Krishnamoorthi Blasts Trump Voter Suppression Effort Revealed by USPS Whistleblower

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

WASHINGTON — Congressman Raja Krishnamoorthi (D-IL) today responded to a whistleblower report from a U.S. Postal Service official alleging that Trump Administration officials are continuing to implement restrictions on mail voting despite court orders blocking the effort.

The whistleblower alleges that USPS is secretly rushing to implement an untested ballot-screening system that could prevent millions of Americans from receiving their mail ballots and could reject tens of thousands of ballots because of a single barcode error.

“The USPS whistleblower’s allegations confirm our worst fears: Trump officials are defying court orders and pressing ahead with a voter suppression effort that could deny millions of Americans their ability to vote by mail just weeks before the election. This is exactly why I have repeatedly warned that the Trump Administration is trying to turn the Postal Service into a tool to deny eligible Americans access to the ballot. Postmaster General Steiner must stop this effort immediately and come before Congress to explain who authorized it, who knew it was continuing despite the court orders, and why.”

VETERANS: Harder Demands Answers on Restoration of Union Rights at NorCal VA

Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Josh Harder (CA-10)

Federal judge ruled in March that collective bargaining rights at the VA must be reinstated

AFGE Local 1206 reports that months later, these rights have still not been restored

STOCKTON – Today, Rep. Josh Harder (CA-09) called on the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) to respond to concerns that union rights at local VA facilities are not being upheld. Harder led nine regional colleagues in a letter to VA Secretary Doug Collins demanding answers on the VA’s progress to comply with a federal order requiring collective bargaining rights to be restored.

In March, a federal district court judge ordered the Department of Veterans Affairs to reinstate its Master Collective Bargaining Agreement with the American Federation of Government Employees (AFGE). Those agreements provide for collective bargaining rights like official time for authorized union representatives and access to union office space and equipment. However, AFGE Local 1206, which represents bargaining unit employees within the VA Northern California Health Care System, has raised concerns that these rights have still not been fully restored.

“We take seriously the concerns raised by union representatives, particularly in light of the ongoing litigation regarding the termination of the Master Collective Bargaining Agreement. Indeed, on August 7, 2026, the federal district court issued a further order requiring the agreement to remain in effect pursuant to its continuation provisions,” wrote the Members. “To better understand the circumstances and VA Northern California Health Care System’s implementation of the reinstated agreement, we respectfully request responses to these concerns.”

Key demands of the Members to be provided no later than September 11, 2026:

  • Steps taken to fully implement the March court order and restore collective bargaining rights at the VA Northern California Health Care System.
  • Details of any incidents of union representatives being denied pay or access to union space and equipment while performing union representational duties.
  • Steps taken to resolve outstanding disagreements between the VA Northern California Health Care System and AFGE Local 1206 regarding the bargaining agreement.

Read the full letter here.

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CAREERS: Harder Announces New Legislation to Scale Up Valley Job Training Programs Across the U.S.

Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Josh Harder (CA-10)

Harder’s bill expands local training programs and builds a national job training strategy based on Valley successes

STOCKTON – Today, during a tour of a local foster care and job training nonprofit, Rep. Josh Harder (CA-09) announced new legislation to scale up local workforce development programs and kickstart a national job training model in the Valley. Harder met with students and staff from Main Street Youth & Family Services, which helps vulnerable youth build skills and get hired at local businesses. Harder’s Better Jobs through Evidence and Innovation Act, introduced with Rep. Lucy McBath (GA-06), would unlock new federal funding to not only expand these programs but also build a national workforce development model around proven local strategies.

“Finding a good-paying job to support a family on has gotten way too hard, but Valley organizations have already proven that evidence-based training can bridge that gap,” said Rep. Harder. “What we need now is for the federal government to supercharge these efforts and make sure that the next generation has the training to develop skills, get hired in high-demand jobs, and achieve lifelong career success. My bill takes what’s working in the Valley and jumpstarts efforts to build a national model around these local workforce successes.” 

How the Better Jobs through Evidence and Innovation Act scales up proven local programs:

  • New Federal Funding– Three tiers of funding to support the development and expansion of evidence-based employment and training programs that generate demonstrated, long-term economic improvements for jobseekers and employers.
  • Cuts Red Tape – Makes it easier for proven workforce programs to scale nationally without navigating the eligibility requirements of more than one hundred local workforce development boards. 
  • Valley Leadership– Puts funding in the hands of Valley programs that are already leading the way to identify innovative and cutting-edge practices that would ensure 21st-century workers have access to sustainable, high-demand, and high-wage careers.

