MIL USHOR-2b Engine

Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Frank Pallone (6th District of New Jersey)

Federal award for new ferry vessel builds on millions Pallone has helped secure for Carteret’s ferry service

Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Jared Golden (ME-02)

WASHINGTON — Congressman Jared Golden (ME-02) and members of the Bipartisan Fiscal Forum (BFF) released the following statements as our nation’s gross national debt recently surpassed $40 trillion.

Annual interest payments on the debt are already approaching $1 trillion, more than the United States is projected to spend this year on defense, Medicare or Medicaid. Absent meaningful action, the debt is only projected to increase, and this has real consequences for hard-working families.

The BFF is a group of House members committed to raising awareness of the nation’s unsustainable debt and working across the aisle toward a more responsible fiscal future. 

“Both parties talk a big game on fiscal responsibility — until they’re the ones who have to govern. Reducing our national debt shouldn’t be seen as a threat to one party’s agenda, but as a once-in-a-generation chance to work together for the good of all Americans,” Golden said. “It’s worth remembering: the last time we actually balanced the budget, Republicans controlled Congress and a Democrat sat in the White House. Absent bipartisan legislation, it’s only a matter of time before one of the two parties is left holding the bag.” 

“Our national debt threatens our economy, drives up interest rates, slows wage growth, and leaves us less prepared for the next emergency. We are in this together, regardless of party label. Addressing our looming fiscal challenges will take both parties, and a bipartisan fiscal commission is a practical step toward doing so.” said Congressman Bill Huizenga (MI-04), Co-Chair of the Bipartisan Fiscal Forum 

“The national debt is now more than $40 trillion and we borrow nearly $2 trillion every year just to pay our expenses. As government borrowing grows, there is less money available in the system to help San Diegans afford homes, invest in their businesses, or take out loans. Congress must help working people keep up with the cost of living. The first step is to pass the Fiscal Commission Act.” said Congressman Scott Peters (CA-50), Co-Chair of the Bipartisan Fiscal Forum 

While the Bipartisan Fiscal Forum does not endorse legislation, members of the group are leading a range of proposals that would seek to improve the nation’s fiscal outlook.

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Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman David G Valadao (CA-21)

WASHINGTON – Today, Congressman David Valadao (CA-22) joined Congressman Don Beyer (VA-08) to introduce the National Flood Impact Reduction and Resilience Act. This bipartisan bill would establish a coordinated federal program to improve the understanding of flood risks, advance more effective mitigation and resilience measures, and reduce the loss of life and property caused by flooding. The legislation is modeled on the success of the bipartisan National Earthquake Hazard Reduction Program (NEHRP), which brings together public and private sector partners to coordinate emergency response and supports the research, development, and implementation of lifesaving earthquake risk reduction and safety measures.

“Central Valley families and farmers know firsthand the devastating impact flooding can have on our communities, like we saw when Tulare Lake flooded in 2023,” said Congressman Valadao. “Instead of just reacting after a disaster strikes, it’s important we take proactive steps to reduce damage before the next flood. I’m proud to join Rep. Beyer in introducing the bipartisan National Flood Impact Reduction and Resilience Act to improve flood forecasting, strengthen infrastructure, promote better flood management and protections, and support federal coordination to help keep the Central Valley safe and resilient from these natural disasters.”

“Communities across the country, including here in Northern Virginia, have experienced firsthand how disruptive and destructive flooding can be – but these losses are not inevitable. We have the expertise and resources necessary to save lives and prevent severe damage,” said Rep. Beyer. “Congress successfully established a coordinated federal program to reduce earthquake risk, and we should bring that same proven model to improve flood resilience. Our bill would strengthen coordination between the public and private sectors to ensure that our communities have the information and tools they need to prepare before the next flood.” 

Background:

In the Central Valley, heavy storms and runoff can place significant pressure on local flood-control systems, threaten homes and agricultural land, and disrupt essential infrastructure. As weather patterns and development continue to change, having accurate information about flood risks and investing in mitigation measures is critical. The bipartisan National Flood Impact Reduction and Resilience Act creates the National Flood Impact Reduction and Resilience Program which would improve flood-risk mapping and data collection, support research into flood mitigation and resilience, and provide grants and technical assistance to state and local governments to encourage adoption of safety measures. This bill would also improve coordination between federal agencies including the Army Corps of Engineers, the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), the United States Geological Survey (USGS), and the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST), to improve the information available to communities preparing for future natural disasters.

Read the bill here.

