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Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Don Bacon (2nd District of Nebraska)

Bacon Gives Update on Epstein Files Vote

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

(Washington, DC) – U.S. Congressman Ed Case (HI-01), a member of the U.S. House Appropriations Committee responsible for federal funding, yesterday voted in Committee against the proposed Fiscal Year (FY) 2026 Financial Services and General Government (FSGG) Appropriations bill that slashed support for key small business programs and for agencies that safeguard the public.

The FSGG Appropriations bill funds the U.S. Treasury Department, the Small Business Administration (SBA), federal courts, the Federal Communications Commission, the Office of Personnel Management and various independent agencies. The bill’s proposed FY 2026 discretionary funding level is $23.2 billion, $2.9 billion below the current FY 2025 enacted level.

“While this measure funds many critical national and local priorities for Hawai‘i that I requested, I regrettably had to vote against this version because of severe funding cuts to programs assisting the some 134,000 small businesses who form the backbone of Hawaii’s economy,” said Case. “These include efforts that aid entrepreneurs, provide mentorship training and expand trade opportunities in the international marketplace.” 

“In addition, the bill slashes funding to agencies that protect the public, such as the Consumer Product Safety Commission, which keeps us safe against unreasonable risks of injury and death associated with defective products,” said Case. “The measure also reduces support for the Federal Trade Commission and the Securities and Exchange Commission, both of which keep us secure from scams, price-gouging and market manipulation.”

Case spoke in Committee in support of Community Development Financial Institutions (CDFI), which play an important role in helping Hawai‘i. It assists specialized community-based financial institutions that promote economic development by providing financial products and services to people and communities underserved by traditional financial institutions, particularly in low-income and minority communities.

He stressed that in Hawai‘i alone, there are 11 certified CDFIs that in Fiscal Year 2022 made 935 loan originations that totaled $132 million, all repayable. He urged full funding to the CDFI Fund which supports CDFI efforts of FY 2025 funding already appropriated by Congress but wrongfully withheld by the administration and noted that his no vote on the FY 2026 funding measure was in part because it slashed $47 million from the current year appropriation. See his speech in the Appropriations Committee here.

Case also offered an amendment directing the Government Accountability Office (GAO, Congress’ own independent oversight agency) to review current budget execution by the executive branch and to provide recommendations on how to modernize and improve these frameworks. His amendment aimed at safeguarding taxpayer dollars and ensuring that agencies implement appropriations in a timely and predictable way. See Case’s speech in Committee here.

Despite serious issues with the bill, through his assignment on the Committee Case was still able to gain approval of his funding requests for federal programs and services important for the State of Hawai‘i including:  

·                 $35 million for CDFIs,

·                 $35 million for the Native American Community Development Financial Institution Assistance Program,  

·                 $5.3 million for the Native American Outreach Program,  

·                 $150 million for Small Business Development Centers,  

·                 $41 million for the Microloan Technical Assistance Program.

·                 $27 million for the Women’s Business Centers Program,  

·                 $11 million for the Regional Innovation Clusters Program, 

·                 $10 million for the State Trade Expansion Program,  

·                 $7 million for the Program for Investment in Micro-Entrepreneurs, 

·                 $3 million for the Historically Underutilized Business Zones Program, 

·                 $110 million for the Drug-Free Communities Program,  

·                 $300 million for the High Intensity Drug Trafficking Areas Program, and

·                 $1.6 billion for Defender Services.

In addition, the bill included his provision directing the SBA to coordinate with relevant federal agencies, businesses, employees and financial institutions about employee ownership, including cooperatives and employee stock ownership plans (ESOPs), provide technical assistance to assist employees in becoming business owners, and assist in accessing capital sources.

“ESOPs and similar employee ownership structures are vital to building succession plans to ensure small businesses remain in their communities where they belong,” said Case. “In Hawai‘i, we’ve seen firsthand the benefits of ESOPs. Hawai‘i is home to the second-oldest ESOP chapter in the nation, underscoring the success and importance of employee-owned businesses in our state.”

This provision builds off Case’s bipartisan measure (H.R. 2993) that would assist small businesses to adopt ESOPs, which offer a tested solution to employment and business productivity, stability and ownership transfer. (See here for more information.)

A summary of the FSGG Appropriations bill is available here.

This is the 10th bill of twelve separate bills developed and approved by the Appropriations Committee that would fund the federal government at some $1.6 trillion for FY 2026 commencing October 1^st of this year. The bill now moves on to the full House of Representatives for its consideration.

