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Source: United States House of Representatives – Representative for Western Samoa Congresswoman Aumua Amata

Headline: Amata Highlights Martin Luther King Jr. Day 2026

Washington, D.C. – Congresswoman Uifa’atali Amata released the following statement in recognition of Martin Luther King Jr. Day:

“Martin Luther King Jr. gave our nation a lasting example of moral courage rooted in faith, love of neighbor, and respect for human dignity. His leadership demonstrated that meaningful change is achieved not through division or force, but through persuasion, perseverance, and peaceful action.

“Dr. King’s speeches and writings continue to speak clearly across generations because they appeal to our highest ideals — equality under the law, opportunity for all, and unity grounded in mutual respect. His life reminds us that standing for what is right requires both conviction and compassion.

“As we honor the legacy of Martin Luther King Jr., we are reminded that the work of building a stronger nation is never finished. His example calls each of us to act with integrity, to treat one another with kindness, and to pursue justice in a way that brings people together, not apart.”

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Source: United States House of Representatives – Representative for Western Samoa Congresswoman Aumua Amata

Headline: Amata Announces Nominees to the Service Academies for 2026

Washington, D.C. – Congresswoman Uifa’atali Amata is delighted to announce the nominations of six excellent students from American Samoa for consideration by the prestigious military service academies this year, following the applications of 16 interested students to Congresswoman Aumua Amata. Some students applied to more than one academy, so there are nine nominations in all. 

Congressional nominations are only possible if the student’s completed application is on file at the Service Academy. 

This year, the U.S. Air Force Academy has the most nominees with five applicants, the U.S. Naval Academy has two nominees, the U.S. Military Academy (Army) has one, and the U.S. Merchant Marine Academy has one nominee. 

“Congratulations to each of our nominees to the Service Academies!” said Congresswoman Amata. “Each student has reached this point with commitment throughout high school. They’ve put time and effort into their studies and achieved excellent grades. The academies will also consider their community involvement, volunteer work, activities, interests, and good reputations. It’s important to remind future applicants that a completed application on file with the academy is an absolute requirement for a nomination.”

Nominations each year are based on the quality of the students’ combined academic records; essays; letters of recommendation from their teachers, church leaders, and local community leaders; and verification that they have already applied separately to the academy or academies of their choice. 

The service academies are fully funded federal colleges whose mission is to train future officers and leaders that will serve in each respective armed service. The admissions process is extremely competitive, as the academies seek candidates with high potential to become leaders as commissioned officers in the United States Armed Forces. The outcome depends on the upcoming decisions of the academies. Any students who are offered an appointment for the class would then be able to enter that academy in the summer.

The U.S. Coast Guard Academy does not require a congressional nomination as part of its competitive application process, however, if known, Congresswoman Amata is always pleased to include any accepted applicants from American Samoa in announcements each year, as well as highlight any presidential academy nominees if they were to occur from American Samoa.

“It’s a thrill to announce those who are accepted into Service Academies, and all of these students have outstanding educational opportunities due to their high grades and test scores,” concluded Amata. “Thank you to the families of these students. Parents and educators are rightly proud of these students.”

Congresswoman Amata has submitted the following nominations:

NAME	HIGH SCHOOL	NOMINATED TO:
Arianna Ta’atasi	ASCC		US Air Force Academy
Alek West	Samoana HS		US Air Force Academy	US Naval Academy	US Merchant Marine Academy
Fa’aeteete Molesi	Leone HS		US Air Force Academy
Isaac Porter	James O’Neill HS, West Point, NY	US Military Academy
Lisa Pedro	Pacific Horizon		US Air Force Academy
Micah Lanki	Samoana HS		US Air Force Academy	US Naval Academy

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Source: United States House of Representatives – Congresswoman Lori Trahan (D-MA-03)

WASHINGTON, DC –  Today, Congresswoman Lori Trahan (D-MA-03), a member of the House Energy and Commerce Committee’s Health Subcommittee, and Congressman David Valadao (R-CA-22) reintroduced the Reinforcing Essential Health Systems for Communities Act, bipartisan legislation to formally recognize “essential health systems” in federal law and unlock new pathways for federal funding and support for safety net hospitals that care for large numbers of uninsured and low-income patients.
 
