MIL USHOR-2b Engine

Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Jared Huffman Representing the 2nd District of California

---

---

Previous Article

Source: United States House of Representatives – Congresswoman Lois Frankel (FL-21)

Today, Representatives Lois Frankel (D-FL-22) and María Elvira Salazar (R-FL-27) introduced a bipartisan resolution recognizing November 10 – 16, 2025, as National Caregiving Youth Week. The resolution honors the contributions and commitment of children and adolescents under 18 years who serve as primary or secondary caregivers for a loved one who is aging, has a chronic illness, disability, frailty, or other health condition requiring regular assistance. It is estimated that there are over six million caregiving youth nationwide.

“All over the country, there are young people who set aside their own needs—school work, extracurricular activities, and time with their friends—to serve as caregivers for members of their family who may be elderly, ill, or disabled,” said Rep. Frankel. “November is National Family Caregivers Month, and we’re proud to recognize the tremendous work and sacrifice of these young caregivers.”

“Our country is home to millions of kindhearted youth who care for family members that need their help,” said Rep. Salazar. “I am honored to co-lead this resolution recognizing caregiving youth whose sacrifices humble and inspire all of us.”

“More than six million caregiving youth in the U.S. remain largely invisible, trying to balance school and life while providing essential care for a chronically ill, injured, elderly, and/or disabled family member,” said Dr. Connie Siskowski, President and Founder of the American Association of Caregiving Youth (AACY). “Most people don’t realize the challenging, difficult, and otherwise adult roles these children must take on through no fault of their own, all while their brains and bodies are still developing. They deserve and need formal support and accommodations within systems of education and health care. As one boy said, ‘Dr. Connie, where would our country be without caregiving youth?’ No child should feel alone in this journey as they strive to succeed academically and personally.”

The resolution:

• Supports the designation of National Caregiving Youth Week;
• Recognizes caregiving youth in the United States as an underserved and underrecognized population;
• Encourages educators, policymakers, health care professionals, and others to become more familiar with the work, needs, and contributions of caregiving youth; and
• Supports Federal initiatives to provide up-to-date nationwide research on caregiving youth.

The Members were joined by 5 original cosponsors: Reps. Debbie Dingell (D-MI-6), Adriano Espaillat (D-NY-13), Dwight Evans (D-PA-3), Eric Swalwell (D-CA-14), and Bonnie Watson Coleman (D-NJ-12)

The resolution is supported by the American Association of Caregiving Youth (AACY).

For full text of the resolution, click here.

Source: United States House of Representatives – Congresswoman Lois Frankel (FL-21)

Today, Rep. Lois Frankel (FL-22) released the following statement after passage of the Republican spending bill.

“I voted no because this Republican spending bill leaves working families sicker and poorer while making health care more expensive for everyone,” said Rep. Frankel. “Millions of Americans—their budgets already stretched to the limit—will see their health insurance premiums skyrocket, forcing them to choose between seeing a doctor and paying the rent.
 
I’m not giving up. The fight is just beginning.”­

Source: United States House of Representatives – CONGRESSMAN JIM HIMES (4th District of Connecticut)

Connecticut Congressional Members Urge Defense Department to Strengthen Investment in Black Hawk Platform | Press Releases | Congressman Jim Himes

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

Washington, D.C. – ICYMI: Congresswoman Haley Stevens voted NO on the Republicans’ spending bill because it failed to lower costs for Michigan families and did nothing to make health care more affordable for Michiganders.

Here’s what Michiganders are seeing and reading about Haley standing up against the GOP spending bill: 

Deadline Detroit: Michigan Democratic Congress Members Speak Out After Voting No On GOP Spending Package

By: Allan Lengel 

• Some Michigan Democratic members of Congress spoke out Wednesday night, explaining why they voted against the GOP spending package to reopen the government.
• “Tonight, I voted no on the Republicans’ spending bill because their plan fails Michiganders, ignores working families, and offers lip service instead of actually lowering costs for our families.”
• “Republicans have time and time again voted to raise health care costs and threatened health care coverage for families who depend on it. I won’t rubber-stamp a plan that leaves Michiganders worse off. I will keep fighting to lower costs, expand affordable health care, and create jobs while investing in our manufacturing economy to support the hard-working families across our state.”

