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Source: United States House of Representatives – Congresswoman Diana DeGette (First District of Colorado)

WASHINGTON, D.C. — Today, Energy & Commerce Health Subcommittee Ranking Member Diana DeGette (CO-01) released the following statement after Donald Trump announced a health care “proposal.”

“Today is the last day of open enrollment, and Donald Trump is floundering. His proposal is a feeble attempt to save face as he knows that the American people do not trust him or Congressional Republicans when it comes to health care. They have failed to extend Affordable Care Act tax credits. Instead, they are advocating for failed policies that don’t work, including junk plans and provisions that increase what Americans pay for premiums on quality insurance.

“The rest of the plan is just minor tweaks to existing policies which will not increase transparency nor meaningfully lower costs for the American people. It also doubles down on his failed drug pricing deals which will harm American innovation while not helping Americans at the pharmacy counter. Finally, it includes PBM reform which would be law right now if Donald Trump and Elon Musk hadn’t killed it at the end of 2024.

“This proposal confirms that Republicans have no real plan to address the health care crisis they created. At the end of the day, this announcement from the Trump administration will do nothing to truly lower the cost of health care in the United States. I call on Republicans to come to the table with Democrats and find a bipartisan solution that will lower health care costs and make care more accessible for every American.”

Source: United States House of Representatives – Congresswoman Aumua Amata (Western Samoa)

Washington, D.C. – Congresswoman Uifa’atali Amata released the following statement emphasizing World Cancer Day on February 4th:

“Modern nutrition and health care knowledge have done wonders for our overall longevity and well-being, but cancer remains an especially difficult illness to fully defeat. Fortunately, medical understanding, procedures and technologies are always growing to develop more effective treatments. Sadly, cancer still ends up affecting almost every family or circle of friends at some point in every lifetime, and we all know a survivor or those battling this disease.

“The goal of World Cancer Day is to raise awareness, improve prevention, and save lives. Our first tool against cancer is the earliest possible detection to start rapid treatment. It’s a fact that American Samoa has additional challenges due to our remote geography. We continue to work towards improved infrastructure, better equipment, telehealth access, and doing what we can to attract and keep good doctors and nurses. We are blessed with the dedicated health care professionals choosing to serve our people here. Thank you to each one of you, and we support you.”

The 2026 appropriations effort, upon either final passage in the Senate or a House/Senate compromise likely this week, includes a variety of bolstered support for cancer efforts, and out of this comes funding for American Samoa. Final passage is expected for $47 million for National Institutes of Health this year, $7 billion for National Cancer Institute, over $30 million for the Childhood Cancer STAR Act and $55 million for the Childhood Cancer Data Initiative programs, and over $410 million for CDC cancer programs. None of these amounts will change in final congressional negotiations, and these funding efforts have been widely applauded by various major cancer fighting organizations.

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Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Bill Foster (11th District of Illinois)

Washington, DC – Today, U.S. Congressmen Bill Foster (D-IL) and Pete Sessions (R-TX) announced the introduction of bipartisan legislation to strengthen America’s digital identity infrastructure and protect individuals, businesses, and government programs from rapidly rising identity fraud and theft. The Stop Identity Fraud and Identity Theft Act establishes a government-wide approach to addressing vulnerabilities in online identity verification that are increasingly exploited by organized criminal networks and hostile nation-states.

“It is important that Congress responds to the growing wave of identity theft and fraud in the United States by strengthening our digital identity infrastructure,” said Congressman Foster. “I am proud to introduce this bipartisan legislation with Congressman Sessions to provide states with the support they need to safeguard Americans’ personal information and strengthen consumers’ ability to protect themselves against identity theft and fraud.”

“Identity fraud is one of the fastest growing threats facing American families, our financial system, and the integrity of government programs,” said Congressman Pete Sessions. “Criminal organizations and hostile nation-states are exploiting outdated identity systems, costing taxpayers hundreds of billions of dollars and putting Americans’ personal information at risk. I am grateful to Congressman Foster for co-leading this important, bipartisan legislation, and for his partnership in advancing common sense solutions that strengthen security and protect privacy.”

Jeremy Grant, Coordinator of the Better Identity Coalition, welcomed the bipartisan effort.

“Millions of Americans are victims of identity theft and fraud each year, leading to billions of dollars in losses, because it is far too easy for criminals and hostile nation-states to compromise the tools we use to protect identity online,” said Grant. “We’re thrilled to see Congressmen Sessions and Foster come together to recognize the importance of these challenges and put forth common sense legislation to help Americans better protect their security and privacy in the digital world.”

Identity theft and fraud continue to impose massive costs on Americans and taxpayers. In 2023 alone, more than 353 million people were impacted by data breaches. The Government Accountability Office has estimated that federal programs could lose between $233 billion and $521 billion annually to fraud—much of it tied directly to compromised identities. During the COVID era, identity-based fraud in unemployment programs alone was estimated between $100 billion and $135 billion. Financial Crimes Enforcement Network reporting shows that more than 70 percent of suspicious activity reports filed by banks are now tied to identity fraud, encompassing hundreds of billions of dollars in transactions.