“The hospitals that care for our most vulnerable neighbors are doing more with less every single day,” said Congresswoman Trahan. “By reintroducing the Reinforcing Essential Health Systems for Communities Act, we’re reaffirming our commitment to ensuring these hospitals are better positioned to receive the resources they need to keep their doors open and their communities healthy. This bill gives Congress a smarter, fairer way to direct support to the health systems that serve as lifelines in cities and towns across the country.”

“Central Valley hospitals play a vital role in caring for our communities, but they can’t do that without the resources they need,” said Congressman Valadao. “The bipartisan Reinforcing Essential Health Systems for Communities Act helps better identify rural and underserved hospitals that require critical investments, making it easier to direct federal resources where they’re needed most. Ensuring Central Valley families have access to affordable, quality healthcare is my top priority, and I’ll continue working with my colleagues on both sides of the aisle to advance commonsense solutions to meet that goal.”

Essential health systems are foundational to local health care infrastructure, particularly in communities where access to care depends on hospitals that shoulder a disproportionate share of Medicaid, low-income Medicare, and uninsured patients. Despite providing, on average, five times more uncompensated care than other hospitals, these facilities remain chronically underfunded and face ongoing challenges maintaining services and meeting community needs.

To better support these hospitals, the Reinforcing Essential Health Systems for Communities Act would establish a new “essential health systems” designation in federal law. This designation would allow policymakers to more effectively target federal funding, health equity initiatives, and public health resources to nonprofit hospitals that serve historically under-resourced communities.

Hospitals would qualify as “essential health systems” by meeting one of the following criteria for at least two out the past three years:

The hospital’s patients are at least 35% low-income, based on Medicaid use and low-income Medicare patients.

The hospital provides at least 0.05% of all unpaid hospital care in the entire country, making it one of the hospitals delivering the most uncompensated care nationwide.

The hospital is in the top 16% of providers in their state that serve low-income and/or unpaid care.

Under this definition, 17 hospitals in Massachusetts would qualify as essential health systems and become eligible for additional federal support, including Lowell General Hospital, Merrimack Health Lawrence Hospital, and UMass Memorial Medical Center.

“We applaud Congresswoman Trahan’s leadership in advancing a federal ‘essential hospital’ designation to recognize hospitals that anchor our health care safety net,” said Amy Hoey, RN, President of Tufts Medicine Lowell General Hospital. “Safety net hospitals operate on razor-thin margins while serving our most vulnerable neighbors, including patients that are low-income and uninsured, and sustaining critical community programs. This designation rightly acknowledges their indispensable role in public health.”

“As a regional community health system and a vital safety-net provider in the Merrimack Valley, we strongly support the proposed legislation to establish an Essential Health Systems designation,” said Merrimack Health Lawrence Hospital President & CEO Diana L. Richardson. “By recognizing essential providers through this legislation, Congress can ensure that Essential Health Systems like Merrimack Health remain open, resilient, and able to meet growing patient needs now and in the future. We are grateful to Congresswoman Trahan for leading this important effort in our region and the nation.

“UMass Memorial Health is proud to serve all patients across Central Massachusetts, regardless of their insurance status, income level, or ability to pay. As an Essential MassHealth Hospital, our dedicated caregivers work every day to address systemic barriers to care and provide the high-quality health services our communities deserve,” said UMass Memorial Health President and CEO Dr. Eric Dickson. “Creating a federal essential health systems designation would help protect access to care for our communities’ most vulnerable residents and ensure that systems like UMass Memorial Health have the resources to continue providing life-saving services long into the future.” 

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Source: United States House of Representatives – Congresswoman Debbie Dingell (12th District of Michigan)

Today, 86 Congressional Democrats demanded the Trump administration withdraw four proposed rules that would blow massive holes in the Endangered Species Act — the law that has saved 99 percent of listed species from extinction. 

In a letter to Interior Secretary Doug Burgum and Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick, ESA Caucus Co-Chairs Rep. Debbie Dingell (D-MI) and Rep. Don Beyer (D-VA), U.S. Senator Adam Schiff (D-CA), and Natural Resources Committee Ranking Member Jared Huffman (D-CA) warned the changes would gut environmental review, strip protections from hundreds of vulnerable species, and let politics override science in listing decisions—all while the Fish and Wildlife Service and National Marine Fisheries Service face unprecedented staffing and budget shortfalls thanks to the Trump administration.

