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Source: United States House of Representatives – Representative Suzanne Bonamici (1st District Oregon)

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, Oregon’s U.S. Senator Jeff Merkley and the Oregon Congressional Delegation members Senator Ron Wyden, and Representatives Andrea Salinas (OR-06), Janelle Bynum (OR-05), Suzanne Bonamici (OR-01), Val Hoyle (OR-04), and Maxine Dexter (OR-03) decried the decision of Bonneville Power Administration (BPA) to abruptly end its participation in the Safe Area Fisheries Enhancement (SAFE) program. The SAFE program has been operational since 1993, and provides reliable stocks of hatchery raised fish including Spring chinook and coho salmon for Pacific Northwest commercial and recreational fisheries in the Lower Columbia River Basin. 

“The loss of SAFE program funding from BPA puts the entire program at risk and is anticipated to have devastating, regional impacts on Columbia River native fish populations. Hatcheries are a critical regional resource. Estimates show that approximately 80% of the salmon and steelhead that return to the Columbia River Basin were hatched and reared in fish hatcheries. The SAFE program produces millions of hatchery fish each year, providing relief for stocks of Endangered Species Act-listed fish while also supporting the region’s world class commercial fishing industries and recreational fishers alike,” write the lawmakers.

BPA’s decision to end SAFE, that has provided hatchery funding for over 30 years, came with minimal notice and will create a nearly $2.4 million shortfall to be shared by Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife (ODFW), Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW), and Clatsop County. According to ODFW, more than 7 million hatchery salmon currently in production are at immediate risk. Without this funding, ODFW may be forced to close SAFE funded hatcheries and potentially cull the millions of salmon and eggs the agency will no longer be able to support.

“When BPA shared its intent to terminate the SAFE program with its non-federal sponsors, the agency provided its partners with less than four months to accommodate for the loss of this critical stream of funding. However, work to produce next year’s stock of hatchery fish has already begun,” emphasized the Oregon Congressional Delegation.

The lawmakers concluded, “We urge BPA to reconsider its decision to walk back on its partnership with regional stakeholders to support fish mitigation activities through the SAFE program. Without strong collective action, communication, and trust, the hardworking stakeholders in the region won’t be able to overcome challenges of diminishing salmon populations and energy security. Further, walking back on the SAFE program stands in opposition to the President’s Executive Order 14276 on Restoring American Seafood Competitiveness. We encourage BPA to fulfill its obligations, and renew its contracts with ODFW, WDFW, and Clatsop County to provide certainty in critical fish stocks in our region.” 

Full text of the letter sent by the Oregon Congressional delegation can be found by clicking here and follows below:  

Dear Administrator Kavulla: 

We write to express our significant concern with the Bonneville Power Administration’s (BPA) recent decision to end its participation in the Select Area Fisheries Management (SAFE) program. The SAFE program has been operational since 1993, providing reliable stocks of Spring chinook and coho salmon for Pacific Northwest commercial and recreational fisheries. We strongly urge BPA to reconsider its actions and commit to renewing its SAFE program contracts to the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife (ODFW), the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW), and Clatsop County.  

The loss of SAFE program funding from BPA puts the entire program at risk and is anticipated to have devastating, regional impacts on Columbia River native fish populations. Hatcheries are a critical regional resource. Estimates show that approximately 80% of the salmon and steelhead that return to the Columbia River Basin were hatched and reared in fish hatcheries.^[1] The SAFE program produces millions of hatchery fish each year, providing relief for stocks of Endangered Species Act-listed fish while also supporting the region’s world class commercial fishing industries and recreational fishers alike.  

When BPA shared its intent to terminate the SAFE program with its non-federal sponsors, the agency provided its partners with less than four months to accommodate for the loss of this critical stream of funding. However, work to produce next year’s stock of hatchery fish has already begun. BPA’s decision to no longer support the SAFE program will jeopardize seven million fish that are currently being raised to be released into rivers next spring and will no longer be able to be supported by current funding schemes. It is likely that the hatchery will have to be closed and fish may be culled.  

