MIL USHOR-2b Engine

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

Pressley Continues to Call for Release of Full Epstein Files, Public Congressional Hearing to Center Survivors, Shed Light on their Stories

Video (YouTube)

WASHINGTON – Today, Congresswoman Ayanna Pressley (MA-07), a member of the House Oversight Committee, held a media availability with Ranking Member Robert Garcia and Committee Democrats following a closed-door Oversight Committee roundtable with survivors of unconscionable exploitation and abuse perpetrated by Jeffrey Epstein, Ghislaine Maxwell, and their co-conspirators. The Congresswoman is continuing her push for healing and accountability, the release of the full Epstein files with survivors names redacted, and a full, transparent and public Congressional hearing that centers survivors that want to share testimony.

As a survivor of sexual abuse herself, Congresswoman Pressley has been a dedicated advocate for survivors’ justice and has led committee Democrats in calling for a full Congressional hearing to ensure survivors’ firsthand accounts are heard.

A full transcript of the Congresswoman’s remarks at the media availability is available below, and full video is available here.

Transcript: Pressley’s Remarks Following Closed-Door Meeting with Survivors of Epstein’s Abuse
September 2, 2025
Washington, DC

Thank you, Ranking Member Garcia. What we heard here today was harrowing, and it is proof of what has been an institutional, systemic betrayal for decades.

These women now who were preyed upon, groomed, exploited, violated from as young as 13 years old, their bodies violated, their minds manipulated, and their dreams denied. 

Aspiring artists, lawyers, actors, people who have big dreams, and those dreams have been dashed and denied because of the shame they carry, because of the trauma they carry. It is a lifetime sentence.

Jeffrey Epstein is dead, but his hurt and his harm is alive and well in the daily experiences of these survivors. 

Maxwell is incarcerated, but it is these survivors, these victims, who are still very much in jail, and they are deserving of transparency, of accountability and of healing. 

We are where we are today because of the leadership of Ranking Member Garcia and our Ranking Member of the Subcommittee for Law Enforcement Summer Lee in forcing that vote for a subpoena, because in order for us to hold powerful abusers to account who participated actively in a predator pedophile Ponzi scheme meant to feed on the daily perversions of a rich and powerful man and his enablers and those who were his co-conspirators. 

We want to center the victims and the survivors, not shield the powerful, the wealthy and the well-connected. 

So we forced a vote for a subpoena in a hearing that was on child trafficking to point out the hypocrisy. Then I led calls for a hearing in the Committee on Oversight, centering the victims, and my colleagues joined with me in that. 

We do believe that that did lead to pressure that resulted in today’s roundtable, where many of the victims said it was the first time that they had felt heard, on the heels of the many years of abuse that they experienced to be revictimized and traumatized by a government.

They had abusers that told them they were trash and because they’ve never gotten justice and been heard, it has contributed to the ways in which they have felt demoralized and invisible.

The role of this committee is to be in efficient and effective pursuit of the truth, and we will be until these survivors get the justice that they deserve. 

Again, we will not shield powerful abusers. They must be taken to account, and that cannot happen if we are not centering and prioritizing the voices of survivors.

…

Today’s roundtable, again it was necessary, it was long overdue, it was very powerful — and it is why I continue to call for a Congressional hearing, because their stories need to be a part of the Congressional Record, and the entire public needs to understand just how systemic and how far and wide and how deep this institutional betrayal goes.

So that Congressional hearing still needs to happen, and this discharge petition still needs to go to the floor. 

So this roundtable, you know, Oversight Dems forcing the vote for the subpoena to the DOJ, important step. Today’s roundtable, important step. A Congressional hearing centering the voices of Epstein’s survivors is essential. 

We cannot powerful abusers to account without centering those survivors and doing it on the Congressional Record to give that transparency to the public as well. 

And then, finally, this discharge petition does need to come to the floor so that we can get all of the files.

One of the things that was said over and over again today was that the investigation is not complete. The investigation is not even done, so we need all of this. 

…

I would ask my Republican colleagues to prove that they will break their legacy of treating trauma with more trauma and shielding from Jim Jordan to Matt Gaetz, to Donald Trump, and now to Jeffrey Epstein. 

They have a hell of a track record, they might want to try to break that up. 

In the words of Edmund Burke, the only thing necessary for evil to triumph is for good men and women to do nothing. 

Are we going to stand up and be good men and women so that evil does not triumph? 

