MIL USHOR-2b Engine

Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Don Bacon (2nd District of Nebraska)

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, Representatives Don Bacon (R-Neb.) and Adam Smith (D-Wash.) and Senators Mazie Hirono (D-Hawaii) and Susan Collins (R-Maine) introduced the Protect Adoptees and American Families Act, which would grant U.S. citizenship to international adoptees who were legally adopted in the U.S. as children but lack citizenship status due to a loophole in the Child Citizenship Act of 2000.

“As the father to two adopted children, I can’t imagine the uncertainty and anxiety faced by these adoptees who were legally adopted in our country, but are now being told they aren’t U.S. citizens,” said Rep. Bacon. “While this situation was rectified for newly adopted children when the law was passed in 2000, adoptees from before that year were left in limbo land. Imagine being allowed to vote, paying into social security and enjoying other rights as a citizen, and then being told you are not a citizen. It makes zero sense and this legislation corrects that egregious mistake.”

“For decades, thousands of people who were adopted into loving American families have lived in legal limbo through no fault of their own,” said Rep. Smith. “The Protect Adoptees and American Families Act will finally close this loophole and guarantee citizenship to adoptees who have spent their lives in the United States and deserve the same rights as any other American. This bipartisan legislation is about fairness, dignity, and ensuring that families remain whole.”

“Thousands of American families and their internationally-adopted children have been living in fear and uncertainty due to an oversight in the Child Citizenship Act, which is why I’m proud to join my colleagues in introducing legislation that would provide a long overdue solution to address this issue,” said Senator Hirono. “The Protect Adoptees and American Families Act will help keep families together, and ensure that international adoptees are afforded the rights they deserve as U.S. citizens.”

“It is simply not right that international adoptees who were legally adopted in the United States are being denied citizenship due to a loophole in current law,” said Senator Collins. “Our bipartisan bill would address this loophole and allow these individuals to finally achieve their rightful status as American citizens.”

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BACKGROUND
Families who adopted children from abroad were previously required to complete a lengthy, expensive naturalization process for their adopted children, on top of the adoption process itself. In some cases, the paperwork was not completed in full, leaving adoptees unaware they were living in the U.S. without citizenship.
The Child Citizenship Act of 2000 (CCA) streamlined this process by granting automatic citizenship to foreign-born children under 18 adopted by U.S. citizens. However, the law only applied to adoptees under age 18 at the time the CCA took effect in February 2001. Adoptees who had already reached adulthood were excluded, leaving tens of thousands of people without citizenship despite being raised in American families.
The Protect Adoptees and American Families Act fixes this gap by confirming U.S. citizenship for internationally adopted individuals, regardless of when they were adopted or their age. Specifically, the bill:

• Provides automatic citizenship to foreign-born children lawfully adopted by U.S. families who turned 18 before February 27, 200.
• Establishes a path to citizenship for adoptees living abroad who meet eligibility requirements but currently reside outside the U.S. This process includes background checks and the resolution of any outstanding legal matters before citizenship is granted.

This legislation will provide long-overdue certainty for adoptees who have faced barriers to higher education, employment, and financial services, and who in some cases have even faced deportation to countries where they have no family or community ties.

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BROAD SUPPORT
The legislation has been welcomed by adoptees, families, and advocates nationwide who have long fought for a permanent fix to the CCA loophole.

Endorsements for this bill come from: Adoptee Rights Campaign, Korean American Grassroots Conference, National Council For Adoption, Ethics and Religious Liberty Commission, NAKASEC, Niskanen Center, Center for Adoption Policy, National Immigration Forum, National Asian Pacific American Bar Association, Adoptees for Justice, Family Coalition for Adoptee Citizenship, National Alliance for Adoptee Equality, and Alliance for Adoptee Citizenship.