WJBK

• Democrat Haley Stevens voted No on the bill.
• She says, “Republicans have time and time again voted to raise health care costs and threatened health care coverage for families who depend on it.”
• “I won’t rubber-stamp a plan that leaves Michiganders worse off.”

WSBT

• Michigan Democratic Congresswoman Haley Stevens from suburban Detroit spoke out about why she voted No on this spending bill.
• “I voted no on the Republicans’ spending bill because their plan fails Michiganders, ignores working families, and offers lip service instead of actually lowering costs for our families.”

CBS Detroit

• Haley Stevens put out a statement about today’s vote, adding she voted No because the spending bill fails Michiganders.

WWJ

• Following the vote on the funding bill, Michigan Congresswoman released the following statement.
• “Tonight I voted no on the Republicans’ spending bill because their plan fails Michiganders, ignores working families, and offers up lip service instead of actually lowering costs for our families.”

WKBZ

• Following the vote, Michigan Congresswoman Haley Stevens said she voted No on the Republican spending bill.
• Because their plan “fails Michiganders, ignores working families, and offers lip service instead of actually lowering costs for families.”

###

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

Representatives Debbie Dingell (MI-06) and Rashida Tlaib (MI-12) today sent a letter to Postmaster General David Steiner demanding answers about the tragic death of Nicholas John Acker of Trenton at the USPS Detroit Network Distribution Center (NDC) in Allen Park.

“Reports indicate on Saturday, November 8, 2025, Nicholas was found in a mail handling machine and had been dead for 6-8 hours before he was found,” the lawmakers write. “We have been told he checked into work at 11 am and his body wasn’t found until 12:30 pm the following day. The NDC has not said when Nicholas was last seen.”

“Nicholas served nine years in the Air Force and had gotten engaged in the past two weeks. He was a maintenance mechanic at the NDC and had mentioned concerns about the way the facility was run to his fiancée,” the lawmakers continue. “His union management had also raised concerns about safety measures and procedures at the facility, and more than 90 days ago, the union filed an Article 14 grievance stating that management was putting pressure on staff to look for letters while the handling machine was operating. When Nicholas didn’t return home from work on Saturday, his fiancée went to the facility where she waited outside the gates for three hours, as she watched emergency responders arrive, before she was notified of Nicholas’s death.”

“We are requesting answers to questions that have arisen from this unnecessary tragedy,” the lawmakers conclude. “We worry what it means for the workers that officials were not called to the scene until hours after Nicholas died. Further, we are concerned how long Nicholas was in the machine before he was found and whether the machine was operating or turned off.” 

1. When was management made aware of Nicholas’s disappearance, and what actions were taken to locate him? At what time did these actions occur? 
2. Did the clock system flag Nicholas for missing his basic clock rings (check in/out and lunch in/out), and if so, when did it flag him? 
3. When did management learn of Nicholas’s death, and when was this reported to emergency services? 
4. Was the handling machine powered on or off at the time of Nicholas’s death?
5. Why did it take so long to notice Nicholas’s disappearance? 
6. How often are workers accounted for during their shifts? After Nicholas checked in at 11am, did he check in or out again? 
7. Is there video surveillance or monitoring where Nicholas was working? 
8. Did Nicholas have a work sheet, route sheet, or work order for dumper A-17? What time did Nicholas go up to dumper A-17? 
9. When was dumper A-17 last serviced, and did it have a history of breaking down? 
10. What are the safety protocols for going up on dumper A-17 and when employees are working on dumper A-17, are they alone or partnered up? If they do not have a partner, why do they not have a partner?  
11. Have there been any prior accidents with this type of mail handling machine at the NDC or at any other USPS facilities?  
12. Are maintenance mechanics trained on how to withdraw fallen mail or packages from machines and what are the safety protocols for withdrawing the fallen mail or packages? 
13. Is there a certain time during a shift that maintenance mechanics are supposed to withdraw fallen mail or packages?
14. Is there a briefing where tour 1 and tour 2 maintenance mechanics overlap and give updates on the status of maintenance work completed during the prior shift?
15. Does the NDC keep training records, and if so, when was Nicholas trained on the safety procedures for dumper A-17 and for withdrawing fallen mail and packages from machines?
16. Has management advised workers at the NDC to extract fallen mail and packages while the handling machines are operating?
17. Do the conveyor and dumping machines at the NDC have sensors to halt the system when something, or someone, is impeding the moving parts of the machine? Does the conveyor system have emergency stops? If not, why not?
18. Do the maintenance mechanics have a check-in system with their management when they are working in dangerous spots, such as dumper A-17?
19. Where does the NDC keep their Postal Service Form 1767? It is our understanding that this form is where employees can express their safety concerns and receive a response to their concerns from postal management on the same day. However, we have been informed that when the maintenance mechanics raised concerns using PS1767s, the forms were relocated. Had anyone at the NDC filled out a PS1767 with concerns about dumper A-17, and if so, what was done to address their concerns? 