And I’m going to close on the final thing which is the most important. For people that would wonder, how high are the stakes here? This is a matter of life and death, because Virginia  Giuffre took her life after decades of failure and there are victims that can no longer come forward because they are in a fetal position so broken by the weight of what they’ve been carrying, shame that they’ve been carrying when it is not their shame to carry. 

So Virginia Giuffre took her life because of the institutional, consecutive failures and betrayals of our government. So this is a matter of life and death. 

—

Rep. Pressley has led the demand for a hearing with survivors as the Committee has continued its investigation and after the Congresswoman successfully helped pass a motion by Ranking Member Robert Garcia and Congresswoman Summer Lee to force the Committee to subpoena the Epstein files.

In recent interviews, Rep. Pressley described why her work to subpoena the Epstein files is deeply personal to her.

Throughout her time in Congress, Rep. Pressley has been a champion for justice for survivors of sexual violence and reproductive freedom.

In July 2024, Rep. Pressley reintroduced the Bringing an End to Harassment by Enhancing Accountability and Rejecting Discrimination (BE HEARD) in the Workplace Act of 2024. In June 2024, Rep. Pressley renewed her calls for accountability and survivor-focused solutions following the damning reports of a toxic work environment at the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC).  In June 2024, Rep. Pressley also sent a letter to the Bureau of Prisons (BOP) requesting information about the botched closure of FCI Dublin, abuse of women while they were being transferred to other facilities, and BOP’s management of investigations into the staff sexual misconduct and abuse at FCI Dublin and other federal BOP facilities.

Rep. Pressley is also a lead co-sponsor of H.R. 5388, legislation that would prevent the Secretary of Education from rolling back Title IX protections for survivors, as well as H.Res. 560, a resolution calling for an impeachment inquiry into Supreme Court Justice Brett Kavanaugh, following reporting on new allegations of sexual misconduct committed by the Associate Justice.

In April 2019, following the passage of the Violence Against Women Reauthorization Act of 2019, Rep. Pressley issued a statement honoring her mother, Sandra Pressley, a survivor of domestic violence. Rep. Pressley is also the lead co-sponsor of an amendment to the Violence Against Women Act (VAWA) that would establish the first-ever grant program dedicated to supporting LGBTQ+ survivors of domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, and stalking, which passed the House of Representatives in March 2021.

###

Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Earl L Buddy Carter (GA-01)

Headline: Carter Introduces Bill Extending Telehealth Access for Patients

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Reps. Earl L. “Buddy” Carter (R-GA) and Debbie Dingell (D-MI) today introduced the Telehealth Modernization Act of 2025, a bill to extend telehealth flexibilities for seniors on Medicare through fiscal year 2027. 

“Telehealth is a vital part of our health care system, and we must ensure that it is available to patients who need it. By extending telehealth flexibilities for patients, we are making health care more accessible, regardless of their physical location. As a pharmacist, one of my top priorities has been increasing the accessibility and quality of health care; this bill does both, in a bipartisan manner, and paves the way for more patients and providers to use 21st century technology,” said Rep. Carter. 

“Telehealth services are an essential part of our healthcare system. It is a fact that having to physically travel to a doctor’s office or hospital can present a serious barrier to care for seniors, people with disabilities, and people who live in rural areas that are far from a health care provider. Telehealth worked during COVID and should be available and more widely adopted. The Telehealth Modernization Act takes us one step closer to protecting and expanding access to telehealth for Americans who depend on it,” said Rep. Dingell. 

A Senate companion bill is being led by Sens. Tim Scott (R-SC) and Brian Schatz (D-HI). 

“This comprehensive legislation advances many of ATA Action’s top priorities including an extension of Medicare telehealth flexibilities, the Acute Hospital Care at Home Program, the in-home cardiopulmonary rehabilitation flexibilities, temporary expansion of the Medicare Diabetes Prevention Program to allow virtual only suppliers to participate through 2030, and implementation of the SPEAK Act to improve telehealth delivery for individuals with limited English proficiency. It’s a strong step toward expanding access, improving care, and modernizing how services are delivered across the country. This signifies a pivotal moment for the industry — demonstrating that these policies work in concert and that telehealth plays an essential role across the full spectrum of the healthcare system,” said Kyle Zebley, Executive Director, ATA Action & Senior Vice President of Public Policy, ATA

Read the full bill text here. 

Read the section-by-section here.