“At Main Street, young people learn to work by working. They staff our café and kitchen, run our shops, and even help run a worker-owned social enterprise, building the skills and the ownership stake that turn a first job into a lasting career,” said Tony Yadon, Chief Executive Officer, Main Street Youth & Family Services. “The Better Jobs through Evidence and Innovation Act would give organizations building models like ours the federal support to grow what works and test what’s promising, helping to move a whole generation toward economic mobility.”

The Better Jobs through Evidence and Innovation Act is endorsed by Main Street Youth & Family Services, America Forward, and over 60 workforce development advocacy organizations from California and across the country.

“America Forward applauds Representatives Josh Harder and Lucy McBath for their leadership of the Better Jobs through Evidence and Innovation Act, which would provide an accessible, efficient pathway for the development and expansion of evidence-based workforce programs across the nation,” said Deborah Smolover, Executive Director of America Forward. “As the pace of change in our labor market accelerates, this legislation ensures that high-impact organizations driving economic mobility, many of which are members of the America Forward Coalition, can nimbly and creatively respond to the needs of workers, communities, and employers.”

“I’m proud to lead the Better Jobs Through Evidence and Innovation Act alongside my colleagues, because there is more than one path to a successful career,” said Rep. McBath. “Consider the single parent looking for a more targeted training program to move into a stable, well-paying job. This legislation will modernize our workforce development pipeline, directing resources where they will have the greatest impact and supporting folks from every background chasing every kind of career.”

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PG&E: Harder Calls for Ban on Ratepayer Money Being Used for Political Advocacy by Utilities

Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Josh Harder (CA-10)

Despite state bans, utilities can skirt rules by funneling payments to industry associations for ads, lobbying

Harder demanding FERC ban utilities from seeking to recover those payments from ratepayers

STOCKTON – Today, Rep. Josh Harder (CA-09) called on federal regulators to close a major loophole used by utilities to funnel ratepayers’ bills for political advocacy. In a new letter to the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC), Harder called on the agency to launch rulemaking that would ban utilities like PG&E from using consumer payments for trade association dues that fund lobbying, advertisements, and political influence.

“Raising rates year after year and using those payments to cut political ads and lobby government is an outrage, and it should be illegal,” said Rep. Harder. “I’m calling on the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission to close the loophole that lets greedy utilities skirt the law and pay for political advocacy through industry associations. Our utility bills should be paying for safe, reliable power – not double as a political contribution.”

Harder’s letter to FERC urged the agency to initiate rulemaking that would:

  • Close the Loophole by making industry association dues presumptively non-recoverable from ratepayers unless a utility can clearly demonstrate that the expense directly benefits customers.
  • Strengthen Federal Law by prohibiting utilities from charging ratepayers for lobbying, grassroots advocacy, issue advertising, or other political and influence-related activities.
  • Increase Transparency by requiring clear public disclosure of significant payments to industry associations and similar organizations, including how much of those costs utilities seek to recover from customers.

Harder’s demands come at a time of record rate increases by PG&E – electricity rates have more than doubled in the last decade, including through six rate increases in a single year. PG&E is currently pursuing annual rate increases through 2030 of more than $100 a year, alongside seeking a multi-million shareholder reward payment.

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MATSUI URGES VETERANS ORGANIZATION TO RECONSIDER REVOCATION OF SACRAMENTO CHAPTER 6 CHARTER

Source: United States House of Representatives – Congresswoman Doris Matsui (D-CA)

WASHINGTON, D.C. — Today, Congresswoman Doris Matsui (CA-07) sent a letter to Disabled American Veterans (DAV) National Headquarters, urging the organization to reconsider its revocation of Sacramento Chapter 6’s charter and work toward a resolution that allows the chapter to continue serving veterans across the Sacramento region.

In the letter to DAV leadership, Congresswoman Matsui calls on the group to use the review period provided under its bylaws to reconsider the revocation, preserve Chapter 6’s property, funds, and historical records, and work with local veterans and the DAV Department of California toward a permanent solution. Congresswoman Matsui also urges the National DAV to refrain from taking permanent action involving Chapter 6’s Fruitridge Road headquarters.

“In Sacramento, we honor our veterans by ensuring they receive the support they have earned,” wrote Congresswoman Matsui. “Revoking Chapter 6’s charter does more than dissolve an organization—it dismantles a vital support system that disabled veterans have depended on for generations.”

