MIL USHOR-2b Engine

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

Yesterday evening, Congressman Andy Biggs (R-AZ) attended the first State of the Union address of President Donald Trump’s second term. The President’s powerful speech outlined the significant progress his Administration has made over the past year and reaffirmed his commitment to policies and priorities that put American citizens first. Congressman Biggs has been a leading voice in advancing legislation that aligns with and reinforces the President’s priorities. 

During his address, the President shared the tragic story of Dalilah Coleman, who was only five when she suffered life changing injuries caused by an illegal alien driving an 18-wheeler. President Trump called for Congress to pass Dalilah’s Law, legislation that would prohibit states from handing out commercial driver’s licenses (CDL) to illegal aliens. Congressman Biggs’s VERIFY CDL Act would accomplish that priority by requiring states to verify an individual’s employment authorization through E-Verify before issuing or renewing a CDL.

“President Trump’s address made clear that strong leadership delivers results,” said Congressman Biggs. “In just one year, we have seen meaningful progress in restoring border security and the rule of law, economic stability, and American sovereignty at home and abroad. Now it is Congress’s responsibility to lock these wins into law. 

“I have introduced legislation to advance the President’s priorities, and I will continue fighting to ensure the American people see lasting, structural change—not only temporary executive action. As we approach the halfway point of the President’s term, I urge House Leadership to quickly move my bills that align with his priorities. The time to act is now.”

President Trump is committed to restoring order at our southern border. Congressman Biggs has been a leader on this issue throughout his time in Congress and currently serves as the co-chair of the Congressional Border Security Caucus. He has introduced the following legislation supporting this priority:

• H.R. 57, Ending Catch and Release Act of 2025 – Prohibits DHS from paroling or releasing illegal aliens into the country while the alien’s immigration claim is pending
• H.R. 64, Grant’s Law – Prohibits DHS from releasing illegal aliens who have been arrested for deportable crimes. This bill was named for a Fifth District constituent, Grant Ronnebeck, tragically killed by an illegal alien released from custody despite having a final order or removal
• H.R. 76,Fund and Complete the Border Wall Act– Establishes funding for the United States-Mexico border wall by taxing foreign remittance transfers, rightsizing immigration fees, and reducing foreign aid from countries whose nationals enter the U.S. illegally
• H.R. 116,Stopping Border Surges Act– Closes loopholes in immigration law that serve as a magnet for illegal entry into the country and promotes increased integrity in the asylum system
• H.R. 5795,Deportation Disclosure Act – Requires DHS to make public the name, photograph, aliases, and last known state of residence for all illegal aliens with final removal orders from the United States
• H.R. 7200,VERIFY CDL Act– Requires States to verify an applicant’s authorization to work in the United States through E-Verify before issuing or renewing a commercial driver’s license
• H.Res. 303 – Designating members of Tren de Aragua as alien enemies invading the United States.

President Trump underscored the need to restore public safety and uphold the rule of law. Congressman Biggs, Chairman of the House Judiciary Subcommittee on Crime and Federal Government Surveillance, has introduced legislation to strengthen accountability and protect American communities:

President Trump emphasized restoring affordability and accountability in healthcare. Congressman Biggs has introduced legislation to support these efforts:

• H.R. 72, TBI and PTSD Treatment Act – Directs the VA to furnish Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy to veterans with traumatic brain injury (TBI) and PTSD
• H.R. 74,Freedom for Families Act – Expands HSAs and family coverage choices
• H.R. 79,Freedom from Mandates Act – Repeals federal COVID-19 vaccine mandates and prohibits the federal government from imposing similar mandates in the future
• H.R. 89,Prescription Freedom Act – Eliminates unnecessary federal prescribing restrictions
• H.R. 111– Permits an above-the-line deduction for health insurance premiums.
• H.R. 6512,Putting Patients First Healthcare Freedom Act– Lowers premiums, restores competition, increases price transparency, codifies patient-choice, and defunds abortion and transgender procedures, among other conservative healthcare priorities
• H.Res. 7 – Recognizing the importance of access to comprehensive, high-quality, life-affirming medical care for women of all ages