The legislation responds to these growing threats by establishing an identity fraud prevention innovation grant program for states. These grants would help states modernize identity systems, develop secure digital versions of existing credentials where they choose to do so, and protect against emerging risks such as artificial-intelligence-driven deepfakes. The bill builds on work already directed by Congress for the National Institute of Standards and Technology to develop voluntary digital identity guidelines, while recognizing that many states and local agencies lack the resources to implement them.

Importantly, the bill does not mandate digital identification, does not eliminate physical credentials, and does not require any individual to obtain or use a digital driver’s license or digital identity. Participation by states and individuals remains voluntary.

A copy of the legislation can be found here. 

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Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Marc Veasey (33rd District of Texas)

Headline: Congressman Veasey Slams Abbott's Decision That Hurts Texas' Universities, Hospitals, and Businesses

WASHINGTON, D.C. — Congressman Marc Veasey (TX-33) issued the following statement in response to Governor Greg Abbott’s directive ordering Texas public universities and state agencies to halt new H-1B visa petitions through the end of the 2027:

“Abbott’s decision to freeze H-1B visa petitions at Texas public universities and state agencies is a blow to Texas’ workforce,” said Congressman Veasey. “Texas’ economy has thrived because we attract qualified workers, researchers, doctors, educators, and students who bring their talents and hard work to strengthen our communities. This order undermines that legacy.”

This action will impact thousands of families, students, and workers who contribute every day to our state’s success. It will make Texas less competitive economically, weaken our workforce, and erode the standing of our higher education and medical institutions at a time when innovation and talent are critical to our future.

Congressman Veasey also criticized the governor’s expanded investigations into university visa usage, calling them wasteful and ineffective:

“Governor Abbott’s so-called investigations do nothing to fix our broken immigration system. They waste taxpayer dollars, sow fear, and offer no real solutions. Immigration reform requires serious leadership and bipartisan cooperation — not political stunts that scapegoat immigrants and damage Texas’ economy.

Texas should be competing to attract the best talent in the world, not driving it away. We must reject fear-based politics and focus on policies that grow our economy, support families, and keep Texas strong. 

Governor Abbott is less qualified than any H1-B visa holder for his position. Let’s start at the top first if we are talking about cutting out unqualified individuals.”

Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Dan Newhouse (4th District of Washington)

Headline: Newhouse Requests Emergency Status for Yakima-Tieton Canal

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, Rep. Dan Newhouse (R-WA) sent a letter alongside Rep. Kim Schrier (D-WA), Sens. Patty Murray (D-WA) and Maria Cantwell (D-WA) to Andrea Travnicek, Assistant Secretary of the Interior for Water and Science, requesting the Bureau of Reclamation designate a state of emergency and at risk of imminent failure for the Yakima-Tieton Irrigation District’s Main Canal.

“As a result of severe damage from the 2024 Retreat Fire, and landslide danger as a result of the December 2025 atmospheric river system that affected Washington State, the canal is, and remains, in a state of emergency,” the Members wrote. 

They added, “The urgency of this situation is dire and requires immediate attention and intervention. Our shared constituents are counting on the Department of the Interior and Bureau of Reclamation to partner with the Yakima-Tieton Irrigation District in this critical effort to minimize the risk of imminent harm to public health and safety and economic viability for those that reside in the Yakima Basin.” 

Language was included in the conference report of H.R. 6938, the Commerce, Justice, Science; Energy and Water Development; and Interior and Environment Appropriations Act, 2026 requiring the Bureau of Reclamation to determine whether the state of the Yakima-Tieton Canal is an emergency within 30 days of enactment of the law. 

Rep. Newhouse voted for this package, and it was signed by President Trump on January 23, 2026. 

If the Bureau designates the state of the canal is an emergency, the agency will have 30 days to issue emergency funding for rehabilitation.  

The 12-mile Yakima-Tieton Canal serves approximately 28,000 acres of irrigation in the Yakima Valley. 

See the full letter here. 

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

Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Gregory W Meeks (5th District of New York)

Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Gregory W Meeks (5th District of New York)

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Source: United States House of Representatives – Congresswoman Eleanor Holmes Norton (District of Columbia)

The Rules Committee will consider the resolution at 4:00 p.m. today.

Source: United States House of Representatives – Representative Don Beyer (D-VA)

Today, U.S. Senator Tim Kaine (D-VA) and U.S. Representative Don Beyer (D-VA-08) introduced the Cost of Police Misconduct Act, legislation to increase transparency and accountability about the costs of law enforcement misconduct. This bill would require federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies to report judgments and settlements related to police misconduct, including court fees and insurance payments, to the Department of Justice. There is no currently no searchable federal database for misconduct related judgements and settlements. Cities and counties, which have different definitions of misconduct, are not currently required to report information about these costs to the federal government. 