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Source: United States House of Representatives – Representative Mike Kelly (R-PA)

WASHINGTON, D.C. — Today, U.S. Rep. Mike Kelly (R-PA) and U.S. Senator John Fetterman (D-PA) sent a letter to Postmaster General David Steiner urging the U.S. Postal Service (USPS) to reopen the South Erie Post Office.

The South Erie Post Office, located on Poplar Street, suspended operations in October 2025 for repairs and remains closed as of August 2026. USPS officials have informed the lawmakers that the facility is expected to reopen in November 2026.

“Erie residents who do not drive struggle to access alternative post offices, while others report long waits at retail counters to retrieve their rerouted mail,” the lawmakers wrote. “In addition, we are concerned about dangerous conditions at the South Erie Post Office, including missing windows, holes in the pavement, and unhoused individuals sleeping on the premises. Unless the South Erie Post Office reopens soon, residents worry that they will face another holiday season without their local post office.”

Kelly and Fetterman also raised concerns about USPS’s lack of communication with Erie residents and the current condition of the facility.

“Our offices learned that the South Erie Post Office is set to reopen in November 2026, but USPS has not communicated this with the community, and the current condition of the building leaves that timeline in doubt,” the lawmakers continued. “The Erie community relies on this post office for essential services, and it deserves answers about when services will be restored.”

Earlier this month, Rep. Kelly met with concerned residents to discuss the impact of the Post Office closure during a meeting at Kelly’s Erie office.

Read the full text of the letter here.

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

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

U.S. Rep. Kathy Castor Leads Bipartisan Letter Urging Administration to Protect American Farmers and Fertilizer Producers Against Rising Costs and Chinese Weaponization

WASHINGTON, D.C. — U.S. Reps. Kathy Castor (FL-14) and Zachary Nunn (IA-3), members of the House Select Committee on Strategic Competition between the United States and the Chinese Communist Party, today led a letter to USDA Secretary Brooke Rollins and U.S. Trade Representative Jamieson Greer urging immediate action to protect American farmers and domestic fertilizer producers from a deepening, deliberately engineered supply chain crisis.

Global conflicts and market manipulation by the People’s Republic of China (PRC) has created a critical vulnerability in America’s agricultural supply chain that is hurting American producers, rural communities, and families.

“Hardworking American farmers, workers and families are depending on the Administration to ensure farmers can access the fertilizer they need, at prices they can afford,” Rep. Castor said. “The Chinese Communist Party has demonstrated a willingness to exploit global commodity disruptions to advance its strategic interests at the expense of American producers and consumers. We need to act now to protect our supply chain from bad actors who send costs skyrocketing.”

“Iowa farmers shouldn’t have to outbid Communist China for American-made inputs in their own backyard,” said Rep. Nunn. “Adding fertilizer minerals like phosphate and potash to the U.S. Critical Minerals list was the first step. Now, I’m asking the Administration to work with us on a whole-of-government strategy to secure our fertilizer supply chain and give Iowa producers the certainty to plan for next season.” 

Rep. Castor is urging USDA and USTR to secure domestic fertilizer production and develop a comprehensive fertilizer supply chain security strategy that accounts for geopolitical risk, adversarial commodity manipulation, and the strategic importance of domestic agricultural inputs before American businesses are irreversibly harmed.  

Full text of the letter is below and available here:

Dear Secretary Rollins and Ambassador Greer:

We write as members of the Select Committee on Strategic Competition with the Chinese Communist Party to urge action to protect American farmers and domestic fertilizer producers from a deepening supply chain crisis. The convergence of geopolitical disruptions, the People’s Republic of China’s (PRC’s) strategic use of export controls, and PRC government intervention in global commodity markets have created a critical vulnerability in America’s agricultural supply chain. This challenge is one that requires a strong interagency response before irreversible harm can be done to American producers, rural communities, and ultimately, American families.

Sulfur is an indispensable input for the manufacture of phosphate fertilizer, an essential tool for sustaining American crop yields. [1] Over the past year, a series of geopolitical shocks including Russia’s war of aggression in Ukraine and the closure of the Strait of Hormuz have severely restricted global sulfur supply. [2] The result has been an acute and artificial price spike. In December 2025, sulfur traded at approximately $450 per ton. Today, spot market prices have surged above $1,000 per ton. [3] The United States Gulf Coast, once a reliable but modest global supplier, has become the primary source of global sulfur supply by default. [4] Yet American manufacturers are being systematically outbid in their own backyard.

