MIL USHOR-2b Engine

Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Jason Crow (CO-06)

WASHINGTON — Congressman Jason Crow (D-CO) is calling on Speaker Mike Johnson to immediately ban members of the U.S. House of Representatives, their families, and congressional staff from trading in individual stocks and participating in prediction markets. 

In a new bipartisan letter, Crow says that the U.S. House of Representatives should amend its rules, which currently do not address prediction markets or stock trading. 

Last month, the U.S. Senate approved a bipartisan resolution to prevent Senators, who often are privy to sensitive information, from making bets on prediction markets.

“Members of Congress should not be personally profiting off of stock trading or placing bets in prediction markets,” said Congressman Crow. “We have to restore the American people’s trust in their government. That starts by rooting out corruption. Elected officials must be held to a higher standard.”

Recent news reports have raised allegations of government officials, staff, and candidates for office abusing their positions to place bets on prediction markets using confidential information. Commonsense rules are necessary to prevent Members of Congress from using access to information as part of their official duties for their own financial gain.

Throughout his time in Congress, Crow has fought to end corruption. He has stood up to special interests and has not taken a dime of corporate PAC money. Additionally, his End Dark Money Act would crack down on dark money’s influence on U.S. elections and his bipartisan Shell Company Abuse Act would limit foreign interference in U.S. elections. Crow is also an original cosponsor of the TRUST in Congress Act to ban members of Congress and their families from owning or trading stocks. 

A PDF of the letter can be found here, with full text appearing below: 

Dear Speaker Johnson and Leader Jeffries:

We are writing to urge immediate changes to the rules package for the 119th Congress to include a clear, enforceable ban on Members, their families, and staff trading in individual stocks and in prediction markets. If such changes are not adopted in the current Congress, we urge that these provisions be included in the rules  package for the 120th Congress.

The provisions we support reflect bipartisan work to stop insider trading and restore trust in Congress. Regardless of the process for passing legislation to address these concerns, these components can and should be  adopted now through the House rules.

First, the rules should prohibit Members from trading stocks while in office. Members of Congress are privy to information the average hard-working American is not, so we should end both the appearance and reality of conflicts of interest and special privileges for elected officials.

The rules should also directly address prediction markets. The United States Senate recently acted on a bipartisan basis to change its standing rules to prohibit Senators and staff from using prediction markets. The House of Representatives should not lag behind the Senate in closing obvious avenues for conflicts of interest and the appearance of corruption. The House should also act to end abuse in the use of prediction markets in our chamber immediately.

These reforms are not partisan; they are about restoring trust in Congress as an institution. Members from across the political spectrum have heard the same message from our constituents: they want clear rules that prevent lawmakers from personally profiting from nonpublic information or from the outcomes of the very processes  we oversee. The House can  act now to address concerns about insider trading and special privileges by taking action against stock trading and prediction markets in the House Rules.

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Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Clay Higgins (R-LA)

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Congressman Clay Higgins (R-LA) issued a statement after the House passed H.R. 2071, the Save Our Shrimpers Act. Higgins introduced the bill in March 2025 alongside Rep. Troy Nehls (R-TX). The legislation directs the United States to oppose taxpayer-funded projects that bankroll foreign shrimp farming and processing.  Read the bill text here. 

“Domestic shrimpers have been undercut by foreign competitors who often receive U.S. taxpayer dollars by way of international financial institutions. This legislation orders an end to American subsidization of foreign seafood production,” said Rep. Higgins. “I will not stop fighting for Louisiana agriculture. If I had full control, I’d stop all or most imported seafood and rice. One day at a time though, we’re winning because we’re in the fight.” 

Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Austin Scott (GA-08)

Washington, D.C— Today, U.S. Representative Austin Scott (GA-08) led a bipartisan group of 79 members of the U.S. House of Representatives in sending a letter to United States Trade Representative (USTR) Ambassador Jamieson Greer to emphasize the importance of fair-trade measures for the U.S. specialty crop industry.

