MIL USHOR-2b Engine

Source: United States House of Representatives – Congresswoman Sharice Davids (KS-3)

Today, Representative Sharice Davids (D-KS-03) and Aviation Chairman Troy E. Nehls (R-TX-22) released the statement below following the third bipartisan Air Traffic Control (ATC)/National Airspace System (NAS) Modernization Working Group listening session: 

“Today marks the third session of the bipartisan ATC/NAS Modernization Working Group. We had a successful conversation with stakeholders who represent those on the frontlines of everyday aviation operations and those who represent the men and women responsible for transporting people, goods, and services across the country and beyond.

“The individuals we spoke with today provided first-hand insight into how our ATC and NAS systems affect airlines and pilots’ duties and how we, as Congress, can make improvements to make their jobs safer and more efficient. 

“From meeting with technology manufacturers to telecommunications providers and other relevant stakeholders, we are fostering an open dialogue that allows industry professionals and Members of Congress to share their perspectives to help guide the revitalization of both our ATC and NAS systems.”

Source: United States House of Representatives – Congresswoman Sharice Davids (KS-3)

This morning, Representative Sharice Davids (KS-03) published an opinion piece in the Kansas City Star highlighting the challenges Kansas families face with rising costs and the harmful impact of extreme politicians’ priorities in Washington. Davids also underscored her recent work across the aisle to deliver solutions that lower costs and strengthen Kansas communities.

Key Excerpts:

• “Everywhere I go in our community, I hear the same thing: families are stretched thin. From groceries to health care to housing, the cost of living has gone up, and people are working harder than ever just to make ends meet.”
• “Unfortunately, instead of tackling rising costs, extreme politicians in Washington, including President Trump, are making things worse. Their latest budget raises health care costs and threatens emergency food assistance for our kids — all to funnel tax breaks to billionaires and special interests.”
• “That’s why I’ve worked with both Democrats and Republicans to pass laws that actually help Kansans. I fought to cap the cost of insulin at $35 a month for seniors. I passed bipartisan legislation to rebuild our roads, bridges, and water systems.”
• “The challenges we face are real, but so is our ability to overcome them — if we have leaders who put people first. Kansans deserve nothing less.”

In the piece, Davids shares her personal story, her mom’s service as an Army veteran and postal worker, and her commitment to ensuring hardworking Kansans get a fair shot. She has consistently focused on working with both parties to lower health care costs, protect Social Security, support Kansas farmers and workers, invest in local infrastructure, and more. She has also passed multiple bipartisan bills this year, even under Republican control of Washington.

Read the full essay in the Kansas City Star here or below:

Everywhere I go in our community, I hear the same thing: families are stretched thin. From groceries to health care to housing, the cost of living has gone up, and people are working harder than ever just to make ends meet.

I know what that feels like. I was raised by a single mom — a proud Army veteran who went on to work at the U.S. Postal Service. She worked long hours, sometimes juggling more than one job, to keep our family afloat. 

That experience shaped me. I later worked multiple jobs to get through college, and I’m still paying off my student loans. Now, I wake up every day determined to fight for Kansans who feel like the deck is stacked against them.

Unfortunately, instead of tackling rising costs, extreme politicians in Washington, including President Trump, are making things worse. Their latest budget raises health care costs and threatens emergency food assistance for our kids — all to funnel tax breaks to billionaires and special interests.

Here in Kansas, we’re already seeing the consequences: rural hospitals on the brink of closing, family farms squeezed by reckless trade policies, and parents worried about affording child care. That’s not leadership — it’s politics at the expense of hardworking Kansans.

Each August, Members of Congress spend an extended time back home, and for me, it’s the best part of this job because I get to spend most of my time listening. These conversations show me what’s working, what isn’t, and what more I can do to help hardworking Kansans.

Last month, I saw how the big debates in Washington translate into real impacts here at home. 

Families of children with disabilities and rural health leaders alike reminded me that Medicaid cuts aren’t abstract — they’re life-and-death decisions that put patients and entire communities at risk.

Seniors I joined at a Social Security 90th anniversary celebration spoke about how essential that program is to their retirement security — and how anxious they are about constant threats to cut it.