Further, the Northwest Power & Conservation Council, the organization that provides advice to BPA on its activities to mitigate the loss of fish populations, has long supported the SAFE program. In its most recent recommendations to BPA, the Council recommended that BPA renew its contracts for the program to continue to address the loss of salmon populations in the Columbia Basin.^[2] It is disappointing that BPA cannot heed the advice of the organization designed to work with partners on this regional issue.  

We urge BPA to reconsider its decision to walk back on its partnership with regional stakeholders to support fish mitigation activities through the SAFE program. Without strong collective action, communication, and trust, the hardworking stakeholders in the region won’t be able to overcome challenges of diminishing salmon populations and energy security. Further, walking back on the SAFE program stands in opposition to the President’s Executive Order 14276 on Restoring American Seafood Competitiveness. We encourage BPA to fulfill its obligations, and renew its contracts with ODFW, WDFW, and Clatsop County to provide certainty in critical fish stocks in our region. 

^[1] National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA). (2024, August 15). Federal Columbia River Power System Mitigation Actions. NOAA Fisheries. https://www.fisheries.noaa.gov/west-coast/endangered-species-conservation/federal-columbia-river-power-system-mitigation-actions  

^[2] Independent Scientific Review Panel for the Northwest Power & Conservation Council. (2022, February 10). Final Report: Review of Anadromous Fish Habitat and Hatchery. P.88-91. 

Source: United States House of Representatives – Congresswoman Alma Adams (12th District of North Carolina)

WASHINGTON, D.C. — Today, Congresswoman Alma S. Adams, Ph.D. (NC-12), and Congresswoman Lucy McBath (GA-6) introduced the Extreme Temperatures Injustice in Prisons Act, landmark legislation to protect incarcerated people and prison staff from dangerous temperatures in facilities across the country managed by the Bureau of Prisons (BOP).

This bill is a continuation of work that Congresswomen Adams and McBath began last year.  In March 2026, they successfully launched a U.S. Government Accountability Office (GAO) study to further understand how the BOP currently tracks and addresses instances of extreme temperatures in their facilities. They also sent a letter of inquiry to the BOP in August 2025 regarding current conditions in their facilities, which informed this bill. In their response letter, the BOP stated that 18,736 incarcerated individuals reported symptoms of heat-related illness and 42 were diagnosed with heat stroke between January 2022 and September 2025.

Extreme temperatures inside federal prisons can pose life-threatening risks. Incarcerated individuals have limited ability to insulate themselves and staff face occupational hazards that are routinely unregulated. Many BOP facilities lack basic climate control, leaving people in cells where temperatures can reach deadly levels during record heat waves and winter freezes. The Extreme Temperatures Injustice in Prisons Act would establish the first comprehensive, mandatory federal standards to address this crisis.

“The conditions in our federal prisons are unacceptable,” said Congresswoman Adams. “Across all 122 BOP facilities, there are more than 138,000 incarcerated people and roughly 34,000 BOP employees who live and work in these conditions every day. No one should be forced to endure dangerous, life-threatening temperatures because of aging infrastructure. The federal government has both a moral and constitutional responsibility to maintain safe and humane conditions for those in its custody.”

“Incarcerated persons do not lose their rights to basic standards of living and safety in federal prison,”Congresswoman McBath said. “As states across the country face record breaking temperatures this summer, it is common sense to require standardized installation and maintenance of HVAC systems in all federal prison facilities. This legislation is another important step towards improving our federal prison system.”

The Extreme Temperatures Injustice in Prisons Act will:

• Authorize funding for climate control system installation and upgrades in all federal prisons within five years, with temperature monitors in every cell and workspace.
• Set clear health and safety standards for extreme heat and cold across work, recreational activities, and housing.
• Direct the Center for Disease Control & Prevention (CDC) to research how extreme temperatures harm incarcerated individuals and staff and develop extra protections for elderly, pregnant, and immunocompromised individuals.
• Provide free cooling and warming supplies — like cold water, fans, warm clothing, and blankets — when temperatures reach dangerous levels.
• Implement accountability measures regarding staff training for recognizing and responding to heat and cold emergencies
• Require regular public reports on HVAC progress, temperature-related illness and deaths, and annual safety inspections.

