DelBene Joins 115 Colleagues in Urging HHS Secretary Kennedy to Restore Childhood Vaccine Schedule

Source: United States House of Representatives – Congresswoman Suzan DelBene (1st District of Washington)

Today, Representative Suzan DelBene (WA-01) joined 115 of her colleagues in a letter led by Representative Kim Schrier (WA-08) in urging Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. to save lives by restoring the previous childhood immunization schedule. The letter comes on the heels of the Secretary Kennedy-led Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) announcing they will gut the childhood immunization schedule by reducing the number of universally recommended vaccines without substantive input from relevant scientific and medical experts.

“As Members of Congress, we are outraged at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s (CDC) decision to endanger children and families by undermining the established science-driven and expertly considered U.S. childhood immunization schedule. As Secretary of Health and Human Services (HHS), your duty to this country is to enhance the well-being of all Americans, and yet this decision will put Americans at unnecessary risk of illness and cost lives,” the Members said.

“Your agency’s decision to overhaul decades of evidence-based science is arbitrary and driven by ideology. This announcement completely bypasses the recommendations made by the previously esteemed Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP), a panel that you have replaced with your own hand-picked members, most of whom have long track records of anti-vaccine activism,” the letter states.

“We demand that you reinstate the previous childhood immunization schedule, restore sanctity to the ACIP, and protect the health and well-being of children,” the letter concludes.

The full text of the letter is available here.

Rep. Mike Levin Introduces New Bill to Stop Data Centers from Driving Up Electricity Prices for Consumers

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

January 14, 2026

Washington, D.C.—Today, Reps. Mike Levin (CA-49) and Rep. Kathy Castor (FL-14) introduced the Stopping Hikes In Electricity from Large Load Demands (SHIELD) Act, a new bill to protect families and small businesses from rising electricity bills driven by the explosive growth of data centers nationwide and other large energy users.

The SHIELD Act would update federal utility policy to ensure that massive electricity users, rather than everyday ratepayers, bear the costs of the grid infrastructure they require, while incentivizing large energy consumption facilities to power their operations with zero-emission electricity.

“Families should not be forced to subsidize massive energy costs for billion-dollar companies,” said Rep. Levin. “As we advance the future of artificial intelligence and data centers , we need to ensure that there are clear rules that protect consumers from higher bills and protect our climate from higher emissions. The SHIELD Act makes sure large energy users pay their fair share for grid upgrades and incentivizes them to power their operations with clean, zero-emission electricity, without leaving consumers footing the bill.”

“Back home in Tampa Bay, families and small businesses are already facing rising energy costs and growing demands on our electric grid,” said Rep. Castor. “The SHIELD Act makes sure massive new power-hungry facilities like data centers pay their fair share, instead of shifting costs onto our neighbors, while strengthening the grid and encouraging cleaner, cheaper energy solutions that work for the community.”

U.S. annual electricity consumption hit a record high in 2025 and is expected to continue climbing in 2026, fueled in large part by AI data centers that are expected to more than double their electricity use by 2030. Electricity prices rose an average of 13% nationwide in 2025, putting a strain on family budgets.

Currently, two in three Americans say utility bills are a source of financial stress, three in four are worried about further increases, and 80 million American households are already struggling to pay their utility bills. Without protections, costly grid upgrades can end up being passed on to families and small businesses through higher electricity bills.

To meet surging demand, utilities are investing billions in new transmission and generation infrastructure, costs that are increasingly passed on to consumers. In 2024 alone, utilities in the PJM grid region, the largest grid operator region in the country, passed $4.3 billion in transmission costs to ratepayers, while higher demand drove up energy generation costs by $7.3 billion. There is an urgent need to protect consumers nationwide.

As utilities race to meet growing demand, forecasts have found that about 60% of increased demand will be met by burning fossil fuels, which will increase carbon emissions by 220 million tons.