“America’s growers and producers are the best in the world. Current Mexican trade practices have flooded our markets with products that are held to a lower production standard than those produced here by American farmers. The USMCA review process gives us an opportunity to reaffirm and recommit our support for domestic agriculture and the American farmer by forcing Mexico to play by the same rules if they want to import to the United States,” said Rep. Scott.

The letter urges the Administration to address the urgent crisis as unfairly traded imports from Mexico continue to undercut U.S. growers and creates a significant competitive disadvantage for American producers. The letter calls for improved trade measures, as part of the 2026 United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA) review process, that protect the long-term viability of America’s fruit, vegetable, and certain tree nut industries, and ensure continued access to domestically grown food.

In the letter, the Members write: “Without measures to restore competitive balance, specialty crop production will increasingly move to foreign countries. We urge you to evaluate trade actions that can safeguard U.S. growers from unfair pressures from Mexico. This work is essential to maintaining U.S. competitiveness in the specialty crop sector and to ensuring Americans continue to have access to high-quality, domestically grown food—an issue fundamental to our national security.”

Read the full letter here.

 

The following state, regional, and national organizations have endorsed the letter:

American Farm Bureau Federation

Alabama Farmers Federation

California Table Grape Commission

Florida Blueberry Growers Association

Florida Farm Bureau Federation

Florida Fruit and Vegetable Growers Association

Florida Tomato Exchange

Georgia Agribusiness Council

Georgia Berry Exchange

Georgia Blueberry Commission

Georgia Farm Bureau

Georgia Fruit and Vegetable Growers Association

Georgia Pecan Growers Association

Georgia Watermelon Association

Michigan Asparagus

Michigan Vegetable Council

Mississippi Farm Bureau Federation

National Onion Association

National Pecan Federation

North Carolina Sweetpotato Commission

Oklahoma Pecan Growers Association

South Carolina Small Fruit Association

Southeastern Pecan Growers Association

Texas Pecan Growers Association

Vidalia Onion Business Council

Washington Red Raspberry Commission

Western Pecan Growers Association

Source: United States House of Representatives – Congresswoman Norma Torres (35th District of California)

Source: United States House of Representatives – Representative Mike Johnson (LA-04)

WASHINGTON — During National Police Week, Speaker Johnson hosted a candlelight vigil on the steps of the U.S. Capitol today to honor fallen police officers and commemorate their service to our local communities. Speaker Johnson was joined by Rep. John Rutherford, families of fallen officers, and House Members.

“To the families of those fallen heroes and those who continue to stand guard in our communities: we have your back. We’ll continue to advance policies here that support law enforcement and bring justice to those who seek to harm officers,” Speaker Johnson said.

Watch Speaker Johnson’s remarks here.

Below are Speaker Johnson’s remarks as delivered:

Good evening, everyone. We want to thank you all for being here on this very somber occasion. Why are we gathered here this evening? Well, the Scripture tells us to give honor where honor is due, and today we’re here to honor the service and the sacrifice of America’s law enforcement personnel. We are here because every American who lives in freedom and safety has a duty to remember the story of those who provide it for us. That story—the story of American law enforcement—is one of honor and duty sacrifice, and it deserves to be told and repeated again and again at this moment in our country and its history.

It’s not lost on anyone that we’re living through some troubling times. In the last few months, just the last few months we’ve seen yet another attempt on the President’s life. We’ve seen repeated attacks on synagogues and churches. We’ve seen horrific, heartbreaking tragedies like the one that struck my own hometown in Shreveport, Louisiana just several weeks ago, and took the lives of eight innocent young children. One act of unspeakable violence. There is a battle right now between good and evil, and we all feel it.