SUPPORTIVE QUOTES
“We recognize the challenges faced by adoptees who, though raised in American families and contributing fully to our communities, continue to live without the protections of citizenship. We applaud the leadership of Rep. Smith, Rep. Bacon, Sen. Hirono, and Sen. Collins in introducing the Protect Adoptees and American Families Act, a bipartisan measure that offers long-overdue relief and recognition to those who are American in every way except on paper. With Korean American adoptees among the most affected, KAGC is committed to working with partners to ensure this vital legislation is enacted and justice is delivered to all impacted.”  – Wonseok Song, Executive Director of the Korean American Grassroots Conference, the largest nationwide network of Korean American voters.

“NCFA supports the Protect Adoptees and American Families Act. Congress intended citizenship for children being internationally adopted by American citizens, but a complicated and confusing immigration and visa system resulted in some parents failing to complete the citizenship process on behalf of their minor children. The Protect Adoptees and American Families Act provides the citizenship that was initially intended for these individuals.” – Ryan Hanlon, National Council For Adoption.

“As a national network in five states, the NAKASEC network strongly urges the immediate passage of this legislation. Birth parents, adoptive parents, and sending countries partnered with the United States with the understanding that adoptees would be full members of their families – with all the rights, protections, and opportunities afforded to them. It’s important to note that citizenship for adoptees is an issue only in the United States. No other receiving country failed to confer citizenship for the children in their care. It’s time for the United States to fulfill their promises and secure citizenship for all intercountry adoptees.” – Becky Belcore, Co-Director of the National Korean American Service and Education Consortium (NAKASEC).

“The Protect Adoptees and American Families Act fixes a 25-year loophole that has prevented internationally adopted Americans, raised by American families and fully integrated into American society, from achieving full United States citizenship. There is no excuse. Now is the time for Congress to get this commonsense bill over the finish line and provide a long-awaited solution for these families and for the betterment of our country.” – Kristie De Pena, Director of Immigration Policy at the Niskanen Center.

“We support this effort to strengthen American families by easing the citizenship process for international adoptees. The Protect Adoptees and American Families Act supports a core aspect of our national values, and we are glad to see Republicans and Democrats come together behind it. We look forward to seeing it passed and signed.” – National Immigration Forum

“Fundamental fairness demands that those children who were lawfully adopted and raised in the United States enjoy the full privileges and opportunities of American life. Yet for thousands of international adoptees, so many of whom arrived from Asian countries and through no fault of their own, that basic promise has been denied due to inadvertent missing paperwork. The National Asian Pacific American Bar Association (NAPABA) commends the sponsors for introducing the Protect Adoptees and American Families (PAAF) Act, a pivotal step to ensure that those impacted within the Asian Pacific American community can finally enjoy stability and pursue a livelihood without fear of removal.” – Priya Purandare, Executive Director of NAPABA

 “Adoptees and their families across the country are living in fear, shock, and with a sense of betrayal – often learning they are not citizens when they are well into adulthood and after lifetimes as Americans. More and more adoptees are reaching out when they are approaching or in their senior years. Their stories underscore the urgent need for immediate legislative repair. The introduction of this bill shows that our country’s leaders recognize this profound injustice and are committed to adoptees and American families.” – Rachel Koelzer, Co-Founder of Adoptees For Justice.

 “We’re thrilled at the introduction of this bill that will give aging adoptees the rights and protections that are rightfully theirs. Reintroducing this bill is an important step toward ensuring that no one is denied their rights or opportunities because of how they came to be a part of their families. This is the tenth year the bill has been introduced – let’s get it passed this session!” – Amanda Cho, Policy Manager with the Alliance for Adoptee Citizenship.

