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

(Washington, DC) — U.S. Congressman Ed Case (D-Hawai‘i-First District) has led an effort that highlighted problems with mail delivery to Hawai‘i and U.S. territories, prompting the United States Postal Service (USPS) to undertake corrective actions that “will improve the timely and accurate processing and transportation of mail that is designed for deliver in areas outside the 48 contiguous states.”

The move by the USPS came after Case initiated a bipartisan letter co-signed by several of his U.S. House colleagues to Postmaster General David Steiner expressing concern over what they referred to as “persistent delays and service disruptions” with the United States Postal Service (USPS) Ground Advantage service to noncontiguous areas of the country, including the Pacific and Caribbean. 

The shipping option, launched two years ago, was intended to offer a more simplified and more affordable and expedited delivery service for packages up to 70 pounds. However, it has been plagued by delivery delays and tracking inaccuracies. 

Joining Case on his letter to the USPS Postmaster were Congresswoman Jill Tokuda (D-Hawai‘i-Second District), Congresswoman Kimberlyn King-Hinds (R-Commonwealth of the Northern Marianas), Congresswoman Aumua Amata Coleman Radewagen (R-American Samoa), Congresswoman Stacey E. Plaskett (D-U.S. Virgin Islands) and Congressman James Moylan (R-Guam).

“Reliable mail service is a necessity — especially in our rural and remote communities, and our constituents should not be forced to endure unfair delays and poor service. The United States Postal Service has acknowledged errors with their Ground Advantage service to non-contiguous areas and is committing to changes that will directly benefit our families, businesses, and consumers,” said Congresswoman Tokuda. 

“I’m proud to join my colleagues on this bipartisan effort giving constituents the fairness they deserve. USPS’s corrective actions and renewed focus on delivery performance are important steps to ensure equitable and dependable mail service for every American regardless of their ZIP code.”

“The Virgin Islands and our fellow noncontiguous territories have endured unacceptable postal delays that directly impact our families’ daily lives and hinder our businesses from competing in the national economy,” said Congresswoman Plaskett.

“The U.S. Postal Service’s acknowledgment that Priority Mail and lightweight Ground Advantage packages were improperly sent by sea instead of air validates what our constituents have been reporting for months.

“While I welcome these corrective measures and new validation procedures, we will continue our bipartisan oversight to ensure that geographic realities never become an excuse for substandard service—all Americans deserve reliable, timely postal delivery regardless of where they live.”

“Slow services cause more challenges and can add costs to our small businesses and island economy. It’s important to see improvements, and this is bipartisan work to ensure the quality postal services our people deserve. Thank you to Congressman Case and my colleagues for unity on this effort,” said Congresswoman Radewagen.

“For too long, Guam has faced unacceptable delays in mail delivery that directly impact our veterans, families, and small businesses. These aren’t just logistical hiccups—they’re real-life consequences, especially when prescriptions for our veterans arrive weeks late,” said Congressman Moylan.

“I’m grateful to Congressman Case for leading this bipartisan effort and to my colleagues for standing united in demanding accountability. The USPS’s commitment to corrective action is a step forward, but we will continue to push for lasting solutions that treat Guam, Hawai‘i, and all U.S. non-contiguous areas with the same urgency and respect as the mainland. Our communities deserve nothing less.”

In their letter, Case and his House colleagues said: “These significant delays are first patently unfair to our noncontiguous areas. They also create several practical problems for both consumers and businesses, especially when return windows have already expired by the time packages finally arrive.

“In response to the reliability problems with Ground Advantage, some sellers have opted to offer Priority Mail at an additional fee to guarantee timely delivery. This defeats the purpose of Ground Advantage, which was designed to provide a more affordable shipping alternative.”

In response to the letter from Case and his House colleagues, the USPS undertook a review which “found that some offshore destinating mail with a service standard requiring air transportation was incorrectly transported by sea. Specifically, the review determined that some Priority Mail items and lightweight Ground Advantage packages were improperly placed in mail containers for sea transportation.”

The USPS response continued: “To correct these errors, headquarters officials instructed management at relevant processing facilities to validate package processing flows to ensure parcels destinating to offshore locations are correctly transported.

“Specifically, these processing facilities have been instructed to validate and certify procedures for combining lightweight Ground Advantage items with Priority Mail items for air transportation to offshore destinations.”