###

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

Bacon Announces $7 Million Grant for Eppley Airfield’s International Expansion

Washington – Rep. Don Bacon (NE-02) announced today that Eppley Airfield has secured a $7.0 million FY24 Congressional Directed Spending (CDS) grant for its Federal Inspection Services Facility.

Throughout his Congressional career, Rep. Bacon has made improvements to Eppley Airfield one of his top priorities, helping secure more than $84.1 million through the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act and other funding sources. These investments expand flight capacity and inspection areas while streamlining the check-in and TSA processes for travelers, and increasing possible international flights.

“We are building essentially a new airport that will meet the travel needs of the growing metropolitan Omaha area and welcome international flights. This transformation will shape our region’s future for many decades to come and will be vital for Omaha’s economy,” said Rep. Bacon. “I’m pleased to work with the leaders at Eppley and Sen. Fischer in creating what will become the best airport in the Midwest.”

“Eppley Airport connects Nebraskans to the rest of our nation. With this important funding I helped secure alongside Rep. Bacon, Eppley Airport will connect our state with locations around the world, which will have a lasting positive impact on Nebraska for decades to come,” said Sen. Fischer.

“The addition of international flights at Eppley Airfield is one of the most exciting developments with the Build OMA Terminal Modernization Program,” said Dave Roth, Chief Executive Officer for the Omaha Airport Authority. “For the first time in Nebraska history, passengers from Omaha and throughout the State will have access to nonstop international air service opportunities. We are appreciative of the ongoing efforts of Senator Fischer and Congressman Bacon to enable this development with their support of air transportation and growth at Eppley Airfield.”

Rep. Bacon toured the ongoing construction at Eppley Airfield today to review progress on these critical improvements.

###

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

On the tragic shooting at Annunciation Catholic Church:

“Well, it’s really a sad story that you see another story where children are killed and injured.  There’s no place for that kind of violence in our schools or targeting elected officials or anyone … It’s sad that there’s that kind of anger and hatred that would drive these individuals to go commit those heinous acts of crime.”

On the loss of intern Eric Tarpinian-Jachym:

“Eric Tarpinian-Jachym was a 21-year-old. He was about to be a senior at the University of Massachusetts Amherst. He was serving as an intern in our office, and he was a great young man. 

“It’s a sad state that in our nation’s capital, there have been over 100 people killed on the city streets this year. We should want to be proud of our capital. We should want to be able to have a showcase that we could have Americans come visit or we could have foreign dignitaries come and visit. Eric’s tragic death is one of those things that should never have happened. 

“As a parent, I want my children to have the opportunity to take advantage of some of these things. But, for him to come and lose his life because of that is a sad state. We need to make sure that we provide safe streets and we protect Americans across the country. 

“Of course, Washington, D.C.’s a federal district. It’s different than the cities in different states. President Trump’s really stepped up in terms of saying the federal government has responsibility to help maintain law and order in Washington, D.C. and helping make sure that that happens.”

On President Trump’s crime crackdown:

“…There’s a stark difference now. In the first 10 days or so that the enhanced law enforcement support from the National Guard happened, there weren’t any murders. Unfortunately, in the last couple of days there has been another one, just because of the crime in the streets. But, you know, that offsets the first seven months of the year. 

“There were over a hundred people killed on the streets in Washington, D.C., which is worse than other capitals around the world: Bogota and Lima and Madrid and even Chicago. It’s worse, six times worse, the rate of murders per 100,000 citizens, in New York City … Between the murder rate’s about 27.5 per 100,000 people and the car jackings and car thefts about 840 per 100,000 people. 

“We want to make sure that the streets are safe and the president’s been doing a good job. We’ve seen a marked decrease … Violent crime’s gone down 40% in the last couple of weeks, which is important for Americans to feel safe and foreign visitors to feel safe as well.”

On taking action after President Trump’s federal orders expire after 30 days:

“I think part of what we’ve seen is, by having the National Guard available to help patrol the streets, the police department in Washington can actually focus on solving some of the cases that have been a backlog for them … They really have not solved Eric’s death, and we want to make sure that they have the time to do that. 

“Ultimately, it also relies on some of the discussions around defunding the police … Going back several years ago, the Washington, D.C. local government, which had been granted some authority by Congress, they decided to cut the funding for their police,and it’s nowhere near recovered the same trajectory it would have been on, based on the growth rate and the inflation rate since that time. 