Sacramento Chapter 6 has long served disabled veterans in the region, providing assistance with benefits, transportation, legal services, and a local community of support. More than 2,000 veterans rely on the chapter’s services.

“I am committed to ensuring our veterans and the organizations that serve them are treated fairly and lawfully,” Matsui continued. “ The circumstances surrounding DAV’s decision to revoke Chapter 6’s charter raise serious concerns, and the consequences for Sacramento’s disabled veterans are unacceptable. No matter the ongoing disputes you may have with the local chapter leaving veterans without that support runs counter to DAV’s mission.”

The full letter is available HERE.

Doggett, Sewell Renew Demand for Answers as Trump Administration Moves to Strip Nonprofits of Tax-Exempt Status

Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Lloyd Doggett (D-TX)

 

IRS confirmed in April that the Members’ oversight letter had been assigned for response — four months later, not one of sixteen questions has been answered
 

WASHINGTON, D.C. — Rep. Lloyd Doggett (D-TX) and Rep. Terri A. Sewell (D-AL), Ranking Member of the Ways and Means Subcommittee on Oversight, today renewed their demand that Internal Revenue Service Chief Executive Officer Frank Bisignano answer sixteen outstanding questions about the Administration’s use of the IRS against tax-exempt organizations and their donors. The Members first wrote to Bisignano on April 14, 2026. The IRS confirmed receipt on April 22 and told the Members’ staff that the letter had been “assigned for response.” No response has ever come.

The renewed demand follows an August 27 New York Postreport that Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent and his aides are preparing audits, revocations of tax-exempt status, and back-tax and penalty assessments against charitable organizations identified by their perceived opposition to the Administration rather than by any violation of the tax laws. The reported vehicle is a September 2025 presidential memorandum directing scrutiny of nonprofits alleged to operate for a “substantial illegal purpose.”

“With an alarming new report that the Trump regime is weaponizing the Tax Code against civic organizations that oppose the Trump agenda, we are renewing our demand for answers from the IRS. In response to my direct questions in March this year, Mr. Bisignano insisted ‘100 percent’ that he would not initiate audits, investigations, or revocations of tax-exempt status based on political targeting. Yet, he is stonewalling our requests for information about this potential wrongdoing. We need answers now, not after Trump’s attempts to destroy important nonprofit organizations are implemented,” said Rep. Doggett.

“The American people will not stand for Donald Trump’s blatant attempts to weaponize the federal government to attack organizations like the Southern Poverty Law Center – whose mission is to protect the civil rights of all communities and defend our democracy against violent extremism,” said Rep. Sewell.  “It is a federal crime for political leaders to direct the IRS to investigate or audit individual taxpayers, and Congress must know why charitable organizations that are not aligned with Donald Trump’s political agenda are being targeted.”

The Members’ letter renews all sixteen requests from April and asks the Service to identify the office to which the letter was assigned, the status of that response, and every official at the IRS, Treasury, or the White House who has handled it.

Opposition to the reported campaign is not confined to one party. Writing the day after the Post report, Walter Olson of the conservative Cato Institute observed that “[t]he IRS is not supposed to apply an ideological line in revoking tax exemption,” and cautioned: “Protect your opponents’ rights, and when the wheel turns, you may find that you’ve protected your own as well.”

BACKGROUND

  • Section 7217 of the Internal Revenue Code makes it a federal crime for the President, the Vice President, the Treasury Secretary, and members of their staff to request, directly or indirectly, that the IRS audit or investigate any particular taxpayer. It also requires IRS officers and employees to report any such request to the Treasury Inspector General for Tax Administration.
  • At a March 4, 2026 Ways and Means Committee hearing, Rep. Doggett asked Bisignano whether he had received “either directly or indirectly any communication from anyone in the Trump regime suggesting that specific tax-exempt organizations should be scrutinized because of their political views.” Bisignano answered: “No.” Asked to commit that under his leadership the IRS would not initiate audits, investigations, or revocations of tax-exempt status based on political targeting, he answered: “100%. We’re here to administer the law, uphold the law.”
  • The April 14, 2026 letter, signed by Doggett, Sewell, and fourteen colleagues, asked the IRS whether the President, the Treasury Secretary, or their staff had requested audits or investigations of particular taxpayers; who assembled the reported list of investigative targets; whether protected taxpayer information had been disclosed to the Department of Justice, Treasury, or White House staff; and what protections exist for IRS employees who decline to participate in politically motivated enforcement.
  • In October 2025, Ways and Means Democrats asked the Treasury Inspector General for Tax Administration to investigate reports that the Administration was encouraging the IRS to facilitate criminal investigations of Democratic donors and “left-leaning” nonprofit groups.

