MIL USHOR-2b Engine

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

Legislation Strengthens Justice Department Enforcement to Protect American Workers and Manufacturers

Source: United States House of Representatives – Representative Riley Moore (WV-02)

Washington, D.C. – Congressman Riley M. Moore today applauded the passage of the Hershel “Woody” Williams National Medal of Honor Monument Location Act, legislation that will ensure the National Medal of Honor Monument honoring America’s Medal of Honor recipients is located in a prominent palace on the National Mall near the Lincoln Memorial.

Congressman Riley M. Moore released the following statement:

“Woody Williams, who was a constituent of the Second District, is an American hero and legendary West Virginian. It is fitting that the bill creating the National Medal of Honor Monument bears his name. We each owe so much to the courage, patriotism, and grit of men like Woody and the other amazing recipients of the Congressional Medal of Honor. I was proud to support this bill to give the recipients of our nation’s highest military decoration their proper place of honor on the national mall alongside great statesmen like Abraham Lincoln, Thomas Jefferson, and George Washington.”

The legislation is named in honor of Hershel “Woody” Williams, a native West Virginian and World War II Medal of Honor recipient who embodied the courage, sacrifice, and patriotism of the American fighting spirit. The bill will provide a permanent and prominent place in the nation’s capital to honor the men and women who have received America’s highest military decoration for valor. 

The National Medal of Honor Monument was previously authorized by Congress in 2021. This legislation takes the next step by establishing its location on the National Mall, ensuring generations of Americans will have the opportunity to learn about and honor the extraordinary sacrifices of Medal of Honor recipients. 

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Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Glenn Grothman (R-Glenbeulah 6th District Wisconsin)

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U.S. Rep. Glenn Grothman (R-Glenbeulah) proudly serves the people of Wisconsin’s 6th Congressional District in the U.S. House of Representatives. 

Source: United States House of Representatives – Congresswoman Nancy Pelosi Representing the 12th District of California

Washington, D.C. — Today, Speaker Emerita Pelosi joined the California Democratic Congressional Delegation, along with Senators Alex Padilla and Adam Schiff, in sending a letter to U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. and Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) Administrator Dr. Mehmet Oz urging the agencies to work with California to resolve outstanding concerns and release $867.5 million in deferred federal Medicaid payments.

The effort comes in response to CMS’s decision in July to defer $867.5 million in federal Medicaid payments to California while the state provides additional documentation related to certain Medicaid claims.

In their letter, the Delegation raises concerns that the payment deferral could put additional strain on the state and threaten access to care for vulnerable Californians. For Central Valley families, doctors, hospitals, and care providers, reliable Medicaid funding is essential to making sure patients can get the care they need.

“We should always take fraud, waste, and abuse seriously and make sure taxpayer dollars are being used responsibly. But withholding hundreds of millions of dollars in Medicaid payments without identifying specific fraud puts patients and providers in the middle of a dispute they didn’t create,” wrote the Delegation.

“California is working with CMS to provide the information being requested. The federal government should work with the state to resolve these concerns quickly and make sure patients continue to have access to the care they need,” the Delegation continued.

The letter also pushes back on the suggestion that increased spending on California’s in-home care programs is, on its own, evidence of fraud. The Delegation notes that the growth of these programs has been intentional because in-home care can be less costly than institutional care, while California has also implemented additional safeguards to address areas of concern.

The letter is signed by the entire California Democratic Congressional Delegation.

Read the full text of the letter here.

Source: United States House of Representatives – Representative Riley Moore (WV-02)

Washington, D.C. – Congressman Riley M. Moore announced that he is cosponsoring the Ratepayer Protection Act, today. The legislation, introduced by Congressman Gabe Evans (R-CO), would ensure that data centers — not American families, small businesses, and other ratepayers — are responsible for the costs of the additional electricity infrastructure their operations require.

Congressman Riley M. Moore released the following statement:

“West Virginia families and American taxpayers should not be forced to foot the bill for massive data centers, and the enormous potential demands they place on our power grid. The Ratepayer Protection Act preserves state and local control over data center projects while ensuring that hardworking Americans are not asked to pay for hundreds of millions of dollars in new generation, transmission, or distribution infrastructure costs. That cost should always be on the companies.”

This legislation would amend the Public Utility Regulatory Policies Act of 1978 (PURPA) to require state public utility commissions to consider standards ensuring that large data centers pay the full incremental costs associated with generation, transmission, and distribution upgrades needed to serve their electricity demand.

