MIL USHOR-2b Engine

Source: United States House of Representatives – Congresswoman Pramila Jayapal (7th District of Washington)

Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Jerrold Nadler (10th District of New York)

Representative Jerrold Nadler (NY-12) joined elected officials representing areas surrounding the Penn Station complex in sending a letter to National Railroad Passenger Corporation (Amtrak) President Roger Harris regarding reports of purportedly discriminatory arrests made by Amtrak Police in Penn Station.

According to reporting, Amtrak Police started targeting a men’s bathroom Penn Station, focusing on members of the LGBTQ community. Amtrak Police made 23 arrests in June and are now making as many as 20 arrests per day for “public lewdness” through their targeted campaign using undercover plainclothes police officers. The police are reportedly employing questionable and potentially discriminatory tactics by using apps popular with gay men and approaching and propositioning people trying to use the bathroom.

“First, we demand that Amtrak Police immediately cease identifying and targeting members of the LGBTQ community for search, seizure and arrest on the basis of their perceived sexual orientation or gender identity, which likely constitutes discriminatory treatment in violation of the Fourteenth Amendment to the United States Constitution,” the lawmakers wrote.

“Second, we request an urgent meeting for further discussion with you and representatives from Amtrak Police,” the lawmakers continued. “Specifically, it is imperative that Amtrak provide clarification or justification for its reported arrest campaign and commit to exploring alternatives that further Amtrak’s goals without subjecting New Yorkers to arrest and detention solely on the basis of their perceived sexual orientation or gender identity.”

The lawmakers went on to explain that there is a long and painful tradition of police forces using loitering, identification, prostitution, lewdness, and similar laws to target LGBTQ people for harassment, arrest, and incarceration. While Amtrak is entitled to ensure that its facilities are not used for illicit purposes, the lawmakers do not believe Amtrak should be doing so with a hostile arrest campaign reminiscent of anti-LGBTQ policing during the Stonewall era.

Representative Nadler joined State Senator Brad Hoylman-Sigal, State Senator Liz Krueger, and Assembly Member Tony Simone in sending the letter. 

Read the full letter here and below.

###

Dear Mr. Harris:

According to the reporting, Amtrak Police made 23 arrests for “public lewdness” at Penn Station in June 2025 and is now making up to 20 such arrests per day. The reporting also indicates that many of these charges have been ultimately dropped but only after LGBTQ New Yorkers have been handcuffed and arrested. In at least one case, an arrestee was transferred to the custody of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). Finally, the reporting indicates that undercover Amtrak Police are using constitutionally dubious tactics to target individuals they perceive as targets for arrest, including by using apps popular with gay men and by approaching and propositioning users of the bathroom.

First, we demand that Amtrak Police immediately cease identifying and targeting members of the LGBTQ community for search, seizure and arrest on the basis of their perceived sexual orientation or gender identity, which likely constitutes discriminatory treatment in violation of the Fourteenth Amendment to the United States Constitution.

Second, we request an urgent meeting for further discussion with you and representatives from Amtrak Police. Specifically, it is imperative that Amtrak provide clarification or justification for its reported arrest campaign and commit to exploring alternatives that further Amtrak’s goals without subjecting New Yorkers to arrest and detention solely on the basis of their perceived sexual orientation or gender identity.

As you may know, there is a long and painful tradition of police forces using loitering, identification, prostitution, lewdness, and similar laws to target LGBTQ people for harassment, arrest, and incarceration. Just a few years ago, the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey settled a class action lawsuit over similar arrests and promised to end patrols similar to those currently being conducted by the Amtrak Police. While Amtrak is entitled to ensure that its facilities are not used for illicit purposes, we do not believe Amtrak should be doing so with a hostile arrest campaign reminiscent of anti-LGBTQ policing from the Stonewall era.

Thank you for your attention to this important matter. Please contact Representative Nadler’s office at your earliest convenience to schedule our meeting request in order that we may discuss this important issue further.

Source: United States House of Representatives – Representative Salud Carbajal (CA-24)

U.S. Representative Salud Carbajal (D-CA-24) led a group of bipartisan House members in the introduction of the Water Infrastructure Resilience and Sustainability Act, legislation that would fund upgrades to drinking water, wastewater, and stormwater infrastructure to make them more resilient against threats ranging from cyberattacks to extreme weather. 

