MIL USHOR-2b Engine

Source: United States House of Representatives – Congresswoman Kim Schrier, M.D. (WA-08)

WENATCHEE, WA – Congresswoman Kim Schrier, M.D. (WA-08), joined local law enforcement and other leaders to highlight federal funding she secured for the Chelan County Sheriff’s Office. The funding will equip officers with de-escalation tools that aim to reduce the risk of serious injuries and lethal encounters, deter dangerous situations, and improve local public safety response. 

Through FY 2026 Community Project Funding (CPF) requests in Congress, Congresswoman Schrier secured $713,000 to equip the Chelan County Sheriff’s Office with modernized de-escalation tools. 

“Across the Eighth District, one of the concerns I hear about the most from neighbors is public safety,” said Congresswoman Schrier. “From police ride-alongs and in conversations with chiefs and sheriffs in Chelan County, I know that our officers need more tools to protect themselves and our communities, and deter dangerous situations. We also need to build trust between local law enforcement and our communities, and ensure that officers are always using the appropriate tools. That is why I’m proud of my work in Congress to provide funding for new de-escalation tools in Chelan County. These dollars, as part of the $14 million I am proud to have secured in district-wide Community Project Funding this year, will improve our public safety and protect the well-being of our communities in the Eighth District.” 

“We are grateful to the congresswoman for this investment in de-escalation tools, which strengthens our ability to protect lives, resolve incidents safely and serve our communities with care and professionalism,” said Chelan County Sheriff Mike Morrison. “Through strong partnerships, especially with Congresswoman Schrier, and the continued commitment of this administration, we are ensuring that even in tight funding times, the needs of our agency and citizens are met. It continues to be an honor to serve and protect the residents of Chelan County.” 

“Limited local budgets are often obstacles to providing deputies with the tools required by law and best practices. At the same time, the importance of de-escalation cannot be overstated in today’s complex landscape,” said Chelan County Commissioner Shon Smith. “We are so grateful to have Congresswoman Schrier as a champion of our community. These dollars and the de-escalation tools they will fund are an investment in the safety of not only the Chelan County Sheriff’s Office but also our community.”

This Congress, Congresswoman Schrier also secured public safety infrastructure funding for the Issaquah Police Office, King County Sheriff’s Office, and the Snoqualmie Tribe police station.

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Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Paul A Gosar DDS (AZ-04)

Yuma, Arizona — Congressman Paul Gosar, DDS (AZ-09) issued the following statement in response to introducing H.R. 8686, legislation authorizing the withdrawal and reservation of approximately 22,000 acres of federal land in Yuma and La Paz Counties to support the critical national security mission of the U.S. Army Yuma Proving Ground:

“The Yuma Proving Ground plays a vital role in America’s national defense and military readiness.  This legislation ensures our service members can safely conduct advanced testing and training operations while protecting the long-term mission of one of the most important military installations in the country.  Arizona is proud to support the men and women who defend our nation, and this bill strengthens that mission for decades to come.

This is not a partisan issue.  This is about military readiness, national security, and protecting the safety of the troops training at Yuma Proving Ground.  Our military must have the tools, land, and operational flexibility necessary to prepare for modern threats and evolving battlefield conditions.

The Yuma Proving Ground is a cornerstone of Arizona’s economy and our nation’s defense infrastructure.  This legislation strikes the right balance between military readiness, responsible land management, public access, and regional infrastructure needs,” stated Congressman Paul Gosar.

Background:

The legislation would establish a permanent withdrawal for lands necessary to safely conduct military testing, training, and advanced air delivery operations while preserving existing public land management responsibilities and utility access.  

Specifically, H.R. 8686 authorizes the withdrawal of approximately 21,783 acres adjacent to Highway 95 to create a larger safety buffer zone for military air delivery system testing. According to Army analysis, the additional land is necessary to allow higher-altitude testing, longer glide distances for guided parachute systems, and more complex tactical training scenarios that cannot safely occur under current land limitations.  