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Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Ron Estes (R-Kansas)

U.S. Congressman Ron Estes (R-Kansas), along with U.S. Representative Tracey Mann (R-Kansas), sent a letter to Governor Laura Kelly, urging her to protect the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) in Kansas. Recent USDA data revealed Kansas’ error rate in SNAP was almost ten percent, meaning millions of Kansas taxpayer dollars were incorrectly sent to people ineligible for the program.

“By refusing to correct the SNAP error rate in Kansas, Governor Kelly has allowed millions of Kansas taxpayer dollars to be incorrectly sent to fraudsters, negatively impacting Kansans who rely on the program,” said Rep. Estes. “Today we are demanding Governor Kelly work with the USDA to strengthen the SNAP program in Kansas and correct the waste of our constituents’ hard-earned dollars.”

“Kansans work hard for every dollar they earn, and they expect their government to be a good steward of their tax dollars,” said Rep Mann. “Rather than working with the federal government to correct Kansas’ high SNAP error rate, Governor Kelly’s administration has refused to comply or even attempt to restore integrity in how our state tax dollars are spent in the program. Every instance of fraud or overpayment through the SNAP program is money taken from vulnerable families in our state who rely on this assistance to meet their nutritional needs. Kansans deserve a system that protects taxpayer dollars and serves the people it was designed to help.”

The full letter can be found below.

Dear Governor Kelly, 

We are writing to you today to express our deep concern with your administration’s refusal to protect the integrity of the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP). Kansans deserve and expect their tax dollars to be managed properly, not wasted on fraudulent and incorrect payments. Your administration’s hostility towards working with federal partners to correct this error rate is unacceptable. 

Per the most recent USDA data, Kansas had a payment error rate in SNAP of almost ten percent in 2024. A subsequent investigation by the Kansas House Select Committee on Government Oversight found that the error rate in spring 2025 to be almost twelve percent. These numbers represent millions of dollars of Kansans’ hard-earned tax dollars being incorrectly sent to fraudsters or other ineligible people, including those who entered the country illegally. Every dollar wasted and stolen from SNAP is money taken from Kansans truly in need. Your administration should be eager to correct these long-standing issues in operating SNAP, but instead, you continue to double down on refusing to do so. 

Correcting the error rate in the state is not a partisan issue. In February 2024, then Secretary Vilsack sent you a letter warning you that Kansas’ error rate in payments for SNAP was compromising program integrity and detrimentally harming those who legitimately needed access to these benefits. The Trump administration has continued this demand for accountability by requiring you to securely share SNAP data with USDA to comply with the President’s executive order on stopping waste, fraud, and abuse in federal programs. Instead of working with USDA to reduce the error rate, you have flatly refused to comply with this effort. Your administration’s claims about privacy concerns are unfounded. USDA has already established a process for securely sending this information, and they have a responsibility to ensure that the federally funded SNAP benefits are accurately disbursed according to the law. Actively refusing to assist with that effort is an insult to the hardworking Kansans whose tax dollars are at stake. 

We demand that your administration drop its intentional obstruction of these efforts and work cooperatively with USDA to strengthen the SNAP program in Kansas. Rooting out waste, fraud, and abuse is critical as the SNAP program moves toward a deeper partnership between the state and federal government. Our constituents deserve transparency and accountability for every dollar spent on SNAP; anything less is a disservice to our communities and our state.

Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Randy Weber (14th District of Texas)

Washington, D.C. – U.S. Rep. Randy Weber (TX-14) announced today that the House of Representatives passed H.R. 4553, the FY2026 Energy and Water Development and Related Agencies Appropriations Act. This bill contains substantial funding for TX-14 projects. The following priorities were included in the bill:

$9,061,000 to the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers’ (USACE) construction account to deepen the Sabine-Neches Waterway (SNWW) from its current 40-foot depth to its congressionally authorized depth of 48 feet, as authorized in WRDA 2014. The SNWW is one of the most relevant and vital federal projects of our time, given the geopolitical, national security, environmental, and defense challenges it uniquely addresses for America and its allies. Increasing speed of deployment and throughput capacity of the Sabine-Neches Waterway’s unique blend of heavy military tonnage and clean LNG will help our nation continue to lead the world’s pursuit of peace and stability.