“These sweeping changes would fundamentally weaken our nation’s most important wildlife conservation law at a time when one million species face extinction globally,” wrote the lawmakers. “We urge the National Marine Fisheries Service and the Fish and Wildlife Service to withdraw these proposed rulemakings and instead work to implement the ESA as Congress intended: any regulatory changes should further the objectives of the ESA to conserve species and prevent extinction.”

The ESA has prevented more than 99 percent of listed species from going extinct and has helped hundreds move toward recovery. Section 7 consultations typically take just two weeks for informal review and two months for formal review—contrary to conventional wisdom, the ESA does not stop projects from moving forward. According to one peer-reviewed study, the ESA did not halt a single project between 2008 and 2015. 

The lawmakers highlighted how the proposed rules would:

• Gut Section 7 consultation requirements by letting agencies claim project impacts “would occur regardless of whether the proposed action goes forward” — a loophole that could exempt highways, pipelines, and development projects from meaningful scrutiny;
• Strip protections from threatened species — by rescinding the “blanket 4(d) rule” that extends baseline protections to all threatened species, creating dangerous years-long protection gaps that resource-agencies can’t fill. The blanket 4(d) rule provides automatic protections to species such as the piping plover and the West Indian Manatee, species listed as threatened in the future would not receive those same baseline protections; and

• Let politics override science by injecting cherry-picked ‘economic’ considerations into listing decisions. Congress explicitly required that listing decisions be based solely on the best available science, not on arbitrary evaluations of certain impacts or political pressures.

“With reduced staff and resources, the Services should prioritize addressing the backlog of species awaiting protection and advancing recovery efforts for those already listed, rather than redirecting attention to rewriting long-standing and effective regulations,” continued the lawmakers. “Habitat destruction and climate change are accelerating species extinction to alarming rates, and we should be working to uphold and strengthen the ESA, not weaken it.”

The letter notes that roughly 90 percent of listed species are threatened by habitat loss, making the proposed restrictions on critical habitat designation particularly damaging to recovery efforts.

Full text of the letter is available here.

Source: United States House of Representatives – Representative Jesús Chuy García (IL-04)

“Our communities are stronger and braver than the sadistic criminals that they have unleashed on us.”

Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Randy Weber (14th District of Texas)

League City, TX – Today, Congressman Randy Weber (TX-14) announced Aarush Sinha, a student at Clear Creek High School, as the winner of the 2025 Congressional App Challenge for Texas’ 14th Congressional District. Aarush earned first place for his app, Vision Warrior, a web-based application designed to assist individuals with visual impairments through accessible, real-world technology.

Vision Warrior combines text-to-speech technology with color detection to help users better interact with their surroundings. The app can analyze text from PDFs, Word documents, text files, and images, read that content aloud, and identify colors within both text and images. It also features a webcam function that allows users to point their camera at an object and hear both the detected color and any readable text in real time.

“The talent we see from students here in Southeast Texas continues to impress me year after year,” said Rep. Weber. “Aarush identified a real need and used his technical skills to build something that can genuinely improve people’s lives. That’s exactly what the Congressional App Challenge is all about, and he should be incredibly proud of this achievement.”

This year’s competition was highly competitive, with students across TX-14 submitting innovative and thoughtful applications. Congressman Weber congratulated all participants for their creativity, technical skill, and willingness to take on real-world challenges through technology.

Established by Members of the U.S. House of Representatives in 2014, the Congressional App Challenge is a nationwide competition designed to encourage students to pursue careers in science, technology, engineering, and math. The program allows students to compete within their congressional district by creating and showcasing original software applications for mobile, tablet, or computer platforms.

“The Congressional App Challenge continues to showcase the innovation and potential of students right here in Southeast Texas and around the nation,” Weber added. “I look forward to seeing what these young developers accomplish next.”