I also heard from workers at a local manufacturer about how reckless tariffs continue to raise their costs and strain operations, while Kansas farmers worry about unstable markets that threaten their livelihoods.

At a Head Start program, I sat with kids and teachers who reminded me how crucial affordable early childhood education is for parents’ ability to keep working and put food on the table.

And on a supply chain tour, from family farms to local grocery stores, I saw the power of investing in our local food system to lower grocery prices and strengthen our communities.

All of these conversations brought home one point: Kansans need leaders who are focused on solving problems, not creating them.

That means lowering prescription drug costs, expanding access to affordable health care, investing in good-paying jobs, protecting Social Security, and making child care more affordable — not raising costs through shortsighted budgets and political power plays.

That’s why I’ve worked with both Democrats and Republicans to pass laws that actually help Kansans. I fought to cap the cost of insulin at $35 a month for seniors. I passed bipartisan legislation to rebuild our roads, bridges, and water systems.

And I’ll keep working across the aisle whenever I can. Even in a Republican-controlled Washington, I’ve passed multiple bipartisan bills this year. Kansans can’t afford inaction or political gamesmanship.

I don’t pretend to have all the answers. But I know this: all Kansans deserves a fair shot, no matter where they live or what challenges they face. That’s the promise my mom fought for in the Army and lives out every day. And it’s the promise I’ll keep fighting for in Congress.

The challenges we face are real, but so is our ability to overcome them — if we have leaders who put people first. Kansans deserve nothing less.

Source: United States House of Representatives – Congresswoman Sharice Davids (KS-3)

(Kansas City, KS) – Following a call from U.S. Representatives Sharice Davids (D-KS) and Emanuel Cleaver, II (D-MO) to restore federal funding obligated to Freedom’s Frontier National Heritage Area (FFNHA), the FFNHA received its full federal funding for 2025 that had been frozen by the Department of Interior earlier this year. The announcement comes just weeks before the end of the federal fiscal year, when funds would have otherwise expired, ensuring uninterrupted support for local history projects, educational programs, and community partnerships across western Missouri and eastern Kansas.
 

“Freedom’s Frontier is more than a collection of historic sites — it’s a living story of who we are in the region. I’m glad we were able to secure this critical funding so that local partners can keep preserving our history, educating the next generation, and boosting our regional economy. This is what happens when communities speak up and we work together to get things done,” said Representative Sharice Davids.

 

“Freedom’s Frontier National Heritage Area plays a prominent role across the region in working with local partners to preserve our history and promote economic development that is vital to our communities,” said Congressman Cleaver. “Despite a regrettable delay, I’m pleased that Freedom’s Frontier has secured the funding provided by Congress and will now be capable of continuing their mission to tell our story to visitors from around the world while boosting economic activity.” 

 

“Because of the dedication and advocacy of our friends and partners across the region, we are now able to continue our core mission of promoting tourism and economic development in rural Kansas and Missouri,” said Lucinda Adams, executive director of FFNHA. “Your calls and conversations with your representatives mattered. We are deeply grateful.”

 

Despite being signed into law in March, federal funding for NHAs — including the Freedom’s Frontier National Heritage Area (FFNHA) in western Missouri and eastern Kansas — had been frozen for nearly six months. As a result, local sites struggled to keep staff employed, preserve historic landmarks, and continue educational programs that serve thousands of visitors and students each year.

 

NHAs are public-private partnerships that highlight culturally significant regions across the U.S., from Civil War battlefields to Indigenous heritage sites. Each federal dollar invested generates over $5 in private and local support. Without this timely funding, programs grind to a halt and community-driven preservation work suffers.

 

Established in 2006, the FFNHA is one of 55 National Heritage Areas throughout the United States. FFNHA tells the stories and builds awareness of western Missouri and eastern Kansas’ past, present, and future, including stories of American settlement of the western frontier, Bleeding Kansas and the Civil War, Brown v. Board of Education, and significant figures in our nation’s history such as President Harry Truman, Amelia Earhart, and the Native tribes of the Great Plains.

 

The FFNHA supports and promotes roughly 323 partners, including historic sites, museums, historical societies, libraries, and other cultural-heritage tourism destinations in 41 counties across the Missouri-Kansas border.