The USPS apologized for the delays and recognized that Hawai‘i and the U.S. territories “rely on the Postal Service for efficient and effective service. It is always our goal to meet their expectations, and it is disappointing to us when we fail to do so.”

Attachments:

1.      Response from USPS is here

2.      Letter from Congressman Case and his colleagues to the Postmaster General is here

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Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Jim Costa Representing 16th District of California

WASHINGTON – In a heartfelt tribute, Congressman Jim Costa (CA-21) honored the life and legacy of Dr. Joseph I. Castro, a trailblazing educator and leader who broke barriers as the first Latino Chancellor of the California State University (CSU) system.

Dr. Joseph I. Castro, a Hanford native and first-generation Mexican-American college graduate, rose from professor to President of Fresno State and ultimately became the first Latino Chancellor of the California State University system, the largest four-year public university system in the nation. His leadership opened doors for thousands of students, particularly first-generation and underrepresented students, creating new pathways for success. Dr. Castro’s story has been formally entered into the Congressional Record, the official journal of the United States Congress, ensuring that his remarkable contributions to higher education and the San Joaquin Valley will be preserved permanently in the Library of Congress. This formal recognition is one of the highest honors a Member of Congress can bestow. Watch his full remarks HERE.  

Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Steny H Hoyer (MD-05)

WASHINGTON, DC – Today, Congressman Steny H. Hoyer (MD-05), Ranking Member of the Financial Services and General Government (FSGG) Appropriations Subcommittee, delivered opening remarks at the House Appropriations Full Committee Markup of the FY26 Financial Services and Government (FSGG) bill. Below is a video and transcript of his remarks:

Click here to watch a video of his full remarks.

“Thank you very much, Mr. Chairman. I want to thank Chairman Joyce – (turns on microphone) on the record, I’ll thank Mr. Joyce for his fairness and for his listening to some of my suggestions and even pursuing some of them. We had a number of hearings, as he said, including the ninth, which was the Members’ Day, but we had, eight substantive hearings on the issues before this committee. They were good hearings and I want to thank him for scheduling some, but not all of the people that I think we should have heard from about the consequences of the actions that we are going to take today. But I want to thank the staff, in particular: Matt Smith and Phil Tizzani, my own staff as well, and the committee staff: Kim Betz, James Galkowski, Alex Yost, Mike Patterson, Pauls Toma, and others, and I want to thank the staff in my office as well for their help.

“Ladies and gentlemen, this bill is not going to see the light of day in the United States Senate. Mr. Chairman has – the chairman [of] the big committee – the full chairman has observed that this was a start. We are starting 27 days before the end of the fiscal year, and that’s not a good start. In part, we’re not starting because, as the chairman told us, we were unable – and Subcommittee Chairmen have told me we were unable to get information from OMB, contrary to the law and contrary to a past practice. But I want to thank Chairman Joyce and all the staff that I have mentioned, Quinn Hirsch on my staff has been terrific. I know they share many of my frustrations about the sorry state of our appropriations process. They did their best to make the most of our subcommittee’s meager allocation, and by the way, we are one of the last committees to be funded, and we did not adopt all of our 302b’s at the same time and therefore did not know what money would be left over at the end of the process.
 
“The bill before us severely cuts funding for the FSGG by $3.2 billion, or 12% below the Fiscal Year 2025, which, of course, was the Fiscal Year ‘24 enacted, put together by an Administration then in office in December ’23. That cut is debilitating, but it’s not surprising. This bill is a product of the same policy that the Republicans have been pursuing for decades, in my view, and that policy is ‘You’re On Your Own.’ ‘We’re not here to help you. We’re not here to reach out and lift you up. We’re not here to assist you in the challenges that may be facing you. You’re On Your Own.’ You’re particularly on your own if you live in the District of Columbia. Republicans continue to withhold the $1 billion. The chairman mentioned that $70 million for DC to assure safety. What he didn’t say was we cut $1 billion out, and we’re doing $70 [million] back. That’s a pretty bad trade. That $1 billion took from the city government earlier this year, money that the District collected from its own citizens, not federal money, D.C. tax money, revenues. That is tantamount, my friends, to defunding, in part, the Metropolitan Police Department. Republicans also slipped poison pills into this bill that make it harder for DC to enforce traffic laws that make it easier to carry concealed weapons in the District and on the Metro.