As data centers and artificial intelligence infrastructure continue to expand their demand for electricity, Congressman Moore believes Americans should not be forced to subsidize the infrastructure required to power these facilities. This bill would establish guardrails to protect ratepayers while preserving the authority of state regulators to determine how these standards are implemented.

Congressman Moore has consistently advocated for an affordable, reliable, and abundant American energy supply and for policies that protect West Virginia ratepayers from being burdened with costs created by large-scale industrial projects.

 

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Source: United States House of Representatives – Representative Zoe Lofgren (D-San Jose)

(Washington, DC) — Today, NASA, in partnership with SpaceX, successfully launched the Nancy Grace Roman Space Telescope from the Kennedy Space Center in Florida. Named for NASA’s first chief astronomer, the Nancy Grace Roman Space Telescope, or “Roman,” is NASA’s newest flagship observatory. It is designed to explore the universe, addressing some of the most important science questions identified by the astronomy community. Roman was the top priority large mission of the 2010 Astronomy and Astrophysics Decadal Survey. One exposure from Roman’s primary instrument will capture over 100 times the area of the sky as an exposure from NASA’s Hubble Space Telescope.

“Congratulations to NASA and its partners on this outstanding achievement,” said Ranking Member Zoe Lofgren. “The Nancy Grace Roman Telescope will give humanity a grand encompassing view of our galaxy and will shape the next generation of space exploration. It is because of sustained federal support that we are able to achieve missions of such magnitude. This launch would not have been possible without the thousands of employees supporting the Roman mission across NASA’s centers who have been working tirelessly to make this mission a success. I thank them for their dedication. Roman will allow scientists to explore never before seen galaxies, investigate dark matter and black holes, and catalogue new planets around stars outside of our own solar system. I look forward to closely following Roman’s journey to its final orbit and the commissioning of the observatory ahead of starting science operations.”

“Today’s successful launch of the Nancy Grace Roman Telescope is a historic achievement,” said Space and Aeronautics Subcommittee Ranking Member Valerie Foushee. “Roman will usher in a new age of scientific discovery in space and expand our understanding of the universe. I want to congratulate the Roman team at NASA Goddard and the many other NASA, contractor, and academic partners for their hard work and dedication in getting us to this successful launch today. I am especially proud of the scientists at Duke University and North Carolina Central University in my District whose contributions to Roman helped make this mission possible. North Carolina’s Fourth Congressional District has always been a hotbed for innovation and that commitment to excellence is now traveling from the Research Triangle to the stars. Flagship missions like Roman are what make NASA the premier space agency in the world. The possibilities for discovery are endless when we invest in science.”

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Source: United States House of Representatives – Representative Zoe Lofgren (D-San Jose)

SAN JOSÉ, CA — On Wednesday at San José State University, Congresswoman Zoe Lofgren (CA-18), Ranking Member of the House Science, Space, and Technology Committee, convened a roundtable of civic, academic, agricultural, and technology leaders to discuss the potential impacts artificial intelligence may have on agricultural productivity and water security. California’s 18th district, containing both Silicon Valley and the Salinas Valley, is uniquely positioned at the intersection of technology and agriculture, two of California’s defining economies. Some topics during the discussion included the obstacle of broadband deployment, automated weeding and harvesting technology already at work in strawberry and celery fields, predictive groundwater modeling that could address resource constraints, and expanding ag-tech engineering pathways for students in the area.

“Congress needs to be well-informed and proactive when it comes to addressing artificial intelligence’s role in our agriculture sector,” said Rep. Lofgren. “As with other industries, this new technology presents great possibilities but also valid concerns. I wanted to hold this roundtable to hear from some of the region’s brightest minds about how AI is already shaping agriculture and what should be done to protect and develop our workforce. As the leading Democrat on the House Science Committee, listening to experts is a big part of my role, and I appreciate all of the participants who shared their insights on these important topics which impact both Silicon Valley and the Salinas Valley.”

In addition to her committee leadership, Lofgren serves as an Ex Officio Co-Chair of the House Democratic Commission on AI and the Innovation Economy. She has led multiple bipartisan bills in the 119th Congress to support responsible AI innovation with necessary guardrails, including the AI-Ready Federal Data Guidelines Act (H.R. 9341) and the Workforce for AI Trust Act (H.R. 9334). Both pieces of legislation passedunanimously out of the House Science Committee in June.