“I think that’s part of what needs to be addressed as well is making sure that the adequate funding is provided to help make sure that we have safe streets for our Americans, whether it’s in Washington, D.C. or Chicago or Nashville or Minneapolis or anywhere else.”

On what a potential comprehensive crime bill should look like:

“I think the primary overall goal in looking at that is we want to make sure we protect Americans. Protect them whether they’re in Washington, D.C., whether they’re in Wichita Kansas, whether they’re in New York or even in California, with some of the riots that have been there in terms of the protests against illegal immigration. 

“We want to make sure that Americans are protected. We want to make sure a crime bill actually focuses on the funding that’s being provided from the federal government is utilized to help support those law enforcement, help make sure that they do their role, that they can protect American citizens throughout their city or their state, wherever their area of responsibility is.”

Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Joaquin Castro (20th District of Texas)

September 02, 2025

WASHINGTON, D.C. — Today, Representatives Joaquin Castro (D-TX) Young Kim (R-CA), Gregory Meeks (D-NY), Ed Case (D-HI), Aumua Amata Radewagen (R-AS), Johnny Olszewski (D-MD), Dusty Johnson (R-SD), Bill Foster (D-IL), and Sheila Cherfilus-McCormick’s (D-FL) Providing Appropriate Recognition and Treatment to Enhance Relations Act, or the PARTNER Act, which extends privileges and immunities under the International Organizations Immunities Act to a group of international organizations critical to U.S. leadership and foreign policy priorities, passed the House with bipartisan support.

“The PARTNER Act is a concrete step to strengthen U.S. leadership, deepen our alliances, and keep America at the center of global diplomacy and science,” said Congressman Castro (D-TX). “At a time when our competitors are working overtime to expand their influence in Asia, the Caribbean, the Pacific, and Africa, we cannot afford to sit back. I urge my colleagues in the Senate to pass this bill and get it on the President’s desk.”

“The Indo-Pacific is central to America’s national and economic security—when we show up for our allies in the region, we win,” said Congresswoman Kim (R-CA). “The PARTNER Act is a necessary reaffirmation of America’s engagement with allies and partner organizations around the world. I’m proud to work alongside Rep. Castro to strengthen key partnerships and promote a free, open, and prosperous Indo-Pacific.”

“Extending privileges and immunities to these international organizations will help facilitate and deepen the United States’ engagement with them,” said Congressman Meeks (D-NY). “Our partnerships with ASEAN, PIF, CERN, CARICOM and the African Union’s mission to the UN have been vital to a range of U.S. national security interests and will be greatly strengthened through this common-sense legislation. I thank Ranking Member Castro for his tireless efforts advancing this bill, as well as all Members who’ve worked in a bipartisan way to move it forward.”

“Our country’s Indo-Pacific Strategy states in no uncertain terms that no region is of more consequence to the world and to everyday Americans than the Indo-Pacific,” said Congressman Case (D-HI). “The United States and our allies and partners around the world who are aligned with an international rules-based order share the common vision of a free and open Indo-Pacific whose governance, priorities, goals and prosperity are determined by the countries of the Indo-Pacific without manipulation and dominance by malicious actors. This is especially true of the Pacific Islands themselves, in the heart of the Pacific, which today face the challenges of increased natural disasters and human and drug trafficking, economic sustainability, threats to democracy and more. It is crucial that the United States continue to extend our hand of full partnership in assisting the countries of the Pacific to meet these challenges, as we have for generations.”

“I’m happy to cosponsor the bipartisan PARTNER Act, which extends important diplomatic privileges to Pacific Islands Forum nations and other key international relationships. This is another way for the U.S. to show commitment and diplomatic engagement with nations throughout the strategic Pacific region and the world,” said Congresswoman Radewagen (R-AS).

“The U.S. needs to collaborate globally to solve shared challenges, and the PARTNER Act will do just that—strengthening diplomacy and the institutions that build trust and cooperation among our allies and partners around the world,” said Congressman Olszewski (D-MD). “I am also proud that this legislation includes my bipartisan African Union Diplomatic Parity Act, which deepens our partnership with the African Union and promotes American leadership across the continent.”

“The exchange of knowledge and ideas across borders not only promotes peace, but also serves as a powerful instrument to address urgent global challenges,” said Congressman Foster (D-IL). “As a physicist, I spent more than two decades working with colleagues from around the globe at Fermilab in Illinois, where scientific collaboration transcended national boundaries and helped us better understand the world around us. I’m proud that my colleagues came together to pass the PARTNER Act, which will help solidify our long-term partnership with CERN and maintain our nation’s role as a leader in scientific research.”