President Trump underscored the importance of economic growth, regulatory reform, and fiscal responsibility. Congressman Biggs has introduced the following legislation advancing these priorities:

President Trump emphasized the importance of election integrity and trust in the electoral system. Congressman Biggs has introduced legislation to advance that priority:

• H.R. 58,Voter Integrity Protection Act – Designates voting in a federal election by an alien who is unlawfully in the United States an aggravated felony and a deportable offense
• H.R. 55 – Restores States’ rights to conduct elections and allow them to enforce state laws that eliminate voter fraud opportunities
• H.Res. 8– Reaffirming the House of Representatives’ commitment to ensuring secure elections nationwide and reiterating the importance of requiring photo identification at the ballot box

President Trump highlighted housing affordability as a key priority. Congressman Biggs has introduced legislation to support market-based solutions and remove unnecessary federal obstacles:

• H.R. 75,HOUSE Act of 2025 – Repeals or blocks federal regulations and mandates that increase construction and development costs
• H.R. 53,Responsible Borrower Protection Act– Prohibits federal agencies from using government-backed mortgage programs to subsidize higher-risk borrowers at the expense of responsible homeowners
• H.R. 50,KAMALA Act– Prohibits federal funds from being used to provide housing or shelter assistance to illegal aliens

Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Danny K Davis (7th District of Illinois)

Source: United States House of Representatives – Representative Suzanne Bonamici (1st District Oregon)

Washington, D.C. – Senate Finance Ranking Member Ron Wyden, D-Ore., and Chairman Mike Crapo, R-Idaho, introduced legislation today to help farmers fight through trade barriers and sell more fruits, vegetables and other specialty crops in foreign markets. Rep. Suzanne Bonamici, D-Ore., and Rep. David Valadao, R-Calif., are leading the House companion legislation.

The Specialty Crops Reporting on Opportunities and Promotion Act (Specialty CROP Act) responds to continued high tariffs, burdensome labeling requirements, and other trade barriers that restrict U.S. products from accessing foreign markets, threatening rural communities and agricultural producers who depend on customers overseas. 

“The world is hungry for grown-in-the-U.S. blueberries, potatoes, wine and other produce. But all too often our farmers and producers are stymied by unreasonable blockades in foreign markets,” Wyden said. “Our bipartisan bill will help rural Americans by identifying unfair foreign trade barriers and creating specific plans to cut through that red tape.”  

“Specialty crop production is central to Idaho’s economy and our identity as a state,” Crapo said. “Idaho farmers can outgrow the world, but high tariffs and burdensome labeling requirements imposed by foreign nations threaten our rural communities and keep agricultural producers from accessing global markets.   Detailed and up-to-date information from USDA and USTR will help specialty crop growers navigate foreign markets and inform congressional and presidential efforts to address trade barriers and expand export opportunities.”  

The bill is cosponsored by Sens. Angus King, I-Maine, Jim Risch, R-Idaho, Maria Cantwell, D-Wash., Susan Collins, R-Maine, and Elissa Slotkin, D-Mich.

“The specialty crops are a vital part of Oregon’s economy,” Bonamici said. “Unfortunately tariffs, market uncertainty, and other global factors have hit specialty crop growers hard. I’m pleased to introduce the Specialty CROP Act to improve the USDA’s existing specialty crops trade report to better improve the competitiveness of U.S. specialty crops exports.”

“Specialty crops are a cornerstone of California agriculture—especially in the Central Valley—but while our state is a top exporter, our growers have unfortunately faced many challenges over the last few years,” Valadao said. “Many of our California-grown specialty crops rely on customers overseas, but due to unfair trade practices, burdensome labeling standards, and blockades in foreign markets, it makes it difficult to stay competitive. Our specialty crop producers deserve to compete on a level playing field in the global marketplace, and this bipartisan bill would take necessary steps to identify and combat unreasonable trade barriers more effectively.”