Source: United States House of Representatives – Congresswoman Haley Stevens (MI-11)

WASHINGTON, D.C. – In opening remarks at a House Science, Space, and Technology Subcommittee hearing this week, Michigan Congresswoman Haley Stevens, Ranking Member of the Subcommittee on Research and Technology, pressed the Director of the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy (OSTP) to prioritize Michigan manufacturing and stop the Trump Administration’s reckless cuts to federal research.

Ranking Member Haley Stevens (D-MI)

Subcommittee on Research and Technology

House Committee on Science, Space, and Technology

“Advancing America’s AI Action Plan” | January 14, 2026

 

A transcription of Ranking Member Stevens’ remarks is below:

Thank you so much, Mr. Chair, for holding today’s hearing, and of course, thank you to Director Kratsios for joining us today as well. OSTP has always held a very special place in my heart, and is an agency or a division of the White House that we are grateful to have a connection to on this committee. And it is also very important that our thoughtful discussion today will be around implementing the administration’s AI plan while protecting American workers. 

We all know that you can’t talk about AI innovation and American competitiveness without talking about Michigan manufacturing, and you can’t talk about the future of manufacturing without talking about the National Institute of Standards and Technology, or NIST. NIST is the “little agency that could” and is at the forefront of our efforts in artificial intelligence, quantum, robotics, and advanced manufacturing. 

Thanks to the CHIPS and Science Act of 2022 that many of us in this room helped write and pass, NIST is bringing semiconductor manufacturing back to America to develop the next generation of AI chips right here at home. NIST’s semiconductor work is also critical to the administration’s AI plan, and we don’t want to see the agency being undermined, something that has long been supported by Democrats and Republicans alike. 

Just to shine a light here, and this is the work of our committee, this is what we do, we have authorizing ability, and it’s important to just shine a light: The budget for the Fiscal Year 26, it slashed NIST funding by $325 million, and we’re eliminating 500 jobs from the agency’s lab program. We know, so many of us, how sacred this work is and how important it is, even when you just have just a handful of researchers working on these matters. The cuts hinder NIST’s AI-related efforts; they’re going to weaken cyber security and privacy standards, something I have legislation on, and limit advanced manufacturing, physical infrastructure, and resilience innovation.

And given the shared goal of supporting the growth of advanced manufacturing—our next generation, this is something we see alive and well in Michigan, continuing to grow through our supply chain, the design of not only products, but also our factory floors using AI applications—I’m really alarmed that the administration is trying to eliminate NIST’s manufacturing extension program. They repeatedly tried to do that last year. The MEP program is designed to support, well, not just Michigan, but all of the nation’s small and mid-sized manufacturers, to see them adopt advanced technology and compete on the global stage. And so in 2024 alone, just the MEP center in Michigan created or saved 5,000 jobs. Yet, like every other MEP center, it was on the chopping block. 

What makes even less sense is that the administration’s constant attacks on domestic chip manufacturing and the CHIPS and Science Act, which we should be all singing loud and proudly, the uncertainty that the manufacturers are facing, despite clear congressional desire to bring chip manufacturing back to America has been really frustrating. I was surprised to learn that we’re seeing the arbitrarily-cancelled, semiconductor-focused Manufacturing USA Institute in December that happened, and that’s stalling a lot of progress. 

I could go on, but we’re losing talent and institutional knowledge. We’re shrinking, and frankly, we’re destroying our research capacity and undermining global competitiveness, all while we’re supposed to be touting how we can lead on AI. So I’m going to do everything I can in this subcommittee, Mr. Chair, for accountability, to stand up for science, the science that Michiganders and our manufacturers rely on every day, so we can continue to innovate and build. And I just want to thank every NIST public servant, the people in this room, and the people in the department. And with that, thank you, Mr. Chair. I’ll yield back.

 

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Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Earl L Buddy Carter (GA-01)

Headline: Carter successfully pushes for investigation into woke California community colleges

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Rep. Earl L. “Buddy” Carter (R-GA) last November authored a letter to the Department of Justice (DOJ) and the Department of Education (DOE) successfully urging them to investigate the California Community College Athletic Association’s (CCCAA) Transgender Participation Policy, which allows biological males to compete in women’s sports.

“As a grandfather to six granddaughters, it is unacceptable to allow biological males to compete against girls or share their locker rooms. The radical left’s decision to politicize this issue tears at the very fabric of women’s rights and everything previous generations fought to secure, said Rep. Carter.