$5,000,000 to the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers’ (USACE) investigations account, for the pre-construction engineering and design for the Texas Coastal Project (locally known as the Ike Dike). This funding would support an integrated and comprehensive coastal resiliency strategy, addressing immediate and long-term coastal risk reduction and ecosystem restoration needs across the entire Texas coast. Estimates suggest that the project would result in $2.31 billion in annual economic savings from reducing flood damage.  This project would also result in over 6,000 acres of improved coastal habitat, a significant component in reducing the impacts of storm surges.

Report Language in the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers’ (USACE) investigations account for advancing state funds to the Gulf Intracoastal Waterway (GIWW) Brazos River Floodgates project.  This funding would be used for the construction of modern floodgates along the GIWW, bolstering the resiliency of our coastline and protecting our communities from storm surges and other natural disasters.  Additionally, this project would protect a myriad of our nation’s most essential sectors, such as energy, agriculture, and defense, all of which play a crucial role in strengthening our national security and protecting our way of life.

“This bill contains critical wins for Texas-14,” said Rep. Weber, “and I am proud to have fought for the priorities that were included in the bill to secure investments in energy dominance, storm resiliency, and strengthening our critical infrastructure.”

Source: United States House of Representatives – Congresswoman Ayanna Pressley (MA-07)

State Dept. Yet to Respond to Letter by Pressley, Pettersen, 101 Colleagues Urging Surge in Aid Amid Severe Famine in Gaza

Text of the Letter (PDF)

WASHINGTON – Today, Congresswoman Ayanna Pressley (MA-07) and Congresswoman Brittany Pettersen (CO-07) issued the following statement upon receiving no response from Secretary Marco Rubio regarding their letter with over 100 colleagues demanding a surge in humanitarian aid, and in particular infant formula, into Gaza to address the crisis of starvation.

Last week, Reps. Pressley and Pettersen led 101 of their colleagues in sending a letter to Secretary Rubio urging that the Trump administration use its full power to prioritize the additional surge of humanitarian aid, including the pallets of ready-to-feed baby formula that are sitting at the border, by facilitating the distribution by the Israeli government, alongside the United Nations and our allies. The letter followed the Integrated Food Security Phase Classification’s (IPC) official declaration of famine in Gaza, with the United Nations warning that more than half a million people are on the brink of starvation.

“The Trump Administration’s silence in this moment is unacceptable, and their inaction is deadly. Every day that goes by deepens the suffering in Gaza, worsens the starvation crisis, and denies innocent babies the formula they need to survive. We all have a moral obligation to ensure that drastic increases in aid enter Gaza. This is an all-hands on deck moment and it’s essential that the U.S. play a leading role.

“Secretary Rubio must press the Israeli government to continue to increase humanitarian aid into Gaza by working alongside the U.N. and other organizations to distribute aid, including ensuring infant formula reaches every baby who needs it. We must act now before more parents are robbed of their babies and forced to watch their families suffer.

In their letter, the lawmakers sounded the alarm over the catastrophic shortage of baby formula and due to previous restrictions on humanitarian aid distribution, which has led to a crisis in Gaza. Infants in particular are especially vulnerable to death by starvation.The letter cites alarming figures, including the deaths of 18,500 children in Gaza since October 2023, more than 20,000 children treated for acute malnutrition since April 2025, and widespread famine conditions that have deprived mothers the basic nutrition required to sustain breastfeeding, rendering formula the only option for infant survival in many cases.

The lawmakers also highlighted the failures of the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation system to deliver the necessary aid for months and the urgent need to surge food supplies. According to the Israeli government’s own data, the GHF has delivered only a tiny fraction of the aid previously distributed under the U.N.-coordinated system, while average daily truck entries remain far below the 500–600 trucks the U.N. says are required to meet humanitarian needs.

A copy of the letter can be found here.

Relevant background regarding Rep Pressley’s work

Rep. Pressley has long advocated for safe and accessible baby formula. Rep Pressley has consistently called for peace and a ceasefire in Gaza to save the lives of civilians, hostages, Palestinians, Israelis, and Americans.

In May 2022, Rep. Pressley, along with and Congresswomen Pramila Jayapal (WA-07), Congressman Jamaal Bowman, Ed.D. (NY-16)  and Grace Meng (NY-06), urged President Biden to use all applicable executive authorities to end the baby formula shortage. In May 2022, Rep. Pressley, along with Rep. Lori Trahan (MA-03), Assistant Speaker Katherine Clark (MA-05) and the Massachusetts delegation, sent a letter to Abbott Laboratories Chairman and CEO Robert Ford requesting urgent information on the company’s plans to replenish its Similac baby formula in Massachusetts.