The legislation will help farmers by making key improvements to the annual U.S. Specialty Crops Trade Issues Report, in order to more effectively identify and combat unreasonable trade barriers. It would: 

• Improve the annual report with important updates to:
  • Explicitly require participation and engagement from the Office of the United States Trade Representative (USTR);
  • Highlight specific trade barriers that limit the export competitiveness of specialty crops in specific markets, including tariff and non-tariff barriers;
  • Include an assessment of whether each trade barrier is subject to a U.S. FTA or international agreement;
  • Include specific information with respect to actions taken, or expected to be taken, by the U.S. government to address or resolve each trade barrier; and
  • Require a request for comment from both the public and the Agricultural Trade Advisory Committee (ATAC) for Trade in Fruits and Vegetables.
• Require the report to be made public, while allowing for a classified annex in order to protect U.S. national security and economic strategy.
• Continue to define “specialty crop” as “fruits and vegetables, tree nuts, dried fruits, horticulture and nursery crops, including floriculture.” 

Statements of Support

“The North American Blueberry Council applauds Senators Wyden and Crapo for their continued leadership in advancing the Specialty Crops Reporting on Opportunities and Promotion (Specialty CROP) Act. As global demand for blueberries grows, persistent tariff and non-tariff barriers put U.S. producers at a competitive disadvantage. This legislation increases transparency around those barriers and identifies actionable opportunities to expand market access and strengthen the long-term competitiveness of American blueberry exports,” said Kasey Cronquist, president of the North American Blueberry Council.

“Apple, pear and cherry growers in the Pacific Northwest frequently face tariff and non-tariff trade barriers that limit exports in crucial markets. We appreciate Senators Crapo and Wyden introducing this legislation to understand these trade barriers and identify needed solutions so our growers can compete and expand their export opportunities,” said Mark Powers, president of the Northwest Horticultural Council.

“The National Potato Council thanks Senators Crapo and Wyden for their leadership in advancing the Specialty Crops Reporting on Opportunities and Promotion Act. The U.S. potato industry is heavily dependent on competitive export markets. Minimizing or eliminating both tariff and non-tariff barriers is essential to the continued economic health of our industry. We sincerely appreciate the foresight of Senators Crapo and Wyden in moving this legislation forward,” said Kam Quarles, chief executive officer of the National Potato Council.

Read the text of the legislation here.

Read a one-page summary of the bill here.

A web version of the release is here.

###

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

“Our country feels more divided than ever, and we desperately need a return to sanity”

Harder accompanied by local pastor and immigrant advocate guest

WASHINGTON – Tonight, in response to the President’s 2026 State of the Union address, Rep. Josh Harder (CA-09) slammed the hourslong rant and demanded an end to the ICE attacks and price chaos facing Valley families:

“In what should have been a moment to bring the country together, President Trump once again chose division and threats. His speech was an hourslong rant filled with petty insults – all while families pay the price for his ego-driven chaos. Tariffs are costing households thousands, health care premiums have doubled, and communities are living in fear of out-of-control ICE agents.

“Our country feels more divided than ever, and we desperately need a return to sanity. Families aren’t asking for much – they simply want to raise their kids in communities that are affordable, safe, and healthy. That’s the future I will keep fighting for, no matter how much division the President chooses to sow.”

Washington’s chaos by the numbers:

• Higher Costs – Families paid an average of $1,000 more last year, and hundreds more this year if this escalating trade war continues.
• Health Care Crisis – Nearly 2 million Californians are going to lose their health insurance while premiums double because of devastating Medi-Cal and Affordable Care Act cuts.
• ICE Out of Control – Washington robbed $1 trillion of our health care and food assistance funding to triple ICE’s budget and put our neighborhoods in their crosshairs.

Harder was joined at the 2026 State of the Union address by his guest, Reverend Nelson Rabell-González, a local pastor and immigrant advocate serving Spanish- and English -speaking congregations in Stockton and Escalon.

###

Source: United States House of Representatives – Representative Paul Tonko (Capital Region New York)

WASHINGTON, DC — Congressman Paul D. Tonko (NY-20) led a letter with more than 50 members of the House to Donald Trump ahead of his State of the Union address, calling for the president to take tangible and immediate actions that lower energy bills and provide relief to Americans while improving the long-term outlook on energy prices.

“Despite your campaign promise of lowering energy bills by 50% in your first year in office, household electric bills have gone up 13% nationally and residential natural gas prices are up nearly 60% in the past year,” the letter reads. “This trend is expected to worsen in the years ahead.”