The SHIELD Act would amend the Public Utility Regulatory Policies Act to direct state Public Utilities Commissions (PUCs) to consider implementing two new federal standards related to large load facilities to ensure that residential customers don’t have to subsidize energy costs for these facilities and that they are powered by zero emission electricity:

  • The first standard would prevent households from paying for grid upgrades for energy intensive large load facilities by creating a separate rate class for large load customers, defined as facilities that use greater than 75MW of electricity. This standard would also include protections to require that costs be paid for by that customer class, including if the facility ceases operations or uses less energy than projected at the time of the upgrade.
  • The second standard would create an incentive for facilities to use zero-emission electricity by prioritizing demand-side interconnection requests for large load facilities that are powered with zero-emission electricity and employ energy saving measures, such as demand response, energy efficiency, or onsite energy storage.

This bill is endorsed by Evergreen Action and Public Citizen.

###

Speaker Johnson on America’s Newsroom: When Republican Policies are Implemented, They Work

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

WASHINGTON — This morning, Speaker Johnson joined Bill Hemmer and Dana Perino on America’s Newsroom on Fox News to discuss the success of Republican economic policies, Democrat calls to defund and abolish ICE, and false claims from Democrats about the Stop Insider Trading Act.

Watch Speaker Johnson’s full interview here.  

On Republican efforts to reverse the Democrats’ cost of living crisis:

What the President is referring to when he calls [affordability] a “hoax” is the Democrats’ spin; it is Bidenomics that got us into this mess. It is Bidenomics, the outrageous spending levels that drove inflation to 40-year highs, that’s why prices are up now. We got to work on it immediately in January when Republicans took over the Congress, the House, the Senate, and the White House, and we did exactly what we said we were going to do: bring down inflation, cut taxes and grow the economy. And that’s what all the indicators are saying. Now, inflation is going down, gas prices at a five-year low, the growth rate is over 5%. That would’ve been unimaginable, even conservative economists didn’t think that was possible. But it is evidence that when our policies are implemented, they work. Trump policies, Republican policies, are doing right by the American people and they’re going to reward that at the ballot box in this upcoming midterm election in November.

On Democrat calls to defund and abolish ICE:

They can’t because Republicans control Congress. This is no time to be playing games with national security and public safety. And that’s what Democrats are doing, beating the drums up here. Remember what ICE stands for? It’s Immigration and Customs Enforcement. They are enforcing the law. They are apprehending the dangerous criminals who were allowed into our country because Joe Biden kept the border wide open for four years. It is estimated more than 20 million people came in, many of them were a great danger to our community. A lot of them have collected in cities like Minneapolis, you know, these sanctuary cities. They’re all there. And so, ICE has to go and do its job. There’s a lot of spin on the Democrat side. They’re assaulting our law enforcement officers and they’re breaking the law. They need to get out of the way and allow federal law enforcement to do its duty that serves all the American people.

On false claims about the Stop Insider Trading Act: 

[AOC is] wrong as usual, she clearly hasn’t read the legislation. It bans trading stocks for anyone in Congress. And this is an important step to go forward because there have been a handful of people who have abused that over the years, and they’ve enriched themselves and they’ve engaged in insider trading. It’s against the law, but we have to police it here because it’s people’s belief in, faith and trust in Congress that’s at stake. So, this is a very important step forward. AOC as usual has no idea what she’s talking about. It wasn’t drafted by wealthy lawmakers; it’s by rank-and-file members who are here serving our constituents, and we want to send that signal to the American people that they can trust Congress. This is a big step forward.

###

DeGette Cosponsors Articles of Impeachment Against Kristi Noem

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

WASHINGTON, D.C. — Today, Congresswoman Diana DeGette (CO-01) released the following after cosponsoring articles of impeachment of Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Secretary Kristi Noem ahead of their introduction: 

“Secretary Kristi Noem is unfit to serve as DHS Secretary because she has committed numerous impeachable offenses. She has obstructed Congressional oversight, directly violated a court order, violated public trust, and engaged in corruption to enrich herself and close associates. 

“Secretary Noem’s actions have led to a masked authoritarian police force terrorizing our citizens — from Denver’s neighborhoods to streets in Minneapolis and across the country. Her aggression has caused innocent citizens to be arrested, assaulted, and even killed. She must be held accountable.” 