Since the horrific October 7^th attack, Congresswoman Pressley has consistently and stridently called for a ceasefire to save lives, return all hostages, and surge humanitarian aid to Gaza. Rep. Pressley delivered a floor speech in which she called for urgent de-escalation in the region and renewed her calls for a ceasefire in Gaza and Israel to prevent a broader regional war.  Rep. Pressley introduced a pair of amendments to increase funding to global humanitarian assistance and place a one-year moratorium on the transfer of offensive weapons to the Israeli military.

• Rep. Pressley joined Congresswoman Haley Stevens (D-MI) and their colleagues on a resolution condemning Hamas’ brutal attack and hostage-taking, and demanding Hamas immediately release all hostages.
• Rep. Pressley joined Reps. Jan Schakowsky (IL-09), Mark Pocan (WI-02), Pramila Jayapal (WA-07), James P. McGovern (MA-02), and 50 colleagues on a letter condemning the terrorist attacks by Hamas on the people of Israel, calling for Israeli military operations to follow the rules of international humanitarian law, and continuing to work toward peace in the region.
• Rep. Pressley joined her colleagues in announcing a resolution urging the Biden Administration to call for an immediate de-escalation and ceasefire in Israel and Gaza, to send humanitarian aid and assistance to Gaza, and to save as many lives as possible. She later joined her colleagues and a multi-faith, multiracial coalition of faith leaders and organizers for a prayer and press conference to renew their calls for a ceasefire. Rep. Pressley also joined dozens of rabbis and Members of Congress for a press conference to renew calls for a ceasefire in Gaza.
• Instead of attending Prime Minister Netanyahu’s address to Congress, Rep. Pressley spent the day centering people directly impacted by Israel’s ongoing war in Gaza
• Rep. Pressley delivered a floor speech in which she condemned antisemitism, Islamophobia, and all forms of hate on college campuses.
• Rep. Pressley joined a coalition of nearly 100 interfaith clergy and faith leaders on a joint statement on Martin Luther King Jr. Day calling for a ceasefire in Gaza.
• Rep. Pressley joined Reps. Grace Meng (D-NY), Nicole Malliotakis (R-NY), and nearly 150 colleagues in urging the State Department to use all tools at its disposal help get Americans out of Israel and back home to the United States. She applauded the State Department for heeding her calls on October 12, 2023 and continues to press for the urgent evacuation of Americans in Gaza.
• Rep. Pressley issued a statement following the safe evacuation of Massachusetts constituents Wafaa and Abood Okal and their one-year-old Yousef from Gaza.
• Rep. Pressley and Rep. Jamie Raskin led a group of 60 House lawmakers in urging the State Department to affirm the United States’ strong opposition to the forced and permanent displacement of Palestinians from Gaza, and to support an increase in humanitarian aid to the region.
• Rep. Pressley joined Representatives Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (NY-14), Mark Pocan (WI-2), Betty McCollum (MN-4) and 20 of their colleagues in sending a letter to President Biden, asking him to support a bilateral ceasefire in Gaza to protect the one million children living there.
• Rep. Pressley joined a coalition of interfaith clergy and faith leaders for a vigil to mourn the tens of thousands of Palestinians, Israelis, and innocent civilians killed since October 7^th, and to renew calls for a ceasefire to save lives, return all hostages, and deliver humanitarian aid to the region.
• Rep. Pressley joined her colleagues at a press conference to condemn the Israeli government’s pending invasion of Rafah and continued her calls for a ceasefire in Gaza.
• Rep. Pressley joined her colleagues in calling for full funding of the United Nations Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA) to provide urgent humanitarian relief to Gaza.
• Rep. Pressley joined Representatives Joaquín Castro, Jamie Raskin, Jan Schakowsky and 33 House Democrats to President Biden urging him to prevent an Israeli ground invasion of Rafah.
• Rep. Pressley, amid heightened tensions in the region, delivered a floor speech in which she called for urgent de-escalation in the Middle East and renewed her calls for a ceasefire in Gaza to prevent a broader regional war.
• Rep. Pressley filed a pair of amendments to increase funding to global humanitarian assistance and place a one-year moratorium on the transfer of offensive weapons to the Israeli military. The amendments were not adopted in the final legislation. 
• Rep. Pressley voted against HR 8034 to send more offensive weapons and funding to the Israeli military, citing the Israeli military’s callous disregard for human life in Gaza and significant human rights violations.
• Rep. Pressley issued a statement on the peaceful student protests taking place in Massachusetts and across the country.
• Rep. Pressley issued a statement applauding the Boston City Council for passing a resolution calling for a ceasefire in Gaza.
• Rep. Pressley joined Representatives Pramila Jayapal (WA-07), Madeleine Dean (PA-04) and 54 additional lawmakers in calling on the Biden Administration to use all tools possible to dissuade the Israeli government from moving forward with an offensive invasion into Rafah.
• Rep. Pressley issued a statement in response to the escalating situation in the Middle East.
• Rep. Pressley joined impacted families, faith leaders, and advocates to observe the anniversary of the horrific October 7, 2023 attack and commemorate the 1,200 Israelis killed by Hamas, the hostages killed and those still kidnapped, and the over 41,000 Palestinians in Gaza killed by the Israeli military over the past year.
• Rep. Pressley issued a statement marking the one-year anniversary of the horrific October 7^th attack.
• Rep. Pressley issued a statement urging the Senate to support Senator Bernie Sanders’ Joint Resolutions of Disapproval that would block the sale of offensive arms to the Israeli government.
• Rep. Pressley issued a statement on the ceasefire-hostage deal reached between Israel and Hamas in January 2025.

