MIL USHOR-2b Engine

Source: United States House of Representatives – Congresswoman Haley Stevens (MI-11)

WASHINGTON, D.C. – This week, Rep. Haley Stevens (D-MI) and Rep. Randy Feenstra (R-Hull) reintroduced the Quantum in Practice Act, legislation that would ensure quantum molecular simulations and modeling are included in the National Quantum Initiative.

Quantum molecular simulations and modeling will enable scientists to study chemical elements and reactions with unprecedented precision. By harnessing the power of quantum computing, researchers can better understand molecular behavior, including nitrogen fixation, a key process in producing fertilizer for our agriculture industry.

“Michigan is where advanced manufacturing and cutting-edge research drive innovation,” said Rep. Haley Stevens. “By expanding federal research on quantum simulations and modeling, we can power breakthroughs in automotive technology, battery development, and advanced materials. The Quantum in Practice Act is about making sure Michigan’s workers, manufacturers, and researchers lead the way and turning scientific discovery into economic growth.”

“Representing one of the largest agricultural districts in the nation, it is my priority to ensure that our farmers have access to the tools and technologies they need to succeed,” said Rep. Feenstra. “Breakthrough research in quantum computing has the potential to lower input costs for farmers, improve energy storage capabilities, and produce safer, more effective medications. I am proud to reintroduce this important legislation to ensure that our Main Streets, farmers, and small businesses can benefit from these cutting-edge advancements. By investing in quantum research, we can strengthen our agricultural sector, streamline fertilizer production, and enhance quality of life across Iowa’s Fourth District.”

This legislation is supported by IBM, Infleqtion, D-Wave, Quantinuum, the NSF Institute for Robust Quantum Simulation, and the NSF IUCRC Center for Quantum Technologies.

“The passage of the Quantum in Practice Act would mark a pivotal moment for U.S. leadership in quantum science and its translation into real-world impact,” said Gretchen Campbell, Associate Vice President for Quantum Research and Education at the University of Maryland. “At the University of Maryland, we are committed to advancing quantum research and preparing the next generation of scientists, engineers and practitioners. This legislation will accelerate that mission and help ensure that quantum innovations conceived in our labs can become the technologies that power tomorrow’s economy.”

“By including the Quantum in Practice Act in the National Quantum Initiative (NQI) reauthorization, we believe that the U.S. government will strengthen the emphasis on applied sciences across its quantum efforts,” said Allison Schwartz, D-Wave’s Senior Vice President, Global Government Relations and Public Affairs. “It’s critical that government collaborate with industry to identify the most complex public-sector challenges and leverage the strengths of each approach to quantum computing — annealing and gate-model quantum computing. Annealing quantum systems can provide solutions to challenging optimization problems today, while gate-model systems will be able to tackle other problems sets like quantum chemistry in the future. We strongly support efforts to reauthorize, expand, and advance the NQI to accelerate modernization and support holistic U.S. quantum programs.”

“Indiana University is grateful to Representative Feenstra for continuing to champion this important legislation,” said Russ Mumper, Vice President for Research at Indiana University. “The Quantum in Practice Act helps ensure that federal research policy supports tools that IU researchers are already using today to better understand how molecules and materials behave at the smallest scales. That means scientists can more accurately predict how chemicals will react, how new materials might perform, or how to design better technologies before ever stepping into a lab. This legislation helps accelerate that progress and keeps the United States competitive in a rapidly advancing field.”

“We strongly support the Quantum in Practice Act, which would allow experts to leverage quantum computing to study chemical reactions with increased accuracy and strengthen our nation’s research leadership,” said Dr. Rajeeb Hazra, President & CEO of Quantinuum. “This legislation, and the larger Reauthorization of the NQIA, is an important step for U.S. leadership in quantum science and comes at a moment of growing geopolitical urgency. We applaud Representative Feenstra for his leadership in this area.”

“As quantum technologies mature, the focus is increasingly shifting from research to real-world deployment,” said Dr. Pranav Gokhale, CTO, Infleqtion. “Efforts that explore how quantum computing can be applied to practical industrial challenges, including areas like advanced materials, energy systems, and agricultural inputs, reflect an important step in understanding where these technologies can deliver meaningful impact. Continued collaboration between government, industry, and research institutions will be essential to translating quantum innovation into measurable economic and societal value.”