 

Some notable FFNHA partners in the Fifth Congressional District of Missouri include the Negro Leagues Baseball Museum, Truman Presidential Library, American Jazz Museum, the National WWI Museum and Memorial, and more.

 

Some notable FFNHA partners in the Third Congressional District of Kansas include Old Quindaro Museum, John Brown Museum, Kansas City Area Historic Trails Association, Kaw Point Park, Louisburg Historical Society, and more.

 

Source: United States House of Representatives – Congresswoman Sharice Davids (KS-3)

Today, the U.S. House Transportation & Infrastructure (T&I) Committee successfully passed two of Representative Sharice Davids’ bipartisan bills, sending them to the House floor for a full vote. These bills modernize emergency response systems and provide tribal governments with critical resources to respond to disasters.

“These bills are about keeping communities safe, empowering first responders, and ensuring people get timely alerts and support during emergencies,” said Davids. “In Kansas, where tornadoes, wildfires, and severe storms can strike with little warning, having modern alert systems and strong support for emergency responders isn’t just important — it’s essential for protecting lives and property.”

The WARN Act would modernize the nation’s emergency alert systems. It would ensure that federal, state, and local authorities can send timely, reliable alerts during natural disasters, severe weather, or other emergencies — helping communities respond quickly and save lives.

The second bill would authorize the President to provide fire management assistance directly to Indian Tribal Governments. This ensures tribal nations have the federal support necessary to respond effectively to wildfires and other emergencies, protecting both people and property.

As a member of the House T&I Committee, Davids has championed pragmatic, bipartisan solutions to improve infrastructure, emergency management, and public safety nationwide. Today’s committee action underscores her commitment to delivering results for local communities, tribal nations, and first responders.

With committee approval secured, both bills will now move to the full House for a vote. Davids continues to work across the aisle to ensure these critical measures become law.

Source: United States House of Representatives – Congresswoman Sharice Davids (KS-3)

SHAWNEE, KS – Last night, Representative Sharice Davids joined families and advocates to celebrate the positive impact Medicaid has on children with complex medical needs and disabilities. The event, coming on the heels of harmful cuts by President Trump and extreme politicians, highlighted the importance of protecting and expanding access to affordable health care for Kansans.

 

“Medicaid is a lifeline for thousands of Kansas families, ensuring kids and parents alike can get the care they need without sacrificing their financial security,” said Davids. “At a time when extreme politicians are gutting Medicaid or blocking expansion in Kansas, I remain committed to protecting and expanding this vital program so that all Kansans — no matter their circumstances — can live healthy, full lives.”

 

“Little Lobbyists Kansas is excited to celebrate our children with complex medical needs and disabilities and the positive impact Medicaid has on their lives,” said Laura Robeson, Little Lobbyists. “Through Medicaid, our children can access lifesaving and life-sustaining care and can thrive at home with their families. We are joining together to celebrate disability pride and to demonstrate the power and beauty of inclusion through a community mural.”

Today’s event was attended by hundreds of Kansans who have been positively impacted by Medicaid. It featured music, food trucks, games, sensory-friendly activities, and a collaborative chalk mural to honor Medicaid, which helps keep Kansas families healthy, strong, and thriving.

 

Kansans depend on Medicaid:

• 358,000 children and adults are enrolled in Kansas Medicaid:
  • 3 in 5 are children
  • 3 in 10 live in a rural area
  • 1 in 6 have three or more chronic conditions
• In Kansas, Medicaid covers 31 percent of births and 58 percent of nursing home residents
• Because Kansas has not expanded Medicaid, 27,000 Kansans are stuck in a coverage gap

 

President Trump’s recent budget law includes the largest cuts to Medicaid in American history. According to the U.S. Congressional Joint Economic Committee, the new law will strip coverage from 92,937 Kansans, put six rural hospitals across Kansas at risk of closure, restrict reproductive health care, and increase Affordable Care Act premiums by $780 per year for Third District families.

 

Throughout her time in Congress, Davids has championed policies to make health care more affordable and accessible. She voted to cap insulin costs at $35 per month for Medicare recipients, extend tax credits that help families afford insurance through the Affordable Care Act, and cap annual out-of-pocket drug costs for seniors. She also supported giving Medicare the power to negotiate drug prices — saving 74,000 Kansans up to 79 percent — and led efforts to ban surprise medical billing and increase transparency from insurers to help patients avoid costly out-of-network care.