The roundtable included San José State University President Cynthia Teniente-Matson; SJUSD Board Chair José Magaña; Silicon Valley Leadership Group CEO Ahmad Thomas; Reservoir VC General Partner Nicola Kerslake; Monterey Bay Economic Partnership President and CEO Tahra Goraya; Synopsys Director of Government Affairs Victoria Tung; and San José State University’s Dr. Katherine Cushing, Chair of the School of Planning, Policy, and Environmental Studies.

“AI has tremendous potential to help address challenges such as water conservation, precision irrigation, groundwater modeling and crop monitoring,” from Cynthia Teniente-Matson, President of San José State University. “I am proud that so many SJSU faculty members and students are deeply interested in connecting their research with real-world challenges, while helping ensure innovation advances the public good. The opportunity before us is to move from what AI makes possible to what California needs us to make possible. I thank Congresswoman Lofgren and everyone who contributed their expertise to this important conversation.”

“Congresswoman Lofgren’s leadership on the House Science, Space and Technology Committee and the Democratic Commission on Artificial Intelligence gives Silicon Valley a direct line into how federal AI policy gets made,” said Ahmad Thomas, CEO of Silicon Valley Leadership Group. “Conversations like this one aren’t just symbolic; they’re a chance to make sure the people writing the rules for AI understand what’s actually happening on the ground. SVLG is proud to help build a bridge from the Silicon Valley to the Salinas Valley that lifts up the voices of all stakeholders.”

“AI has real potential to help Salinas Valley growers manage water, labor, and crop health more precisely, but none of that works without the infrastructure to connect it,” said Tahra Goraya, President and CEO of Monterey Bay Economic Partnership. “At MBEP, we’ve seen firsthand through our broadband buildout across rural, underserved parts of our region that closing the connectivity gap isn’t a side issue to AI adoption in agriculture, it’s the prerequisite. Rural broadband is the infrastructure that determines whether the next generation of ag technology reaches every farm in this valley, or just the ones that can already afford to leapfrog the gap.” 

“AI is going to reshape nearly every career path our students consider, which means the investments we make in TK-12 STEM education today directly determine who gets to participate in that future economy,” said José Magaña, President of the San José Unified Board of Trustees. “Early exposure to STEM changes outcomes, particularly for Latino students who remain underrepresented in these fields relative to their share of California’s student population. Conversations like this one, informed by Congresswoman Lofgren’s role on the AI Commission, are a chance to make sure that federal AI policy doesn’t just focus on innovation but that it focuses on the pipeline of talent that has to exist for that innovation to be built by, and benefit, communities like ours.”

“Synopsys provides engineering solutions that help companies design and optimize complex systems, from chips to industrial equipment to digital infrastructure and more,” said Victoria Tung, Director of Government Affairs at Synopsys. “Discussions like this underscore the importance of designing technologies that meet customer requirements while balancing the needs of the communities where they are deployed.”

“AI’s intersection with agriculture and water resources raises complex and important issues, requiring an approach that engages multiple research disciplines and sectors in our society,” said Dr. Crist S. Khachikian, Vice President for Research and Innovation at San José State University. “A comprehensive public research university like SJSU is ideally suited to helping us get the governance right, ensure growers of every size can put these tools to use, and prepare the workforce for the changes ahead. California agriculture feeds the nation and the expertise in that room was diverse and palpable. I thank the Congresswoman and everyone around the table for a thoughtful and meaningful conversation.”

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

WASHINGTON — Congressman Raja Krishnamoorthi (D-IL), co-chair of the bipartisan Congressional Caucus to End Youth Vaping, today criticized the Food and Drug Administration’s decision to authorize the marketing of the JUUL2 e-cigarette device along with tobacco- and menthol-flavored pods.

The FDA announced Friday that it had authorized the three JUUL2 products after determining that their potential benefits for adults who completely switch from cigarettes outweighed the risks, including the potential appeal of the menthol-flavored product to young people. The decision follows the agency’s authorization of additional JUUL tobacco- and menthol-flavored products in July 2025.

“The FDA should be cracking down on products that hook kids on nicotine, not authorizing JUUL2, which even the agency acknowledges could appeal to young people. JUUL helped fuel a youth vaping epidemic, and that record cannot be ignored. At a time when the Trump Administration is weakening efforts to combat youth vaping, we should be strengthening protections for kids, not giving the tobacco industry new opportunities to addict them. I will keep fighting to hold Big Tobacco accountable and protect the next generation from nicotine addiction.”