 “To be adopted into a family is to be chosen, loved, and embraced as one of their own. Adoption is a bond that transcends borders, making you not just a citizen of a country, but a citizen of a family, forever. Somehow, we as adoptees have been forgotten. We were lost in the shuffle and are being held accountable for the responsibilities of adults that were ignorant of the process. Our adoptive parents were under the impression that we were citizens through the adoption process. Many of us were born in the 60s and grew up living as citizens because we were told we were. Why would we believe any different when we grew up being told we were citizens? We were given our social security numbers and our driver’s licenses with no questions asked. Why didn’t the government inform us then? If they did, we would have been able to right the wrong. Now years later, we are in limbo, many of us deported. How is this fair or humane? How is it fair to send someone to a country where they know no one, they don’t know the language, and have no means to make a living? This bill needs to be law for those innocent adoptees who are victims of a faulty system.” – H, an adoptee without citizenship.

Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Hakeem Jeffries (8th District of New York)

Dear Colleague:

I write in connection with the pending Republican shutdown of the federal government. 

Last Friday, Democrats strongly opposed the partisan Republican spending bill in the House and the Senate, and it went down in defeat. The next day Leader Schumer and myself demanded that Donald Trump meet with us in order to address the ongoing Republican healthcare crisis and prevent a lapse in government funding. On Monday, President Trump formally agreed to a meeting in the Oval Office. 

Donald Trump has now chickened out and cancelled the meeting. Clearly, GOP extremists want to shut down the government because they are unwilling to address the Republican healthcare crisis that is devastating America. I will continue to update you on the latest developments. We will also convene as a Caucus virtually on Friday, September 26 at 2 p.m. ET to discuss the path forward. 

Equally revealing, House Republicans have made the stunning decision to cancel votes on Monday and Tuesday of next week, notwithstanding the fact that funding to keep the government open expires at midnight on September 30. This is the height of irresponsibility and further evidence that Republicans are determined to shut the government down. 

House Democrats are ready, willing and able to reach a bipartisan agreement that improves the quality of life of the American people and continues our work at the Capitol. Accordingly, there will be a Democratic Caucus meeting at 6:00 p.m. on Monday, September 29 in Washington, D.C. to discuss the Republican healthcare crisis and possible lapse in government funding. Democrats will be in town and prepared to get the job done. 

Over the next few days, please continue to hold events in communities across the country during our Healthcare Costs Week of Action. Our fight is to cancel the cuts, lower the cost and save healthcare. The American people are counting on us to stand up for them. 

Thank you for your unity of purpose during this perilous moment.

Sincerely,

Hakeem Jeffries

Democratic Leader

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

WASHINGTON — House Republicans acted responsibly last week to keep the government open with the clean short-term continuing resolution. Senate Democrats, who used to warn that shutdowns would hurt seniors, veterans, and working families, are now threatening to force one unless Congress repeals the Working Families Tax Cut, restores taxpayer-funded healthcare for illegal aliens, and sends half a billion dollars to leftist news outlets, among other partisan spending demands — adding $1.5 trillion to the national debt.

Senate Democrats on the perils of government shutdowns in their own words:

Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer

September 16, 2024: “If the government shuts down, it will be average Americans who suffer most. A government shutdown means seniors who rely on Social Security could be thrown into chaos as the Social Security Administration limits certain services, like benefit verifications or fixing errors in payments. Our veterans could see regional VA offices shut down and support services put on halt. Some of our military service members could be forced to work without pay. Families who benefit from WIC and other nutrition programs could see benefits halted. And a shutdown would shake the confidence of our economic recovery, something we can’t possibly afford at a time like this.”

Senator Patty Murray

February 27, 2024: “A shutdown come Saturday would create real issues in the daily lives of the American people: risking air travel delays and passengers’ safety, putting off food safety inspections, denying many Americans the home loans they are counting on, leaving America’s farmers behind, and so much more. A Republican shutdown would be nothing short of a disaster. It costs the American taxpayer dearly and stunts the economy all while severely disrupting the basic functions of government across agencies like the FAA and FDA.”

Senator Bernie Sanders

January 4, 2018: “The truth is that shutting down the government is a serious and dangerous action that we must do everything possible to prevent. Shutting down the government would impact tens of millions of our fellow Americans who would be unable to access government services.”