And in spite of the darkness, every American town and city is undeniably safer and stronger because of that thin blue line. We owe our nation’s law enforcement everything because they sacrifice everything to stand guard against evil and protect all of our communities. I come from a first responder family myself, and I understand the sacrifice personally. My dad was a firefighter and nearly lost his life to severe burns that left him permanently disabled for the next 32 years of his life. That sacrifice, the sacrifice that our first responders make, is one that is born by their entire family, and we can never forget the burden that they carry. 

I’m reminded today of Officer Marc Brock, an extraordinary young man, a police officer from Vivian, Louisiana in my district. In November, Officer Brock was tragically killed in the line of duty while serving a warrant. He was just 25 years old, but he touched countless lives through his service to our community and through his volunteer work. And he leaves behind Kambreigh, his beautiful fiancé, and a family who loved him immensely. I was honored to host Kambreigh and Officer Brock’s mother, Shirley, as my guests for the State of the Union this year. Officer Brock’s death is a somber reminder of the tremendous risks our law enforcement officers take every single day.

Joining us today here is another proud law enforcement family represented by Linsey Timmins and her daughter, who you’ll hear from shortly. Officer Tyler Timmins served in the Pontoon Beach Police Department just outside of St. Louis. While responding to a suspected stolen vehicle on October 26, 2021, Tyler was ambushed and killed by a repeat felon in an illegal possession of a weapon. Today, he leaves behind his lovely wife, Linsey and their daughter Chloe. Tyler made the ultimate sacrifice, and today we honor his selfless service and the service of more than 23,000 fallen officers who have laid down their lives in the line of duty.

To the families of those fallen heroes and those who continue to stand guard in our communities: we have your back. We’ll continue to advance policies here that support law enforcement and bring justice to those who seek to harm officers. 

While even one officer killed in the line of duty is too many, we are thankful to report that law enforcement deaths hit an 80-year-low in 2025. That represents a 25% decrease from 2024 to 2025. We’re working to make our streets safer for American families, and we will continue to support the men and women who are on the front lines of cleaning them up. Our pledge is to support you in word and deed, and we will work hard to ensure that those who are tragically no longer with us are never forgotten.

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Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman David G Valadao (CA-21)

WASHINGTON – Today, the U.S. House of Representatives passed H.R. 2853, the Combating Organized Retail Crime (CORCA) Act. This bipartisan bill was introduced by Congressman David Valadao (CA-22) and Reps. Dave Joyce (OH-14), Susie Lee (NV-03), Brad Schneider (IL-10), Dina Titus (NV-01), Laurel Lee (FL-15), Lou Correa (CA-46), and Michael Baumgartner (WA-05). The CORCA Act takes important steps to strengthen legal tools for law enforcement and crack down on interstate and transnational crime. 

The CORCA Act builds off initiatives included in the Safeguarding our Supply Chains Act, which was introduced by Congressman David Valadao and Congressman Brad Schneider (IL-10) in the 118th Congress.

“Organized retail crime and cargo theft are hurting small businesses and families across the Central Valley,” said Congressman Valadao. “These are coordinated criminal operations that put public safety at risk, disrupt supply chains, and drive-up costs for consumers. The CORCA Act gives law enforcement stronger tools to investigate and dismantle organized theft rings, and I’m especially proud to see language from my Safeguarding our Supply Chains Act included. This Police Week, I’m honored to help pass this bipartisan bill to hold criminals accountable and support the law enforcement officers working every day to keep our communities safe.”

The Combating Organized Retail Crime Act would:

• Strengthen legal tools for law enforcement by allowing criminal forfeitures for interstate shipment, transportation of stolen goods, or sale of stolen goods convictions
• Expand money laundering statutes
• Enable prosecution of organized retail and supply chain groups using interstate or foreign commerce to facilitate crimes
• Mandate the creation of the Organized Retail and Supply Chain Crime Coordination Center within Homeland Security Investigations (HIS) and the Department of Homeland Security

Background:

Sophisticated criminal organizations have been increasingly involved in theft, fraud, and other property crimes against retail stores and various components of the supply chain. These crimes have escalated in scope and impact, threatening the national economy, consumer safety, and public security. According to the National Retail Federation, retail larceny incidents increased by 93% from 2019 to 2023, and stores lost $121.6 billion to retail theft in 2023. This surge in retail crime is often orchestrated by organized groups to resell stolen goods through physical and online marketplaces, further fueling illicit profits and financing additional criminal enterprises.