“It goes without saying that safe, reliable water infrastructure is essential for everyone’s wellbeing,” said Rep. Carbajal. “However, the systems that deliver our drinking water and flush out wastewater are vulnerable to a multitude of threats. This bipartisan bill is a bold investment in securing our water infrastructure to ensure it remains functional for years to come.”

The lawmakers joining Carbajal in reintroducing the Water Infrastructure Resilience and Sustainability Act are Representatives David Valadao (R-CA-22), Troy A. Carter, Sr. (D-LA-02), Jeff Van Drew (R-NJ-02), and Brian Mast (R-FL-21). 

“In the Central Valley, clean and reliable water is critical to our farms, families, and small businesses, but aging infrastructure, extreme weather, and even cyber threats puts our water systems at risk,” said Rep. Valadao. “This bipartisan bill reauthorizes critical programs to increase our resiliency and ensure our utilities have the necessary resources to continue operations, and I’m proud to join my colleagues in support.”

“My constituents in Louisiana live on the front lines of the climate crisis and understand the importance of resilient water infrastructure more than most. Generations have seen firsthand how strong levees, pumps, and drainage systems make the difference between safety and devastation. Investing in resilient water infrastructure is not just about protection; it’s about preserving our way of life. That’s why I’m proud to support the Water Infrastructure Resilience and Sustainability Act. This bill ensures that local water systems have the resources they need to modernize aging infrastructure and keep homes and businesses safe,” said Rep. Troy A. Carter, Sr.

“Every family deserves safe, reliable water, and in South Jersey we know how quickly storms, flooding, or aging systems can put that at risk. We’ve seen what happens when pipes break or when infrastructure can’t keep up with severe weather. This bill gives our water systems the chance to compete for funding to strengthen their infrastructure, upgrade outdated technology, and even guard against new threats like cyberattacks. I am proud to join my colleagues in leading this bill,” said Rep. Van Drew. 

“The Water Infrastructure Resilience and Sustainability Act is a crucial step in ensuring that our drinking water and wastewater utilities have the needed resources to tackle natural disasters and potential cybersecurity risks. This legislation is long overdue, as our aging water systems risk both economic and environmental consequences if not addressed,” said Rep. Mast.

The legislation would reauthorize the following three water infrastructure resilience programs for five years (Fiscal Year 2027-2031), at current authorization levels:

1. Drinking Water System Infrastructure Resilience and Sustainability Program

• Safe Drinking Water Act section 1459A(l). This program, authorized for $25 million, awards grants to eligible entities for the purpose of increasing resilience to natural hazards including earthquakes, tornadoes, floods, hurricanes, wildfires, and hydrologic changes.

Midsize and Large Drinking Water System Infrastructure Resilience and Sustainability Program

• Safe Drinking Water Act section 1459F. This program, authorized for $50 million per year, awards grants to eligible entities for the purpose of increasing resilience to hazards, extreme weather events, and reducing cybersecurity vulnerabilities.

Clean Water Infrastructure Resiliency and Sustainability Program

• Clean Water Act section 223. This program, authorized for $25 million per year, awards grants to eligible entities for the purpose of planning, designing, or constructing projects that increase the resilience of a publicly owned treatment works to natural hazards or cybersecurity vulnerabilities.

According to the Environmental Protection Agency’s most recent Clean Watersheds Needs Survey and Drinking Water Infrastructure Needs Survey and Assessment, the United States will have to spend at least $1.25 trillion over twenty years to meet the nation’s water infrastructure needs. Aging water infrastructure as well as human-made and naturally occurring disasters can impact the ability of water and wastewater utilities to function, particularly in the face of increasingly erratic and extreme weather. Cyber threats are also increasing across critical infrastructure sectors in the U.S., including for water and wastewater systems, according to the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency.

Continued funding for the nation’s water, wastewater, and stormwater agencies to undertake resilience projects helps to meet the urgent need to safeguard water sector critical infrastructure.

The bill has the endorsement of the National Municipal Stormwater Alliance, Association of Metropolitan Water Agencies, National Association of Clean Water Agencies, and American Rivers Action Fund.

“NMSA believes that investments to strengthen the resiliency of Publicly Owned Treatment Works, including stormwater infrastructure, are essential to ensuring the continued delivery of critical Clean Water services in the face of the anticipated increase in frequency and scale of natural hazards. Thank you Representatives Carbajal, Mast, and Valadao for introducing this important legislation to support these efforts,” said Seth Brown, Ph.D., PE, National Municipal Stormwater Alliance (NMSA) Executive Director.