“Incarcerated individuals deserve to live in safe and humane conditions that are conducive to rehabilitation,” said Kevin Hagan, Esq., Federal Legislative Affairs Director with FAMM (formerly Families Against Mandatory Minimums). “Unfortunately, too many live in deplorable conditions, facing extreme temperatures that can prove to be life-threatening. FAMM is proud to endorse the Extreme Temperatures Injustice in Prisons Act. This much needed legislation is a step in the right direction towards accountability and reform within America’s prisons.”

“As temperatures across the country rise to deadly levels, people in prisons are left without access to air conditioning and with few heat mitigation options,” said Sarah Staudt, Director of Policy and Advocacy with Prison Policy Initiative. “Even the most vulnerable are routinely forced to survive the sweltering conditions as best they can. Some will not make it.” Staudt adds, prison Policy Initiative strongly supports the Extreme Temperatures Injustice in Prisons Act. This urgently needed legislation will ensure that people in prisons have access to air conditioning in the summer and heat in the winter. Among other things, it also compels the Bureau of Prisons to regularly monitor the temperatures incarcerated people are forced to endure, to develop standards around heat and cold stress, and to ensure that people in federal prisons have access to potentially life-saving temperature mitigation options. Ultimately, a heatwave should not be a death sentence.” 

You can read the full text here.

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

July 07, 2026

Washington, D.C. — U.S. Representative Sean Casten led four House Democrats in urging European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen to maintain the European Union Methane Regulation.

“As elected United States representatives committed to protecting our climate and maintaining strong transatlantic collaboration on environmental issues, we write to express our strong support for maintaining integrity and ambition of the European Union Methane Regulation (EUMR),” the lawmakers wrote in a letter to President von der Leyen. “…At a time when the EUMR is facing increasing pressure to be delayed or weakened by fossil fuel interests, maintaining clear, consistent rules for all suppliers is essential to strengthening Europe’s energy security, while also reducing highly potent greenhouse gas emissions.”

The European Union Methane Regulation is the EU’s first binding law focused on reducing methane emissions from oil, gas, and coal. This includes emissions from both EU-based producers and fossil fuel imports into the EU.

Rep. Casten recently returned from a Congressional delegation in Brussels and Strasbourg, where he met with Members of the European Parliament and heard first-hand about the Trump Administration’s increased efforts to derail the EUMR and demands that the U.S. be exempt from the regulation.

“Preserving the integrity of the EUMR will reinforce Europe’s leadership at a moment when climate ambition is increasingly inseparable from security, competitiveness, and geopolitical resilience,” the lawmakers concluded.

In addition to Rep. Casten, the letter was signed by Reps. Conaway, Dexter, Kamlager-Dove, and Ross, who also joined the Congressional delegation.

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

Dear President von der Leyen,

As elected United States representatives committed to protecting our climate and maintaining strong transatlantic collaboration on environmental issues, we write to express our strong support for maintaining integrity and ambition of the European Union Methane Regulation (EUMR). As such, we urge the European Commission to ensure timely implementation and, above all, to preserve its ambition. We offer our support to work together with the Trump Administration, the European Union, industry, and relevant experts to ensure robust implementation.

At a time when the EUMR is facing increasing pressure to be delayed or weakened by fossil fuel interests, maintaining clear, consistent rules for all suppliers is essential to strengthening Europe’s energy security, while also reducing highly potent greenhouse gas emissions. According to new analysis from Rystad Energy, there is “no credible evidence that the EUMR is contributing to current oil and gas price increases or supply pressures affecting Europe.”1 Rather, the EUMR has established the European Union as a global leader in methane mitigation, and its continued robust implementation will reinforce regulatory certainty, encourage investment in proven methane reduction technologies, and demonstrate that market-based environmental standards can advance both economic and strategic interests.