The crisis facing American fertilizer producers is not simply a function of market forces, it reflects a deliberate strategic posture by the PRC government. Chinese state-affiliated and state-linked companies are actively purchasing American-produced sulfur at elevated prices, outcompeting domestic manufacturers. Mosaic Company, a cornerstone of American phosphate fertilizer production, was recently outbid for a sulfur contract by CMOC, a PRC-linked metals and mining company operating in Brazil. American sulfur is leaving the country while American fertilizer plants are idled.

In early May 2026, the PRC enacted a ban on sulfuric acid exports. By purchasing American sulfur at premium prices, converting it into sulfuric acid domestically, and then restricting exports of that processed product, Beijing is effectively weaponizing a critical agricultural input. The move hoards upstream supply while locking downstream output behind export controls. It reflects a sophisticated strategy by the PRC government to acquire American raw materials, process them domestically, and then restrict re-export, achieving supply chain leverage over American agriculture while preserving its own food security and industrial base.

The consequences of inaction are no longer theoretical. For example, the Mosaic Company is currently in curtailment at two manufacturing facilities due to its inability to secure affordable sulfur. [5] These disruptions are having impacts on farmers as well. The U.S. Department of Agriculture expects the average cost of production for an acre of corn to rise to $917 in 2026, up from $890.[6] This will layer on top of the increased cost of diesel and equipment and cut into the already thin margins that American farmers operate on. [7]

The window for preventive action is closing rapidly. Once phosphate manufacturing capacity is idled, restarting it is a slow and costly process. We urge you both to consider measures to resecure American fertilizer production. We urge USDA and USTR to develop a comprehensive fertilizer supply chain security strategy that accounts for geopolitical risk, adversarial commodity manipulation, and the strategic importance of domestic agricultural inputs.

American farmers, workers, and families are depending on this Administration to ensure farmers can access the fertilizer they need, at prices they can afford. Meanwhile, the Chinese Communist Party has demonstrated a willingness to exploit global commodity disruptions to advance its strategic interests at the expense of American producers and consumers.

Thank you for your attention to this matter and please advise on how you can help lessen the pain of the current supply chain crisis.

[1]https://ers.usda.gov/sites/default/files/_laserfiche/publications/113324/ERR-354.pdf?v=42889

[2]https://www.woodmac.com/press-releases/middle-east-conflict-disrupts-major-metals-and-mining-markets-threatening-global-supply-and-prices/

[3]https://www.spglobal.com/energy/en/news-research/latest-news/agriculture/052926-high-sulfur-prices-squeeze-fertilizer-margins-spur-production-cutbacks

[4]https://www.spglobal.com/energy/en/news-research/latest-news/agriculture/031926-sulfur-nitrogen-markets-under-pressure-as-middle-east-war-persists-analysts

[5]https://www.agri-pulse.com/articles/24654-mosaic-to-scale-back-us-phosphate-production-over-high-input-costs

[6] https://www.ers.usda.gov/data-products/commodity-costs-and-returns

[7]https://www.reuters.com/business/energy/rising-fuel-prices-hit-us-farms-iran-war-drags-2026-06-09/

Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Rick Larsen (2nd Congressional District Washington)

Today, U.S. Representatives Rick Larsen (D, WA-02) and Sara Jacobs (D, CA-51) released the following statement on the news that their pilot program to cover the cost of servicemembers freezing their sperm or eggs will start in September. This is the first federally funded program to cover sperm and egg freezing costs. 

“After nearly a decade of advocacy, starting next month servicemembers will be eligible to freeze their eggs or sperm before hazardous missions,” said the Members. “No one should be forced to choose between serving their country and starting their family. This program’s launch is an important step toward guaranteeing that members of the military have the support they need to have children.” 

Last week, the U.S. Department of Defense (DoD) announced that a three-year gamete cryopreservation pilot program will begin on September 14, 2026. The program will reimburse up to $500 annually for sperm cryopreservation and $10,000 for egg freezing. Servicemembers eligible for the program include those who have received orders for duty in a hazardous location, are likely to receive such orders in the next 120 days or will be geographically separated from their partner for 180 days or more.  

Rep. Larsen initially proposed this program in 2017. In 2024, Rep. Larsen worked with Rep. Jacobs to secure language in the Fiscal Year 2025 National Defense Authorization Act (FY25 NDAA) requiring DoD to begin the gamete cryopreservation pilot program.  