“The Association of Metropolitan Water Agencies applauds Representatives Carbajal, Mast, and Valadao for their leadership in ensuring that our nation’s water supply, water system infrastructure, and cyber infrastructure are safeguarded from future threats. The Water Infrastructure Resilience and Sustainability Act will ensure that our drinking water and wastewater utilities have the resources to address floods, droughts, and cyber security risks. This is crucial for reducing the vulnerability of water service to disruptions that would carry severe economic and public health consequences,” said Tom Dobbins, CEO, The Association of Metropolitan Water Agencies.

“NACWA applauds Representatives Carbajal, Mast, and Valadao for introducing the Water Infrastructure Resilience and Sustainability Act of 2025. Reauthorizing the Clean Water Infrastructure Resiliency and Sustainability Program will help ensure continued federal support for projects that help utilities withstand natural disasters and cyber threats,” said Adam Kranz, CEO of the National Association of Clean Water Agencies (NACWA).

“The Water Infrastructure Resilience and Sustainability Act is a forward-looking investment in our communities and river health. By helping local governments modernize aging water systems, this bipartisan bill delivers relief to families and strengthens our economy. We applaud Representatives Carbajal, Mast, and Valadao for their leadership in taking steps to ensure that our water infrastructure is affordable, resilient, and supports healthy rivers for generations to come,” said Tom Kiernan, President and CEO, American Rivers Action Fund.

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

Congresswoman Dina Titus introduced a resolution today recognizing the cultural, spiritual, and economic value of the 618 million acres of public lands in the United States and encouraging people to visit those lands on fee-free Public Lands Day. Representatives Vasquez and Ciscomani joined the Congresswoman in leading this bipartisan resolution.

“Public lands are central to our national heritage,” Congresswoman Titus said. “They are our common ground as Americans, owned by the people and preserved for generations. They include places that represent our culture and history, are engines for rural and national economies, and are hallowed ground for tribes. It is my hope that people will take this day to visit our forests, our wild and scenic rivers, our national monuments and conservation areas. It is a day to recognize the beauty of this nation.” 

Congresswoman Titus has been a long-time champion of preserving public lands. From leading the charge to protect Gold Butte and Basin & Range to conserving Tule Springs, she believes that everyone has a responsibility to be good stewards of our nation’s unique landscapes. In 2023, she also worked to secure a National Monument designation for Avi Kwa Ame, permanently protecting this sacred land in Southern Nevada.

Under the Trump Administration, there have been unprecedented attacks on public lands in Nevada. Congresswoman Titus worked across the aisle to defeat efforts to sell off these treasured lands in Nevada to pay for tax cuts for billionaires earlier this year during the reconciliation process. Now, more than ever, it is critical to celebrate these special places and underscore their cultural and spiritual significance, as well as their contribution to our economy. 

“New Mexico’s public lands are irreplaceable — they drive rural economies, preserve our history, and provide us with water, wildlife and so many cherished memories and experiences for all our families,” said Congressman Vasquez. “That’s why I founded the Bipartisan Public Lands Caucus and why I’m encouraging every New Mexican to get outside today and enjoy the beauty of everything our state has to offer on National Public Lands Day.” 

“I’m proud to co-lead this resolution recognizing National Public Lands Day. Arizona’s 6th congressional district is home to some of the most iconic and breathtaking public lands in the nation. From Sabino Canyon to Mount Lemmon to Mount Graham to Saguaro National Park and beyond, they each play a vital role in our heritage, economy, and way of life,” Congressman Ciscomani said. “By coming together to celebrate and protect these lands, we honor the natural treasures that unite us as Americans and ensure they remain for future generations.”

In addition to Representatives Vasquez and Ciscomani, the following members are original cosponsors of the resolution: Ansari, Holmes Norton, Cleaver, Brownley, Smith (WA), Carter, Espaillat, Suozzi, Elfreth, Case, Torres, Neguse, Quigley, Watson Coleman, Horsford, Vargas, Meng, Escobar, Kim, LaLota, Hoyle, Evans (CO), Bonamici, Lawler, Fitzpatrick, Lee (NV), Krishnamoorthi, DeGette, Stanton, and Pettersen. 

The resolution is endorsed by Conservation Lands Foundation, Hispanics Enjoying Camping, Hunting, and the Outdoors (HECHO), Nevada Conservation League, Sierra Club Toiyabe Chapter, National Parks Conservation Association (NPCA), Trail Access Project; Friends of Avi Kwa Ame, Friends of Sloan Canyon; Get Outdoors Nevada, The Wilderness Society, League of Conservation Voters, Nevada Environmental Justice Coalition, Native Voters Alliance NV, The Nature Conservancy, Trout Unlimited, Friends of Red Rock Canyon, Save Red Rock, The Black Mountain Institute at UNLV (BMI), and the Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC).