Rep. Carter continues, “This anti-competitive agenda puts girls and women in harm’s way, both physically and mentally, robbing them of fair opportunities. Women deserve the right to compete on a level playing field against their biological peers, not to have that right sacrificed by politicians pandering to those with mental illnesses. I look forward to following this investigation to ultimately restore women’s sports to the way they should be: women against women.”

Read the full letter here.

BACKGROUND

On February 5, 2025, President Donald Trump signed the Executive Order (EO), Keeping Men Out of Women’s Sports, clearly stating that programs receiving federal funds must ensure that participation in women’s sports is limited to biological females.

The CCCAA’s Transgender Participation Policy directly conflicts with the EO, allowing biological males to compete in women’s sports.

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Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Don Bacon (2nd District of Nebraska)

Bacon, Nebraska Delegation Introduces Hal Daub Freeway Renaming Act

Washington – Rep. Don Bacon (NE-02) today introduced the Hal Daub Freeway Renaming Act, bipartisan legislation to designate a portion of I-680 in Omaha as the Hal Daub Freeway, honoring the longtime Nebraska public servant and community leader. 

The Hal Daub Freeway Renaming Act is introduced with the support of the entire Nebraska congressional delegation, including Sens. Deb Fischer and Pete Ricketts, and Reps. Adrian Smith (NE-03) and Mike Flood (NE-01). 

“Hal is a model public servant who has had an outsized impact on Omaha and the state of Nebraska. He dreamed big and helped build Omaha into the sprawling metro area it is today,” said Rep. Bacon. “Hal led with vision, humility, and a deep sense of service while never losing sight of the people he represented. Our city and state are stronger because of his leadership, and there is no one more deserving of this lasting honor.”

“I’m pleased to introduce this bicameral bill in the Senate, which will designate a portion of Interstate Route 680 as the “Hal Daub Freeway” to commemorate and honor his life of service and devotion to Nebraska,” said Sen. Fischer. 

About Hal Daub:

Hal Daub is a well-respected public servant and community member in Nebraska. A Distinguished Eagle Scout, former Infantry Captain, and attorney, Daub began his political career in 1980 when he was elected to Congress to represent Nebraska’s 2nd Congressional District. He later served as Mayor of Omaha from 1995 to 2001. Following this, Daub served in the George W. Bush administration as Chair of the Social Security Advisory Board. Daub then went on to be elected to the Board of Regents of the University of Nebraska System. 

Daub is credited with planning, developing, and constructing the RiverFront in downtown Omaha, the West Dodge Expressway, CHI Arena and Convention Center, among many other amenities and public works in Omaha. Daub’s leadership and ingenuity helped position Omaha as the No. 1 city to move to, according to Forbes.

Beyond his formal roles, Daub is remembered as a prominent figure in the community and remains a role model for countless emerging leaders in Nebraska. As mayor, he kept his personal phone number in the phone book and routinely responded directly to constituent calls, even once personally going to a resident’s house to pick up their trash when the garbage truck did not come. There are generations of Nebraska public servants who credit Daub’s mentorship and example for guiding their own careers, both in Nebraska and Washington, D.C. 

The Hal Daub Freeway Renaming Act recognizes Daub’s lasting impact on Omaha and Nebraska by permanently honoring his contributions to our community. 

In addition to the entire Nebraska delegation, the legislation is cosponsored by Reps. Vince Fong (CA-20), Jeff Hurd (CO-03), Mike Ezell (MS-04), Brian Babin (TX-36), Kimberlyn King-Hinds (MP-AL), and Tim Burchett (TN-02). 

You can view the Hal Daub Freeway Renaming Act text here.

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Source: United States House of Representatives – Congresswoman Haley Stevens (MI-11)

WASHINGTON, D.C. – ICYMI: Michigan Congresswoman Haley Stevens has been reaching Michiganders all across the state about her bipartisan legislation to close dangerous regulatory loopholes and strengthen federal oversight of PFAS air pollution, building on her ongoing effort to protect Michigan communities from toxic contamination. 