Senator Raphael Warnock

September 29, 2023: “Senator Warnock believes Washington Republicans need to come together with the rest of Congress to fund the government. Georgia businesses are relying on the federal government to stay open and functioning to keep our economy strong, and Georgia’s families and communities are counting on investments and services that will cease if the government shuts down. More importantly, a federal government shutdown will keep Congress from focusing on the issues that matter most: lowering the cost of health care, creating jobs, keeping the nation secure, and more.”

Senator Mark Warner

September 13, 2024: “Stay tuned, but if you feel like you’ve seen this show before and it’s a rerun, you’re right…End of the day, on this issue, again, no state in the country is more disproportionately hit than Virginia with a government shutdown.”

Senator Mark Kelly

September 29, 2023: “A government shutdown would have serious impacts. Servicemembers won’t get their paychecks. Airports could have major delays. Nutrition assistance for children could be cut off. We can’t let any of that happen. Congress needs to work together to prevent a shutdown.”

Senator Adam Schiff

September 2023: “Had the government shut down, hundreds of thousands of people would have not gotten their paychecks. Federal employees would have been furloughed, sent home, and others deemed essential like TSA workers, they would have been forced to go to work and not paid. Service members in the military would be forced to go to work and not get paid.”

Senator Sheldon Whitehouse

February 29, 2024: “Avoiding a government shutdown is not a positive achievement. It’s kind of like not punching yourself in the face — good not to do, but…  And when we go through this so a handful of senators can fundraise off amendments they know won’t pass, it’s aggravating.”

Senator Chris Murphy

November 12, 2023: “The priority has to be keeping the government open and I think this is a moment where reasonable people in the Senate, and that’s where most of the reasonable people are these days, have to make sure that we are not making the perfect the enemy of the good.”

Senator Maggie Hassan

December 21, 2024: “Government shutdowns have real and severe impacts on the American people, including by risking our national security and threatening livelihoods – which is why it is important that we voted on a bipartisan basis to avert a shutdown.”

Senator Michael Bennet

February 2, 2019: “The least we could do is reopen our government and stop pursuing this self-inflicted harm that it creates to have hundreds of thousands of federal workers out of work and not being paid and not able to support their families while we continue to stand on this floor having mindless arguments that are going to do nothing to advance the future of our country. We shouldn’t shut the government down.”

Senator Chris Coons

September 27, 2013: “Shutting down the federal government, furloughing as many as 800,000 federal employees, and denying Americans access to the basic federal services due them is not a responsible way to resolve our nation’s political disagreements. Our democracy cannot function if the minority party threatens to shut down the government unless it gets its way.

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

WASHINGTON — This weekend, following House-passage of a clean, short-term continuing resolution to ensure the government remains funded and operating, Speaker Johnson joined Fox Business’ Kudlow and Fox News’ Saturday Morning in America with Kayleigh McEnany to reiterate that Congressional Democrats will own the consequences if they force a government shutdown.

Watch Speaker Johnson on Kudlow here, on Saturday Morning in America here.

On Republican efforts to restore regular order and keep the government open:

Larry, we’ve been working very hard. You and I have talked a lot about how we got to get Congress back to the way the budgeting and appropriations process is supposed to work as we remember. The way it’s supposed to work is 12 separate appropriations bills passed by Congress through regular order with debate and discussion and arm wrestling over what the appropriate amounts of spending are. I’m proud to tell you, we’ve gotten that muscle memory back in the House. The House Appropriations Committee, working in bipartisan fashion, was forced into doing that, but they got it done.

Chairman Tom Cole and the appropriators did a great job. 12 separate appropriations bills passed through committee, three off the House floor. The Senate passed three and they don’t match up exactly, so guess what? We’re going to a conference committee to work that out. That’s the way it’s supposed to work. But we need a little bit more time because the end of the fiscal year falls September 30. So, well in advance, without drama, we put a nonpartisan short-term continuing resolution on the floor, just to keep the government open responsibly so the appropriators can finish this process.