“Everyone in this room wants to make the Nation’s Capital safe and safer. That is happening, by the way, if you look at the statistics, very substantially down from recent years. What Trump is doing in the District is not about safety, however. It’s a show of force against his political opponents and a loyalty test for his coalition. We don’t need mass federal agents from a dozen different agencies swarming the streets without a coherent strategy. We don’t need to take thousands of National Guardsmen away from their families to patrol the District. There was no emergency. Are there crimes? Yes. Should we do everything we can to eliminate crime, period? Yes. But it is a bad policy to start using our armed forces to accomplish that objective and defunding the Metropolitan Police was not a way to get to our objective. We could have used them on January 6th, by the way, our National Guard, to stop Trump’s insurrectionists from maiming our Capitol Police. But Trump told us for hours – Members of Congress of the United States, the institution of the Constitution: ‘You’re On Your Own.’ Even as Speaker McCarthy implored him to stop the mob, no National Guard were called out immediately. Later, he told the insurrectionists, the criminals, those who pled guilty to crimes, ‘You’re pardoned.’ Is that tough on crime?

“The consequences of this Administration’s actions in this bill extend far beyond DC. The bill’s major offense is to undermine the goal of reducing our deficit. We all ought to condemn this $2.79 billion, or 23%, cut below the ’25 level of the Internal Revenue Service, the [agency] whose work makes all the other activities of our government possible. That includes a more than $2.4 billion, or 45%, cut below the Fiscal Year ‘25 enacted for IRS enforcement. $2.4 billion from $5.4 billion, leaving $3 billion. That’s a very, very substantial cut that will make it easier for millionaires, billionaires, and corporations to avoid paying what they owe. IRS data suggests that every $1 invested in enforcement yields $7 in revenue return. Crucially, research from Harvard and then and the Treasury Department itself found that when targeted, the top 10% of earners $1 invested in IRS enforcement yields $12 in revenue. So, this $2.4 billion cut results in $29 billion in lost revenue this year. Is that fiscally responsible?

“Hardworking Americans who do this will pay their taxes each year will have to pick up the tab for the hundreds of billions of dollars in lost revenue from this bill over the years. Those same folks will also have a harder time filing their taxes because of this legislation’s cuts to IRS customer service. The president asked for $853 million more than this bill appropriates for IRS services. No phones are going to be answered, no people are going to be at the offices to help people as they come in, and, of course, Direct File has been eliminated as well. This bill reduces funding for the Financial Crimes Enforcement Network, the Office of Terrorism and Financial Intelligence, and other agencies tasked with going after criminals and keeping the Americans safe. Maybe the National Guard will do it. Under this Administration, you’re certainly on your own if you’re a federal worker. Worse than that, Trump, Vought, and their DOGE co-conspirators think federal workers are all villains, and they ought to be ‘put in trauma.’ Sadly, Mr. Chairman, this legislation maintains the pay freeze the Trump Administration imposed and now come back with 1%. I’ll be offering an amendment later. They ought to receive 3.8% cost of living adjustment, maintaining pay parity with our military service members, which the president proposed. Even the agencies that were left largely intact – thanks to the efforts of Chairman Joyce, and I thank him for that – still aren’t safe. Not when this Administration is willing to impound, rescind, and redirect funding directed by the Congress and signed into law by the president.
 
“I will say once again: Mr. Vought and this Administration believe that what we do here today, and what the Senate does, and we pass and the president signs, is a suggestion, not a law. It won’t matter how much we give the agencies if Russell Vought vote illegally withholds, impounds, and redirects that funding as he sees fit. Back in July, Vought said, ‘The appropriations process has to be less bipartisan.’ As it is less bipartisan, it becomes less passable and there’s more likelihood we’ll do some sort of omnibus or maybe even next year some [kind of] CR. Frankly, it doesn’t sound like he wants an appropriations process to exist at all. Indeed, he has acted over the last 7 to 8 months as if the appropriations process is irrelevant and without consequence. That’s something we all ought to stand against in support of this institution and this committee. If the people’s representatives are irrelevant, our democracy is dead. Don’t leave the American people on their own. Vote no.”

Source: United States House of Representatives – Representative Paul Tonko (Capital Region New York)

WASHINGTON, DC — As millions of students, teachers, and faculty across the nation head back to school, Congressmen Paul D. Tonko (D-NY) and Brian Fitzpatrick (R-PA) today reintroduced their Indoor Air Quality and Healthy Schools Act, bipartisan legislation that protects public health from poor indoor air quality (IAQ). In particular, the legislation would establish an updated nation-wide assessment of indoor air quality in schools and childcare facilities to improve IAQ conditions.

