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

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has awarded a Brownfields grant to LENOWISCO Planning District Commission for a total of $1.2 million. This funding supports environmental site assessment activities in Dickenson, Lee, Scott and Wise Counties and the City of Norton.

U.S. Congressman Morgan Griffith (R-VA) issued the following statement:

“LENOWISCO Planning District Commission believes that the Brownfields Program creates great potential for Southwest Virginia communities. 

“This EPA Brownfield Assessment Coalition grant for $1.2 million helps LENOWISCO Planning District Commission continue its goals to redevelop hazardous or polluted sites in deep Southwest Virginia.”

BACKGROUND

In May, Congressman Griffith announced that LENOWISCO Planning District Commission received a different $1.2 million Brownfield Assessment grant from the EPA. That funding supported a community-wide assessment of local brownfields.

According to the EPA, Assessment Coalition grants are designed for one “lead” eligible entity to partner with two to four eligible entities that do not have the capacity to apply for and manage their own EPA cooperative agreement and otherwise would not have access to Brownfields grant resources.

Before his July appointment as Health Subcommittee Chairman, Congressman Griffith chaired the House Committee on Energy and Commerce Subcommittee on Environment.

In March of 2025, Congressman Griffith chaired a hearing on the EPA’s Brownfields Program. Scott County Native and LENOWISCO Planning District Commission Executive Director Duane Miller testified to the panel and discussed the Program’s importance to Southwest Virginia communities.

LENOWISCO Planning District Commission serves the Counties of Lee, Wise and Scott and the City of Norton.

The Brownfields Program empowers states, communities and other stakeholders to work together to prevent, assess, safely clean up and sustainably reuse brownfields.

A brownfield site is real property, the expansion, redevelopment, or reuse of which may be complicated by the presence or potential presence of a hazardous substance, pollutant or contaminant.

Brownfield Assessment grants provide funding for brownfield inventories, planning, environmental assessments and community outreach.

Congressman Griffith’s e-newsletter on the Program can be found here.

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Source: United States House of Representatives – Congresswoman Lori Trahan (D-MA-03)

WASHINGTON, DC – Today, Congresswoman Lori Trahan (D-MA-03) and Congressman Brian Fitzpatrick (R-PA-01) introduced the Headache Education, Access, Diagnosis, and Care Health Equity (HEADACHE) Act, bipartisan legislation that will establish for the first time a coordinated federal initiative to address headache disorders.
 
“Headache disorders are among the most common and debilitating health conditions people face, yet they’ve been overlooked for far too long in our nation’s public health priorities,” said Congresswoman Trahan. “The HEADACHE Act will finally change that by launching a coordinated federal initiative to improve research, expand access to care, and tackle the inequities that prevent millions of Americans from getting the treatment they need.”
 
“Headache and migraine disorders affect tens of millions of Americans but are still treated as invisible illnesses in our public health system,” said Congressman Fitzpatrick. “Throughout my time in Congress, I’ve worked to give a voice to communities whose conditions are overlooked or misunderstood. The HEADACHE Act creates the first federal initiative for headache disorders—driving research, expanding access, and dismantling inequities so patients finally receive the priority and care they deserve.”
 
More than 40 million Americans are living with migraine and headache disorders, which are the leading cause of disability in the world and for women under 50 years old in the United States. Cluster headache, new daily persistent headache, post-traumatic headache, and other migraine disorders are disabling, stigmatized, and routinely overlooked in public health priorities and research funding.
 
The HEADACHE Act is the first standalone federal legislation seeking to address the epidemic of migraine and headache disorders. The bipartisan effort will expand research, improve access to care, and address systemic inequities affecting people living with headache disorders.
 
The legislation is supported by the Alliance of for Headache Disorders Advocacy, American Academy of Neurology, Alliance for Patient Access, American Migraine Foundation, American Headache Society, Coalition of Headache and Migraine Patients, Clusterbusters, Facial Pain Association, National Headache Foundation, Headache Cooperative of the Pacific, Headache Cooperative of the Northeast, Miles for Migraine, Southern Headache Society, Chronic Migraine Awareness, Spinal CSF Leak Foundation, and US Pain Foundation.
 
“Thank you to Congresswoman Lori Trahan and Congressman Brian Fitzpatrick for leading this important bipartisan effort. Migraine and headache disorders are nonpartisan chronic health conditions that cost the U.S. economy 78 billion dollars each year and are among the most disabling conditions families face. By coordinating federal efforts and aligning resources with the true disease burden, this legislation will improve efficiency and expand access in healthcare deserts. It prioritizes research to speed accurate, lower cost diagnosis and advance new treatment options, helping to reduce disability so Americans living with these conditions can live their lives to their maximum potential,” said Julienne Verdi, Executive Director of the Alliance for Headache Disorders Advocacy.
 
A copy of the legislation introduced today can be accessed HERE.
 