The resolution notes: 

• There are more than 85 million acres of national parks.
• There are approximately 38 million acres protected by 31 national monuments, 25 national conservation areas, and other designations. 
• There are 263 wilderness areas managed by the Bureau of Land Management (BLM). 
• There are more than 200 wild and scenic rivers in 40 states. 
• There are 570 national wildlife refuges.
• Public lands managed by the BLM generated $252 billion in economic activity in 2024. 
• Outdoor recreation $1.2 trillion to the U.S. economy in 2023. 

Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Ron Estes (R-Kansas)

U.S. Congressman Ron Estes (R-Kansas) published a column in the Derby Informer on how the Working Families Tax Cuts will benefit all Americans immediately and going forward once the 2025 tax filing season begins in 2026. 

Read the column here or below.

OPINION: How the summer’s tax cuts benefit you

This summer, congressional Republicans sent the One, Big, Beautiful Bill to President Trump for his signature on our nation’s birthday — July 4, 2025. This historic package will directly benefit all Americans by permanently locking in lower individual rates and providing additional tax relief to hardworking people across our great nation.

Kansans will see these tax cuts immediately when they file their taxes in 2026. The lower rates we enacted in 2017 through the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act are now permanent, which will continue to enable Kansans to keep more of their own paycheck instead of sending it to Washington. Even the New York Times admitted that a majority of Americans will benefit from making these lower rates permanent.

This package, also known as the Working Families Tax Cut, provides significant tax relief, particularly for families earning under $100,000. The average American taxpayer is projected to see a tax cut of approximately $3,752 in 2026, with families earning less than $50,000 benefiting from a 14.9% tax reduction. For a family of four earning under $100,000, this translates to an additional $600 in tax cuts compared to current law, and overall take-home pay will increase by up to $11,700 due to tax cuts and economic growth.

Additionally, families will benefit from the $2,200 enhanced Child Tax Credit, the creation of the Trump Savings Accounts for every child born over the next three years, and the increase of the standard deduction by $1,500. Individuals in certain industries will see added relief with the elimination of taxes on tips and overtime, and retirees will benefit from a senior’s credit, which aims to reduce the tax burden on Social Security recipients.

This historic legislation is full of pro-growth provisions for Kansans, which will increase wages for workers by up to $7,200. Immediate expensing of domestic R&D will stimulate innovation in our region, particularly in technology and aerospace manufacturing. The immediate deduction of machinery and equipment will encourage capital investment, which will lead to higher productivity and higher wages.

Republicans in Congress are continuing to work with President Trump to deliver a golden age of prosperity and growth to the American people. I will continue to do my part in Congress to cut taxes, eliminate red tape, and ensure a bright future for Kansans and all Americans.

Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Adam Smith (9th District of Washington)

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, Representative Adam Smith (D-Wash.) released the following statement:

“Freedom of the press is one of the cornerstones of our democracy, and it must not be compromised by political pressure.

“Sinclair’s decision to ban Jimmy Kimmel from its stations under pressure from Donald Trump’s Administration is censorship. Until this ban is lifted, I will not be doing interviews with Sinclair-owned media outlets.

“We cannot allow this kind of political interference in our free press.”

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

Starting in January 2026, Washington seniors and other beneficiaries enrolled in traditional Medicare will face new prior authorization for their health care. As an NBC News article puts it, the new program “amounts to a federal expansion of an unpopular process called prior authorization, which requires patients or someone on their medical team to seek insurance approval before proceeding with certain procedures, tests, and prescriptions.” Prior authorization, more common in Medicare Advantage and one of the reasons beneficiaries choose traditional Medicare, often needlessly delays or denies lifesaving care.

Recently, DelBene led a group of 17 House Democrats in a letter to CMS Administrator Oz, raising concerns about the new proposal and asking several important questions about how the model will be implemented. Most concerning is that Medicare Advantage plans will be the ones providing the prior authorization services, potentially profiting from denying care, and using AI to make decisions about what kinds of treatments are approved. 

Washington health care leaders are speaking out about how the new concerns will delay or deny care and force providers to spend more time on the phone and less with their patients.