Full text of the letter is available here.

Full text of the April 2026 letter is available here.

New York Post reporting on the Trump administration’s plans to crack down on nonprofits is available here.

Rep. Doggett Questions Trump IRS CEO Bisignano

Doggett: If you would sir, with a simple yes or no, tell us whether you have received either directly or indirectly any communication from anyone in the Trump regime suggesting that specific tax-exempt organizations should be scrutinized because of their political views? 

Bisignano: No.

Doggett. You have not. Good. And will you commit today that under your leadership the IRS will not initiate audits, investigations, or revocations of tax-exempt status based on political targeting?

Bisignano: 100%. We’re here to administer the law, uphold the law, uphold the law.

Doggett: Thank you. Just to be clear what I’m talking about though, in that regard, the Wall Street Journal reported “the Trump administration is preparing sweeping changes at the Internal Revenue Service that would allow the agency to pursue criminal inquiries of some groups more easily.” So are they in error and no such sweeping changes or any changes are being prepared there to use the IRS?

Bisignano: I hope that you understand that every form of the daily news is not a Bible.

Doggett: That’s why I’m asking.

Bisignano: Not a Bible, sir.

Doggett Yeah, that’s absolutely right. And I’m asking you about this.

Bisignano: I’ve actually never heard that or seen.

Doggett: You’ve never heard that the Trump administration was trying to weaponize the IRS?

Bisignano: 100% not. 

Doggett: Then you’re not familiar with President Trump’s tweet specifically attacking Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington, or CREW, asking that it’s tax-exempt status should be re-evaluated? You didn’t . . . you’re not aware of that?

Bisignano: I don’t track tweets sir.

Doggett: You don’t track Truth Social. It doesn’t have anything to do with your work? 

Bisignano: You will not find my social media presence anywhere.

Doggett: Well, this is the President of course not very interested in ethics so I was very concerned about that. 

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Griffith Statement on House Passage of Hemp Ban Delay in Government Funding Bill

Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Morgan Griffith (R-VA)

The U.S. House of Representatives voted favorably on Senate Amendment to H.R. 6500 – the Continuing Appropriations and Extensions Act. The legislation averts a September 30 government shutdown, funds the government through December 11 and allows negotiations to continue over fiscal year 2027 spending.

Further, a provision in the government funding bill delays an impending ban on intoxicating hemp products. The ban, originally scheduled to take effect on November 12, now is set to begin on December 11.

This gives lawmakers additional time to consider a federal regulatory framework for intoxicating hemp-derived products, as proposed by U.S. Congressman Morgan Griffith (R-VA) with his H.R. 7212, the Hemp Enforcement, Modernization, and Protection (HEMP) Act. This first-of-its-kind policy establishes a regulatory structure for existing cannabidiol (CBD) products intended for human use.

Following passage of the government funding bill with the hemp provision, Congressman Griffith, who voted for the bill, issued the following statement:

“American producers and consumers deserve nothing less than a system that upholds oversight, responsibility and safety. My bill, the HEMP Act, helps do this by getting the ball rolling on the establishment of necessary federal guardrails.

“I believe that should my bill receive collective buy-in from the White House, lawmakers and stakeholders, the HEMP Act can become law.”

BACKGROUND

In January 2026, Congressman Griffith introduced the HEMP Act

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Davids, Langworthy Introduce Bipartisan Bill to Make It Easier for Tribal Communities to Access Federal Economic Development Programs

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

WASHINGTON, D.C. — Today, U.S. Representatives Sharice Davids (D-KS-03) and Nick Langworthy (R-NY-23) introduced bipartisan legislation to make it easier for Tribal communities to access federal programs that can create jobs, grow businesses, strengthen local economies, and support families. Davids, a citizen of the Ho-Chunk Nation, was one of the first two Native American women ever elected to Congress.

 

“Tribal communities know what their families and businesses need to succeed, but too often they have to navigate a maze of federal programs to find the resources that can help,” said Davids. “Our bipartisan bill is about making the federal government a better partner — listening to Tribal leaders, making sure they have a seat at the table, and making it easier to access programs that can help create jobs and build stronger communities. I’m proud to work with colleagues from both parties to get this done.”