Larsen and Jacobs Fight for Reproductive Health Care for Servicemembers 

Last August, Reps. Larsen and Jacobs reintroduced their Veteran Families Health Services Act of 2025 with Sens. Patty Murray (D-WA), Tammy Duckworth (D-IL), Cory Booker (D-NJ) and Chuck Schumer (D-NY), which is included in the Right to IVF Act. This comprehensive legislation would expand the fertility treatments and family-building services that are covered under servicemembers’ and veterans’ health care to include—among other things—in vitro fertilization (IVF) and adoption assistance, for servicemembers and veterans who are unable to conceive without assistance, and the option for individuals to freeze their eggs or sperm ahead of deployment to a combat zone. 

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Source: United States House of Representatives – Representative Don Beyer (D-VA)

U.S. Representatives Don Beyer (D-VA) and David Valadao (R-CA) today introduced the bipartisan National Flood Impact Reduction and Resilience Act to establish a coordinated federal program to improve the understanding of flood risks, advance more effective mitigation and resilience measures, and reduce the loss of life and property caused by flooding. The legislation is modeled on the success of the bipartisan National Earthquake Hazard Reduction Program (NEHRP), which brings together public and private sector partners to coordinate emergency response and supports the research, development, and implementation of lifesaving earthquake risk reduction and safety measures.

“Communities across the country, including here in Northern Virginia, have experienced firsthand how disruptive and destructive flooding can be – but these losses are not inevitable. We have the expertise and resources necessary to save lives and prevent severe damage,” said Congressman Beyer. “Congress successfully established a coordinated federal program to reduce earthquake risk, and we should bring that same proven model to improve flood resilience. Our bill would strengthen coordination between the public and private sectors to ensure that our communities have the information and tools they need to prepare before the next flood.” 

“Central Valley families and farmers know firsthand the devastating impact flooding can have on our communities, like we saw when Tulare Lake flooded in 2023,” said Congressman Valadao. “Instead of just reacting after a disaster strikes, it’s important we take proactive steps to reduce damage before the next flood. I’m proud to join Rep. Beyer in introducing the bipartisan National Flood Impact Reduction and Resilience Act to improve flood forecasting, strengthen infrastructure, promote better flood management and protections, and support federal coordination to help keep the Central Valley safe and resilient from these natural disasters.”

The legislation would establish the National Flood Impact Reduction and Resilience Program to develop and promote the adoption of flood impact reduction and resilience measures through coordinated federal action and partnerships with state and local governments, academia, and the private sector. The Program’s planning, management, and coordination would be overseen by the Interagency Coordinating Committee, chaired by the Chief of the Army Corps of Engineers and including senior representatives from the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST), the U.S. Geological Survey, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy (OSTP), and the Office of Management and Budget (OMB).

The bill would also establish an Advisory Committee on Flood Impact Reduction and Resilience including representatives from research and academic institutions, industry standards development organizations, and state and local governments. The Advisory Committee would be tasked with assessing trends and developments in the science and engineering of flood impact reduction and resilience and evaluating the effectiveness of the Program.

Full text of National Flood Impact Reduction and Resilience Act bill is available here.

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

WASHINGTON — Following his official visit to Ukraine, Congressman Raja Krishnamoorthi (IL-08), a senior member of the House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence, today announced plans to introduce the Learning Effective Strategies and Systems Optimization for National Security (LESSONS) from Ukraine Act, legislation requiring the Pentagon to study and apply lessons from Ukraine’s battlefield innovations to U.S. military doctrine and training.

“During my visit to Ukraine, I saw firsthand how the Ukrainians are rapidly adapting to a battlefield where drones and electronic warfare are changing how wars are fought,” Krishnamoorthi said. “After years of defending their country against Putin’s invasion, they have learned critical lessons about countering drone swarms, operating through electronic warfare, and sustaining weapons production under attack. We need to draw from their experience to strengthen our own military, protect our servicemembers fighting in the Gulf, and ensure we are prepared to deter aggression in the Indo-Pacific.”

The LESSONS from Ukraine Act would require the Pentagon to study how Ukraine has adapted to a battlefield transformed by drones, including the use of unmanned systems for combat, intelligence, and logistics. The Pentagon would also examine electronic warfare and layered defenses against drone swarms, how forces can operate when GPS and satellite communications are unavailable, and Ukraine’s efforts to disperse weapons production to make its defense industrial base faster and more resilient. Under the LESSONS from Ukraine Act, the Pentagon would further assess how drones are changing the survivability of armored vehicles and battlefield medicine and develop a plan and timetable for incorporating these lessons into U.S. military doctrine and training.

Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Chris Pappas (D-NH)

Rep. Pappas’s Pop-Up Passport Fairs were hosted across NH-01, including North Conway, Londonderry, Wolfeboro, Durham, Portsmouth, Derry, and Manchester.