“As clinicians, our goal is to always ensure our patients receive the care they need as soon as possible. A new requirement to obtain ‘prior authorization’ for traditional Medicare patients will delay patient care,” said Tim Dellit, MD, UW Medicine CEO, Dean of the School of Medicine, University of Washington. “Though almost all of our current prior authorization requests from private insurers and Medicare Advantage are ultimately approved, the process adds a significant burden on the patient and the physician. Moreover, adding the use of AI to make prior authorization decisions means fewer trained clinicians will have eyes on the process, and the opinions of our highly trained and experienced physicians could be overruled by an algorithm. The result will be additional burden and delays for those needing vital healthcare deemed necessary by their doctors.” 

“As a public hospital, EvergreenHealth is accountable to providing all community members with access to the highest quality care, including our senior population largely covered by Medicare,” said Ettore Palazzo, MD, FACP, EvergreenHealth CEO. “Over the past several years, we have seen patient volumes and acuity in our Geriatric Care practice increase significantly, and we anticipate that expanding prior authorization requirements will create detrimental outcomes, by creating unnecessary delays and barriers to care while adding cost.” 

“It is well documented that prior authorization often results in delayed services for patients and additional burden for providers. We are concerned that the WISeR model provides an incentive for insurers to deny services and worry that the model would set a precedent for expanding prior authorization into traditional Medicare. We should be working to ensure all seniors have access to care, not adding new barriers that make it health care more difficult for Medicare patients,” said Cassie Sauer, CEO, Washington State Hospital Association.

“CMS’s new WISeR pilot is a step in the wrong direction. At a time when patients and physicians are calling for relief from the harmful delays and burdens of prior authorization, this program expands them—using untested AI and prepayment reviews that risk putting cost savings ahead of patient care. Physicians are deeply concerned that this will limit access, increase administrative waste, and undermine recent progress toward reform,” said John Bramhall, MD, PhD, President, Washington State Medical Association.

“Family physicians consistently identify prior authorization as one of the most burdensome administrative tasks they and their staff face daily. These requirements continue to expand in scope and complexity, pulling time and attention away from patient care and delaying necessary care,” said Sonal Patel, MD, MPH, President, Washington Academy of Family Physicians. “Of particular concern is this model’s dependence on artificial intelligence vendors, whose financial incentives are tied to increased denial rates. While physician-led reviews of procedures with high rates of overuse may benefit the health care system by reducing unnecessary interventions and costs, the expansion of prior authorization denial into Traditional Medicare with AI as the gatekeeper raises serious concerns about who is making medical care decisions. Extending prior authorization into Traditional Medicare will divert limited physician and Medicare resources, decreasing the time and resources available for patients.”

Source: United States House of Representatives – Representative Sean Casten (IL-06)

September 26, 2025

Washington, D.C. – U.S. Congressman Sean Casten (D-IL-06) and U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) led members of the Illinois delegation in a letter to Food and Drug Administration (FDA) Commissioner Marty Makary expressing concern about the proposed removal and relocation of FDA Division of Food Processing Science and Technology staff from Illinois—where it is currently located at the Illinois Institute of Technology’s (IIT) Institute of Food Safety and Health (IFSH) in Bedford Park—to the Washington, D.C. area.

“Such a decision would weaken our global leadership in the food space by eliminating the benefits of this co-location and collaboration with longstanding partners in academia and industry,” the lawmakers wrote. “We request that FDA maintain its DFPST operations in Illinois and continue to foster its relationship with IFSH in the state.

IFSH is a food science collaborative research consortium involving IIT, the FDA, and the food industry. Its goal is to advance food safety, defense, and nutrition through research, sharing knowledge, and innovative solutions. IFSH plays a critical role in the federal government and industry’s research in many important food categories such as infant formula safety, fresh produce safety, contamination prevention strategies in food and packaging, and curating science to help develop regulatory guidance moving forward.

“By allowing the food industry, academia, and FDA to partner directly, IFSH fuels proactive prevention of food safety issues,” the lawmakers continued. “Breaking or diminishing that consortium model would slow crisis response, threaten public safety, and ultimately lead to higher costs in the long run.”

In addition to Rep. Casten and Sen. Durbin, the letter was signed by Sen. Tammy Duckworth and Reps. Danny K. Davis, Bill Foster, Jesús G. “Chuy” García, Robin Kelly, Raja Krishnamoorthi, Mike Quigley, Jan Schakowsky, Brad Schneider, and Lauren Underwood.

A copy of the letter can be found here. Text of the letter can be found below.