On Congressional Democrats’ ridiculous “counteroffer”:

Think of what they’re demanding, Kayleigh, to keep the government open … We put a very simple, very clean continuing resolution to keep open the government until mid-November so that our appropriators could do the job. Now, what did Chuck Schumer and the Democrats do in exchange? Democrats sent us a counteroffer. Guess what they wanted to do instead of that?

Kayleigh, they wanted to reinstate giving free healthcare to illegal aliens. They wanted us to add $500 million to prop up liberal news organizations. They wanted to add $1.4 trillion in new spending on a short gap funding measure. And we’re just not going to do that. We can’t do that. And it looks like they’re going to try to shut the government down. The Democrat shutdown will be a disaster for the country.

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

Washington, D.C. – Congressman Riley M. Moore is proud to announce that he and his team have officially recovered over $4 million for West Virginians since he took office on January 3, 2025. This update comes less than one month after Congressman Moore announced he and his team had returned more than $3 million to West Virginians.

The Congressman’s casework team is based in the Morgantown and Martinsburg district offices. The staff are well-trained in dealing with the federal bureaucracy and stand ready to assist constituents who are having issues with any federal agency. 

Some highlights of funding recovered for constituents include: 

• Over $1,900,000 from the Internal Revenue Service
• Over $1,000,000 from the U.S. Department of Agriculture
• Over $580,000 from the Federal Emergency Management Agency 
• Over $423,000 from the Social Security Administration
• Over $24,000 from the Department of Labor
• Over $23,000 from the Department of Defense
• Over $21,000 from the Department of the Army

Congressman Moore issued the following statement:

“My team and I are proud to announce that we have now recovered over $4 million for West Virginians just nine months into my first term. This incredible milestone reflects our continued commitment to delivering real results for hardworking West Virginians.

I will never stop fighting for the people of the Second District. If you or your family are having trouble dealing with a federal agency, don’t hesitate to reach out to my office—we’re here to help.”

NEED HELP? Constituents can request assistance by calling Congressman Moore’s team in Morgantown (304-350-6995) or Martinsburg (304-350-6987)

Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Jim Costa Representing 16th District of California

FRESNO, Calif. –  Congressman Jim Costa (CA-21) and Beth Van Duyne (TX-24) introduced H.R. 5355 – The Ian Kalvinskas Pediatric Liver Cancer Early Detection and Screening Act, bipartisan legislation to strengthen early detection of pediatric liver disease and give families clearer information about lifesaving living liver donations. 
This legislation is named after Ian Kalvinskas, a former intern for the Office of Congressman Jim Costa. Sadly, he lost his life to cancer in July 2025. Learn more about Ian’s story.