At the same time, product manufacturers and supply chains are experiencing a rise in organized cargo theft across rails, roads, and the various distribution points across the United States. CargoNet reported a 27% increase in cargo theft incidents in 2024 over 2023. These thefts range from large-scale physical theft of goods from containers and storage to sophisticated cybercriminal methods that divert shipments to illicit receivers. This causes significant financial losses and operational supply chain disruptions.

Read the full bill here.

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Source: United States House of Representatives – Congresswoman Dina Titus (1st District of Nevada)

WASHINGTON – The U.S. House of Representatives today passed Congresswoman Dina Titus (NV-01)’s Combating Organized Retail Crime Act (CORCA) to crack down on retail theft rings that are conducting large-scale robberies of merchants and cargo shipments.

“These organized theft rings are costing merchants, shippers, and American consumers billions of dollars per year. They also put customers and staff at risk. A new approach is needed to combat retail and cargo theft,” Congresswoman Titus said. “These sophisticated operations go far beyond one bad actor shoplifting or stealing cargo and require a strong federal response to protect consumers, local businesses, and transportation networks. Often, these stolen goods are sold on the black market internationally to fund other illegal undertakings. The Combating Organized Retail Crime Act establishes a coordinated federal response to mitigate this crime and gives law enforcement more tools to find and prosecute bad actors.”

CORCA would establish an Organized Retail and Supply Chain Crime Coordination Center within Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) at the Department of Homeland Security (DHS). This coordination center would strengthen collaboration among federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies, along with retail crime associations, to create a cohesive strategy to combat organized retail and cargo theft.

Congresswoman Titus has led this bipartisan effort with Congressman Ken Buck (CO-04) since the introduction of H.R. 9177 in 2022 and has worked most recently with Representative David Joyce (OH-14). As the Ranking Member of the Transportation & Infrastructure’s Railroads, Pipelines, and Hazardous Materials Subcommittee, Representative Titus also hosted a roundtable to examine the issue of cargo theft on supply chains and consumer prices in April 2025.

“Businesses throughout my district are facing the burdens of a rise in organized retail crimes and fraud schemes that are sweeping the nation,” said Congressman Joyce. “These criminal organizations are not only harming small businesses and retailers in our communities but are also putting American consumers at risk of violence and fraud. These crimes also have more widespread consequences for public safety, as these organized groups often resell stolen goods to finance other illicit activities, including drug and human trafficking operations.”

According to the National Retail Federation, retail larceny incidents increased by 93 percent from 2019 to 2023, including a 90 percent increase in actual dollar loss. Stores lost $121.6 billion to retail theft in 2023, compared to $93.9 billion in 2021, $61.7 billion in 2019, and $46.8 billion in 2017. In 2023, 84 percent of retailers reported that violence and aggression were a greater concern than in 2022. At the same time, product manufacturers and the supply chain are experiencing a rise in organized cargo theft across rails, roads, and the various distribution points across the United States. CargoNet reported a 27 percent increase in cargo theft incidents in 2024 over 2023.

These crimes are often orchestrated by organized groups that resell stolen goods through physical and online marketplaces, further fueling illicit profits and financing additional criminal enterprises. The Combating Organized Retail Crime Act seeks to address these challenges by enhancing legal frameworks, improving enforcement capabilities, and fostering coordination across federal, state, and local agencies. The legislation responds to the limitations of state-level efforts, which struggle with resource constraints and the interstate and international nature of organized retail and supply chain crime, and it aims to safeguard commerce, consumer confidence, and national security.