The bill also formally withdraws and reserves approximately 249 acres within the Howard Cantonment area that has been continuously used by the Army since 1955 under authorities that have since expired.  

Importantly, the proposal originated during the Biden Administration and received environmental review and approval across multiple agencies before ultimately being formally approved under the Trump Administration, underscoring the nonpartisan nature of the military’s operational need.

Under the legislation, the Department of the Interior would continue managing the withdrawn lands pursuant to the Federal Land Policy and Management Act while allowing for ongoing conservation activities, protection of wildlife habitat, preservation of cultural resources, wildfire management, recreation, hunting access, and management of wild horses and burros.  

Additionally, the legislation preserves the Parker-Blaisdell Utility Corridor and authorizes continued rights-of-way for critical regional utility infrastructure, including transmission lines, ensuring the proposal does not interfere with regional energy reliability or future utility needs.  

The bill amends the Military Land Withdrawals Act of 2013 by adding a new subtitle pertaining specifically to the Yuma Proving Ground withdrawal area.  

A copy of the legislation can be found by clicking here.

Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Paul A Gosar DDS (AZ-04)

WASHINGTON, D.C. — U.S. Representative Paul Gosar (AZ-09) released the following statement after introducing the “Stopping Wasteful Allowances for Lawmaker Wrongdoing and Ensuring Legal Liability Act,” or the SWALWELL Act—a direct strike against Washington’s culture of corruption, secrecy, and self-protection.

“For decades, the swamp in Washington, D.C. has protected its own—letting corrupt politicians bury misconduct behind closed doors while sticking taxpayers with the bill. That ends now. If a Member of Congress or professional staff breaks the law or abuses their position, they should pay the price themselves—not the American people, and not in secret.

The SWALWELL Act slams the door on taxpayer-funded hush money. It bans the use of federal dollars for misconduct settlements and forces Members and professional staff to pay every penny out of their own pockets—no bailouts, no pass throughs, no campaign fund loopholes, no excuses. Lawmakers will have to certify under oath that they didn’t use public money to cover their tracks.

This bill also rips the curtain back on decades of buried abuse. It creates a public, searchable database naming those who settled or were found liable, including how much they paid and why—while fully protecting victims. And it exposes every taxpayer-funded payout going back to 1995, finally revealing the true scale of this congressional slush fund.

Just as importantly, it ensures that potential crimes can’t be swept under the rug. Any allegation of criminal conduct must be sent straight to the Department of Justice—no NDAs, no internal deals, no delays. Washington, D.C. doesn’t get to police itself in secret anymore.

And for those who try to game the system, the penalties are severe—at least double damages and ethics investigations, enforced by the Attorney General.

This is about ending the two-tiered system in Washington, D.C. where politicians play by their own rules. The SWALWELL Act restores accountability, enforces transparency, and makes it clear: if you betray the public trust, you will be exposed, and you will pay for it,” stated Congressman Paul Gosar.

Click here to view a copy of SWALWELL Act.

Current cosponsors: Biggs (AZ), Boebert, Burchett, Carter (GA), Fine, Luna

Source: United States House of Representatives – Congresswoman Eleanor Holmes Norton (District of Columbia)

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Congresswoman Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-DC) today reintroduced her Federal Employee Short-Term Disability Insurance Act, which would allow federal employees to purchase short-term disability insurance at group rates to replace a portion of their income lost due to a short-term injury or disability, pregnancy, or pregnancy-related illness. 

“According to the Social Security Administration, a 20-year-old worker has a one-in-four chance of becoming disabled by retirement age. Most disabilities are not caused by major accidents, but by injuries or illnesses, such as back injuries or cancer, according to the Council for Disability Awareness,” Norton said. “At a time when Americans are already struggling to afford necessities, there is every reason to allow our federal employees to take advantage of the federal government’s purchasing power to obtain the most reasonable price for short-term disability coverage, at no cost to the federal government.”