 

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

Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Ed Case (Hawai‘i – District 1)

(Washington, DC) – U.S. Congressman Ed Case (HI-01) tonight voted against the initial U.S. House $893 billion version of the Fiscal Year (FY) 2026 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) despite adoption of five of his floor amendments and various other requests for Hawai‘i and the Indo-Pacific including $1.7 billion of military construction projects in Hawai‘i.

“Our National Defense Authorization Act is a critical annual measure that not only authorizes our defense spending for the year, supplementing my Appropriations Committee’s parallel funding responsibilities, but also establishes defense policies including organization and administration of the Defense Department,” said Case, who serves on the House Appropriations Subcommittee on Defense, responsible for funding all defense and intelligence community programs, and previously served on the House Appropriations Subcommittee on Military Construction and Veterans Affairs. “It is a very serious vote and I have consistently voted for the final bipartisan versions of the NDAAs throughout my time in Congress.

“This year is different, because the last eight months of the second Trump administration have been among the most disruptive destructive if not destructive in our armed services’ recent history,” said Case. “The selfless, dedicated members of our military have been subjected to erratic leadership; leaks of highly sensitive military data; improper use of military personnel for domestic law enforcement; firings and marginalization of highly qualified and deeply dedicated men and women who have served our country with honor and distinction; personal loyalty purity tests; firing of the inspector general dedicated to combating waste, fraud, abuse and misconduct; servicemembers subjected and pulled into culture wars battles and witch hunts; politicization and obstruction of mission; demoralization; and more. All of this not only disrespects a committed, loyal, professional and apolitical military, but places our national security at risk.

 “Today’s House version of the NDAA, complicated still further by divisive and irrelevant mandates, does nothing to fulfill Congress’ responsibility to oversee and correct these serious risks and consequences. In the big picture, although there is much in this bill I fought successfully to include, I cannot sanction the continuation of this reckless path. I voted against the NDAA today because our national defense bills must provide for the common defense, I don’t believe this version does so, and my vote is both a statement and a hope that with improvement I will be able to vote for the final version, as I have in past NDAAs.”

Despite these major overall concerns, Case highlighted various inclusions which he requested, such as $1.7 billion in Hawai‘i military construction projects including:

 ·        $141 million to commence a multi-year project to build a water treatment plant at Red Hill that would allow the drinking water shaft to be reopened and help remove any residual contaminants from the ground surrounding Red Hill. Case has worked both through the authorization and appropriations bills to advance this critical project. 

·        $553 million of additional funding to continue construction a new drydock at the Pearl Harbor Naval Shipyard and Intermediate Maintenance Facility.  

·        $236 million for a missile range building at the Pacific Missile Range Facility. 

·        $117 million for a C-40 Aircraft Maintenance Hangar at Marine Corp Base Hawai‘i. 

·        $147 million for Military Housing Privatization Initiative projects (460 units) at Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam. 

·        $143 million for Navy missile magazines at Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam. 

·        $108 million for Water Reclamation Facility Compliance Upgrades at Marine Corp Base Hawai‘i. 

·        $83 million for DDG-1000 Ship Support Infrastructure Upgrades at Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam. 

·        $51 million for Army ammunition storage magazines at West Loch Naval Magazine Annex. 

·        $64 million to continue updating Marine Corp Base Hawaii’s outdated electrical distribution network. 

·        $33 million for water system upgrades at Fort Shafter. This follows on Case’s previous successful efforts to secure $23 million for clearwell and booster pumps at Fort Shafter. 

·        $25 million for electrical distribution upgrades at Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam under the Energy Resilience and Conservation Investment Program. 

The NDAA-includes provisions for which Case advocated come as the U.S. Indo-Pacific Command headquartered in his District is holding its annual

International Military Law and Operations Conference in Waikīkī. Related amendments Case proposed which were included in the NDAA are:

 ·        Directing the Assistant Secretary of Defense for Energy, Installations and Environment and United States Indo-Pacific Command to assess the critical infrastructure investments needed in Hawai‘i for any potential conflict-related military needs. 