Congressman Biggs Applauds House Passage of His Legislation Combatting Exploitation of Children

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

Congressman Biggs’s Coercion and Sexual Abuse Free Environment (CSAFE) Act was adopted unanimously by the House of Representatives. Congressman Biggs issued the following statement:

“The passage of my CSAFE Act delivers long-overdue legal clarity and serious consequences for criminals who coerce and exploit children,” said Congressman Biggs.

“The internet has become a hunting ground for predators who use manipulation, coercion, and psychological warfare to target children in the darkest ways imaginable. For too long, gaps in federal law have allowed these offenders to hide behind screens, anonymity, and outdated statutes while young lives are shattered. The CSAFE Act closes those gaps and gives law enforcement the clear authority necessary to hunt down and prosecute those who exploit children.

“I am grateful for the bipartisan support behind this effort and the critical input from the White House in crafting this legislation. I urge my Senate colleagues to quickly pass the CSAFE Act so President Trump can sign it into law.”

Congressman Biggs’s legislation may be read here.

Congressman Biggs’s Legislation Strengthening Protections for Children Online Advances out of Judiciary Committee with Bipartisan Support

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

Today, Congressman Biggs’s Coercion and Sexual Abuse Free Environment (CSAFE) Act passed out of the Judiciary Committee’s markup in bipartisan fashion. The legislation aims to combat the growing threat of online coercion and sexual abuse targeting minors. Congressman Biggs worked closely with the White House and the Federal Bureau of Investigation in drafting the CSAFE Act to ensure law enforcement has clear statutory authority to pursue offenders exploiting children online.

The CSAFE Act, H.R. 6732, strengthens federal law by explicitly prohibiting the coercion of minors into self-harm, suicide, animal abuse, or other degrading and abusive acts, conduct that has proliferated through online platforms and anonymous digital networks. Under the bill, criminals who coerce minors into such acts would face up to 10 years in prison, with enhanced penalties of up to 20 years if serious bodily injury results, and life imprisonment if a victim dies as a result of the coercion.

“The internet has become a hunting ground for predators who use coercion, manipulation, and psychological pressure to destroy young lives,” said Congressman Biggs.

“The CSAFE Act closes dangerous gaps in federal law and sends a clear message: if you target children, there will be serious consequences. Criminals are using online platforms to push children toward self-harm, suicide, and other degrading acts, often hiding behind anonymity and digital manipulation. Federal law must be clear, modern, and strong enough to meet that threat.

“I’m grateful for the collaboration with the White House and the FBI, and I’m encouraged to see this legislation advance out of committee.”

The CSAFE Act advanced out of committee unanimously and has been referred to House Leadership for a potential vote on the House Floor.

The bill may be read here.

Beyer To Oppose Appropriations Minibus

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

Congressman Don Beyer (D-VA), who represents a Northern Virginia congressional district with one of the largest concentrations of federal workers and contractors in the U.S. House, today announced his opposition to H.R. 7006, the Financial Services and General Government and National Security, Department of State, and Related Programs Appropriations Act.

Beyer led congressional opposition to the Trump Administration’s illegal destruction of the United States Agency for International Development (USAID). His district includes major State Department facilities, and is home to civil servants from numerous federal agencies including hundreds of workers who lost their jobs last year at USAID.

Beyer said:

“I cannot support or fund a status quo that accepts Donald Trump and Elon Musk’s destruction of USAID. I continue to believe that was an illegal, immoral, and illegitimate act. It was a major disaster for my constituents and the region, and it also failed to save taxpayers money as promised. Meanwhile our warnings that destroying USAID would lead to preventable deaths around the world and damage relations with developing nations sadly have already come to pass.

“The bill also fails to constrain an erratic, out-of-control president increasingly bent on illegal military actions. Trump’s abject stupidity regarding possible military actions in Greenland, Mexico, Colombia, Cuba, and elsewhere in the wake of the unconstitutional attack on Venezuela does not have the support of the American people, and Congress must act to stop it.

“While I appreciate and support the important work my appropriator colleagues have done to improve this bill by stripping Republican poison pills from it, I believe Congress must do more to stand up to this corrupt, lawless president. I will vote no.”