Norton’s introductory statement follows. 

Statement of Congresswoman Eleanor Holmes Norton on the Introduction of the Federal Employee Short-Term Disability Insurance Act of 2026

May 11, 2026

Today, I introduce the Federal Employee Short-Term Disability Insurance Act of 2026, which would make short-term disability insurance available to federal employees.  Employees would be responsible for 100 percent of the premiums and would receive benefits for up to one year.  Insurance companies would be prohibited from excluding federal employees, or charging them higher premiums, based on preexisting conditions. Many private-sector employers make available disability insurance to their employees.

I began examining how we could provide federal employees with short-term disability insurance at group rates and with guaranteed coverage after learning that many of them buy such insurance in the individual market, which can have high premiums and exclude those with preexisting conditions.  Although federal employees have good health insurance, health insurance benefits do not replace lost income.  Moreover, while federal employees may have available sick or annual leave, they may not have enough such leave to pay the bills if they cannot work for an extended period, such as following surgery.  Although the federal government provides disability benefits to federal employees who become permanently disabled, federal employees do not qualify for these benefits until they have worked for the federal government for at least 18 months.  The Office of Personnel Management would contract with insurance companies to provide short-term disability insurance. 

According to the Social Security Administration, a 20-year-old worker has a one-in-four chance of becoming disabled by retirement age. The majority of disabilities are not caused by major accidents, but by injuries or illnesses, according to the Council for Disability Awareness. 

I urge my colleagues to support this bill.

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Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Jason Crow (CO-06)

Annual Forum, Hosted by McCain Institute, Brings Together National, International Leaders

Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Bob Latta (R-Bowling Green Ohio)

Latta Announces 2026 Congressional Art Competition Winners

57 Students from 13 high schools participated in this year’s Congressional Art Competition

Source: United States House of Representatives – Representative Zoe Lofgren (D-San Jose)

WASHINGTON, D.C. — Today, Brian Hughes was named as the de facto Director of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) Kennedy Space Center by the White House. Hughes, who led Trump’s 2024 presidential election campaign in Florida, has deep ties to the White House but no background or expertise in space launch systems. He served as NASA’s Chief of Staff from May to December of 2025. During his tenure, he illegally implemented Trump’s Fiscal Year 2026 Presidential Budget Request before NASA’s budget was approved by Congress. Science Committee Democratic staff detailed his illegal actions in their recently released Minority Staff Report, Mission Aborted: How NASA Illegally Implemented the President’s Budget Request Without Congressional Approval. 

“I am deeply concerned that Brian Hughes, a political hack that has a proven record of harming the agency, has been named the de facto Director of Kennedy Space Center at such a critical time of global consequence for NASA and our leadership in space exploration,” said Ranking Member Zoe Lofgren (D-CA). “It is unconscionable that the White House would bring him back and frustrating that NASA did not bother notifying the Committee in advance of this decision.”

Ranking Member Lofgren continued, “We are not going to beat China to the Moon by putting a political operative in charge of launching our astronauts into space. Brian Hughes does not possess the background, knowledge, expertise, or temperament to hold a position of such immense responsibility. The leader of Kennedy Space Center, who also has been granted responsibility for Wallops launch operations, must be beyond reproach in both character and competence. It is no place for a former Trump campaign consultant who personally directed the agency’s illegal implementation of the White House budget last year, as the Committee’s oversight recently detailed. This decision is inexcusable. NASA must reverse it immediately.”

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

ROMULUS, MI — This weekend, Michigan Congresswoman Haley Stevens joined Ranking Member Ro Khanna and Congresswoman Debbie Dingell for the Michigan leg of the House Select Committee on the Chinese Communist Party’s “Heartland Tour,” meeting directly with autoworkers, union leaders, and manufacturers at GM Romulus Propulsion and UAW Local 600 in Dearborn.