Studies have shown that indoor contaminants can be 2-5 times—and occasionally 100 times—higher than outdoors. Despite this, and the fact that more than 3 million people globally die prematurely from indoor pollution each year, efforts to address indoor air quality have been largely unacknowledged and underfunded.

“No one should have to suffer the consequences of poor indoor air quality, least of all our kids and students seeking an education at school,” Congressman Tonko said. “Our bipartisan Indoor Air Quality and Healthy Schools Act protects the health of our communities by establishing science-based guidelines and delivering effective tools and best practices to minimize indoor health risks. I’m proud to be joined by Congressman Fitzpatrick in pushing this legislation forward to protect the health and wellbeing of our kids and communities.”

“We wouldn’t tolerate toxic air in our homes—why would we accept it in our schools?” said Fitzpatrick. “Clean air isn’t optional—it’s essential for every student and educator in Pennsylvania’s First District and across the nation. That’s why Congressman Tonko and I are driving this bipartisan effort forward: to deliver the tools, oversight, and urgency our schools and students deserve. This is not a partisan issue—it’s a public health imperative, and one we must meet with unity and resolve.”

This bipartisan legislation is supported by numerous groups and organizations, including: 1Day Sooner; Allergy and Asthma Network; American Academy of Pediatrics; American Federation of Teachers; American Industrial Hygiene Association; American Lung Association; ASHRAE; Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America; Austin Air Systems, Ltd.; Brown University Pandemic Center; Change the Air Foundation; Corsi-Rosenthal Foundation; EcoMadres; Healthy Schools Network; International Association of Sheet Metal, Air, Rail and Transportation Workers (SMART); International WELL Building Institute; Johns Hopkins Center for Health Security; Medify Air; Moms Clean Air Force; National Air Duct Cleaners Association; National Education Association; National Institute of Building Sciences; Sheet Metal and Air Conditioning Contractors’ National Association (SMACNA); U.S. Green Building Council; and WE ACT for Environmental Justice

The Indoor Air Quality and Healthy Schools Act would ensure that EPA has the authority and resources necessary to better protect public health from poor indoor air quality. Specifically, the bill:

• Updates, expands, and codifies the work of EPA’s Indoor Environments Division;
• Requires EPA to establish and regularly update a list of significant indoor contaminants, and develop health-based, voluntary guidelines to reduce exposure risks to these contaminants;
• Directs EPA to develop or recognize one or more voluntary certifications for buildings designed, built, operated, and maintained to prevent or minimize indoor air health risks; and 
• Establishes a regularly updated national assessment of IAQ in schools and childcare facilities, and supports development of technical assistance, guidelines, and best practices to improve the IAQ conditions of these facilities. 

A fact sheet of the bill can be found HERE.

Source: United States House of Representatives – Congresswoman Pramila Jayapal (7th District of Washington)

WASHINGTON, D.C. — U.S. Representative Pramila Jayapal (WA-07) today led 102 Members of Congress in opposing a proposed Department of Labor (DOL) rule that would strip federal minimum wage and overtime protections from nearly 4 million home care workers across the country.

“The proposed rule would jeopardize our nation’s care economy, destabilize an already underpaid workforce, and harm the more than 9 million older adults and people with disabilities who depend on home care workers to continue living in their communities,” wrote the Members. “This is not only unconscionable and bad policy, but it also diminishes the dignity of home care workers, jeopardizes their economic stability, and exacerbates existing challenges to attract and retain workers in this crucial and in-demand field.”

This move by President Trump’s DOL would revoke a 2013 Obama rule and allow employers, including home health agencies and other third-party employers, to pay direct care workers less than the federal minimum wage and deny them overtime pay.

The care workforce is overwhelmingly made up of women of color and immigrants. Two in five direct care workers live below or near the poverty line, and nearly half must rely on government assistance to make ends meet. Home care workers support more than 9 million older adults and people with disabilities through their daily lives, allowing them to continue living in their communities and thriving.

“The Department of Labor’s attempt to revoke minimum wage and overtime from care workers is not just an attack on their rights and dignity; it’s undermining our fastest growing workforce and the families they serve,” said Ai-Jen Poo, President of the National Domestic Workers Alliance. “Without home care workers to support our older and disabled loved ones, parents and family caregivers can’t work, older people can’t age in place, and people with disabilities can’t thrive. Minimum wage and overtime is the bare minimum – the bottom floor for our workers. Care workers deserve rights; they deserve to be recognized and protected after putting in a hard day’s work, just like all other workers. And taking away their rights not only creates insecurity for this workforce but all the families they serve.”