The letter continues, “The American people are counting on us to address the rising cost of energy. Families should not have to choose between heating their homes and paying for other necessities. Businesses should not face uncompetitive energy costs that threaten jobs and economic growth. While no single action will solve the energy affordability crisis on its own, it is clear that your administration has embraced numerous policies that have worsened the situation.”

The letter was signed by 53 House Democratic Members, including Reps. Barragán, Beyer, Bonamici, Boyle, Brownley, Carbajal, Casten, Castor, Chu, Clarke, Cleaver, Cohen, Davis, Dean, DeGette, DeSaulnier, Dexter, Doggett, Fletcher, Friedman, Garamendi, Goldman (NY), Huffman, Jacobs, Keating, Kennedy (NY), Lee (NV), Levin, Lieu, Lynch, Magaziner, Matsui, McBride, McClain Delaney, McCollum, McGarvey, Min, Morrison, Mullin, Nadler, Norton, Pingree, Quigley, Salinas, Schakowsky, Sorensen, Stanton, Suozzi, Thanedar, Titus, Tlaib, Tonko, and Velázquez.

The full letter can be read HERE and below.

President Donald J. Trump
The White House
1600 Pennsylvania Avenue NW
Washington, D.C. 20500

Dear President Trump:

We write to urge you to take immediate action to address the energy affordability crisis facing American families and businesses. Despite your campaign promise of lowering energy bills by 50% in your first year in office, household electric bills have gone up 13% nationally and residential natural gas prices are up nearly 60% in the past year. This trend is expected to worsen in the years ahead.

Energy affordability challenges are not a hoax. We are hearing directly from our constituents who are feeling the financial impacts of higher utility bills. Tens of millions of U.S. households have struggled to pay energy bills or reported other energy cost concerns.

Your administration has taken numerous actions that have directly contributed to these rising costs that Americans are facing. As you prepare for the State of the Union, we urge you to use your address as an opportunity to change course and take the following immediate actions to lower energy costs and provide utility bill relief to Americans:

End the blockade of clean energy projects at the Department of the Interior. Your administration has actively sought to block renewable energy projects, issuing stop-work orders for offshore wind and implementing burdensome, unclear, and inconsistent permitting practices for renewable energy projects across the board. Blocking or stalling these projects will lead to higher electricity costs for American families and is already threatening grid reliability. In December, the independent, non-partisan grid operator ISO-New England stated, “canceling or delaying [offshore wind] projects will increase costs and risks to reliability in our region. Beyond increasing risk to reliability, delays of new generating resources also will adversely affect New England’s economy and industrial growth.” The true costs of these decisions have largely not yet been reflected in utility bills, but households will see the consequences in the years ahead. Cancelling the five offshore wind projects already under construction could raise electricity costs for Americans an estimated $45 billion over the next decade.

Call for re-enactment of energy cost savings tax credits. Last year, you signed into law a repeal of critical energy tax credits, which is expected to increase residential energy bills by over $100 annually in the near-term and as much as $400 annually by 2035. These credits reduce energy projects’ costs, and therefore their impacts on electricity customers. Longstanding consumer-facing credits helped directly reduce energy costs for consumers, allowing households to immediately cut their utility bills. There is bipartisan support for reinstating these credits, which drive investments in solar energy, wind energy, and energy efficiency upgrades to deploy new, low-cost energy resources and reduce energy consumption. Due to the loss of these incentives and uncertainty caused by your administration, nearly $35 billion in energy investments, along with 38,000 U.S. jobs, were cancelled last year.

End or provide exemptions from tariffs on equipment, materials, and components needed for energy projects. Energy projects rely on complex, international supply chains. While we support efforts to increase domestic manufacturing of energy technologies and construction materials, your reckless tariff policy is creating investment uncertainty and directly increasing project costs that are ultimately passed on to Americans through higher electricity rates. Under one scenario, Wood Mackenzie estimated that most types of energy technologies will experience cost increases of 6% to 11%.