Dear Commissioner Makary:

We write to express our concerns over the reported consideration of the removal and relocation of Food and Drug Administration (FDA) Division of Food Processing Science and Technology (DFPST) staff and operations out of Illinois – where it is currently located at Illinois Institute of Technology’s (IIT) Institute for Food Safety and Health (IFSH) – to the Washington, D.C. area. Such a decision would weaken our global leadership in the food space by eliminating the benefits of this co-location and collaboration with longstanding partners in academia and industry. We request that FDA maintain its DFPST operations in Illinois and continue to foster its relationship with IFSH in the state.

In 1988, FDA established its first Center of Excellence at Illinois Institute of Technology. Since that time, IFSH has developed into a one-of-a-kind applied food science research consortium comprised of the IIT, FDA, and companies in the food industry. In collaboration with FDA, IIT provides stakeholders with the opportunity to develop and exchange knowledge, experience, and expertise in the areas of food safety, food defense, and nutrition. IFSH is strategically located in the Chicago region – one of the world’s leading food and beverage industry hubs – and is recognized as a global leader in food science research, advancing innovations in food safety, food defense, food processing, and nutrition. Due to the success of this model, FDA has established additional centers nationwide, focusing on other critical aspects of its mission.

By bringing together the federal government, a major research university, and private industry, IFSH produces a significantly greater return on federal investment, enabling FDA to achieve more with less by partnering directly with industry and IIT and saving taxpayer dollars through greater government efficiency. By allowing the food industry, academia, and FDA to partner directly, IFSH fuels proactive prevention of food safety issues. Breaking or diminishing that consortium model would slow crisis response, threaten public safety, and ultimately lead to higher costs in the long run.

The 2022 powdered infant formula crisis and the 2022 avian flu outbreak in cattle, in which IFSH assisted with research and helped inform safety protocols, prevention strategies, and regulatory guidance, are recent examples of the strength of this collaboration and its ability to work together to better understand how to protect the American people. IFSH, FDA, DFPST, and industry partners are collaborating to enhance prevention strategies through research and technological advancements, ensuring that the food and beverages we consume are safe for everyone.

For these reasons, we reiterate our request that FDA refrain from relocating the DFPST to Washington D.C.

Thank you for your attention to this critical matter.

Sincerely,

###

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

This week, congressional Republicans are holding both House and Senate in recess, refusing to meet or negotiate legislation to stop catastrophically large health care premium increases caused by their Big Ugly Bill. As the approaching government funding deadline puts more attention on health care costs, Republicans are increasingly relying on mass deception about the effects of their bill’s massive cuts to Medicaid, and the ways it will affect hospitals in rural communities.

The Big Ugly Bill and Rural Hospitals: The Facts

H.R.1 as enacted and signed into law by President Trump cuts an estimated $911 billion from Medicaid, according to KFF and the Congressional Budget Office – the largest cut to Medicaid since the program was created. Under the law, these cuts are permanent.

Some Republican holdouts on the bill were concerned that these cuts would lead to widespread closures of hospitals in rural communities. To win their votes, Republicans added a temporary $50 billion “rural health fund” to offset some cuts in rural areas, which expires in five years.

The full impact of the bill’s Medicaid cuts, however, includes an estimated $137 billion in cuts to rural areas, which means Republicans’ “rural health fund” does not restore anywhere near the funding they voted to cut from rural areas. Put another way: the net effect of the Big Ugly Bill with the rural health fund is still a huge cut to rural hospitals. And the cuts are permanent, whereas the fund is temporary.

Most Republicans represent rural areas, so they are sensitive to hearing negative feedback about their law’s impact on rural health. They have a new strategy to respond to the backlash to their votes to defund rural hospitals: they are lying about it.

Would You Rather Have $137 Billion Or $50 Billion?

To deflect criticism for their votes to cut Medicaid and endanger rural hospitals, top Republicans in Congress and Trump Administration officials at federal health agencies are speaking about their temporary rural health fund as a new benefit they are bestowing on rural communities, calling it “the largest investment in rural healthcare in history.”

This “investment” is an $87 billion funding cut!

If someone stole $137 from you and then gave you back $50, you probably would not see that as a good thing. You would want all of your money back!

Republicans, however, are claiming that Democratic’ legislation to restore full funding to Medicaid is a “cut” to rural hospitals because it replaces their $50 billion “rural health fund” with fully restored Medicaid funding. President Trump, Speaker Mike Johnson, Senate Majority Leader John Thune, Senate HELP Committee Chairman Bill Cassidy, and other Republicans in Congress are now peddling this extremely cynical lie.