By ensuring federal quantum research efforts to include quantum molecular simulations, the legislation supports scientific breakthroughs across multiple industries, including:

• Next-Generation Fertilizers – Modeling the nitrogen fixation process used by bacteria to develop synthetic fertilizers with significantly lower energy and material costs than current production methods.
• Safer, More Effective Medicines – Designing medications with improved efficacy while minimizing harmful interactions and side effects.
• Advanced Energy Storage – Developing new materials that increase battery capacity and enable more powerful, efficient energy storage technologies.
• Stronger, Lighter Metals – Engineering advanced metals with improved strength-to-weight ratios for industrial and commercial applications.
• Enhanced Protective Gear – Creating more durable and resilient materials for law enforcement and military personnel.
• Next-Generation Conductors – Accelerating the discovery of new superconducting materials to improve energy transmission and advanced technologies.

The full bill text is available HERE

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

Congressman Reaffirms Need to Strategically Counter the Threats Posed By Iran And Ensure It Never Obtains a Nuclear Weapon

Source: United States House of Representatives – Congresswoman Angie Craig (MN-02)

Shortly before their oversight visit, all detainees were transported out of the facility

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

“After House Democrats successfully forced the Trump Administration to release the Epstein Files, there remains a glaring absence of real transparency and a total lack of accountability,” said Wasserman Schultz. “Trump’s Department of Justice, under Attorney General Pam Bondi, is too focused on covering up Trump’s relationship with Epstein and refuses to investigate the wealthy, powerful individuals who were clearly complicit in these abuses. This is a first step to bring some measure of justice for foreign nationals who conspired with Epstein to sexually exploit American children.”

Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Morgan Griffith (R-VA)

The Appalachian Regional Commission (ARC) has awarded Pembroke Telephone Cooperative, based in Pembroke, Giles County, Virginia, a $700,000 grant for an Outlying Areas Broadband project. This funding will support installation of a fiber network that serves broadband to 74 homes and 15 businesses and community anchor institutions. U.S. Congressman Morgan Griffith (R-VA) issued the following statement:

“Rural communities are working to improve local access to broadband.

“This ARC grant for $700,000 helps Pembroke Telephone Cooperative deliver broadband access to underserved areas of Giles County.”

BACKGROUND

In partnership with the Giles County Board of Supervisors, Pembroke Telephone Cooperative has developed a plan to achieve universal coverage of high-speed fiber-to-the-home infrastructure.

This project will support 110,880 feet of fiber network construction.

In November 2025, Congressman Griffith celebrated federal approval of Virginia’s Broadband Equity Access and Deployment (BEAD) Final Proposal, which puts rural Virginia communities in better position to receive federal funding for increased broadband access.

###

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

Members Urge State Department to Take Immediate Action to Evacuate U.S. Citizens Abroad

“The early failures of the Trump Administration to provide protection for American citizens abroad are inexcusable”

“(T)he failure to adequately protect (embassy staff) from this war shows blatant disregard for them and for the U.S. citizens they help to serve” 

Text of Letter (PDF)

WASHINGTON – This week, Congresswoman Ayanna Pressley (MA-07), Senator Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.) and the entire Massachusetts delegation pressed Secretary of State Marco Rubio to explain the Trump administration’s “complete failure” to evacuate U.S. citizens — including Massachusetts residents — from the Middle East following the administration’s starting a reckless war in Iran.

“The early failures of the Trump administration to provide protection for American citizens abroad are inexcusable,” wrote the lawmakers. “We urge the State Department to take immediate action to support the evacuations of American citizens and provide protection for personnel in U.S. embassies throughout the Middle East.” 

Following the administration’s joint strikes with Israel against Iran on February 28, the State Department put out an alert on March 2 for U.S. citizens to “DEPART NOW” from over a dozen countries in the Middle East “due to serious safety risks.” By the time the Department issued the evacuation order, much of the region’s airspace was already fully or partially closed, significantly limiting options for U.S. citizens to evacuate. 

Despite the evacuation warnings, the Trump administration appears to be leaving Americans on their own to scramble to get to safety. It was not until several days into the war and after Iran had conducted multiple retaliatory strikes against nine countries in the region that the White House announced it was working to evacuate Americans. The administration went on to issue “confusing signals” about whether U.S. citizens can get help. 