Methane is the primary constituent of natural gas. Today, and for the immediate future, natural gas will be a vital national security and economic resource for the EU. The EUMR is therefore fundamentally a waste prevention measure in that it prevents the waste of this vital resource. The International Energy Agency estimates “that nearly 100 billion cubic metres (bcm) of natural gas could be made available annually through a global effort to cut methane from oil and gas operations, with a further 100 bcm unlocked through the elimination of nonemergency flaring worldwide,”2 which is roughly twice the volume lost due to disruptions linked to the closure of the Strait of Hormuz.3 Because methane is also a global warming pollutant with more than 80 times the potency of carbon dioxide, LNG can be worse for the climate than even the coal it replaces – let alone the zero-emission energy sources which must replace it in the coming years. The EUMR is therefore additionally a critical climate protection measure, beyond its energy security benefits.

Our recent meetings as a congressional delegation in Strasbourg and Brussels reinforced these convictions. During meetings with European Parliament President Roberta Metsola, Executive Vice-President Teresa Ribera, Commissioner Wopke Hoekstra, and Members of the European Parliament responsible for energy, environment, and trade policy, we heard a remarkably consistent message: the EUMR has become a defining test of Europe’s ability to maintain ambitious climate and energy policies in the face of mounting geopolitical and commercial pressure. Across nearly every engagement, climate policy was discussed not as a standalone environmental issue, but as a matter of industrial competitiveness, energy security, economic resilience, and democratic cooperation.

We share this perspective because the EUMR represents far more than a single environmental policy. Alongside initiatives such as the Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (CBAM) and the Clean Industrial Deal, it reflects a broader strategy that recognizes climate policy as industrial policy and national security policy. Together, these frameworks reward innovation, strengthen resilient supply chains, and create durable incentives for cleaner production and greater transparency across global markets.

Decisions regarding EUMR will therefore be viewed beyond methane policy itself – they will signal whether the European Union intends to maintain predictable long-term market rules that encourage investment in emissions measurement, monitoring, and reporting, as well as other low-emission innovations. Just as the CBAM is encouraging governments and industries to improve emissions performance, the EUMR is creating incentives for producers to invest in transparent practices. We believe this approach will continue to encourage technological investment and reinforce Europe’s leadership in a more secure and sustainable economy.

For these reasons, we respectfully encourage the European Commission to stay the course and are committed to working with key partners to support implementation. Preserving the integrity of the EUMR will reinforce Europe’s leadership at a moment when climate ambition is increasingly inseparable from security, competitiveness, and geopolitical resilience. We appreciate the Commission’s continued leadership and stand ready to support continued US-EU cooperation to ensure that implementation is both technically robust and strategically durable. By maintaining the EUMR’s core requirements and ambition, the European Union can continue demonstrating that a principled climate policy strengthens our shared prosperity and transatlantic partnership.

Sincerely,

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

WASHINGTON — Congressman Raja Krishnamoorthi (D-IL), Congressman Ryan Mackenzie (R-PA), Congresswoman Janelle Bynum (D-OR), and Congressman John McGuire (R-VA) introduced the bipartisan Federal Jobs for STARs Act today, legislation to modernize federal hiring by reducing unnecessary bachelor’s degree requirements for many federal jobs and helping ensure qualified workers who are Skilled Through Alternative Routes (STARs) can compete for federal jobs based on their skills and experience.

Nearly two-thirds of American adults do not have a bachelor’s degree, yet millions have developed valuable skills through military service, apprenticeships, community college, career and technical education, and on-the-job training. The Federal Jobs for STARs Act would help ensure the federal government recruits talent based on skills and experience while preserving bachelor’s degree requirements for positions where they are genuinely necessary.

“Qualified Americans should not be denied a fair opportunity to compete for federal jobs simply because they don’t have a bachelor’s degree,” said Congressman Krishnamoorthi. “For millions of Americans, that unnecessary barrier has become a ‘paper ceiling’ separating them from federal jobs they are fully qualified to perform. The federal government should lead by example by evaluating applicants based on whether they have the skills and experience to do the job—not simply whether they have a four-year degree. This bipartisan bill will help recruit the best talent into public service while expanding opportunity for qualified Americans.”