End Department of Energy (DOE) orders forcing expensive, unnecessary coal-fired power plants to continue operating. In the past year, DOE has issued numerous “emergency” orders to require costly coal-fired power plants to postpone previously scheduled retirements and continue operating at great expense to ratepayers. These orders force Americans to subsidize expensive, polluting, and unneeded electricity generation when lower-cost alternatives are available, artificially inflating prices. The continued operation of one power plant in Michigan has cost people in that region an additional $80 million on their energy bills during just a four-month period last year.

Release DOE funding to promote residential energy savings. Since January 2025, DOE has been withholding previously allocated and approved funding for the vast majority of states to implement energy efficiency and appliance rebate programs. These funds are intended to lower the costs of purchasing ultra-efficient appliances and retrofitting homes, which will result in considerable savings on utility bills. The home efficiency rebates can help qualifying homes save up to $8,000, while the appliance rebates can help qualifying homes save up to $14,000. Together, these programs would lower energy costs for consumers by up to $1 billion each year. DOE should immediately make this funding available to states whose programs have not yet launched and are simply awaiting DOE approval, so that our constituents can claim rebates to lower their bills through efficiency upgrades, weatherization improvements, and adoption of heat pumps.

Reverse terminations of previously awarded energy grants. In the past year, your administration has terminated more than $30 billion of competitively awarded grants from DOE and the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) intended to deploy low-cost energy projects and upgrade the electric grid. These awards include EPA’s Greenhouse Gas Reduction Fund, which includes the National Clean Investment Fund, the Clean Communities Investment Accelerator, and the Solar For All program. These programs are estimated to result in $52 billion in energy cost savings over the next 20 years. EPA has the power to end its attack on these programs at any moment, which would allow funds to immediately start flowing to projects that lower energy costs across the country. Similarly, DOE’s Grid Resilience and Innovation Partnerships program provided several billion dollars in grants to modernize and harden grid infrastructure. Without these federal funds, the full cost of these infrastructure projects will be fully paid by utility customers, resulting in higher bills to maintain reliable service in the face of increasing numbers of extreme weather events.

Request additional funding for the Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) and the Weatherization Assistance Program (WAP) in the upcoming Fiscal Year 2027 President’s Budget Request. These well-established programs provide a lifeline to struggling Americans. LIHEAP provides utility bill assistance to millions of Americans each year, but current LIHEAP funding levels are only sufficient to serve 1-in-5 eligible households. Through WAP, more than 35,000 households receive energy retrofits each year, resulting in an average of $372 in annual savings on their utility bills. These programs deserve more funding, and yet your past budget requests to Congress have sought to eliminate these essential, proven programs. You should reverse course and begin the Fiscal Year 2027 appropriations cycle by calling upon Congress to provide significant increases to these programs.

The American people are counting on us to address the rising cost of energy. Families should not have to choose between heating their homes and paying for other necessities. Businesses should not face uncompetitive energy costs that threaten jobs and economic growth.

While no single action will solve the energy affordability crisis on its own, it is clear that your administration has embraced numerous policies that have worsened the situation. The actions we have outlined above are within your Administration’s authority and can be implemented immediately to provide meaningful relief to Americans while improving the long-term outlook on energy prices.

Thank you for your attention to this urgent matter.

Source: United States House of Representatives – Representative Ilhan Omar (DFL-MN)

WASHINGTON — Congresswoman Ilhan Omar (D-MN) released the following statement after her State of the Union guest, Aliya Rahman, was arrested during the president’s speech.

“My guest, Aliya Rahman, stood up silently in the gallery during the president’s speech for a short period of time, part of which other guests were also standing. For that, she was forcibly removed, despite warning officers about her injured shoulders and ultimately charged with ‘Unlawful Conduct.’

“Reports indicate she was aggressively handled until someone intervened to secure medical attention. She was taken to George Washington University Hospital for treatment and later booked at the United States Capitol Police headquarters.  

“The heavy-handed response to a peaceful guest sends a chilling message about the state of our democracy. I am calling for a full explanation of why this arrest occurred.”

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

Tonight, Rep. Lois Frankel (FL-22) released the following statement after President Trump delivered his State of the Union address.

“Sadly, tonight Donald Trump ignored the real state of the union,” said Rep. Frankel. “For far too many Americans, life is more expensive—from groceries, to rent, to health care.