View the full text of the letter here. 

Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Bob Latta (R-Bowling Green Ohio)

Today, Congressman Bob Latta (OH-5) released the following statement after voting in favor of the funding resolution to reopen the government and to keep it operating through January 30, 2026. The legislation also provides full fiscal year funding for Military Construction and the Department of Veterans Affairs, the Department of Agriculture and the Food and Drug Administration, as well as Legislative Branch operations.   

“Today, I again voted to fund and reopen the government, a step I have advocated for since the House passed a clean, bipartisan funding resolution on September 19, 2025. In the longest government shutdown in American history, Senate Democrats put politics over the American people, leaving millions of Americans to feel the consequences of their inaction. It took six weeks for Senate Democrats to finally do their duty and vote to reopen the government. 

“During the shutdown, I remained focus on serving my constituents, from leading Capitol tours for visitors and students to meeting with constituents and businesses back in Ohio’s Fifth Congressional District. Today’s vote ensures that we can finally move forward with bipartisan fiscal year 2026 appropriations negotiations, keeping our government accountable and operational for the people we serve.”   

With both the Senate and House having passed this funding bill, the legislation now goes to the president to be signed into law to officially reopen the government. 

NOTE: Included in this Continuing Resolution is Congressman Latta’s H.R. 4273 Over-the-Counter Monograph Drug User Fee Amendments (OMUFA) Act, a bipartisan bill to reauthorize the Over-the-Counter Monograph User Fee program at the Food and Drug Administration that improves access to over-the-counter medicines and opens the program up to innovation. 

Congressman Latta supported the bipartisan funding resolution that passed the House of Representatives on September 19, 2025.  

On the first day of the shutdown, Congressman Latta directed Office of Chief Administrative Officer (CAO) to have his pay withheld for the full length of the government shutdown.  

During the shutdown, Congressman Latta hosted a telephone town hall, taking questions and offering updates on the government shutdown and led Capitol tours for Otsego Junior High, Marion Local School, Coldwater Middle School, Fort Recovery Middle School, Antwerp Middle School, Willard High School, Upper Sandusky Middle School, and the Seneca County Honor Bus. 

Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Brett Guthrie (2nd District Kentucky)

Washington, D.C. – Today, Congressman Brett Guthrie (KY-02) issued the following statement following House passage of H.R. 5371, the Continuing Appropriations and Extensions Act of 2026. This legislation, which is expected to be signed by President Trump shortly, puts an end to the disastrous Democrat Shutdown.

“After 43 days, common sense has finally prevailed in Congress, and our government has reopened. For weeks, Democrats in the Senate have sadly put partisan politics over the well-being of hardworking Americans, including our servicemembers at Fort Knox, air traffic controllers, and those relying on SNAP benefits to survive,” said Congressman Guthrie. “The end to this shutdown was long overdue and completely avoidable. I am eager to get back to the important work of the American people.

“I am also excited that this Continuing Resolution contains three FY2026 appropriations bills, which include over $56 million for projects across the Second District that I helped to secure,” Guthrie continued. “This is the first step in completing the regular government funding process.” 

Background:
The enactment of H.R. 5371, the Continuing Appropriations and Extensions Act of 2026, puts an end to the longest government shutdown in U.S. history, providing government funding through January 30, 2026. It also includes three full-year FY2026 appropriations bills.

These three appropriations bills included over $56 million towards earmark projects secured by Congressman Guthrie. Information about these projects, as well as summaries for the appropriations bills, can be found below.