“College degrees aren’t the only way that workers gain valuable skills and experience. Through apprenticeships, military service, and on-the-job experience, Americans are building the skills our federal workforce needs. Unfortunately, excessive degree requirements are preventing countless workers from putting that experience to work on behalf of taxpayers. That’s why the Federal Jobs for STARs Act opens the door for talented workers who built their skills outside the classroom — helping to ensure that federal hiring is based on merit, not just credentials,” said Congressman Mackenzie.

“Hiring practices that require traditional educational experience mean that both employers and employees miss out”, said Rep. Bynum. “Talented workers can emerge from military service, technical education, apprenticeships, or certification programs – not just four-year degree programs.”

“Our country is home to some of the best and brightest workers,” said Rep. John McGuire (VA-05). “Yet, too often, talented men and women are blocked from joining the federal workforce due to the lack of a college degree. There are many ways to gain relevant experience, including military service, on the job training, and apprenticeships. Qualified candidates should be able to apply for jobs, despite lacking educational degree attainment. This bill ensures the most qualified applicants are given a chance to play a role in our nation’s success and recognizes that education shouldn’t be a barrier for an otherwise qualified individual to join the federal workforce.”

“One of the core principles of our government is that hiring in the civil service is based on merit. The Federal Jobs for Skilled Through Alternative Routes (STARs) Act advances this principle by removing unnecessarily restrictive degree requirements, opening opportunities for qualified applicants and creating the largest hiring pool. By expanding the talent pipeline, this legislation ensures the federal government can address workforce shortages and hire the best candidates possible, while respecting educational or licensing requirements when necessary. Thank you to Representatives Krishnamoorthi (D-IL), Mackenzie (R-PA), Bynum (D-OR), and McGuire (R-VA) for their leadership in supporting the federal workforce,” said Randy Erwin, National President of the National Federation of Federal Employees.

“The Federal Jobs for STARs Act is an important step toward ensuring that federal hiring reflects what matters most: the skills, experience, and ability to do the job,” said Blair Corcoran de Castillo, Senior Vice President of Public Sector & Policy at Opportunity@Work. “More than 70 million Americans are Skilled Through Alternative Routes (STARs), having developed valuable skills through military service, apprenticeships, community college, workforce training, and years of experience. This bipartisan legislation will help ensure that all workers with the skills for the job can compete for federal careers.”

The Federal Jobs for STARs Act would:

• Reduce unnecessary bachelor’s degree requirements for many federal jobs while preserving degree requirements where they are genuinely necessary.
• Direct the Office of Personnel Management to establish skills-based qualifications that recognize military service, apprenticeships, community college, career training, and other alternative pathways.
• Create a dedicated hiring pathway on USAJobs for STARs.
• Require a government-wide study on additional training, education, and career development opportunities for STAR employees.

Original cosponsors include: Representatives Troy Downing (R-MT), Shomari Figures (D-AL), Glenn Grothman (R-WI), and Josh Walkinshaw (D-VA).

The text of the bill is available here.

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

U.S. Congressman Morgan Griffith (R-VA), Chairman of the Subcommittee on Health for the House Committee on Energy and Commerce, appeared on the latest edition of “The Deciders.” During his appearance, Congressman Griffith outlined policies and actions needed to protect America’s rural communities. 

Click here or below to watch the full episode featuring Congressman Griffith.

Chairman Griffith on helping draft policies to combat the synthetic opioid crisis:

“The one that I think probably had the most impact in the early years was the Drug Prescription Monitoring Program…I was very proud we got that included in the [SUPPORT ACT]. And then my bill, the HALT Fentanyl bill, that I did with Bob Latta. So we scheduled all the analogues, there’s about 4,300 of them, as Schedule I.”

Chairman Griffith on efforts to lower drug costs in the United States:

“You’ve got to have that balance. You want the medical pharmaceutical companies to do the research, to find the new medicine, to find the breakthrough. We want to keep the jobs here in the U.S. instead of sending them to China. At the same time, it’s not fair and President Trump’s been all over this. It’s not fair that other countries in the world use our breakthroughs at a much lower cost. So he’s working hard and I agree with him. They have to pay for some of the research costs too. It should not just be the American consumer.”