Earlier this year, Rep. Jayapal led 112 members of Congress in reintroducing the Domestic Workers Bill of Rights, which would extend common workplace rights and protections to the 2.2 million domestic workers in the United States.

The full letter can be read here.

The letter was signed by Alma Adams (NC‑12), Gabe Amo (RI‑01), Yassamin Ansari (AZ‑03), Becca Balint (VT‑AL), Don Beyer (VA‑08), Suzanne Bonamici (OR‑01), Brendan Boyle (PA‑02), Julia Brownley (CA‑26), Shontel Brown (OH‑11), Nikki Budzinski (IL‑13), Greg Casar (TX‑35), Sean Casten (IL‑06), Joaquin Castro (TX‑20), Sheila Cherfilus‑McCormick (FL‑20), Judy Chu (CA‑28), Yvette Clarke (NY‑09), Emanuel Cleaver (MO‑05), Steve Cohen (TN‑09), Joe Courtney (CT‑02), Jasmine Crockett (TX‑30), Danny Davis (IL‑07), Christopher Deluzio (PA‑17), Mark DeSaulnier (CA‑10), Maxine Dexter (OR‑03), Debbie Dingell (MI‑06), Veronica Escobar (TX‑16), Dwight Evans (PA‑03), Cleo Fields (LA‑06), Laura Friedman (CA‑30), John Garamendi (CA‑08), Jesús García (IL‑04), Sylvia Garcia (TX‑29), Daniel Goldman (NY‑10), Jahana Hayes (CT‑05), Steven Horsford (NV‑04), Val Hoyle (OR‑04), Jared Huffman (CA‑02), Sara Jacobs (CA‑51), Pramila Jayapal (WA‑07), Henry C. “Hank” Johnson (GA‑04), Julie Johnson (TX‑32), Bill Keating (MA‑09), Robin Kelly (IL‑02), Ro Khanna (CA‑17), Raja Krishnamoorthi (IL‑08), Rick Larsen (WA‑02), John Larson (CT‑01), Summer Lee (PA‑12), Susie Lee (NV‑03), Teresa Leger Fernandez (NM‑03), Zoe Lofgren (CA‑18), Stephen Lynch (MA‑08), Seth Magaziner (RI‑02), John Mannion (NY‑22), Lucy McBath (GA‑06), Sarah McBride (DE‑AL), Jennifer McClellan (VA‑04), Kristen McDonald Rivet (MI‑08), James McGovern (MA‑02), LaMonica McIver (NJ‑10), Dave Min (CA‑47), Gwen Moore (WI‑04), Kelly Morrison (MN‑03), Frank Mrvan (IN‑01), Kevin Mullin (CA‑15), Jerrold Nadler (NY‑12), Eleanor Norton (DC‑AL), Alexandria Ocasio‑Cortez (NY‑14), Ilhan Omar (MN‑05), Brittany Pettersen (CO‑07), Chellie Pingree (ME‑01), Mark Pocan (WI‑02), Ayanna Pressley (MA‑07), Delia Ramirez (IL‑03), Emily Randall (WA‑06), Andrea Salinas (OR‑06), Mary Gay Scanlon (PA‑05), Janice Schakowsky (IL‑09), David Scott (GA‑13), Bobby Scott (VA‑03), Lateefah Simon (CA‑12), Adam Smith (WA‑09), Melanie Stansbury (NM‑01), Marilyn Strickland (WA‑10), Eric Swalwell (CA‑14), Mark Takano (CA‑39), Shri Thanedar (MI‑13), Bennie Thompson (MS‑02), Mike Thompson (CA‑04), Rashida Tlaib (MI‑12), Jill Tokuda (HI‑02), Paul Tonko (NY‑20), Norma Torres (CA‑35), Ritchie Torres (NY‑15), Derek Tran (CA‑45), Juan Vargas (CA‑52), Marc Veasey (TX‑33), Nydia Velázquez (NY‑07), Debbie Wasserman Schultz (FL‑25), Maxine Waters (CA‑43), Bonnie Watson Coleman (NJ‑12), Nikema Williams (GA‑05), and Frederica Wilson (FL‑24).