On March 3, the U.S. Embassy in Jerusalem tweeted that it was “not in a position at this time to evacuate or directly assist Americans in departing Israel.” The State Department posted later that afternoon that the government was “actively securing military aircraft and charter flights for American citizens who wish to leave the Middle East.” 

Yet, multiple reports indicate that when Americans called the number that the State Department directed them to for departure assistance for at least several hours after this announcement, they received a message stating: “Please do not rely on the U.S. government for assisted departure or evacuation at this time. There are currently no United States evacuation points.”

“Up to one million U.S. nationals are reportedly living in the Middle East, and the Trump administration’s failures to prepare to evacuate them after the administration and Israel launched a war against Iran puts these citizens’ lives at risk,” wrote the lawmakers. “Additionally, the Trump administration and State Department appear ill-prepared for attacks targeting U.S. embassy personnel, despite the administration having spent months planning Operation Epic Fury.”

On March 3, President Trump admitted the administration had no evacuation plans for Americans abroad because “it all happened very quickly.”

“(T)his debacle is a predictable consequence of the Trump administration’s dismantlement of the State Department,” noted the lawmakers. 

In July 2025, the State Department fired over 1,300 employees, including over 1,100 civil servants and nearly 250 foreign service officers as part of its reorganization directed by the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE). The Department also recalled almost 30 career diplomats from ambassadorial and senior embassy posts across the world in December 2025. This included the ambassador to Egypt, who has not yet been replaced, and is one of the countries from which Americans have been urged to evacuate. The U.S. also has no confirmed ambassadors in Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Qatar, Egypt, Kuwait, Algeria, Libya, and Iraq. 

The Trump administration also appears unprepared to protect and evacuate U.S. embassy staff. The U.S. Embassy in Saudi Arabia was reportedly hit by multiple drone strikes that “caus(ed) part of its roof to collapse,” and the U.S. consulate in the United Arab Emirates also reportedly was struck by a drone in its parking lot. Officials also reportedly “expect() the U.S. death toll to rise, and that some of those deaths could be the result of Iran’s targeting of embassies.” 

“(These challenges) raise serious concerns about the Trump administration and State Department’s failure to adequately plan to protect State Department employees…the failure to adequately protect them from this war shows blatant disregard for them and for the U.S. citizens they help to serve,” wrote the lawmakers. 

“Americans abroad rely on the State Department when they need help overseas — particularly when the United States has started a war that could result in a diplomatic and national security quagmire,” concluded the lawmakers. 

The coalition pressed Secretary Rubio and the State Department for real plans to help American citizens evacuate the Middle East, as well as to explain any involvement it had in the planning for Operation Epic Fury and what steps it took to prepare for evacuating American citizens from the region and to protect U.S. embassy personnel, within one week, by March 12, 2026. 

Text of the letter can be accessed here.

Congresswoman Pressley strongly condemns Trump’s waging war against Iran and sacrificing the lives of U.S. servicemembers and Iranian civilians.

Yesterday, Rep. Pressley voted YES in favor of the War Powers Resolution to stop Trump’s war in Iran and affirm the constitutional power of Congress to authorize a war. She delivered a floor speech yesterday making an appeal to Trump and her colleagues to end this war, spare the servicemembers and Iranian children who stand to be harmed, and consider the lives already lost in the U.S. and Israeli government’s attacks.

###

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 statement after the House considered resolutions regarding military action in Iran:

“Iran has been the largest state sponsor of terrorism globally and a significant destabilizing force in the Middle East for decades. However, that does not give Donald Trump the authority to launch a war of choice. The Constitution mandates that the president must receive Congressional authorization before engaging in acts of war, except in very limited circumstances. To date, I have seen no evidence that there was an imminent threat against our country. That is why I voted for the war powers resolution today which would have stopped Trump’s illegal war.

“Republicans killed the resolution, greenlighting the war and putting American servicemembers in harm’s way. Meanwhile, this war is costing at least $1 billion every day. That is billions of dollars that could go towards affordable health care and housing. I refuse to support this war.”

Source: United States House of Representatives – Congresswoman Jan Schakowsky (9th District of Illinois)

Full Text of Bill (PDF)

WASHINGTON – This week, U.S. Representatives Jan Schakowsky (IL-09), Mark Pocan (WI-02), and Ro Khanna (CA-17) reintroduced the Save Medicare Act. This bill renames so-called “Medicare Advantage” plans, prohibits private insurers from using “Medicare” in plan titles or advertisements, and imposes significant fines for any insurer that engages in this deceptive practice. 