By creating a comprehensive database on the size and nature of such costs, this bill would help policymakers, law enforcement, and the public understand how much these settlements are costing taxpayers, and illuminate the need for reforms that could help save lives and taxpayer dollars. This bill was first introduced following the 2020 murder of George Floyd. Today’s reintroduction comes after several recent shootings involving federal agents, including the killings of Renee Good and Alex Pretti in Minneapolis.

“Many law enforcement officers serve honorably and keep our communities safe. But there have also been tragic incidents of misconduct involving law enforcement, including the recent killings of Renee Good and Alex Pretti. While many Americans understand that these cases can be deadly and erode public trust in law enforcement, they don’t always realize the financial costs,” said Kaine. “This legislation would increase transparency about how much money federal, state, and local governments spend on police misconduct-related settlements and shine a light on what reforms might be needed to prevent these instances of misconduct.”

“Many of us understand the significant harm caused by police misconduct and its devastating cost to human life. Just these last few weeks in Minnesota, we have seen how aggressive and unaccountable policing can escalate violence, erode public trust, and traumatize entire communities. Yet most Americans remain unaware that cities and counties also bear a staggering financial toll because law enforcement agencies often settle misconduct claims in secret. Full data transparency is urgently needed to help hold those responsible for misconduct accountable and to help jurisdictions prevent abuses. Our legislation would provide communities and policymakers the data necessary to measure the cost of misconduct settlements, to not only saves lives—the most important goal—but also taxpayer dollars, which would be better spent on programs and policies that are proven to prevent crime,” said Beyer.

Every year, states, cities, and counties across the country spend hundreds of millions of dollars on judgments and settlements related to police misconduct—the costliest of which, in many cases, are civil rights violations that result in the physical injury or death of residents. Cities and counties typically pay for such judgments and settlements through liability insurance (typical of smaller cities), from a general or dedicated municipal fund (typical of larger cities), or by issuing bonds (common for large judgments or settlements). Bond funding often results in taxpayers paying nearly double the cost of the judgment or settlement because the city or county must pay fees to financial institutions and interest to investors.

A 2022 Washington Post report found that police misconduct cost taxpayers more than $3 billion since 2020, with more than $1.5 billion of that paid to settle claims against officers who had more than one claim against them. A previous study found that the nation’s three largest cities—New York, Chicago, and Los Angeles—had paid almost $2.5 billion of the $3 billion total paid out to settle misconduct claims over the past decade, but that smaller cities still spent millions of dollars settling claims. Another report found that the ten cities with the largest police departments paid almost $250 million in settlement costs and court judgments in just one year. 

Specifically, the Cost of Police Misconduct Act would require:

• Federal law enforcement agencies and state and local law enforcement agencies that receive federal funds under the Edward Byrne Memorial Justice Assistance Grant Program (JAG) or the Community Oriented Policing Services (COPS) “Cops on the Beat” grant program to report on an annual basis judgments or settlements related to misconduct by law enforcement officers, including settlements reached before a lawsuit has been filed, and, for each allegation and judgment or settlement reported: 
  • the race, ethnicity, sex, and age of each officer and civilian involved.
  • the year in which the alleged misconduct took place.
  • the year in which the alleged misconduct was reported.
  • the type of misconduct alleged, which may include a body camera violation (whether a failure to wear or record), use of force (including type of force), a collision, racial profiling, negligence, property damage, sexual harassment or assault, false testimony, wrongful death, failure of duty to intervene and/or wrongful imprisonment.
  • any personnel action taken by the officer involved, which may include resignation or retirement.
  • any personnel action taken by the law enforcement agency involved, which may include termination, demotion or relocation of the officer.
  • the total amount paid to satisfy a judgment or settlement and related court fees with respect to such allegation regardless of the source of the payment.
  • the source of money used, such as general operating budget, law enforcement agency budget, bond, to pay a judgment or settlement and related court fees.
  • the total amount spent on all such judgments and settlements and related court fees.
• States and local governments to publish their reported data on their respective websites.
• The Attorney General to create and maintain an online, public, searchable database of the information reported.
• The Comptroller General to conduct a study of the information reported to determine the leading cause of such judgments and settlements and what can be done to prevent them, and to submit a report about the aforementioned study to Congress.
• The Attorney General to submit a separate report to Congress containing the collected data and required recommendations. 
• The Attorney General to determine the number of federal agencies that have law enforcement authority, make this information publicly available, and update it annually. The federal government does not know the exact number of agencies that have law enforcement authority. In order to determine if these agencies are in compliance with this law and others, the federal government needs to know how many have this authority.

Full text of the Senate bill is available here.