Congressman Guthrie Earmark Funding Secured for KY-02

• Fort Knox ARAC Aviation Support Facility – $50,000,000
  • This funding will support the Army Reserve rotary wing aviation maintenance mission at Fort Knox.
• City of Lewisport Water Treatment Plant – $2,000,000
  • This appropriation will help construct a new regional Water Treatment Plant to help ensure long term quality service for all Lewisport citizens as well as those households outside of the city limits that the plant services.
• City of Clarkson Wastewater Treatment Plant Expansion – $1,500,000
  • The funding will help upgrade the current wastewater treatment system, as it is currently at capacity. It will also expand the system to allow for new users in the city of Clarkson.
• Meade County Water District System Upgrades – $2,130,750
  • This project will install a new transmission main, along with a new interconnect, tank, and pump station, to help provide a more reliable and consistent supply of water to more than 5,000 rural customers in Meade County.
• New Haven Asbestos Water Line – $675,000
  • This project will allow the LaRue County Water District to replace approximately 4,500 linear feet of existing asbestos cement water lines in the City of New Haven with a six-inch PVC pipe, to improve water quality throughout the city. 

Agriculture, Rural Development, Food and Drug Administration, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 2026:

• This legislation provides a total of $26.65 billion in discretionary funding to responsibly invest in America’s rural communities, support our nation’s farmers and ranchers, and keep our food and drug supply secure. A summary provided by the House Appropriations Committee – Majority can be found here.

Military Construction, Veterans Affairs, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 2026:

• This bill provides funding for military construction projects in addition to fully funding the Department of Veterans Affairs and mandatory veteran benefit programs. In total, this bill included $259 million for projects at military installations across Kentucky.
• A summary provided by the House Appropriations Committee – Majority can be found here. 

Legislative Branch Appropriations Act, 2026:

• Provides a total of $7 billion in discretionary funding, approximately $200 million below the FY25 enacted level, to support the legislative branch in carrying out its constitutional responsibilities. A summary provided by the House Appropriations Committee – Majority can be found here.

Source: United States House of Representatives – Representative John R Carter (R-TX-31)

Washington, D.C. – The House of Representatives passed the Continuing Appropriations, Agriculture, Legislative Branch, Military Construction and Veterans Affairs, and Extensions Act, 2026, with a vote of 222 to 209.
 
After a damaging and unnecessary shutdown that lasted 43 days, a funding extension that House Republicans called for and passed in September is finally headed to President Trump’s desk. Senate Democrats voted against this clean, nonpartisan measure 15 times over the course of the six weeks they held the government hostage.
 
In addition to the continuing resolution, Congress approved three full-year appropriations bills covering the Legislative Branch, Military Construction, Veterans Affairs, Agriculture, Rural Development, and the Food and Drug Administration.
 
Passage of this first tranche of bills is strong Article I progress for Appropriators, who have already advanced all twelve bills through the full committee. With the rest of the federal government now funded through January 30, 2026, the Appropriations Committee will continue working to move our remaining nine full-year bills across both chambers. This regular order momentum ends the era of backroom omnibus deals and puts taxpayers first. 

While Democrat leadership and their progressive caucus determined that inflicting pain on the American people was their pathway forward, reason overturned their obstruction in the end. Republicans acted responsibly and stood with the nation from the start. Now, the Democrat shutdown is behind us, and Congress can refocus on the work the American people expect and deserve.

Chairman Tom Cole (R-OK) said, “History reminds us that shutdowns never change the outcome – only the cost paid by the American people. This Democrat-led crisis proved just that. Minority Leaders Jeffries and Schumer have inflicted real pain across the nation for weeks. And for what? The funding extension we passed today reflects our position from the start. Democrats manufactured chaos, delayed paychecks, and disrupted vital services – only to end up exactly where Republicans, President Trump, and the American people said we should be all along. Forty-three days later, they gained nothing but the damage they caused: missed paychecks, lapsed nutrition assistance, stalled programs, and shaken public trust. Today, that ends. We’re reopening government, restoring stability, and continuing the hard work of delivering full-year appropriations through a transparent, line-by-line process. I hope Democrats remember this lesson: true courage is taking responsible action for the nation even when politics makes it inconvenient.” 
 
Military Construction, Veterans Affairs, and Related Agencies Subcommittee Chairman John Carter (R-TX) said, “For 43 days, Americans unnecessarily suffered because Democrats wanted to use them as leverage in a twisted political game. The legislation we passed today ends that suffering and responsibly reopens the government. It provides a runway to negotiate the other bills that need to be completed while providing year-long certainty for America’s veterans to access mental health services, medical care, and homelessness programs. I applaud Chairman Cole for his endless work to get us to this point and commitment to return to regular order. I hope as we face the January deadline, Democrats think long and hard about the impacts of their actions and instead choose to responsibly work with Republicans to tackle the remaining funding bills quickly.”
 