Congressman Krishnamoorthi has been at the forefront of efforts to protect children from harmful e-cigarette products. In 2019, he launched the first congressional investigation into youth vaping, exposing Juul’s marketing tactics and pushing legislation to ban flavored e-cigarettes and close the synthetic nicotine loophole. He has led bipartisan letters urging the FDA to crack down on illegal flavored vapes still widely sold online and in stores and launched an investigation into illicit vaping products from China with advertising targeted at children. Last year, he partnered with Congresswoman Celeste Maloy (R-UT), his fellow co-chair of the bipartisan Caucus to End Youth Vaping, in calling on the FDA to strengthen enforcement as over 6,000 flavored products remain on the market, many of them designed to appeal directly to children.Most recently, Krishnamoorthi joined in introducing the bipartisan PROTECT Act, which would authorize $100 million annually for five years for a CDC initiative to prevent and reduce youth e-cigarette use through research, state and local grants, evidence-based policies, and cessation efforts.

Source: United States House of Representatives – Representative Pete Aguilar (31 CD Ca)

SAN BERNARDINO, CA – Today, Representative Pete Aguilar (D-Calif.-33) and U.S. Senator Adam Schiff (D-Calif.) announced that they delivered more than $1 million in federal funding for California State University, San Bernardino. The new investment will support the college completing the buildout and launch of The Applied Research Training Center in Artificial Intelligence, Robotics, and Virtual Reality.  
This federal project will support a new hands-on facility, launched by Cal State San Bernardino with the support of industry partners and government agencies, which will expand on the college’s cybersecurity workforce development program and will incorporate AI-driven security solutions and VR-based training to cultivate a workforce pipeline positioned to navigate complexities around modern cybersecurity, supply chain, and logistics roles.   
Congressman Aguilar and Senator Schiff secured this federal investment as part of Congress’s fiscal year 2026 funding package, and funding is now being disbursed to the university.
“Here in the Inland Empire, it’s essential that we invest in innovative technology training to ensure that young people entering the workforce have the tools they need to succeed,” said Rep. Pete Aguilar. “I was proud to work with Senator Schiff to deliver this critical funding for CSUSB’s Applied Research Training Center to give students more opportunities to build good-paying careers right here in our community.”
“Cal State San Bernardino plays a critical role in preparing students in the Inland Empire for jobs of the future,” said Senator Schiff. “As artificial intelligence transforms our economy, this new research and training center will ensure students are ready to harness AI advancements as they enter the workforce. I’m proud that Congressman Aguilar and I delivered more than a million dollars toward making sure California students continue leading the way in the innovations of tomorrow.”  

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

U.S. Representative Don Beyer (D-VA) today issued a statement applauding the successful launch yesterday of the SpaceX Heavy Falcon that will deliver NASA’s Nancy Grace Roman Telescope to its target destination at the second Sun-Earth Lagrange point (L2). Beyer, former Chairman of the House Committee on Science, Space, and Technology’s Subcommittee on Space and Aeronautics, previously led congressional efforts that successfully protected funding for the telescope’s development from two attempts to cancel the project, then called the “Wide Field InfraRed Survey Telescope (WFIRST),” during the first Trump Administration.

“It is thrilling and deeply gratifying to see the Nancy Grace Roman Telescope go up successfully, and I cannot wait to see the discoveries unlocked by this flagship scientific project for NASA,” said Rep. Beyer. “A decade ago, when I was new to Congress and serving on the House Science Committee, I asked then-NASA Administrator and former astronaut Charles Bolden what NASA’s purpose should be. Without hesitation he said, ‘science.’ That exchange stuck with me, and it was in my mind when I urged my colleagues to reject the Trump Administration’s efforts to cancel this project. I’m glad they listened, and I look forward to the things we will learn from this telescope over the lifetime of its mission as it explores exoplanets, dark energy, and the nature of the universe. I congratulate the team at NASA and all those who worked on this project on this success, with gratitude and hope for all we will learn in the time ahead.”

Per NASA: Named after NASA’s first chief astronomer, the ‘mother of the Hubble Space Telescope,’ the Nancy Grace Roman Space Telescope will have a field of view at least 100 times larger than Hubble’s, potentially measuring light from a billion galaxies in its lifetime. This observatory will also be able to block starlight to directly see exoplanets and planet-forming disks, complete a statistical census of planetary systems in our galaxy, and settle essential questions in the areas of dark energy, exoplanets, and infrared astrophysics.