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

Headline: Newhouse Votes for American Energy Dominance, Historic Nuclear Investments

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, Rep. Dan Newhouse (WA-04) released the following statement upon House passage of the Fiscal Year 2026 Energy and Water Development and Related Agencies Appropriations Act.  

“The House has just sent a clear message about the role nuclear will play in the future of American energy,” said Rep. Newhouse. “This legislation makes historic investments into small modular nuclear reactors and expands licensing for new reactors, like the one coming to the Tri-Cities, which will help America become the global leader in nuclear power.” 

“As we work to get out fiscal house in order, tough decisions must be made. The cleanup effort at Hanford and the research and innovation at PNNL are vital to our region, and I will continue to prioritize their missions as we negotiate with the Senate on funding the government.” 

The Energy and Water Development and Related Agencies Appropriations Bill provides a total discretionary allocation of $57.300 billion, which is $766.4 million below the Fiscal Year 2025 enacted level. The defense portion of the allocation is $33.223 billion, and the non-defense portion of the allocation is $24.077 billion. 

The bill prioritizes funding for agencies and programs that safeguard U.S. national security, unleash American energy dominance, and advance economic competitiveness.

American Energy  

• Robustly funds small modular reactor and advanced reactor demonstration projects, as well as increases funding for the Nuclear Regulatory Commission to expand capacity for the review, licensing, and oversight of new nuclear reactors.
• Supports one of the largest investments focused on mining production technologies for critical minerals extraction in decades, reducing reliance on foreign sources.
• Facilitates the efficient transport of goods and commodities through improvements and maintenance of America’s ports and waterways.
• Increases investments to develop new baseload geothermal energy sources to capitalize on our vast domestic resources.
• Maintains funding for cybersecurity efforts that enable a resilient, reliable, and secure electric grid.

Nuclear Deterrent and National Security 

• Provides $20.662 billion for the continued modernization of the nuclear weapons  
  stockpile and infrastructure.
• Provides $2.171 billion to support the U.S. Navy’s nuclear fleet by investing in  
  infrastructure and new technologies to maintain America’s advantage over our adversaries.
• Provides $1.984 billion to reduce the danger of hostile nations or terrorist groups acquiring nuclear weapons.
• Prohibits the sale of crude oil from the Strategic Petroleum Reserve to the Chinese Communist Party.
• Prohibits access to U.S. nuclear weapons production facilities by citizens of China and Russia.
• Prohibits the Department of Energy from providing financial assistance to any foreign entity of concern.
• Prohibits the purchase of technology and telecommunications equipment from China and other adversaries.

See bill text before adoption of amendments here. 

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Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Mario Diaz-Balart (25th District of FLORIDA)

WASHINGTON, D.C.–– Congressman Mario Díaz-Balart (FL-26), Vice Chair of the House Appropriations Committee, Dean of the Florida Delegation, and Co-Founder and Co-Chair of the Congressional Everglades Caucus, issued the following statement following the House passage of H.R. 4553, the Energy and Water Development and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 2026 where he secured $461 million for Everglades restoration and preservation. 

“Once again, my record reflects my unwavering commitment to restoring and safeguarding America’s Everglades. As Vice-Chair of the House Appropriations Committee, I am proud and grateful to have worked with Subcommittee Chairman Chuck Fleischmann to secure $461 million in critical funding for the Everglades, all while ensuring taxpayer dollars are prioritized toward protecting American families, revitalizing our energy grid, and maintaining our nuclear deterrent, while eliminating wasteful Biden-era initiatives that diverted resources from critical infrastructure and innovation.