Here’s what Michiganders are hearing about the bill:

Michigan Advance: Michigan Democrats introduce bipartisan bill to strengthen protections against PFAS air pollution

By: Kyle Davidson

• Four of Michigan’s Democratic representatives joined with Republicans from New York, Pennsylvania and Virginia on Tuesday in introducing a bill they say would close major regulatory gaps and strengthen government oversight on PFAS air pollution.
• Michigan is one of the states most heavily impacted by PFAS pollution, with more than 300 confirmed contaminated sites and more areas where contamination is suspected.
• “Michigan communities have lived with PFAS contamination for too long. The PROTECT Act closes dangerous loopholes in how these toxic chemicals are regulated, strengthens oversight of PFAS air pollution, and holds polluters accountable,” Stevens said in a statement.
• “This is about protecting the public health and safety of every Michigander and delivering real results for Michigan families.”

Michigan News Source: Clearing the Air: New Bill Aims to Control PFAS Pollution

By: Eleanor Deggofau

•  A new bill being proposed by U.S. Michigan representatives aims to have gaseous PFAS chemicals recognized as an air pollutant under the Clean Air Act.
• Democrat Michigan representatives Haley Stevens, Debbie Dingell, Rashida Tlaib, and Hillary Scholten, along with other representatives Brian Fitzpatrick (R-PA), Mike Lawler (R-NY), and Jen Kiggans (R-VA), introduced the bill, entitled the PROTECT Act, on Thursday.
• In addition to adding PFAS to the list of hazardous substances, the PROTECT Act would set standards for how much PFAS could be in the air and regulate industries and facilities which release PFAS into the air.

WXMI: Legislation Targets PFAS Air Pollution 

• Michigan neighborhoods continue to face contamination issues, from PFAS “forever chemicals” to elevated lead levels in water.
• Lawmakers are introducing a bill to address PFAS air pollution, filling a critical gap in environmental protections.
• “This is to close some of the loopholes in the Environmental Protection Agency to actually detect PFAS in our air.”
• “Yeah, it’s something that is impacting families and needs more research. And also, it just needs the federal government to detect and work alongside local officials.”
• If passed, the bill would require the EPA to classify certain PFAS as hazardous air pollutants, identify major sources, set enforceable limits, and strengthen cleanup responsibilities.

WILX: Bipartisan Bill on PFAS Air Pollution 

• PFAS contaminates air and water and accumulates in people’s bodies, with hundreds of confirmed sites across Michigan.
• “I think with the proper resources and the proper identification tools, we can work to keep Michiganders safe and make sure that our air is clean and fresh for all to breathe.”
• The bill is cosponsored by Michigan Representatives Debbie Dingell, Rashida Tlaib, and Hilary Scholten.

WJR: All Talk with Kevin Dietz

• Michigan faces widespread PFAS contamination in water, soil, and food, and Congresswoman Haley Stevens’ bipartisan PROTECT Act aims to close detection loopholes, strengthen EPA authority, and protect both air and water.
• “I’m introducing bipartisan legislation to close loopholes to help us better detect pollutants. Believe it or not, PFAS also does get into our air and Michigan, we all know we want the fresh water that’s our pride and joy, and we want the clean air, and I’m trying to empower the Environmental Protection Agency to close those loopholes and to better detect and I’m thrilled that my legislation is bipartisan.”
• The legislation prioritizes communities with the highest exposure, including the Aisle Boat River area and parts of Oakland County, focusing on both cleanup and prevention.
• The PROTECT Act also strengthens accountability for polluters, providing enforcement tools, ensuring contamination is addressed before it reaches residents, and empowering the EPA to prevent future PFAS exposure.

WPBN: Bipartisan Push to Toughen PFAS Cleanup Laws

• A bipartisan effort in Congress is pushing tougher PFAS prevention and mitigation laws, with Michigan among the hardest-hit states.
• Congresswoman Haley Stevens introduced the PROTECT Act to close major loopholes in federal oversight of PFAS “forever chemicals.”
• “Here in Michigan, we obviously know the story very well. I’ve been pleased to act in the past to address PFAS in our water, but we also need to make sure that it’s not getting into our air, which has been overlooked. And there are loopholes that now need to get closed.”
• The bill would require the EPA to classify certain PFAS as hazardous air pollutants, identify offenders, set enforceable limits, and strengthen cleanup requirements.

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