“Families like Ian’s shouldn’t have to fight alone. They deserve a system that works for them and gives them every chance to live a full and healthy life,” said Congressman Costa. “This is about the gift of life and giving better opportunities for over 100,000 Americans awaiting an organ transplant every day. By supporting this legislation, we ensure that Ian’s fight and legacy will live on in the lives of the children and families we will save.”
“Far too many families only learn about pediatric liver disease when it’s already too late. By improving early detection and providing parents with clear information on lifesaving living liver donations, this bill gives children a better chance at survival and families hope in the darkest of times. I’m joining Congressman Costa in honoring Ian Kalvinskas’ legacy through this legislation, and I remain committed, as co-chair of the Congressional Organ Transplant Caucus, to advancing commonsense reforms that save lives,” said Congresswoman Van Duyne. “Ian Kalvinskas had a short life. I was privileged to be his transplant doctor.  Despite his liver transplant, his rising star was snuffed out by the return of his liver cancer. However, in his 20 years he pursued and fulfilled his dream to change the world for the better – and did more than many of us accomplish in a much longer life” said Dr. Suzanne V. McDiarmid, MD, a distinguished professor of pediatrics and surgery at the David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA. “In the last week of his life – spent in Congressman Costa’s office – his courage – as he told us his hopes for this legislation – made possible the Bill now introduced to Congress this week.  Over the years, I had seen for myself that same courage as he fought his own battles. It was quite remarkable to witness in one so young – courage combined with action that transcended his own suffering. He inspired me then – and still does – to stand taller and try harder to do what is right to protect the children of our Nation.” “Ian was keenly aware that so many children in the U.S. and elsewhere would not have had those advantages. Even before his cancer recurred, one of Ian’s goals was to shape public policy to even the odds for children with life-threatening illnesses, especially those who need an organ transplant,” said Susan Hickman, mother of Ian Kalvinskas. “While Ian didn’t live to make that happen, he would be so gratified to know that this bill could help children with liver cancer and other diseases throughout the U.S. be diagnosed earlier, increasing their chances to live a long, full life. BACKGROUNDPediatric liver diseases like hepatoblastoma and biliary atresia are on the rise. Cases of liver tumors in children are rising, and survival rates fall sharply when diagnosis comes too late, especially for teenagers, and when the disease has already spread. Biliary atresia, a rare but devastating condition that affects roughly one in every 12,000 newborns, is the leading cause of infant liver transplants. Simple, inexpensive tools can make a significant difference. The Ian Kalvinskas Pediatric Liver Cancer Early Detection and Screening Act directs the Government Accountability Office (GAO) to study efforts to improve early detection and treatment of pediatric liver tumors, trends in pediatric liver-transplant wait-list mortality, and the cost-effectiveness of adding simple tools, such as direct-bilirubin testing, to state newborn-screening panels for cholestatic liver disease. It also establishes a national education initiative led by Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA), in conjunction with the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), to provide families plain-language information on early warning signs and the option and safety of living liver donation.  By providing states with the data they need, without imposing a federal mandate, the legislation supports earlier intervention for infants, including timely Kasai procedures that can save lives and reduce wait-list mortality. At the same time, it ensures families nationwide receive consistent, evidence-based information on living liver donation to expand the pool of available organs and promote greater equity in care. This legislation builds on Costa and Van Duyne’s work as co-chairs of the Congressional Organ Transplant Caucus to strengthen patient safety and improve transplant outcomes.
 

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

Estes Votes for Social Security Legislation in Ways & Means Committee

Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Jimmy Gomez (CA-34)

WASHINGTON, DC – Representatives Jimmy Gomez (CA-34), Linda T. Sánchez (CA-38), Mike Kelly (PA-16.), and Blake Moore (UT-01) today introduced the bipartisan Fair Housing for Disabled Veterans Act, a bill to ensure that veterans’ service-related disability benefits are not used to deny veterans access to affordable housing.

Currently, these disability benefits are considered income in calculations for the Low- Income Housing Tax Credit (LIHTC), often pushing disabled veterans above eligibility thresholds and potentially into homelessness. The bill would exclude service-related disability benefits from those income calculations, ensuring veterans are not denied housing assistance.

“Our veterans are being denied access to affordable housing programs because of a flaw in IRS code that classifies their disability benefits as income. Those who served our country, and especially those who sustained a service-connected disability, should never be turned down from the ability to obtain a safe and stable home,” said Congressman Gomez. “With this bill, we’re making sure veterans can access the housing support they deserve after their service and sacrifice to our country.”

“Veterans who have sacrificed for our country shouldn’t face barriers when trying to find a safe, affordable place to live,” said Congresswoman Sánchez. “Disability benefits are meant to cover the costs of injuries sustained during their service – they’re not income. Our bill would ensure that veterans aren’t unfairly disqualified from affordable housing, allowing them to live with the dignity they earned through their service.”

“This critical legislation ensures veterans can continue to keep more of their hard- earned money and have the resources they need to purchase an affordable home,” said Congressman Kelly, chairman of the Ways and Means Subcommittee on Tax. “This legislation puts the tax code to work for those who have worn the uniform to protect our great nation.”