It was also endorsed by #MEAction, American Association of People with Disabilities, Asian & Pacific Islander American Health Forum (APIAHF), Autistic People of Color Fund, Autistic Self Advocacy Network (ASAN), Autistic Women & Nonbinary Network, Care in Action, Caring Across Generations, Coalition on Human Needs, Congregation of Our Lady of Charity of the Good Shepherd, U.S. Provinces, Disability Belongs, Disability Rights Education and Defense Fund (DREDF), Diverse Elders Coalition, DQIA Disabled Queers In Action, Family Equality, Family Values @ Work, Hand in Hand: The Domestic Employers Network, Just Solutions, Justice in Aging, Legal Momentum, The Women’s Legal Defense & Education Fund, MomsRising, Muscular Dystrophy Association, National Advocacy Center of the Sisters of the Good Shepherd, National Center for Law and Economic Justice, National Coalition for the Homeless, National Council of Jewish Women, National Domestic Workers Alliance, National Employment Law Project, National Lawyers Guild Labor and Employment Committee, National Partnership for Women & Families, National Respite Coalition, Oxfam America, Oxfam America, Oxfam America, PHI, Service Employees International Union (SEIU), Shriver Center on Poverty Law, United Church of Christ, Well Spouse Association, California Community Living Network, Center for Elder Law & Justice, Center for Independence of the Disabled, New York, Chinese-American Planning Council (CPC), Citizen Action of Wisconsin, Connecticut Voices for Children, Detroit Disability Power, Disability Network Mid-Michigan, Disability Policy Consortium, FREED Center for Independent Living, Georgia ADAPT, Human Services Council of NY, Illinois Accountability Initiative, Indiana Community Action Poverty Institute, Legal Aid at Work, Long Beach Alliance for Clean Energy, New Disabled South, PEAK Parent Center, PEAK Parent Center, Placer Independent Resource Services, Supporting Illinois Brothers and Sisters, Sur Legal Collaborative, UDW/AFSCME Local 3930, United Spinal Association, WeMatter Organization, and Workers Defense Action Fund.

Issues: Jobs, Labor, & the Economy

Source: United States House of Representatives – Congresswoman Debbie Dingell (12th District of Michigan)

Source: United States House of Representatives – Congresswoman Debbie Dingell (12th District of Michigan)

Representatives Debbie Dingell (MI-06) and Kim Schrier (WA-08) led 142 of their House colleagues in sending a letter to Secretary of State Marco Rubio urging the State Department to reverse its decision to halt temporary medical-humanitarian visas for children from Gaza.

“On August 16th, the State Department announced it will stop approving all visitor visas for people from the war-torn Gaza strip — including children in need of urgent medical care — while conducting a “full and thorough review of the processes and procedures” used to issue these visas,” the lawmakers write. “This pause comes in the wake of severely injured Palestinian children arriving in the United States on temporary visas to receive medical care in recent weeks. The announcement of the sudden pause came via social media and contained no details on what a full and thorough review entails or any evidence of security risks. The lack of clarity regarding how long this halt will last is concerning.”

“This pause will deny children the medical care they desperately need. It is wrong to prevent children who are caught in the middle of this horrific conflict from receiving lifesaving medical care,” the lawmakers continue. “In addition, this decision ignores the fact that all Palestinians leaving Gaza for medical treatment or to accompany family members receiving medical treatment are already subject to rigorous vetting by the Israeli government, including an Israeli security clearance, identity verification, and an assessment whether they are linked to Hamas.

“Prior to this announcement, several children from Gaza have come to the United States to receive medical treatment. These cases have gone on without incident,” the lawmakers conclude. “We appeal to you to immediately reverse the State Department’s decision and resume allowing those from Gaza with approved temporary medical-humanitarian visas to enter the United States to receive the lifesaving care they need.

The lawmakers requested the Department provide the following information:

1. A detailed explanation of the specific concerns or procedural issues identified that led to the suspension of visas.
2. The criteria and timeline for the ongoing review process, how long it is expected to take, and what safeguards are being considered to prevent interruption of emergency medical care programs.
3. A commitment to temporarily exempt urgent medical-humanitarian cases involving children from Gaza from the suspension until the review is complete.

View the full text of the letter and complete list of signing members here.