The Combating Organized Retail Crime Act is supported by the National Retail Federation, the Retail Industry Leaders Association, the Major County Sheriffs of America, Home Depot, UPS, the Intermodal Association of North America, the Association of American Railroads, the International Council of Shopping Centers,  the American Trucking Association, the Federal Law Enforcement Officers Association, the Reusable Packaging Association, DHL, the U.S. Dairy Export Council, the National Milk Producers Foundation, the Transportation Intermediaries Association, the PASS (Protect America’s Small Sellers) Coalition, the International Downtown Association, Amazon, the World Shipping Council, Pirate Ship, the National Shooting Sports Foundation, Walgreens Co., CVS Health, Kroger, Walmart, and Target.

“Large-scale retail theft operations are an ongoing problem that endanger retail workers, customers and the economic safety of communities nationwide. We commend Congresswoman Titus for her leadership on the Combating Organized Retail Crime Act and are grateful to those House members who voted for this bipartisan legislation. The bill strengthens federal coordination and provides critical resources to fight these criminal networks. We encourage the Senate to act quickly and send it to the president for signature,” National Retail Federation EVP of Government Relations David French said.

“The Association of American Railroads applauds the House of Representatives for advancing the Combating Organized Retail Crime Act (CORCA) and thanks Rep. Dina Titus for her leadership in championing this important legislation. Organized retail crime threatens supply chains, retailers, railroads, workers, and consumers across the country, and stronger coordination between federal, state, and local law enforcement is critical to addressing these increasingly sophisticated criminal networks. We appreciate the House’s commitment to advancing policies that improve public safety and protect the movement of goods throughout the national supply chain, and we look forward to continuing to work with lawmakers as the legislation advances,” said Ian Jeffries, President and CEO of the Association of American Railroads.

“Leading retailers are grateful to Representative Titus and the bipartisan group of cosponsors for recognizing the urgent need to address the growing threat of organized retail crime,” said Sarah Gilmore, RILA Senior Director, Government Affairs. “Fraud-driven criminal networks engaged in cargo theft, gift card fraud, and all too often violent in-store ORC driven incidents threaten the safety and security of American communities. CORCA provides the tools necessary for coordinated action and information-sharing, ensuring that law enforcement and industry partners can prosecute and dismantle the criminal enterprises orchestrating these sophisticated schemes. RILA is thrilled to see this important piece of legislation pass the House.” 

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Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Adrian Smith (R-NE)

Unfortunately, there has been a smear campaign full of misinformation aimed at preventing nationwide, year-round E15 from becoming a reality. Now more than ever, it is important for me to set the record straight. 

Source: United States House of Representatives – Representative Debbie Wasserman Schultz (FL-23)

“The Everglades internment camp’s closure is long overdue. This monument to cruelty, waste and environmental and tribal lands abuse should have never been built. At my surprise oversight inspection last month, I saw atrocious conditions that Florida taxpayers were forced to spend over $1 million a day on, just to cram people with no criminal history into cages and trample our sensitive Everglades.

Source: United States House of Representatives – Congresswoman Ayanna Pressley (MA-07)

“Not only was their innocence corrupted and their bodies violated and their lives changed, their very rights were violated…and I’m working closely with survivors for a legislative fix of restorative justice.”

Pressley, Oversight Democrats Hold Field Hearing Centering Survivors of Epstein’s Abuse

Video (YouTube)

PALM BEACH, FL – Today, during a press conference following a field hearing on the Epstein investigation led by House Oversight Committee Democrats, Congresswoman Ayanna Pressley (MA-07) made an impassioned call for accountability, healing, and restorative justice for survivors of Jeffrey Epstein’s abuse. After hearing firsthand from survivors—many of whom shared how they were harmed not only by Epstein and his co-conspirators, but also by the institutions that failed to deliver accountability—Rep. Pressley uplifted their stories, highlighted the emotional harm and financial hardship that many survivors are forced to carry, and emphasized her commitment to taking legislative action that centers restorative justice.