Chairman Griffith on the impacts of Artificial Intelligence (AI) and data centers:

“The right answer is to figure out a way that [data centers] pay all of [their] own upgrade costs to the electric system. [They] pay for [their] own substation, or as the case is with a facility that is being built in Wise County, Virginia. They are building a natural gas generator as a part of the data center, and that I think is the right answer.”

“That doesn’t mean there won’t be individuals who are negatively impacted and we have to work to make sure we lessen that impact. But I think there are going to be so many new jobs created from the new technologies…history tells us that every time there is a new technology, there are new jobs that follow. We need to make sure that we are the first to engage these new technologies, but we have to make sure that the people who are the working poor and economically distressed are not left behind. That’s our job: is to make sure they are not left behind.”

“We need to embrace [AI]. If we do not embrace it, then the Chinese will lead and they will be the world superpower and we will be relegated to a secondary role.”

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Source: United States House of Representatives – Representative Suzanne Bonamici (1st District Oregon)

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, Oregon’s U.S. Senator Jeff Merkley and the Oregon Congressional Delegation members Senator Ron Wyden, and Representatives Andrea Salinas (OR-06), Janelle Bynum (OR-05), Suzanne Bonamici (OR-01), Val Hoyle (OR-04), and Maxine Dexter (OR-03) decried the decision of Bonneville Power Administration (BPA) to abruptly end its participation in the Safe Area Fisheries Enhancement (SAFE) program. The SAFE program has been operational since 1993, and provides reliable stocks of hatchery raised fish including Spring chinook and coho salmon for Pacific Northwest commercial and recreational fisheries in the Lower Columbia River Basin. 

“The loss of SAFE program funding from BPA puts the entire program at risk and is anticipated to have devastating, regional impacts on Columbia River native fish populations. Hatcheries are a critical regional resource. Estimates show that approximately 80% of the salmon and steelhead that return to the Columbia River Basin were hatched and reared in fish hatcheries. The SAFE program produces millions of hatchery fish each year, providing relief for stocks of Endangered Species Act-listed fish while also supporting the region’s world class commercial fishing industries and recreational fishers alike,” write the lawmakers.

BPA’s decision to end SAFE, that has provided hatchery funding for over 30 years, came with minimal notice and will create a nearly $2.4 million shortfall to be shared by Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife (ODFW), Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW), and Clatsop County. According to ODFW, more than 7 million hatchery salmon currently in production are at immediate risk. Without this funding, ODFW may be forced to close SAFE funded hatcheries and potentially cull the millions of salmon and eggs the agency will no longer be able to support.

“When BPA shared its intent to terminate the SAFE program with its non-federal sponsors, the agency provided its partners with less than four months to accommodate for the loss of this critical stream of funding. However, work to produce next year’s stock of hatchery fish has already begun,” emphasized the Oregon Congressional Delegation.

The lawmakers concluded, “We urge BPA to reconsider its decision to walk back on its partnership with regional stakeholders to support fish mitigation activities through the SAFE program. Without strong collective action, communication, and trust, the hardworking stakeholders in the region won’t be able to overcome challenges of diminishing salmon populations and energy security. Further, walking back on the SAFE program stands in opposition to the President’s Executive Order 14276 on Restoring American Seafood Competitiveness. We encourage BPA to fulfill its obligations, and renew its contracts with ODFW, WDFW, and Clatsop County to provide certainty in critical fish stocks in our region.” 

Full text of the letter sent by the Oregon Congressional delegation can be found by clicking here and follows below:  

Dear Administrator Kavulla: 

We write to express our significant concern with the Bonneville Power Administration’s (BPA) recent decision to end its participation in the Select Area Fisheries Management (SAFE) program. The SAFE program has been operational since 1993, providing reliable stocks of Spring chinook and coho salmon for Pacific Northwest commercial and recreational fisheries. We strongly urge BPA to reconsider its actions and commit to renewing its SAFE program contracts to the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife (ODFW), the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW), and Clatsop County.  