 

“In New York’s 23rd Congressional District, I’m proud of the strong relationship we’ve built with the Seneca Nation, but too often across the country, federal bureaucracy, agency red tape, and siloed information has been a barrier for our tribal nations to find and access federal resources available to them,” said Congressman Nick Langworthy (R-NY-23). “This bill is a practical fix that addresses these challenges by improving coordination, cutting administrative burdens, and making sure Tribal leaders have a meaningful voice in federal programs that impact their communities, while still respecting their sovereignty. I’m proud to join with my colleague, Rep. Davids, to introduce this important bipartisan legislation.” 

 

Tribal governments are eligible for a wide range of federal economic development programs, but finding the right program and navigating different application requirements can be difficult. The REACH Our Tribes Act would make it easier for Tribal communities to know what resources are available, have a stronger voice in how U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) programs are developed, and spend less time dealing with unnecessary federal red tape.

 

Specifically, the REACH Our Tribes Act would:

  • Give Tribal leaders a stronger voice: Require USDA to consult with Tribal governments when developing its annual budget and major legislation that affects USDA programs, including Farm Bills.
  • Show where the money is going: Require USDA to track and publicly report funding provided through programs that Tribal entities can apply for.
  • Cut federal red tape: Create a task force across USDA, the Department of Housing and Urban Development, and the Economic Development Administration to identify ways to simplify applications and reduce unnecessary administrative work.
  • Make programs easier to find: Create a public, regularly updated list of federal economic development programs available to Tribal communities, so Tribal leaders don’t have to hunt through multiple federal agencies to find opportunities.

 

For Tribal communities, that could mean less time filling out paperwork and searching for programs — and more time putting federal resources to work creating jobs, supporting businesses, and strengthening local economies.

 

“Tribal Nations deserve a federal partnership that recognizes their sovereignty, understands the unique barriers they face, and ensures that they have a meaningful seat at the table when federal policies and investments are shaped,” said Larry Wright Jr., Executive Director, National Congress of American Indians (NCAI). “The REACH Our Tribes Act advances that goal by strengthening government-to-government consultation, increasing transparency, and improving coordination across federal economic development programs. The National Congress of American Indians is proud to support this bipartisan legislation and looks forward to working with Congress to ensure that Tribal Nations can more effectively access the resources needed to build strong, self-determined economies and communities.”

 

“Drawing on more than 50 years of experience helping Tribal communities manage their financial strategies and apply for USDA loan and grant programs, the REACH Our Tribes Act lessens the burden on Tribes seeking federal funding and ensures technical assistance reaches them more effectively,” said Olga Morales-Pate, CEO, Rural Community Assistance Partnership (RCAP). “RCAP is proud to support legislation that makes federal investment work better for the Tribes we serve.”

 

“The Native Farm Bill Coalition supports the REACH Our Tribes Act because it would strengthen USDA’s consultation and budget processes, improve transparency around federal obligations to Tribes, and reduce unnecessary administrative barriers to promoting economic development,” said Chairman Cole Miller of the Shakopee Mdewakanton Sioux Community and Kari Jo Lawrence, CEO of the Intertribal Agriculture Council, Co-Chairs of the Native Farm Bill Coalition. “By improving coordination across agencies and creating clearer pathways to federal resources, this legislation will help make federal investments more responsive and effective for Tribal communities. We thank the sponsors for advancing this legislation.”

 

Davids, co-chair of the Congressional Native American Caucus, has made strengthening Tribal communities and expanding economic opportunity a priority throughout her time in Congress. That work goes back long before she was elected: she worked in economic development on the Pine Ridge Reservation in South Dakota, where she partnered with Tribal leaders and local businesses to help create economic opportunities in the community.

 

As a member of the House Agriculture Committee, she has worked to ensure Tribal governments have a stronger voice in federal agriculture and nutrition programs and has pushed for policies that help Tribal entrepreneurs and businesses succeed. This bipartisan bill builds on that work by making the federal government a better partner for Tribal communities — and making sure Tribal leaders have a meaningful voice in the programs and decisions that affect them.

Golden votes to extend government funding through December 11

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

WASHINGTON — Congressman Jared Golden (ME-02) voted today in favor of a Continuing Resolution (CR) to keep the government funded until December 11, preventing the risk of a government shutdown on October 1. 