The field hearing, led by Ranking Member Robert Garcia, was held as part of the Epstein investigation in Palm Beach, Florida, where many of Epstein’s crimes and subsequent failures of accountability took place.  The field hearing included testimony from survivors and important witnesses in the investigation.

As a survivor of sexual abuse herself, Congresswoman Pressley has been a dedicated advocate for survivors’ justice and has led committee Democrats in calling for a full Congressional hearing to ensure survivors’ firsthand accounts are heard.

A transcript of Congresswoman Pressley’s remarks at a press conference following the hearing is available below and the video is available here. Footage of her question line during the hearing is available here.

Transcript: Following Palm Beach Hearing, Pressley Calls for Accountability, Healing, & Restorative Justice for Epstein Survivors

House Oversight Committee Field Hearing

May 12, 2026

REP PRESSLEY: We’re here at ground zero for where Epstein’s crimes occurred—crimes that were moral crimes, civil crimes, criminal crimes, crimes that I would consider, really, against humanity.

Given the systemic harm caused by really what was a global enterprise of trafficking girls, [it’s] impossible for me to not think about my own 17-year-old daughter. 

Again, you see grown women before you who are courageous in their refusal to be silent, but they were mere girls. Fourteen, fifteen, sixteen, seventeen. Talented artists, dancers, aspiring teachers, lawyers, models.

Their bodies were violated. Their dreams devastated. Their lives irreparably harmed.

When you are violated in such a way as a child, it changes—on a very foundational and deep level—who you are. Forever. Your ability to love, to receive love.

But it’s not only an emotional toll, and certainly the cost of trauma is a high one.

But there are also economic expenses—an inability to pursue a job, to keep a job, 20 years of, 30 years, three decades of legal fees that no one was counting on. 

And not only was their innocence corrupted and their bodies violated and their lives changed, their very rights were violated. 

The Crime Victims’ Rights Act grants individuals who are victims of federal crimes specific enforceable rights, including protection from the accused, reasonable, accurate, and timely notice of public proceedings, and the right to be heard. 

It ensures victims are treated with fairness, dignity and respect. 

Well, that did not happen. 

Their rights were violated, and I’m working closely with survivors for a legislative fix of restorative justice. 

That’s what brings us here today—to learn from the survivors, to identify failures, to hold predators and abusers accountable.

And although I commend the survivors for their courage, I look forward to a day where survivors do not have to relive their trauma in order to compel action from their government. 

And finally, although this is a fight specifically for justice, accountability, and healing for our survivors—who deserve so much more than sympathy, which is why I’m seeking to advance a legislative restorative justice fix, to acknowledge the economic abuse and financial hardship that many of them still carry today. 

But this is a fight for all survivors that are victims of sexual assault and human trafficking.

And so for that, to ensure that there is no erasure, I want to acknowledge the incredible work of Tarana Burke of the MeToo movement, Amber Tamblyn, and many more. And in my own district of the Massachusetts 7th, My Life My Choice and the Boston Area Rape Crisis Center.

This is a fight for all survivors. 

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Palm Beach, Florida is where Jeffrey Epstein’s crimes first came to light, and where prosecutors offered Epstein a sweetheart deal that allowed him to continue his crimes. Palm Beach is also home to Mar-a-Lago, President Donald Trump’s primary residence and private club. During the many years of friendship between Donald Trump and Jeffrey Epstein, multiple women were recruited for Epstein from Mar-a-Lago, including Virginia Guiffre. The Wall Street Journal reports that spa employees from Mar-a-Lago, usually young women, were sent to Epstein’s nearby residence for massages, manicures, and other spa services. Epstein referenced Mar-a-lago in a 2019 email to Michael Wolff, released by Oversight Democrats, when he said, “of course Trump knew about the girls.”

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