Every Republican repeating this claim is lying to the American people. They voted to cut rural health, and they know it.

The Truth: Republicans And Trump Are Shutting Down Rural Hospitals

This issue is not just semantics, word games, or math: rural hospitals are already closing because of the Republican tax law:

CNN: Rural Health Clinics Are Closing After Trump’s ‘One Big Beautiful Bill,’ Raising The Legislation’s Political Risks

If Republicans in Congress did not want rural health facilities to close, they should not have voted to cut this funding. 

Lying about it now will not undo their Medicaid cuts, only their votes can.

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

Pressley Has Demanded Action from Federal Reserve, Urged Powell to Uphold Fed’s Mandate of Maximum Employment for All Workers

Video (YouTube)

WASHINGTON – Congresswoman Ayanna Pressley (MA-07), a member of the House Financial Services Committee, and a coalition of Black women activists and civil rights leaders held a press conference to continue sounding the alarm on the rising number of Black women forced out of the workforce in the United States.

In Congress, Rep. Pressley has been calling on the Federal Reserve to take action as the Trump Administration’s mass federal workforce layoffs and anti-DEI policies disproportionately harm Black women and as Donald Trump attempts to seize control of the Fed by illegally firing Federal Reserve Governor Lisa Cook.

Congresswoman Pressley was joined at the press by Tamika D. Mallory, Co-Founder, Until Freedom, Strategist; Brittany Packnett Cunningham, Founder & Principal, Love & Power Works and Host & EP, UNDISTRACTED; Bishop Leah D. Daughtry, Co-Convenor, Power Rising and Convenor, Black Women’s Leadership Collective; Karen Boykin-Towns, Vice Chair, NAACP National Board of Directors ; Melanie L. Campbell, President & CEO, NCBCP and Convener, Black Women’s Roundtable; Valeisha Butterfield, Founder, Global State of Women; and Rev. Dr. Brianna K. Parker, Founder, Black Millennial Café.

“Let’s be clear: Black women are not just workers or numbers on a spreadsheet. We are the backbones of our families, our communities, and this country,” said Rep. Ayanna Pressley. “The pushout of Black women from the American workforce is not just a crisis for Black women—it is a glaring red flag for the entire economy, damning evidence of Trump’s fiscally irresponsible and chaotic economic policies, and it has dangerous consequences for Black women, Black, families, and Black futures. We will not allow the White House’s anti-Black, anti-woman agenda to erase us from the paid workforce, and we’re demanding action now.”

“This is a direct attack on Black families, our stability, and our future,” said Tamika D. Mallory. “What people do not understand is that what is meant for evil against us will not only harm our communities, it will destroy America itself. Because when Black women lose work, our children lose resources, our communities lose anchors, and America loses progress. We will not be silent, because every time you try to push us down, you push down your own future. Every time you try to erase us, you erase the very progress that has kept this country alive.”

“Black women are essential to powering the economy across the board,” said Brittany Packnett Cunningham. “When Black women don’t work, this country doesn’t work. When Black women are in a state of emergency, so are you. Now this country threatens to leave its most essential architects left out in the cold, sick, hungry and without care. The Fed must meet this moment and fulfill their mandated obligation for maximum employment and the people will be awaiting Chair Powell’s plan to ensure black women are no longer shut out.”

“Black women are the foundation supporting not just nuclear families, but extended families across generations,” said Melanie L. Campbell. “When we are pushed out of the workforce through mass layoffs and systemic attacks on diversity, equity, inclusion and accessibility programs, the ripple effects devastate us all. These are delivered attacks on the people who deliver critical services to the most vulnerable. These layoffs impact our country’s economic stability and at this moment, we need justice.”

“We know that Black women, from the foundation of this nation, have been the backbone of this nation’s economy,” said Bishop Leah D. Daughtry. “We are the fastest growing group of entrepreneurs in America. We drive trillions in consumer spending, and when Black women thrive, families and communities thrive. This is a national emergency. America cannot afford to sideline the very women who have always sustained its growth. We are here to fight for the women who have been locked out, left out, and left behind. America cannot survive without us. America cannot thrive without us. So get us back to work.”