The loss of SAFE program funding from BPA puts the entire program at risk and is anticipated to have devastating, regional impacts on Columbia River native fish populations. Hatcheries are a critical regional resource. Estimates show that approximately 80% of the salmon and steelhead that return to the Columbia River Basin were hatched and reared in fish hatcheries.^[1] The SAFE program produces millions of hatchery fish each year, providing relief for stocks of Endangered Species Act-listed fish while also supporting the region’s world class commercial fishing industries and recreational fishers alike.  

When BPA shared its intent to terminate the SAFE program with its non-federal sponsors, the agency provided its partners with less than four months to accommodate for the loss of this critical stream of funding. However, work to produce next year’s stock of hatchery fish has already begun. BPA’s decision to no longer support the SAFE program will jeopardize seven million fish that are currently being raised to be released into rivers next spring and will no longer be able to be supported by current funding schemes. It is likely that the hatchery will have to be closed and fish may be culled.  

Further, the Northwest Power & Conservation Council, the organization that provides advice to BPA on its activities to mitigate the loss of fish populations, has long supported the SAFE program. In its most recent recommendations to BPA, the Council recommended that BPA renew its contracts for the program to continue to address the loss of salmon populations in the Columbia Basin.^[2] It is disappointing that BPA cannot heed the advice of the organization designed to work with partners on this regional issue.  

We urge BPA to reconsider its decision to walk back on its partnership with regional stakeholders to support fish mitigation activities through the SAFE program. Without strong collective action, communication, and trust, the hardworking stakeholders in the region won’t be able to overcome challenges of diminishing salmon populations and energy security. Further, walking back on the SAFE program stands in opposition to the President’s Executive Order 14276 on Restoring American Seafood Competitiveness. We encourage BPA to fulfill its obligations, and renew its contracts with ODFW, WDFW, and Clatsop County to provide certainty in critical fish stocks in our region. 

^[1] National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA). (2024, August 15). Federal Columbia River Power System Mitigation Actions. NOAA Fisheries. https://www.fisheries.noaa.gov/west-coast/endangered-species-conservation/federal-columbia-river-power-system-mitigation-actions  

^[2] Independent Scientific Review Panel for the Northwest Power & Conservation Council. (2022, February 10). Final Report: Review of Anadromous Fish Habitat and Hatchery. P.88-91. 

Source: United States House of Representatives – Congresswoman Stacey E. Plaskett (USVI)

For Immediate Release                             Contact: Tionee Scotland
July 6, 2026                                                    202-808-6129

PRESS RELEASE

CONGRESSWOMAN PLASKETT’S LEGISLATION TO HONOR VIRGIN ISLANDS MUSIC LEGEND PETER G. THURLAND, SR. ADVANCES IN HOUSE NATURAL RESOURCES COMMITTEE

Washington, D.C. — Congresswoman Stacey E. Plaskett (D-VI) announced today that the House Committee on Natural Resources, Subcommittee on Federals Lands held a hearing on H.R. 8121, legislation to designate the Christiansted Bandstand in Christiansted, St. Croix, U.S. Virgin Islands, as the “Peter G. Thurland, Sr., Bandstand.” The hearing marks a significant step forward for legislation that would permanently honor one of St. Croix’s cultural figures and cement his legacy in the very landmark he helped build.

“Last week’s hearing before the House Committee on Natural Resources, Subcommittee on Federal Lands is an important milestone in our effort to ensure that Peter G. Thurland, Sr.’s contributions to the Virgin Islands are never forgotten,” said Congresswoman Plaskett. “Mr. Thurland helped construct the Christiansted Bandstand with his own hands, performed there in service to his country, and then spent decades pouring his talents back into the community by training generations of young Virgin Islands musicians. I am hopeful this legislation will continue moving through the process so that we can deliver this long-overdue recognition.”