Agriculture, Rural Development, Food and Drug Administration, and Related Agencies Subcommittee Chairman Andy Harris (R-MD) said, “Millions of Americans have suffered unnecessarily because the Democrats refused to reopen the government – including those who depend on SNAP benefits, federal workers, border patrol agents, and our troops who were uncertain about their next paycheck. This legislation provides critical funding to support America’s farmers, ranchers, and rural communities and it ensures both USDA and FDA can safeguard our nation’s food and drug supply. Republicans have effectively locked in disciplined, flat spending levels while supporting the Trump Administration’s policy priorities and I thank Appropriations Committee Chairman Cole for his leadership throughout this process.”
 
Legislative Branch Subcommittee Chairman David Valadao (R-CA) said, “For over 40 days, Congressional Democrats have held our country hostage, and today I was proud to vote to reopen the government and return to regular order. As Chairman of the Legislative Branch Subcommittee, I’m pleased that this bill strengthens Capitol security by increasing funding for sworn officers and staff, maintains the historic U.S. Capitol complex, and reopens our nation’s institutions to students, families, and visitors from across the nation. I want to thank Chairman Cole for his leadership throughout this process and look forward to working with my colleagues in the House and Senate to deliver the rest of the full-year funding bills for the American people.”

Clean, Nonpartisan Funding Extension

• This clean and straightforward short-term CR – free of poison pills – simply extends funding until January 30.
• The bill represents our original position, underscoring that Democrats have gained nothing during this shutdown other than wreaking havoc on the American people.
• It reopens government and blocks any Democrat attempt of a bloated, last-minute mega-omnibus bill right before Christmas.
• It supports a return to regular order and continued work in advancing full-year FY26 bills.
• Importantly, it includes no partisan demands, including far-left attempts to restrict presidential authority.
• Republicans held the line and proved what we’ve been saying since the start of this shameful charade: the people’s government is not a pawn for leverage or political extortion.

A Return to Regular Order

• There is no better way to end the cycle of shutdown threats than to pass and have President Trump sign into law full-year FY26 appropriations bills.
• Continuing progress on this front was the very purpose of the initial funding extension the House passed in September.
• We wanted to keep the government open to provide more time to pass full-year appropriations and allow for bipartisan, bicameral policy conversations.
• This reflects the Republican commitment to restoring a transparent, orderly approach to funding the government.
•  Before Democrats forced this shutdown, we had made real, measurable progress on FY26 appropriations – and the House moved to conference with the Senate on the Military Construction and Veterans Affairs, Agriculture, and Legislative Branch bills.
• This marked the first time since Fiscal Year 2019 that regular appropriations bills advanced to conference, demonstrating real progress in restoring regular order.
• Appropriators acted decisively and began a member-driven process to finalize those bills.
• This is a notable and important change from backroom, bloated omnibus deals that sideline rank-and-file members and ignore the will of the American people.
• Even though Democrat leadership undermined this legislative process and squandered time that should have been utilized on passing and conferencing more bills, Republican Appropriators refused to back down in their commitment to delivering full-year appropriations, restoring regular order, and ending the shutdown Democrats chose.

Making Appropriations Great Again

• Our regular order efforts and conference committee determination paid off.
• This legislation includes three bipartisan, bicameral full-year appropriations measures, covering the Military Construction and Veterans Affairs; Legislative Branch; and Agriculture, Rural Development, and Food and Drug Administration divisions.
• These three bills have been negotiated between the two chambers and reflect a final, full, and bipartisan agreement.
• They are products that implement Trump Administration priorities, reflect fiscal restraint, and implement stable funding for critical agencies.
• The Appropriations Committee proved that we can be disciplined and hold spending levels effectively flat while delivering for American taxpayers.
• As a united conference, we are upholding our Article I duties while executing the America First agenda.
• These bills represent more than 10% of discretionary spending – funding that can no longer be taken hostage if Democrats irresponsibly choose to shut down the government again.
• Taken as a whole, these bills support America’s veterans, farmers, and agriculture, and keep government working for our constituents.