“It is not lost upon me that over nine million Floridians depend on the Everglades for their drinking water, and this bill demonstrates my strong commitment to restoring and preserving America’s Everglades. This funding will be allocated directly to the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers for Everglades Restoration, accompanied by report language to accelerate construction, enhance transparency, and ensure the timely execution of projects, thereby enabling the Central Everglades Restoration Plan to deliver vital benefits to our region’s ecosystem as quickly as possible.

“I look forward to continuing to deliver funds for Everglades restoration and commend the work of Chairman Tom Cole and my fellow Republican colleagues, who remain committed to restoring fiscal responsibility, reasserting American energy leadership, and prioritizing our national security priorities.”

Founder and Co-Chair of the Everglades Caucus, Diaz-Balart Secures:

• $461M secured for Everglades Restoration through the U.S. Army Corps Construction Account.
• $12.7M for South Florida Ecosystem Restoration under the Corps’ Operation & Maintenance Account.
• $4M for Inland Waterway Navigation under the Corps’ Operation & Maintenance Acct.
• Report language on expediting construction, transparency, and timely execution of projects to ensure CERP can deliver benefits as quickly as possible.
• Report language urging the Corp to close out on CEPP North Phase/EAA Reservoir.
• Report Language urging the Corp and the Task Force to work hand in hand with local public universities that are available to modernize the capacity of remote sensing and measurements that will advance the Task Force restoration goals.

Additional FY26 Energy & Water Wins:

Champions America’s nuclear deterrent and strengthens national security by:

• Providing $20.662 billion for the continued modernization of the nuclear weapons stockpile and infrastructure.
• Providing $2.171 billion to support the U.S. Navy’s nuclear fleet by investing in infrastructure and new technologies to maintain America’s advantage over our adversaries.
• Providing $1.984 billion to reduce the danger of hostile nations or terrorist groups acquiring nuclear weapons.
• Prohibiting the sale of crude oil from the Strategic Petroleum Reserve to the Chinese Communist Party.
• Prohibiting access to U.S. nuclear weapons production facilities by citizens of China and Russia.
• Prohibiting the Department of Energy from providing financial assistance to any foreign entity of concern.
• Prohibiting the purchase of technology and telecommunications equipment from China and other adversaries.

Restores American energy dominance and bolsters the national economy by:

• Supporting one of the largest investments focused on mining production technologies for critical minerals extraction in decades, reducing reliance on foreign sources.

Safeguards American taxpayer dollars and preserves core functions by:

• Including no funds for the Department of Energy Office of Energy Justice and Equity.
• Refocusing applied energy technology program funding to ensure taxpayer resources are directed to the highest priority research and development efforts.
• Reducing global dependency on the U.S. for foreign nuclear reactor conversions.

A summary of the bill is available here.

Bill Text is available here.

Source: United States House of Representatives – Representative Salud Carbajal (CA-24)

U.S. Representative Salud Carbajal (D-CA-24), a senior member of the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, released the statement below following the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee passing the bipartisan Fixing Emergency Management for Americans (FEMA) Act of 2025. The FEMA Act represents the most drastic legislative reform of the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) and federal disaster assistance programs in decades.

“When disaster strikes, communities shouldn’t be forced to navigate layers of bureaucracy and red tape just to get help,” said Rep. Carbajal. “This bipartisan legislation represents a major step forward in strengthening FEMA’s ability to respond quickly and effectively. I’ll keep working with colleagues on both sides of the aisle to get the FEMA Act across the finish line so those impacted by disasters receive the aid they need without delay.”

“The County of Santa Barbara strongly supports the bipartisan Fixing Emergency Management for Americans (FEMA) Act (H.R. 4669). As one of the Nation’s counties that is the most susceptible to natural disasters, we know all too well how lengthy the existing process of federal reimbursement can be. Among other important provisions, the Act would streamline federal reimbursement, adding to financial predictability and easing administrative burdens, which would allow counties like Santa Barbara to focus resources on the provision of frontline services and preparedness for future events,” said Laura Capps, Chair of the Board of Supervisors in Santa Barbara County. 

