AZ-02), Paul Gosar (AZ-09), and Juan Ciscomani (AZ-05) joined in signing the letter. 

“Arizona’s rural communities are the backbone of our state,” said Congressman Biggs. “Many residents live more than thirty minutes from the nearest hospital, and for some, it can take close to an hour just to reach a critical care facility. That distance can determine whether or not a patient receives timely care.

“President Trump’s Big Beautiful Bill made important investments to strengthen local communities and improve access to essential services, including healthcare. Arizona is uniquely positioned to lead the way in advancing these reforms and setting a standard for rural healthcare innovation.

“I’m inviting Dr. Oz to visit our great state and witness firsthand the challenges faced by Arizona’s rural communities. Arizona is ready to lead in this effort, and I urge CMS to afford our state the opportunity to do so.”

Congressman Eli Crane said,“Rural Arizona matters, and I’m proud to join my colleagues to advocate for these critical needs. We all passed the working families tax cut, which included a historic investment in rural hospitals.”

“Access to quality healthcare remains one of the most pressing challenges facing rural America. The Working Families Tax Cut, passed by Congress and signed into law by President Trump, helps address the provider shortages, limited facilities, and resource gaps that rural communities in Arizona face.  Arizona’s healthcare providers continue to lead with innovative solutions—demonstrating why sustained federal partnership and investment are vital to ensuring quality care for all Arizonans,”stated Congressman Paul Gosar.

The letter may be read here.

Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Andy Biggs (AZ-05)

Congressman Andy Biggs (R-AZ) introduced a resolution allowing the U.S. House of Representatives to  accept and prominently display a statue of Charlie Kirk in the U.S. Capitol, honoring his enduring legacy as a conservative leader, devoted husband and father, and unapologetic man of faith.

Charlie Kirk founded Turning Point USA in 2012, inspiring an entire generation of young Americans to embrace the principles of free markets, limited government, and the God-given rights enshrined in our founding documents. Under his leadership, millions were drawn to civic engagement, debate, and faith-based action rooted in love of country. Charlie’s message was simple but powerful: America is worth fighting for. He believed in the promise of this nation and never hesitated to challenge young people to stand boldly for truth. His voice bridged divides, encouraged peaceful dialogue, and reminded us that the health of our Republic depends on moral courage and open debate. Charlie’s work transcended politics—it was a ministry of conviction and purpose.

“In September, we lost a tremendous leader and a dear friend,” said Congressman Biggs. “A cowardly, deranged assassin—radicalized by left-wing ideology—murdered Charlie Kirk for his beliefs. He was targeted for speaking truth, for defending faith, family, and freedom. This resolution ensures that his courage and conviction will never be forgotten.

“Charlie’s assassination was meant to silence a conservative voice, but we will not be silenced. We will double down on the work Charlie dedicated his life to—defending liberty, strengthening families, and speaking truth boldly. His life reminds us that the Republic depends on peaceful debate, the rule of law, and the courage to stand firm in the face of evil.

“Charlie changed the course of our country—and his legacy will now stand in the Capitol as a permanent reminder that light is stronger than darkness, and truth will prevail.”

Cosponsors of the resolution include: Rep. Anna Paulina Luna (R-FL), Rep. Eric Burlison (R-MO), Rep. Eli Crane (R-AZ), Rep. Barry Moore (R-AL), Rep. Tom Tiffany (R-WI), Rep. Scott Perry (R-PA), Rep. Paul Gosar (R-AZ), Rep. Keith Self (R-TX), Rep. Andy Ogles (R-TN), Rep. Michael Cloud (R-TX), Rep. Mary Miller (R-IL), Rep. Andrew Clyde (R-GA), Rep. Clay Higgins (R-LA), Rep. Marlin Stutzman (R-IN), Rep. Chip Roy (R-TX), Rep. Sheri Biggs (R-SC), Rep. Byron Donalds (R-FL), and Rep. Lauren Boebert (R-CO).

Breitbart News covered the legislation here.

The resolution may be read here.