Beyer previously served in the State Department as a U.S. Ambassador during the Obama Administration.

Congressman Valadao Introduces Bill to Help Connect Vulnerable Veterans to Stable Housing

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

WASHINGTON – Today, Congressman David Valadao (CA-22) introduced the Improving Mental Health Care and Coordination for Homeless Veterans Act. This bill would require the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) homeless program staff to identify and support veterans who are homeless or at risk of homelessness in order to identify appropriate housing options and mental health care.

“After serving our nation, veterans deserve timely access to quality care, including stable housing and mental health support when needed,” said Congressman Valadao. “I’m proud to introduce the Improving Mental Health Care and Coordination for Homeless Veterans Act to help ensure vulnerable veterans don’t slip through the cracks by strengthening VA coordination and accountability and helping connect them with the benefits they’ve earned.”

“The Improving Mental Health Care and Coordination for Homeless Veterans Act, championed by my friend and colleague Rep. Valadao, is critically needed legislation that would require VA employees to conduct assessments for homeless veterans who may need mental health care and support,” said Chairman Bost. “It should go without saying that our homeless veterans deserve the best care and support, and they should receive the assistance they need to get their lives back on track – without VA bureaucracy getting in the way.”

The Improving Mental Health Care and Coordination for Homeless Veterans Act would:

  • Ensure VA conducts a comprehensive assessment within three days of identifying a veteran in need of homeless program services.
  • Require VA to evaluate both immediate and long-term mental and physical health needs and develop a clear plan of support.
  • Direct VA to identify appropriate housing options as part of each assessment.
  • Ensure assessment information is consistent with and included in the veteran’s electronic health record.

Read the full bill here.

###

Dingell Invites Students to Participate in Annual Valentines for Veterans Project

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

Dingell Invites Students to Participate in Annual Valentines for Veterans Project

Washington, January 13, 2026

Congresswoman Debbie Dingell (MI-06) is inviting students to participate in her annual “Valentines for Veterans” project by creating handmade Valentine’s Day cards to be delivered directly to local veterans. Since 2015, students across the region have made hundreds of cards each year to show love and appreciation to veterans at the John D. Dingell VA Medical Center and Lieutenant Colonel Charles S. Kettles Ann Arbor VA Medical Center, along with VA doctors, nurses, administrators, and staff.
 
“A simple gesture of love and kindness goes a long way to make someone smile and brighten their day, especially on Valentine’s Day. It takes just a moment to remind our veterans that we care about them,” said Dingell. “Every year, we invite students to join us in showing our veterans how much we appreciate their service and sacrifice with handmade valentine cards. We also continue to recognize and thank our VA doctors, nurses, administrators, and staff who have risked their own health to provide care. It’s one of my favorite parts of every year to see the outpouring of love and kindness students share with our veterans.”
 
Please drop off your handmade valentines by February 11 to the Ann Arbor office at 2006 Hogback Road, Suite 7 or the Woodhaven office in the Woodhaven City Hall building at 21869 West Road. If you have any questions, please call 313-278-2936 for assistance or email Melanie.Thon@mail.house.gov. Schools with a large volume of Valentines for Veterans may contact the office to arrange a pick-up.
 
Rep. Dingell and her team will hand-deliver each Valentine by Valentine’s Day to the John D. Dingell VA Medical Center and Lieutenant Colonel Charles S. Kettles Ann Arbor VA Medical Center.

Latta’s SELF DRIVE Act Receives Energy and Commerce Subcommittee Hearing

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

Latta’s SELF DRIVE Act Receives Energy and Commerce Subcommittee Hearing

Washington, January 13, 2026

Today, Congressman Bob Latta (OH-5) participated in a House Energy and Commerce Subcommittee on Commerce, Manufacturing, and Trade hearing to discuss the draft of his bill, the Safely Ensuring Lives Future Deployment and Research in Vehicle Evolution Act of 2026 (SELF DRIVE Act).

Co-drafted by Congressman Latta and Congresswoman Debbie Dingell (MI-6), the bipartisan legislation would establish a national safety and regulatory framework for autonomous vehicle technology.   

To watch the discussion, click here.