“As the representative of Hill Air Force Base and an active veteran community, improving servicemember housing has been a priority my entire time in Congress. Homelessness among our veteran population is unacceptable, and our veterans are more than deserving of affordable housing – especially when they are injured while serving,” said Congressman Moore. “I am proud to introduce the bipartisan Fair Housing for Disabled Veterans Act with my Ways and Means colleagues to exclude service-related disability payments from the income calculation for LIHTC eligibility to ensure that our servicemembers and their families are better able to access affordable housing when they return home.”

“VA disability compensation should never be a barrier to accessing stable housing for veterans,” said Jose Ramos, vice president for government and community relations for Wounded Warrior Project. “But currently, wounded warriors are penalized for injuries sustained during service to our country when their VA benefits make them ineligible to rent affordable, stable, and often higher-quality housing created through the Low-Income Housing Tax Credit program. These are often our most vulnerable veterans who need both supports – their VA payments and housing assistance. WWP is grateful for the bipartisan leadership of Representatives Linda T. Sánchez and Mike Kelly in introducing the Fair Housing for Disabled Veterans Act to address this problem and help veterans across the country.”

Specifically, the Fair Housing for Disabled Veterans Act would amend the Internal Revenue Code to strike consideration of veterans’ service-connected disability and pension payments when determining income qualifications for properties financed with LIHTC and qualified residential bonds.

The full text of the bill can be found HERE.

Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Scott Peters (52nd District of California)

Washington, DC – Today, Representative Scott Peters (CA-50) released the following statement after voting no on a partisan Republican bill that would allow the cost of healthcare and energy to skyrocket for millions of Americans:

“If Congress doesn’t act, millions of working Americans will see their insurance premiums grow by thousands of dollars. A 60-year-old couple with a household income of $85,000 in CA-50 will see their health insurance costs increase by $15,745 per year — a 218% increase in premiums. This is in addition to higher costs for groceries, energy, rent, cars and living expenses because of President Trump’s tariffs and attacks on energy projects. Now Republicans want to add this burden on the shoulders of hardworking Americans. I refuse to support this reckless plan.

“San Diego families are already paying the price for Republicans’ economic policies; they should not be forced to pay the price for their shutdown. If Republicans continue to refuse to work with Democrats to keep the government open, they will force troops to work without pay, harm small businesses, risk air travel disruptions, and endanger access to food assistance for vulnerable families. There are approximately 64,500 civilian federal employees in San Diego who, along with our uniformed servicemembers, will have their livelihoods directly threatened. It’s time that they stop playing political games and put the American people first.”

Find a detailed FAQ on what a shutdown would mean for essential services and San Diego families here.

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Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Scott Peters (52nd District of California)

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today,  Rep. Scott Peters (CA-50) and Senators Adam Schiff (D-CA) and Tim Kaine (D-VA) reintroduced the Fair Housing Improvement Act of 2025 to protect veterans and low-income families from housing discrimination. Over two million veterans and low-income households use Housing Choice Vouchers (HCV) to pay rent, but there are no federal protections to prevent individuals from being denied housing based on the source of their income. In 2018, Rep. Peters supported an ordinance passed by the City of San Diego to prohibit source of income discrimination. Many veterans and low-income families have reported discrimination from landlords when using vouchers to pay their rent. California and Virginia have since enacted legislation to prohibit discrimination based on source of income, and the lawmakers’ legislation would expand that progress nationwide. 

The Fair Housing Improvement Act of 2025 would expand protections by adding source of income and military and veteran status to the list of protected classes under the Fair Housing Act of 1968, giving more individuals and families access to affordable housing. It would prohibit landlords from denying housing to individuals who use Housing Choice Vouchers (Section 8), HUD-Veterans Affairs Supportive Housing (HUD-VASH) vouchers, benefits received through Social Security, income received by a court order, payment from a trust or guardian, or any other lawful source of income. 