“The Fixing Emergency Management for Americans (FEMA) Act of 2025 directly addresses many challenges and issues that face San Luis Obispo County before, during, and after disasters occur,” said County Chief Administrative Officer Matthew Pontes. “The bill clears the way for expedited repairs and replacement of disaster-damaged facilities without regard to prior condition, addresses the current backlog of open declared disasters, expedites emergency work funding disbursement, and streamlines unnecessary permitting requirements that often delay recovery. Especially important for our County and others in the Western United States, the FEMA Act authorizes fire management activities and grants which will help the County address wildfires. The County strongly supports Chairman Graves’s FEMA Act and Rep. Salud Carbajal’s strong leadership in disaster mitigation, response, and recovery.”

The FEMA Act streamlines the federal government’s disaster response and recovery programs while also making FEMA a cabinet-level agency once again that is directly accountable to the President. The bill rewards effective state and local preparedness, protects taxpayers, cuts red tape, and ensures that relief efforts are fast, fair, and free from political bias.

The text of the FEMA Act of 2025 is available here.

A section-by-section summary of the FEMA Act is available here.

Summary of the FEMA Act of 2025

The FEMA Act of 2025 restores FEMA’s original status as an independent agency, reporting directly to the President and overseen by its own inspector general.

• This structure mirrors the Stafford Act, which authorizes the President to direct federal disaster response efforts through the Disaster Relief Fund.
• Returning FEMA to a Cabinet-level agency will empower the Administrator to lead a coordinated, government-wide response to disasters.
• FEMA will become more agile and focused on helping Americans – not bogged down by having its resources and personnel diverted to support non-Stafford Act disasters.

The FEMA Act of 2025 puts disaster-impacted states in the driver’s seat, helps dollars reach communities faster, injects common sense, and cuts red tape that can drag out disaster recovery for decades.

• By replacing the slow and bureaucratic rebuilding process with faster, project-based grants, states will be able to set the pace of recovery, reduce their dependence on costly consultants, and prioritize the highest need projects, without having to take out expensive loans or wait years for reimbursement.
• For the first time, states are incentivized to make their own investments in mitigation, robust state rainy day funds, and private insurance policies.
• This legislation also makes critical reforms to federal permitting and procurement processes to speed up rebuilding projects and eliminate unnecessary delays.
• In addition, the FEMA Act of 2025 establishes a Recovery Task Force charged with closing out more than 1,000 lingering disaster declarations dating back to Hurricane Katrina and directs FEMA to improve coordination across all federal agencies involved in disaster recovery.

The FEMA Act of 2025 makes commonsense changes to help disaster aid work better for survivors, while saving taxpayer dollars.

• Disaster survivors will complete a single, streamlined application when applying for assistance, significantly reducing the paperwork burden.
• FEMA must provide clear, understandable notices to disaster survivors, ending the confusion caused by complex and jargon-filled denial letters.
• It directs the FEMA Administrator to apply practical, survivor-focused solutions that both speed assistance to disaster victims and reduce overall costs to taxpayers.
• The FEMA Act of 2025 removes disincentives that have discouraged donations from charities, religious organizations, and the public, ensuring more non-federal support is available for disaster survivors.
• States are given more flexibility to determine the best emergency housing solution for a particular disaster.

The FEMA Act of 2025 strengthens efforts to protect communities before a disaster occurs.

• The FEMA Act 2025 overhauls FEMA’s existing mitigation framework to accelerate project timelines, reduce long-term disaster costs, and ensure greater coordination across federal funding streams, so states can more effectively leverage resources.
• States can pre-vet mitigation projects through a peer-review process to speed up funding when disaster strikes and combine funds from federal programs to expedite the completion of critical projects.
• The FEMA Act of 2025 clarifies building code requirements, ensuring states retain the flexibility to tailor standards to the hazards they face.
• The legislation also supports homeowners as they invest in cost-effective mitigation improvements, reducing long-term disaster costs.

The FEMA Act of 2025 prevents the politicization of disaster aid and demands greater transparency and accountability from FEMA.

• The FEMA Act of 2025 strictly prohibits any political discrimination in providing disaster recovery assistance. It directs the Office of Management and Budget to establish a centralized public website that tracks disaster assistance funding across the federal government.
• The bill mandates a full Government Accountability Office review of all FEMA regulations and policies to eliminate outdated, conflicting, and unnecessary rules.
• It also requires an assessment of identity theft and disaster fraud risks, and directs reviews related to insurance coverage, the effectiveness of public alerting systems, and cost savings associated with the reforms in the discussion draft.