“Soaring unemployment among Black women is not a footnote. It’s a catastrophic moral failure at the highest levels of the American system,” said Reverend Doctor Brianna K. Parker. “To be locked out of opportunity is a direct assault on the economic security of the children, the elderly, the students that Black women support. It’ll impact the patients we care for, the companies we establish. The failure here is not merely economic. It is a moral choice to ignore the suffering among those we serve. We cannot choose to run an unjust system.”

A full transcript of Congresswoman Pressley’s remarks is below. Footage from the press conference can be found here.

Transcript: Pressley, Black Women Leaders Sound Alarm on Black Women Rapidly Pushed Out of Workforce Under Trump Administration
House Triangle
September 25, 2025

Thank you for joining us. It certainly is a beautiful thing to be surrounded by such a powerful coalition of Black women justice seekers, table shakers, community builders, particularly at this critical inflection point for our nation. Each one of us standing before you today represents generations of Black women who came before us, who gave us life, spoke life into us, encouraged us, sacrificed for us.

And we are here today to continue sounding the alarm about a crisis that is both economic and moral: the shameful pushout of Black women from the workforce and the dangerous consequences for this nation, for Black women, for Black families and for Black futures.

The numbers don’t lie, and the numbers are damning. The latest job report shows the Black women’s unemployment rate has jumped to 6.7% when overall unemployment is at 4.3%. 

Since February, nearly 320,000 Black women have left the workforce. 

This is not a coincidence. 

This is the direct result of Donald Trump’s mass federal firing frenzy and his relentless racist attacks on diversity, equity, and inclusion. 

Let’s be clear: Black women are not just workers or numbers on a spreadsheet. We are the backbones of our families, our communities, and this country.

Nearly 70% of Black women are the primary bread winners in their households, providing for children, parents, and elders. 

When we lose work, it reverberates far beyond our own families. Economists estimate in fact that just 2% of Black women being fired this year has cost our economy $37 billion in GDP spending. 

This is not just a crisis for Black women. This is a glaring red flag for the entire economy. 

It is a bellwether of what is to come if we continue down this path, and it is damning evidence of Donald Trump’s fiscally irresponsible and chaotic economic policies. 

His mass firings have gutted agencies where Black women make up much of the workforce – USAID, doing the work of combating disease, malnutrition, hunger. The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, seeking justice for perhaps an elder in your family who’s been a victim of a predatory product. Housing and Urban Development, enforcing fair housing laws, administering affordable housing grants. Health and Human Services, doing that essential work. Department of Education, processing your FAFSA applications.

So the gutting of these agencies and the pushout of Black women from this workforce and that we represent 12% of the federal workforce is undermining the very institutions that deliver essential services to people in need.

And now, Trump is attempting an unlawful power grab by trying to fire Federal Reserve Governor Lisa Cook, the first Black woman to ever sit on the Federal Reserve Board. 

Her very presence is a reminder of the brilliance and expertise that Black women bring to shaping our economy, from the federal government to the C suite, and everywhere in between. 

His attacks on Governor Cook are racist, sexist, and unconstitutional, and consistent. He is obsessed with Black women.

And I’m glad the courts have stepped in to block this baseless firing. They must uphold the law and the independence of the Fed must be protected. 

Earlier this month, I wrote to Chairman Powell calling on the Federal Reserve to do its job and take immediate action to uphold the statutory mandate of maximum employment for all, and that includes addressing the skyrocketing unemployment rate among Black women. 

And we are not asking – we are demanding. 

We demand the Federal Reserve uphold its statutory mandate of maximum employment. 

We demand the Trump administration stop its precise coordinated attacks on Black women workers.

And we demand that Donald Trump end his reckless, racist, and irresponsible economic policies that are hurting all of us.

But really, our demand is simple. For Black women, for Black families, for Black futures – Chairman Powell, do your job. 

This man ran on economics, Donald Trump, so they say. Well, do right by hard working American families then. 

Trump wants to keep his knee on the neck of our economy and rob Black families of our dignity, our livelihood, and our futures – but not on our watch. 

I’ll close with this. Black women have always been essential to the American economy 

— from Sadie Alexander, the first Black woman to earn a PhD in economics, to Coretta Scott King’s fight for a federal job guarantee, to Lisa Cook shaping monetary policy today.

We have truly been the canary in the coal mine on this issue and so many others.

Because when Black women are working, when Black women are innovating, when Black women are thriving, our entire economy and country benefits. 

So we will not be silent, and we will certainly not be sidelined. And we will not allow the occupant of the White House’s anti-Black, anti-woman agenda to erase us from the paid workforce. 

Black women, Black families, Black futures. Our nation depends on it. 

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