·        Directing the Army to conduct a study and send Congress a report on options for expanding a reserve contracted wartime sealift capacity in the Indo-Pacific region. Hawai‘i is the home to the Army’s 8^th Theater Support Command that is responsible for leading logistics and sustainment operations across the vast Indo-Pacific region, including ocean going transport. 

·        Directing the Secretary of the Navy, in coordination with United States Indo-Pacific Command, to assess the capacity of each U.S. public and private shipyard, and each foreign shipyard of an allied or partner country, to support battle damage repair in the event of an armed conflict in the Indo-Pacific. 

·        Making Joint Task Force-Micronesia in Guam responsible for strengthening community relationships between the U.S. Armed Forces and Freely Associated States (FAS) citizens – Palau, the Marshall Islands and the Federated States of Micronesia – impacted by military installations and operating locations in the FAS. 

·        Directing the Government Accountability Office to examine how to improve the military’s foreign exchange programs, which are a key soft-power tool that strengthen the ties between America and other countries throughout the globe.  

 Further Indo-Pacific- related amendments that Case cosponsored and that were included in the bill include: 

·        Requiring a report on the impact and potential of AUKUS Pillar 1, a security partnership focused on supporting Australia’s acquisition of conventionally armed, nuclear-powered submarines to help deter Chinese aggression in the Indo-Pacific. 

·        Mandating an annual report on the presence and activities of European Union and NATO militaries in the Indo-Pacific.

·        Requiring an analysis of how the presence of the militaries of such countries contributes to deterrence against Chinese aggression, including a discussion of posture, capability, multilateral operations and strategic signaling effects.  

·        Mandating a study of the Defense Access Road Program’s current authorities and limitations preventing routine maintenance in the Indo-Pacific. This program has supported improvement of the Saddle Road on Hawai‘i Island.

·        Requiring the Department of Defense to develop and implement a strategy to enhance defense industrial cooperation between the United States and its allies and partners in the Indo-Pacific region over the next five years, including incorporating lessons learned from defense industrial cooperation initiatives with European allies and identifying priority armaments for joint development, production or sustainment with Indo-Pacific allies and partners, including Taiwan. 

·        Directing the release of an unclassified summary of certain independent assessments of the Guam missile defense system. 

·        Extending and expanding the Department of Defense’s annual assessments of Taiwan’s military readiness, regional allied responses and U.S. contingency planning in the face of rising Chinese aggression.  

·        Directing the Defense Department to conduct a study of U.S. mobilization and sustainment readiness for a major Indo-Pacific conflict with emphasis on reserve forces mobilization.  

·        Establishing a data sharing process to enable states to access military enlistment data to better inform high school students and educators on military careers and more accurately track the outcome of students who choose a career in the military after graduation.

·        Mandating a study examining the current role of the National Guard in cyber incident response, assessing both federal-level engagements and state-level deployments. The findings should inform recommendations on potential enhancements to the National Guard’s cyber response capabilities to ensure a stronger and more coordinated national cyber defense strategy. 

The bill further includes several provisions advocated for by Case to continue the military’s investment in Hawai‘i and the Indo-Pacific, including: 

·        Directing the military to hire an independent entity to conduct an evaluation of using land owned by the military in Hawai‘i for residential housing development for members of the Armed Services and their families. 

·        Directing the military to assess the feasibility, costs and benefits of providing apartment-style or dormitory housing for civilian workers at naval public shipyards, including the Pearl Harbor Naval Shipyard and Intermediate Maintenance Facility.  

·        $35 million for the purpose of aiding local educational agencies with military dependent students through the Impact Aid Program, and $10 million for local educational agencies eligible to receive payment for children with severe disabilities. The Impact Aid Program provides crucial federal funding to the Hawai‘i Department of Education by compensating for lost local property tax revenue due to the presence of U.S. military bases.  

·        Extending the authority for the Pacific Deterrence Initiative, a Congressionally directed effort focused on deterring Chinese aggression in the Indo-Pacific. 

·        $1.4 billion for Pacific Deterrence Initiative construction, including another $162 million for the U.S. Indo-Pacific Command’s Military Construction Pilot Program to support minor military construction projects in the region. 