H.R. 8121 honors the life and legacy of Peter Gregory Thurland, Sr., born on February 19, 1892, in Christiansted, St. Croix. Shortly after the transfer of the Virgin Islands from Denmark to the United States, Mr. Thurland enlisted in the United States Navy on June 12, 1917, serving as a member of the Navy Band. He was instrumental in the construction and design of the Christiansted Bandstand and performed there with the Christiansted Naval Band until his honorable discharge in September 1921.

In 1938, Mr. Thurland founded the St. Croix Community Band, training generations of young musicians who performed free monthly concerts at the Christiansted Bandstand for three decades. He led the band until 1968, when he passed the baton to his son. Beyond music, he was known across the Virgin Islands as a master craftsman and skilled cabinetmaker whose contributions to St. Croix’s civic and cultural life remain immeasurable.

“The Thurland family is honored with the naming of the Christiansted Bandstand for our grandfather Peter G. Thurland Sr.,” said Karen Thurland, granddaughter of Mr. Peter G. Thurland, Sr. “Not only was he part of the building of the bandstand with the Christiansted enlisted U.S. Navy men, he also played with the Christiansted Industrial Brass Band at the transfer ceremony on the Christiansted Wharf on March 31, 1917. Peter G. Thurland Sr., besides being a musician, was a master joiner, educator, and family man who made many contributions to the St. Croix community.”

The legislation was first championed by Congressman Ron de Lugo in the 103rd Congress. The hearing held last week represents the furthest the bill has advanced in its history.

“Our story as Virgin Islanders is not only written in textbooks, it is woven into the places we gather, the music we play, and the people who gave so much of themselves to build the communities we live in today. Peter G. Thurland, Sr. is one of those people,” Congresswoman Plaskett concluded. “Preserving and honoring stories like his is how we ensure that the next generation of Virgin Islanders knows where they come from and who stood before them.”

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Source: United States House of Representatives – Representative Bryan Steil (Wisconsin-1)

JANESVILLE, WI – Today, Congressman Bryan Steil (WI-01) shared additional details regarding FEMA resources for families and affected communities following storm damage in Wisconsin this past April. This follows President Trump’s approval of a Major Disaster Declaration for Wisconsin and approval of $22.6 million in funding for Wisconsin families. 

“This is an important step towards helping Wisconsin families impacted by the severe weather and damaging flooding in April,” said Steil. “Thank you, President Trump for working to provide critical resources to Wisconsin families. I look forward to working with FEMA to help Wisconsin families impacted by these storms.”

Background:

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Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Adrian Smith (R-NE)

Congressman Adrian Smith (NE-03) announced today that his staff will hold a mobile office hour for constituents in Hitchcock County on Monday, July 20, 2026. This office hour is an opportunity for constituents to meet directly with a member of Smith’s staff about federal issues, receive assistance with a federal agency, or take advantage of the services available through his office. 

Smith, who has offices in Grand Island, Scottsbluff, and Nebraska City, will provide a staff member at the following time and location: 

Monday, July 20, 2026 
Hitchcock County Courthouse
 229 East D Street
 Trenton, NE 69044
 12:00 pm – 1:00 pm CT 

For more information, please contact Smith’s Grand Island office at (308) 384-3900, his Scottsbluff office at (308) 633-6333, or his Nebraska City office at (402) 874-6050.  

Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Adrian Smith (R-NE)

Congressman Adrian Smith (NE-03) announced today that his staff will hold a mobile office hour for constituents in Banner County on Tuesday, July 21, 2026. This office hour is an opportunity for constituents to meet directly with a member of Smith’s staff about federal issues, receive assistance with a federal agency, or take advantage of the services available through his office. 

Smith, who has offices in Grand Island, Scottsbluff, and Nebraska City, will provide a staff member at the following time and location: 

Tuesday, July 21, 2026 
Banner County Courthouse
 2204 State Street
 Harrisburg, NE 69345
 10:00 am – 11:00 am MT

For more information, please contact Smith’s Grand Island office at (308) 384-3900, his Scottsbluff office at (308) 633-6333, or his Nebraska City office at (402) 874-6050.