His brutal ICE enforcement operations are out of control, terrorizing communities, tearing parents away from their children, and stripping workplaces of productive, valued employees.

It’s time for the President to stop picking fights and work with Congress in a bipartisan way to make life better and more affordable for the American people.”

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

WASHINGTON, D.C. — Congresswoman Betty McCollum, Dean of the Minnesota Congressional delegation, issued the following statement after the State of the Union:

“Team USA made us proud as Americans – especially our fellow Minnesotans who led the nation to earn the most medals at this year’s games. They showed us all a shining example of what can happen through unity, hard work, and respect for others.

“Unfortunately, those who had the patience to listen to the President’s speech tonight had to endure more than 100 minutes of rambling self-aggrandizement and division.

“When it comes to the reality of the state of our union, we choose to believe our eyes rather than the lies.

“Here in Minnesota, we have seen what happens when President Trump gets his way and a Republican majority in Congress goes along.

“We’ve seen the damage from masked, unidentifiable federal agents invading and occupying our communities to sow chaos, violence, and division. We’ve seen Minnesotans racially profiled and assaulted. We’ve seen the killing of Renee Good and Alex Pretti by federal agents. 

“Minnesotans are paying a heavy price for Trump’s policies. His illegal tariffs are driving up costs – taxing each and every one of us an additional $1,000 last year alone. And more than 100,000 Minnesotans will see their health care and SNAP food assistance stripped away because of the Republicans’ Big Ugly Law. 

“President Trump has targeted our state in an effort to divide us and destroy our way of life, but Minnesotans are responding by doing what we do best: Caring for our neighbors and working to rebuild. We will continue to use every tool available to push back on Donald Trump, Republicans, and their extreme policies as we fight to make life better for the American people. We are united in our efforts to oppose Trump’s reign of chaos, division, and lawlessness. We are united in working for an economy that creates opportunity for families today and their children tomorrow. We are Minnesota Strong.” 

 

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

Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Robert Aderholt (AL-04)

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Tonight, Congressman Robert Aderholt issued the following statement in response to President Donald J. Trump’s State of the Union Address to Congress:

“Tonight, President Trump delivered a strong and inspiring State of the Union Address to Congress. As the President said, America is strong, prosperous, and respected as our nation celebrates its 250^th anniversary.

Under President Trump’s leadership, we are restoring peace through strength, defending our border, growing American manufacturing, and putting American families first. I stand beside the President in full support and will continue to deliver on his agenda and deliver real results for the American people. 

I commend the President for securing the border and making it a top priority to ensure that our American cities and communities are safe. This commitment has led to record low illegal border crossings, with nine straight months of no illegal aliens released into the United States. 

By focusing on law and order, thousands of American lives have been saved. We have made historic efforts from defending America’s border to fighting drug trafficking, all delivering peace through strength. The State of the Union is strong, because America is respected on the world stage, and I strongly support the President’s efforts to continue to strengthen America at home and abroad.

This year, the Working Family Tax Cuts are delivering Americans with the largest tax cut for working and middle-class families, including no tax on tips, no tax on overtime, and no tax on Social Security. President Trump has worked to put real money back in our pockets. Our economy is being rebuilt brick by brick, and this is because wages are up, jobs are up, and inflation is cooling under the current Administration. Prospective homeowners have seen the dream of owning a home become more realistic due to higher incomes and lower mortgage rates. 

In this new era of growth, rural America is thriving. The Rural Health Transportation Program that was established through the One Big Beautiful Bill, has directed over $203 million dollars to Alabama to ensure our citizens and rural communities benefit for years to come. I have long believed our rural communities deserve the same access to top-notch medical services, and this investment is a real step towards that goal. 

Alabama’s Fourth Congressional District believes in a government that puts Americans first and President Trump’s State of the Union Address shows the values of our district – family, freedom, and faith. I am proud to work alongside President Trump and my Republican colleagues to continue advancing an America first agenda that increases economic growth, protects the most vulnerable, upholds our national security, and delivers peace through strength. 

The state of our union is strong, and the American people have much to look forward to in the coming years.”