“In San Diego and across the country, there are too many stories of unnecessary loss and debilitating anxiety when looking for housing,” said Rep. Peters. “No American should be denied housing because they’re a veteran or receive government assistance, especially as we face a historic housing shortage and unacceptable levels of veteran homelessness. Our bill would make this type of deplorable discrimination illegal.” 

“The Fair Housing Act was signed into law more than 55 years ago, yet far too many still do not experience the protections it promised,” said Renee M. Willis, President and CEO of the National Low Income Housing Coalition. “’The Fair Housing Improvement Act,’ reintroduced by Senator Tim Kaine and Representative Scott Peters, expands upon the 1968 law by prohibiting housing discrimination based on military status, veteran status, or “source of income.” Through this Act, Kaine and Peters aim to create more opportunities to protect housing and service programs designed for veterans and low-income households, while also giving landlords the time needed to implement the law. I applaud Senator Kaine and Representative Peters for reintroducing this crucial legislation, and I urge Congress to enact this bill to help end housing discrimination.”?

“Families that need and receive federal rental assistance should have the same ability as anyone else to rent a home of their choice that best meets their family’s needs,” San Diego Housing Commission President and CEO Lisa Jones said. “Too often, they don’t. The Fair Housing Improvement Act is a crucial step to ensure these families are not denied a home just because of the help they receive.”

“NALHFA commends Senator Kaine and Representative Peters for introducing the Fair Housing Improvement Act of 2025, which would serve as a critical step toward increasing access to affordable housing,” said Jonathan Paine, Executive Director of the National Association of Local Housing Finance Agencies. “No individual, family or veteran should face discrimination simply because they rely on federal vouchers or other lawful sources of income to pay rent. Expanding these protections strengthens our communities and helps break down barriers to housing opportunity for those who need it most.”

“Prohibiting source of income discrimination is vital to our collective efforts to foster integrated communities, increase economic mobility, and reduce homelessness,” said Thomas Silverstein, Executive Director of the Poverty & Race Research Action Council. “The Fair Housing Improvement Act is a commonsense bill that will help move our society in a more just direction.”

“Evidence shows that when families are unstably housed, there are not only severe consequences for child and caregiver physical and mental health, but these family-level consequences turn into enormous and avoidable economic costs to society for health care, special education services, and more ” says Stephanie Ettinger de Cuba, executive director of Children’s HealthWatch. “Every family deserves the chance to thrive, and that means ensuring that they can access high-quality, affordable homes in neighborhoods with economic opportunities without discrimination.”

In 2023, fair housing complaints increased to over 34,000, with source of income discrimination complaints as the largest category of discrimination not explicitly protected under the Fair Housing Act. People of color, particularly Black women, are disproportionately impacted and more likely than any other group to be evicted or denied housing. 

The following groups and organizations support this bill: 

A Way Home America; American Academy of Pediatrics; American Association of Service Coordinators; Catholic Charities USA; Children’s HealthWatch; Church World Service; Coalition on Human Needs; CSH; Disability Rights Education & Defense Fund; Housing Justice Center; Justice in Aging; Local Initiatives Support Coalition; Mobility Works; My Dog is My Home; National Alliance on Mental Illness; National Alliance to End Homelessness; National Association of Local Housing Finance Agencies; National Association of Social Workers; National CAPACD; National Coalition for the Homeless; National Community Development Association; National Domestic Violence Hotline; National Health Care for the Homeless Council; National Housing Law Project; National Low Income Housing Coalition; National NeighborWorks Association; National Network to End Domestic Violence; National Women’s Law Center; Natural Resources Defense Council; New America’s Higher Education Program; Opportunity Starts at Home Campaign; Paralyzed Veterans of America; Poverty & Race Research Action Council; San Diego Housing Commission; The American Institute of Architects; The Kelsey. 

Full text of the bill is available here.

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