Source: United States House of Representatives – Congresswoman Debbie Dingell (12th District of Michigan)

NEW REPORT: TRUMP’S RECKLESS ECONOMIC POLICIES FORCING HIGH COSTS ON MI-06 FAMILIES

Source: United States House of Representatives – Congresswoman Debbie Dingell (12th District of Michigan)

Congresswoman Debbie Dingell (MI-06) led her House Democratic colleagues in sending a letter to Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy, Jr., requesting answers about federal grant funding that has been rescinded for the Protection and Advocacy for Individuals with Mental Illness (PAIMI) Program, which provides legal support for people with disabilities.

The letter is in response to concerns from Disability Rights Michigan (DRM) after the organization was awarded $960,270 in funding from Protection and Advocacy (P&A) grants but recently had $130,485 rescinded by HHS. DRM is the independent, private, nonprofit, nonpartisan protection and advocacy organization authorized by Federal and State law to advocate for and protect the legal rights of people with disabilities.

“There are 57 independent Protection & Advocacy (P&A) agencies in the United States, serving all 50 States and U.S. territories, the District of Columbia and Native Americans,” the lawmakers write. “Established in 1975, the P&A network continues to serve an increasing number of people with disabilities due to an aging population. DRM is a part of this P&A network and is an essential and nonpartisan organization that helps individuals with disabilities. Their advocates and lawyers advise individuals with disabilities on how to advocate for their human, civil and legal rights within the state of Michigan, and they play an important role in investigating abuse and neglect.”

“We are concerned that without full funding, the P&A network will face tremendous fiscal uncertainty, limiting their ability to serve individuals with disabilities who depend on their assistance. We worry there will be fewer investigations of abuse, neglect, and exploitation that will harm lives,” the lawmakers continue. “Through these actions, HHS is needlessly putting lives at risk and reducing the ability for our government to protect those in need. Without the grant, DRM will not be able to ensure patients are being discharged to appropriate placements with reasonable accommodations, represent individuals in administrative hearings to ensure they are receiving the benefits they deserve, and advocate for children so they can receive the proper behavioral supports needed to remain in school and receive instruction.”

The lawmakers requested answers to the following questions:

1. When should DRM and other organizations expect to have the funds from SAMHSA to return to their organizations?
2. What is the rationale for rescinding funding for Protection & Advocacy Grants for individuals with disabilities, which support programs to investigate abuse and neglect in facilities that care for or treat individuals with mental illness?
3. In the past, the funding was delivered in lump sum, but this year was being released in installments. Can you explain the reasoning for the change in distribution of funds?
4. Can you commit to ensuring that individuals with disabilities will continue to have access to legal advocacy that protects their human, legal, and civil rights, and explain in detail how you plan to continue providing those services?
5. What is the Department’s broader strategy to ensure that the rights and protections of individuals with disabilities are safeguarded?

The letter is signed by Representatives Rashida Tlaib, Haley Stevens, Shri Thanedar, Hillary Scholten, and Kristen McDonald Rivet.

View the full text of the letter here.

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

MEADVILLE, PA – U.S. Representative Mike Kelly (R-PA) recently joined LIFE-NWPA to tour its Crawford center and learn more about the essential services that Living Independence for the Elderly (LIFE) in Pennsylvania, known nationally as the Program of All-Inclusive Care for the Elderly (PACE), provides to older adults. During the center visit, leaders at LIFE-NWPA showcased the valuable services offered to produce positive health outcomes for patients, as well as the role the LIFE program has in identifying health risks, preventing health crises, and reducing healthcare costs.

“It was great to tour LIFE NWPA’s Meadville facility last week. I was pleased to see how their work is giving our local seniors greater independence and the freedom they seek in their golden years. I look forward to taking our conversations from this visit back to Washington as we continue to advocate for Pennsylvania’s seniors,” said Rep. Mike Kelly (R-PA). 

“We were honored to host Representative Kelly and show him the excellent care we offer to participants across the Erie community,” said Marcie Campbell, Vice President at One Senior Care. “We commend Congressman Kelly for his support and for recognizing the value of LIFE in improving the lives of participants. By strengthening access to LIFE for aging Pennsylvanians, we can improve lives, prevent health crises, and reduce healthcare costs.”

According to the Kaiser Family Foundation, 5% of individuals in the United States account for 50% of healthcare spending. The LIFE program is specially designed to keep these complex patients out of high-cost settings, such as hospitals and nursing homes, and instead partner with existing health providers to provide care to older adults in their homes and communities.

Learn more about LIFE NWPA here.