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Source: United States House of Representatives – Congresswoman Mikie Sherrill (NJ-11)

WASHINGTON, D.C. — Today, Congresswoman Mikie Sherrill (NJ-11) released the following statement after voting “yes” on the resolution condemning the assassination of Charlie Kirk:

“I have taken countless oaths to the Constitution throughout my life, starting when I entered the Naval Academy at 18. I have volunteered to give everything, up to and including my life, for our freedoms and will always protect them. 

“I take my oath to the Constitution seriously. I believe in free speech. And that the First Amendment wouldn’t be necessary if it were only meant to cover language we agreed with. It is meant to protect people like Charlie Kirk who present vile dissenting views. But it is also meant to protect teachers, doctors, and TV comedians who may express views the president doesn’t like.

“Charlie Kirk was advocating for a Christian nationalist government and to roll back the rights of women and Black people — this flies in the face of every value I hold dear and that I fight for. But the Constitution protects free speech, even for those I vehemently oppose. 

“Meanwhile, President Trump has and continues to define hypocrisy at every turn. On one hand, he denounced Kirk’s politically motivated killing, while on the other hand, is instigating a witch hunt worthy of Joseph McCarthy to shut down the free speech rights of anyone who disagrees with Kirk’s racist, anti-American views. 

“Charlie Kirk’s murder was horrific, and it’s up to all of us to stand against political violence. In these times, I will continue to condemn political violence, racism, attacks on women, and the hypocrisy coming from Trump and his acolytes. I will never give up on protecting the rights and freedoms that we hold sacred.” 

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Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Dan Newhouse (4th District of Washington)

Headline: Newhouse Votes for Bipartisan House Resolution Honoring Charlie Kirk

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, Rep. Dan Newhouse (WA-04) released the following statement upon passage of H. Res. 719 honoring the life and legacy of Charlie Kirk by the House of Representatives with a bipartisan vote of 310-58-38.

“Peaceful debate drives our political system, and Charlie Kirk embodied that sentiment, encouraging young people to become involved in our political process. This bipartisan resolution sends a clear message that politically motivated violence has no place in our society. The Kirk family remains in our thoughts and prayers as they continue to mourn the loss of Charlie,” said Rep. Newhouse.  

See full resolution text here. 

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

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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 voting present on H.Res. 719, a resolution honoring the life and legacy of Charlie Kirk. 

“I fully denounce political violence. It is never acceptable to murder someone for their personal beliefs, and I am heartbroken for Charlie Kirk’s young family. 

“However, I cannot vote yes on this resolution because it grossly misrepresents Charlie Kirk’s methods, views, and beliefs while citing Christian nationalist language. I will always condemn heinous acts of violence, but this resolution ignores the false and hateful rhetoric that was too often present in his debates. 

“Furthermore, Congress cannot condemn political violence only when it happens to one party. That’s why I am cosponsoring Rep. Veasey’s resolution that denounces all forms of political violence, regardless of the victim’s political affiliation including Charlie Kirk, the Minnesota legislators, and others.” 

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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 passed H.R. 5371, a short-term government funding bill.

“House Republicans are missing the forest for the trees. Their partisan funding bill does nothing to help hardworking families—it fails to extend the Affordable Care Act’s subsidies that help Americans afford their health care coverage nor reverses the devastating cuts to Medicaid from the Big Bad Bill.

“Here in Colorado, that means 240,000 people likely will lose their health insurance, and the families in Denver who rely on ACA coverage will see their premiums spike by an average of $210 a month. That’s the real impact of the Big Bad Bill.

“Republicans had the chance to work with Democrats to fund the government, lower costs, strengthen Medicaid, and protect families’ access to affordable care. Instead, they chose to go it alone, taking their cues from Donald Trump to jam through a partisan spending bill.

“They can spin this any way they want, but the American people are seeing their true colors right now as health care costs skyrocket and lives are put at risk.”

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

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

Source: United States House of Representatives – Reprepsentative Kathy Castor (FL14)

TAMPA, Fla. – U.S. Rep. Kathy Castor (FL-14) today voted “no” on the GOP budget bill as millions of Floridians face devastating health care cost increases due to Congressional Republicans’ and President Trump’s refusal to extend the Affordable Care Act’s (ACA) enhanced Premium Tax Credits (ePTCs).

“If the tax credit expires, millions of people with chronic diseases like cancer and diabetes will struggle to afford health care or lose coverage altogether.  All Floridians will be saddled with higher costs due to uncompensated care at hospitals and crowded emergency rooms. Florida hospitals strongly support extension of the health care tax credits.”

Florida is the epicenter of the fight:

• 4.7 million Floridians have affordable marketplace coverage in 2025 through the ACA plan – nearly one-fifth of the nation’s enrollees.
• Nearly 4.1 million Floridians (9 out of 10) rely on enhanced tax credits, including thousands of small business owners and self-employed workers.
• State insurers are finalizing 18.7–40.8% premium hikes because of Republican inaction. Families will soon see a notice when they go to buy coverage for 2026. 

This week, in an Energy and Commerce markup of seven bills, Castor introduced two amendments to keep health care costs and immunizations affordable for families. Read more here.