·        $1 billion for the Taiwan Security Cooperation Initiative designed to enhance Taiwan’s defense capabilities and resilience. 

·        Requiring the Secretary of Defense to implement a strategy to strengthen multilateral deterrence against regional aggression in the Indo-Pacific region by expanding multilateral coordination with United States allies and partners in the region. 

The bill also includes a 3.8% pay raise for members of the armed forces. It also includes the following provisions to help our nation’s servicemembers:

·        Authorizing two pilot programs that would expand obstetrical and gynecological care for TRICARE beneficiaries, 

·        Expanding mental health services to meet the unique needs of the Cyber Mission Force, 

·        Waiving fees and copays on the TRICARE Dental Program for all members of the Selected Reserve, and 

·        Expanding access to food on military installations by granting authorities to conduct pilot programs to reform their food programs. The measure passed the House and will now be referred to the Senate, which is working on its own version of the NDAA.

The measure passed the House and will now be referred to the Senate, which is working on its own version of the NDAA.

The House and Senate will seek to reconcile their respective versions and submit a common version for joint passage, as has occurred throughout the history of the NDAA.

 ATTACHMENTS: 

1.   A summary of the FY 2025 NDAA is available here. 

2.   The text of the bill is available here. 

3.   The explanatory committee report is available here. 

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Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Jim Baird (R-IN-04)

Congressman Baird Statement on the Passing of Charlie Kirk

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

Headline: Newhouse Votes for Peace Through Strength in NDAA

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, Rep. Dan Newhouse (WA-04) released the following statement upon House passage of the Fiscal Year 2026 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) with a vote of 231-196.

“This is a pivotal moment for U.S. national security, and House Republicans have delivered a clear agenda for maintaining peace through strength,” said Rep. Newhouse. “While China, Russia, and North Korea spare no expense developing cutting-edge warfighting technologies that pose real threats to the U.S. and our allies, this legislation delivers the training and equipment our armed services need to deter aggression and remain a leader on the world stage.” 

Newhouse added, “I was also proud to vote for a 3.8 percent pay raise for our troops and an expansion of bonuses for those who protect us at home and abroad.” 

The Fiscal Year 2026 NDAA supports the Trump Administration’s peace through strength agenda by building a ready, capable, lethal fighting force to deter our adversaries and protect our homeland. This legislation authorizes $892.6 billion for national defense discretionary programs, matching the President’s budget request.

Defense Acquisition Reform 

• Aligns acquisition warfighter priorities and operational outcomes.
• Accelerates the requirements process from almost three years to as few as 90 days.
• Overhauls burdensome acquisition regulations, including rightsizing dollar thresholds to exempt smaller programs.
• Attracts new entrants to the defense industrial base and reduces barriers to Department of Defense’s use of commercial technology.
• Promotes a culture of speed and responsible risk-taking in the acquisition workforce.

Training and Equipment 

• Authorizes full funding for F-47 fighter aircraft, submarines, warships, and autonomous systems.
• Prohibits the retirement of certain F-22, F-15E, A-10, C-130, and Grey Eagle aircraft.
• Grows defense manufacturing jobs in America and on shores U.S. defense supply chains.
• Invests in the Golden Dome for America initiative to defend against hypersonic, ballistic, and cruise missile attacks.

Border Security 

• Fully funds deployment of National Guard and active-duty troops in support of Border Patrol activities at the southwest border.
• Fully funds the establishment and enforcement of National Defense Areas along the southwest border.
• Authorizes over $900 million to fight drug trafficking, including $398 million for DoD support of Counter Narcotics operations and $116 million for National Guard Counter Drug programs.

See bill text before adoption of amendments here. 

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

Headline: Newhouse Statement on the Death of Charlie Kirk

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, Rep. Dan Newhouse (WA-04) released the following statement on the death of Charlie Kirk. 

“I was deeply saddened to hear Charlie Kirk has died from this despicable act of violence. As we pray for him, his wife, and two young children, we must also recognize the unacceptable pattern of political violence we have witnessed in recent years. Political speech is free speech, and debate between ideologies is one of our core principles that has sustained this country for almost 250 years. It must be cherished and protected.”  

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