The visits brought Members of Congress directly to Michigan manufacturing facilities, focusing on the growing threat from global auto competitors and the need for a stronger American industrial strategy that protects union jobs and domestic supply chains.

At GM Romulus Propulsion, Stevens toured the powertrain facility and met with plant leadership and representatives from UAW Local 163 to discuss global supply chains and pressures facing the U.S. auto sector. 

Afterwards, the delegation visited UAW Local 600 in Dearborn for a roundtable with union leadership and autoworkers about job security, trade enforcement, and the challenges facing Michigan workers.

“Michigan workers are on the frontlines of America’s competition with China,” said Rep. Stevens. “The future of the auto industry will be determined by whether we invest in American manufacturing, strengthen our supply chains, and stand up for union labor. That’s why it was so important to bring Congress directly to Michigan to hear from the workers and manufacturers driving our economy every single day.”

Stevens highlighted several pieces of legislation she has introduced to strengthen American manufacturing and protect Michigan auto jobs, including the No Chinese Cars Act, legislation to stop foreign  automakers from bypassing U.S trade rules by routing production through third countries like Mexico. 

“Michigan put the world on wheels, and Michigan will build the future of advanced manufacturing,” Stevens continued. “But we need a smart industrial strategy that protects workers, enforces trade laws, creates good-paying jobs, and lowers costs making sure we are making and building right here in America. That’s why the No Chinese Cars Act is critical to stand up for Michigan workers and fight back against efforts to undercut Michigan manufacturing.”

Stevens also discussed her broader legislative efforts to support domestic manufacturing and union workers, including the Unearth America’s Future Act, the Union Auto Workers Job Protection Act, the Make Congress Drive Union Made Act, and the Shifting Forward Vehicle Technologies Research and Development Act.

B-Roll for media use linked HERE

 

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Source: United States House of Representatives – Representative Judy Chu (CA2-27)

ARCADIA, CA – Today, Rep. Judy Chu (CA-28) proudly announced the winners of her 17th Annual Artistic Discovery Congressional Art Competition, with Jasmine Ung’s work titled “Marching for Justice & Equality”, earning first place.

The Artistic Discovery Competition is a nationwide program that honors the creativity and vision of high school students. Each year, Rep. Chu’s district competition showcases the extraordinary talent of young artists from California’s 28th District. A panel of local judges selected the winners based on originality, technique, and emotional resonance.

As the first-place winner, Ung’s artwork will be displayed in the U.S. Capitol for one year, alongside other winning pieces from across the country. Additional standout submissions will be exhibited in Rep. Chu’s Washington, D.C. and district offices.

“I’m honored to continue this tradition and uplift the voices of our youth through art,” said Rep. Chu. “This is truly a special moment because it’s so important to recognize the incredible young artists we have in the San Gabriel Valley. These young artists have all used art to tackle challenging problems, speak about difficult emotions, and to inspire each and every one of us to pursue a better version of ourselves.”

This year’s winners and their artworks are below: 
 

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

For Immediate Release                             Contact: Tionee Scotland
May 9, 2026                                                    202-808-6129

PRESS RELEASE

CONGRESSWOMAN PLASKETT RESPONDS TO REPORT OF MULTIPLE GUNSHOTS IN FREDERIKSTED

St. Croix, USVI — Congresswoman Stacey E. Plaskett (D-VI) today released the following statement in response to a report of over 100 gunshots fired in Frederiksted, St. Croix:

“The ongoing violence in our territory weighs heavily on me. Every incident is a painful reminder of how much work remains for us.

“Frederiksted holds a very special place in my heart and in the work of my office. We have seen this town endure years of neglect and deterioration — and we have also seen the resilience of the people who refuse to give up on it. I am continually inspired by the residents, business owners, advocates, and community members who show up every single day committed to making the town of Frederiksted better. My team and I stand with you, as we always have.

“Frederiksted deserves safety, investment, and the full attention of every level of government. We will continue to fight for nothing less.”

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