MIL USHOR-2b Engine

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

Washington, D.C. – Today Representative Adrian Smith (R-NE) released the following statement after it was reported Charlie Kirk, Founder and CEO of Turning Point USA, was killed while speaking at Utah Valley University.

“The loss of Charlie Kirk marks a tragic day for American politics. Charlie was a patriot who lived his conservative values by championing free speech for all. Regardless of viewpoint, political violence is never acceptable. My prayers are with his wife and young children. May the investigation to bring his killer to justice be swift and successful.”

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Source: United States House of Representatives – Julia Brownley (D-CA)

Washington, DC – Today, Congresswoman Julia Brownley (D-CA) issued the following statement in response to House passage of the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2026:

“Our servicemembers make extraordinary sacrifices in service to our nation. They deserve a defense bill that honors their service by strengthening our Armed Forces, advancing our military capabilities, meeting our global security challenges, and providing unwavering support to them and their families. Instead, for the third year in a row, House Republicans have hijacked the NDAA – a historically bipartisan bill – to further an extremely partisan and ideological agenda.

“Rather than supporting all who wear the uniform, Republicans have used this bill to promote an anti-woman and anti-LGBTQ agenda. It is loaded with discriminatory and harmful provisions that target women and members of the LGBTQ+ community, none of which have anything to do with military readiness. Among them are amendments that would deny medical care, restrict participation based on gender or sexual orientation, and undermine workplace recognition for servicemembers and their families, all while failing to advance our strategic capabilities. What should be a bill that strengthens our military has been turned into a vehicle for political theater, jeopardizing readiness, morale, and the critical missions our servicemembers carry out every day.

“I cannot, in good conscience, support a bill that weakens our Armed Forces by excluding women and LGBTQ+ servicemembers from full and equal participation. Our military’s strength has always come from its diversity, talent, and unity of purpose. I urge the Senate to reject these harmful provisions and restore a bipartisan NDAA that invests in our military, honors all who serve, and strengthens America’s security at home and abroad.”

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Issues: 119th Congress, Defense, Military, National Security

Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Brad Sherman (D-CA)

PACIFIC PALISADES, CA – Congressman Brad Sherman (CA-32), who represents the Pacific Palisades and has been leading efforts to secure critically needed federal wildfire aid for one of the most destructive wildfires in history, issued the following statement in response to Senators Rick Scott (R-FL) and Ron Johnson (R-WI) announcing an investigation, launched through the Permanent Subcommittee on Investigations, into the preparedness and response to the January 2025 Palisades Fire.

“I join Governor Gavin Newsom in welcoming the announcement of an additional review of the Palisades Fire, emphasizing that an independent assessment should prioritize recovery, accountability, and public safety — not partisan politics.

This Senate investigation complements the investigations that are already taking place – including by the federal government, the state, and an independent review by the nation’s leading fire experts. 

My focus remains where it has always been – pressing the Trump Administration and Republicans in Congress to approve Supplemental Appropriations bill to provide aid for California fire victims. Congress should be united in one mission: delivering a supplemental appropriations package that provides real aid to California wildfire victims. Partisanship cannot rebuild homes and businesses.” 

As part of his bipartisan approach to relief, Sherman recently joined with Rep. Doug LaMalfa (R-CA) to introduce the Protect Innocent Victims of Taxation After Fire Act. Senator Scott has introduced similar legislation in the Senate. The legislation would grant tax relief to victims of the Palisades wildfires and other recent natural disasters. Sherman noted that this type of cooperation across party lines shows how Congress can act constructively to help families recover.

Sherman has repeatedly called on President Trump to provide federal wildfire aid without political conditions and is urging colleagues in both parties to come together behind a clean, bipartisan disaster relief package.

He first urged President Trump not to hold up aid for political reasons when he spoke to Trump face-to-face. See video of their exchange here.

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