Many cable news watchers get inundated with commercials for private healthcare plans during the open enrollment period. Because of that, Reps. Schakowsky, Pocan, and Khanna previously filmed a video explaining why Medicare Advantage is not Medicare.

“Let’s be clear: Medicare Advantage is not Medicare. These private insurance plans use Medicare’s trusted name while too often denying medically necessary care, restricting providers, and overcharging taxpayers by billions. That is unacceptable. We have seen insurers exploit the system to boost profits at the expense of seniors,” said Congresswoman Jan Schakowsky. “This crucial legislation will end deceptive marketing and ensure beneficiaries understand the difference between Traditional Medicare and private insurance plans. Seniors deserve transparency, accountability, and the full benefits they have earned.”

“Only Medicare is Medicare. It is one of the most popular and essential services the government provides,” said Congressman Mark Pocan. “Private, so-called ‘Medicare’ plans run by private insurers undermine traditional Medicare and create confusion. They often leave patients without the benefits they need while overcharging the federal government for corporate profit. This bill makes clear what is – and what is not – Medicare, and ensures this essential program will continue to serve seniors and other Americans for generations to come.”

“It’s time to be honest about Medicare Advantage,” said Congressman Ro Khanna. “It’s a private insurance program that too often boosts profits by limiting coverage, while the name itself misleads seniors into thinking it’s traditional Medicare. That’s wrong. This legislation will stop private insurers from cashing in on the Medicare name. We should be working to protect and expand real Medicare instead.”

The Save Medicare Act will eliminate the confusion private insurers have relied upon for years to enroll unsuspecting seniors, and restore true Medicare as the primary health plan older Americans rely on. 

Co-sponsors include: Jan Schakowsky (IL-09), Mark Pocan (WI-02), Ro Khanna (CA-17), Steve Cohen (TN-09), Rosa DeLauro (CT-03), Chris Deluzio (PA-17), Lloyd Doggett (TX-37), Maxwell Frost (FL-10), Dan Goldman (NY-10), Eleanor Holmes Norton (DC), Pramila Jayapal (WA-07), Hank Johnson (GA-04), Greg Landsman (OH-01), Grace Meng (NY-06), Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (NY-14), Ilhan Omar (MN-05), Rashida Tlaib (MI-12)

Endorsing organizations include: Center for Health and Democracy, Just Care USA, Social Security Works, Physicians for a National Health Program

###

Source: United States House of Representatives – Congresswoman Betty McCollum (DFL-Minn)

WASHINGTON, D.C. — Congresswoman Betty McCollum, the Dean of the Minnesota Congressional Delegation, delivered the following remarks on the House floor opposing H.R. 7744, the Department of Homeland Security Appropriations Act of 2026 (Click here to watch on YouTube):

“Mr. Speaker, this Department of Homeland Security appropriations bill fails to address the dangerous and illegal activity from DHS agents that Minnesotans have witnessed during Operation Metro Surge. 

“Our neighbors were racially profiled and detained without cause. Peaceful demonstrators were threatened and harassed. American citizens were assaulted, kidnapped from their homes, and even killed in our streets.

“Democrats are calling for common sense reforms to protect our communities and our rights. We want ICE and Border Patrol agents to follow the same rules as our local law enforcement: identify yourself, use body cameras, get a real judicial warrant to enter homes, and establish a policy for the use of force. We want their aggressive operations to be prohibited at our schools, our houses of worship, and our polling places. And when DHS agents engage in illegal or dangerous behavior, we want independent investigations to hold them accountable.

“I will not vote for more funding for ICE or CBP until this Congress includes those reforms.

“Republicans should allow a vote on Ranking Member DeLauro’s bill that would separate ICE, Border Patrol, and Secretary Noem’s office while we negotiate reforms. It would fund the law-abiding components of DHS, like the Coast Guard, FEMA, and the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency, CISA. 

“CISA works to protect our critical infrastructure, our emergency communications systems, and our election systems. In Minnesota, we learned that the hard way when Saint Paul suffered a major cyber-attack last summer. It took weeks to recover. That is why I am puzzled why Republicans would cut $268 million from CISA in this bill. We should be increasing money for cyber-security -not reducing it.

“I urge my colleagues to vote no. I yield back.”

Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Jared Huffman Representing the 2nd District of California

Previous Article