The CR maintains current government funding levels until December 11, with limited policy changes. The bill passed the House of Representatives in a bipartisan 370-48 vote. It previously passed the Senate in a vote of 90-6 and now goes to President Donald Trump for his signature. 

“As the November elections come into view, and we remain without a funding deal, the risk of political gamesmanship is high,” Golden said. “This resolution will remove the incentive for either party to hold the government hostage in an attempt to score political points — and give Congress the time needed to negotiate a sound appropriations deal.”

Golden has consistently voted to avoid government shutdowns because of the harm they cause, often to those less fortunate. This past winter, a lapse in appropriations triggered the longest shutdown in the nation’s history. As a result, food assistance benefits for needy families were disrupted, core public health and food safety programs were paused, millions of federal workers missed paychecks and travelers experienced long delays. 

In Maine alone, a government shutdown would affect the more than 11,000 federal employees and could force Acadia National Park to close. Additionally, a shutdown would likely impact the 169,000 Mainers who rely on Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) to put food on the table and the more than 45,000 Maine households that depend on Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEP) to heat their homes.

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RELEASE: HILL, BERA, VAN DREW, SHERMAN INTRODUCE BIPARTISAN RESOLUTION RECOGNIZING 80TH ANNIVERSARY OF FULBRIGHT PROGRAM

Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman French Hill (AR-02)

Rep. French Hill (R-AR-02), Rep. Ami Bera (D-CA-06), Rep. Jeff Van Drew (R-NJ-02), and Rep. Brad Sherman (D-CA-32) yesterday introduced H. Res. 1501, a bipartisan House companion to S. Res. 830, Recognizing the 80th anniversary of the Fulbright Program, introduced by Sen. John Boozman (R-AR) and Sen. Cory Booker (D-NJ).

Rep. French Hill said, “The Fulbright Program is one of Arkansas’s great contributions to the world. For 80 years, Senator J. William Fulbright’s vision has brought students, scholars, and professionals from around the globe together to learn from one another, strengthen international partnerships, and build greater understanding between nations. I’m proud to recognize this important milestone, celebrate the program’s enduring contribution to American leadership around the world, and reaffirm Congress’s support for its important work.”

Rep. Ami Bera said, “The Fulbright Program represents the very best of American leadership by giving our nation’s best and brightest the opportunity to experience other cultures, pursue world-class academic opportunities, and build lasting relationships abroad. I’m proud to join my colleagues in recognizing this historic anniversary and reaffirming bipartisan support for the Fulbright Program and other educational and cultural exchanges that advance American interests abroad.”

Rep. Jeff Van Drew said, “South Jersey is home to incredible students and educators who understand that some of the best learning happens when you get outside of your comfort zone and experience the world firsthand. For 80 years, the Fulbright Program has given Americans that opportunity while allowing us to share our values with people around the world. I am proud to recognize this milestone and the generations of Americans who have represented our country through this program.”

Rep. Brad Sherman said, “If Senator J. William Fulbright were with us today, he would be proud of the international scholarship and friendships that the Fulbright Program has made possible since he established it in 1946. Today, the Fulbright Program’s modest investments in educational exchanges continue to yield incalculable goodwill towards the United States around the world. I am proud to help recognize 80 years of this important program.”

Resolution overview:

  • Recognizes the 80th anniversary of the Fulbright Program.
  • Encourages Congress to support the work of the Fulbright Program and other educational and cultural affairs programs.
  • Congratulates current and previous Fulbright award recipients.
  • Encourages students, scholars, and professionals globally to engage and promote international understanding and partnership.

Background on Fulbright Program:

On Aug. 1, 1946, President Harry Truman signed former Arkansas Senator J. William Fulbright’s legislation into law. That legislation created the Fulbright Program, which is an international exchange program designed to increase mutual understanding between the people of the U.S. and other countries. The Fulbright Program has educated more than 370,000 students from 165 countries, including 54 Nobel Laureates and 33 heads of state.

In 2016, Rep. French Hill led the House effort to recognize the 70th anniversary of the Fulbright Program, introducing a resolution commemorating the milestone and encouraging continued support for the program. Hill also sponsored the planting of an American elm on the U.S. Capitol Grounds in honor of the anniversary, joining members of the Arkansas congressional delegation, Fulbright scholars, and Harriet Fulbright for the dedication ceremony. The tree was planted in view of Senator Fulbright’s former office in the Russell Senate Office Building.

Hill’s resolution complemented a Senate effort led by fellow Arkansan Sen. John Boozman, whose resolution passed the Senate in July 2016.