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

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Congressman Brad Sherman and Senator Elizabeth Warren (D-Massachusetts) today reintroduced the Nationwide Right to Unionize Act, legislation that would strike down so-called “right-to-work” laws across the country.

“‘Right-to-work’ really means ‘right-to-work-for-less.’ These laws are designed to weaken unions and drive down wages,” said Congressman Sherman. “In the name of economic competition, one state after another has adopted these anti-worker statutes, triggering a race to the bottom. That’s why I am once again joining forces with Senator Warren to put forward the Nationwide Right to Unionize Act, which repeals these anti-union laws. I’ve introduced this measure every session of Congress since 2008 because the need to stand up for America’s workers has never gone away. Senator Warren has been a fearless advocate for working people her entire career, and I’m proud to partner with her to fight back against attacks on labor and rebuild the middle class.”

“Building a strong economy means empowering workers, not silencing them with so-called ‘right-to-work’ laws that strip them of their power and weaken unions,” said Senator Warren. “While the Trump administration continues to threaten our economy by attacking our workers, we’re stepping up to defend worker’s rights to negotiate better benefits and wages.”

Data shows the harm caused by these laws. According to Bureau of Labor Statistics figures from 2022, workers in “right-to-work” states earned on average $10,149 less per year than workers in states where unions can bargain fairly.

The bill currently has 15 original cosponsors in the House, with more expected in the coming weeks. Congressman Sherman has consistently earned a 100 percent rating from the AFL-CIO for his record of supporting working families.

Before his passing, the late AFL-CIO President Richard Trumka underscored the importance of this legislation, noting: “With the introduction of legislation banning so-called ‘right-to-work’ laws, Congressman Sherman and Senator Warren have once again demonstrated their strong commitment to working families. ‘Right-to-work’ laws undermine the economy and weaken workers’ ability to bargain for better working conditions, which translates into lower pay and fewer benefits for everyone.”

The roots of these state laws trace back to Section 14(b) of the Taft-Hartley Act, enacted in 1947 over President Truman’s veto. That provision allowed states to bar unions from collecting dues from employees who still benefit from union contracts. Since then, 27 states have enacted such measures, often citing competitive pressure from neighboring states. Michigan and Wisconsin, for example, claimed they were forced to adopt “right-to-work” to retain jobs.

The Sherman–Warren bill would repeal Section 14(b), finally ending the “race to the bottom” by restoring the full right of workers nationwide to organize and bargain collectively.

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

The U.S. House of Representatives voted and passed H.R. 4553, the Energy and Water Development and Related Agencies Appropriations Act. U.S. Congressman Morgan Griffith (R-VA) introduced an amendment to the bill that increases funding for the Department of Energy (DOE) Office of Fossil Energy. This bill funds critical activities that bolster industries important to the people of Southwest Virginia.  

Following passage of the bill, Congressman Griffith released the following statement:

“I am glad the House adopted my amendment to the Energy and Water Development appropriations bill, which directs additional millions of federal dollars to the DOE Office of Fossil Energy. This is a critical office that develops innovative technologies for America to pioneer on the global stage. 

“The bill also supports nuclear energy innovation. Virginia’s Ninth District is exploring the potential of nuclear energy and is home to an abundance of natural resources and emissions reduction technologies. With this powerful combination, we can burn coal cleaner than anywhere else in the world and guide the world towards a cleaner and more sustainable future.

“By advancing this appropriations bill, we can secure America’s electric grid, lower energy costs for consumers and unleash American energy dominance.”

BACKGROUND

Congressman Griffith voted to advance H.R. 4553 out of the Rules Committee. His remarks in support of the bill can be found here.

Congressman Griffith spoke on the floor in support of his amendment to H.R. 4553. Those remarks can be found here.

Congressman Griffith’s amendment adds $6.8 million in funding to the DOE Office of Fossil Energy.

In November 2024, Congressman Griffith traveled to Azerbaijan to attend COP29, the annual United Nations (UN) climate change conference. At COP29, Congressman Griffith touted America’s innovative technologies as well as those in Virginia’s Ninth District.

Congressman Griffith is the sponsor of legislation to help America sustain its electric grid and meet rising energy demands in the United States. The Power Plant Reliability Act of 2025 amends Section 207 of the Federal Power Act to allow a Regional Transmission Organization (RTO) or a state Public Utility Commission to petition the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) to issue an order to keep a power plant open and allocate costs for fixing a reliability issue.

Congressman Griffith also serves as Co-Chair of the Congressional Coal Caucus. 

H.R. 4553 must be considered next by the U.S. Senate.

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