“The countless contributions of the Caribbean-American community can be felt and seen across South Florida,” said Congresswoman Cherfilus-McCormick (D-FL). “With the House passage of the PARTNER Act, we are strengthening our diplomatic engagement with CARICOM and laying the foundation for deeper economic, security, and cultural ties that will yield long-term, strategic benefits.”

The Partner Act will

• Extend privileges and immunities to officials of three important regional international organizations—Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), Caribbean Community (CARICOM), and the Pacific Islands Forum (PIF), allowing these organizations to work independently and effectively.
• Extend privileges and immunities to the European Organization for Nuclear Research (CERN), an international organization that is engaged in cutting edge physics research.
• Extend privileges and immunities to the African Union’s Observer Mission to the United Nations, which addressed a gap in the current law that provides the African Union such privileges and immunities but not its Observer Mission to the United Nations.
• Demonstrate the United States’ commitment to our partnerships and multilateral cooperation that advance our interests and values.

Similar legislation was introduced by Senators Risch, Duckworth, Ricketts, Cortez Masto, and Ernst to extend diplomatic privileges and immunities to ASEAN, CERN, and PIF earlier this year.

View the full text of the PARTNER Act here.

Congressman Castro speaks on the House floor in support of the PARTNER Act

Congressman Castro’s Remarks (as delivered):

Mr. Speaker, I rise today in strong support of the PARTNER Act.

This is a bipartisan bill—supported by colleagues on both sides of the aisle—that strengthens American diplomacy, science, and leadership in the world.

The PARTNER Act does something very simple but very important: it extends basic legal protections, known as “privileges and immunities,” to several key international organizations that the United States works closely with, but that until now have lacked the same recognition that we give to other multilateral institutions.

Let me explain why this is very important.

These legal protections are not special favors. They are the standard tools that allow international organizations to do their work effectively and independently. They protect institutions from lawsuits, taxation, or other interference that could disrupt their missions—while still ensuring that individuals remain accountable for their private actions.

And they are reciprocal. Just as American diplomats and officials enjoy these protections when we serve in international organizations abroad, we extend them to our partners here in the United States. It’s the basic infrastructure of diplomacy.

Why is this bill important right now?

First, our strategic interests in the Indo-Pacific. ASEAN—the Association of Southeast Asian Nations—is central to U.S. engagement in Asia.

Recognizing its diplomatic status here in the United States shows our commitment to the region’s future and to working with our Asian partners on equal footing.

Second, the Western Hemisphere, of which we are part, obviously is incredibly important to the United States.

CARICOM—the Caribbean Community—plays a crucial role in democratic governance, regional security, and disaster preparedness.

Extending privileges and immunities supports CARICOM as a unified voice for the Caribbean and strengthens U.S. ties to a region where our influence should be felt through real, consistent engagement.

Third, science and technology leadership.

CERN, which is the European Organization for Nuclear Research, is one of the world’s premier scientific institutions. It is partnering with U.S. researchers on the Deep Underground Neutrino Experiment, a $3 billion project based right here in the United States.

This is some of the most important and cutting-edge physics research in the world that will, hopefully, allow us to better understand the universe.

By extending privileges and immunities, we can speed up the timeline for this groundbreaking work, control costs, and ensure that American scientists remain at the forefront of discovery.

Fourth, our Pacific and African partners. This bill authorizes the President to extend protections to the Pacific Islands Forum—a vital regional body in the South Pacific where small island nations are on the front lines of climate change and facing significant diplomatic overtures by China.

And the bill fixes a gap in U.S. law by ensuring the African Union’s Observer Mission to the United Nations in New York receives the same recognition as the AU itself.

Taken together, these provisions make clear that the United States values our partnerships and will invest in multilateral cooperation that advances our interests and our values.

Mr. Speaker, Congress has extended privileges and immunities before—to the European Union, to the African Union, and of course to the United Nations and the Organization of American States.

This bill simply applies the same standard to other organizations that the United States works with every single day.

At a time when our competitors are working overtime to expand their influence in Asia, the Caribbean, the Pacific, and Africa, we cannot afford to sit back.

The PARTNER Act is a concrete step to strengthen U.S. leadership, deepen our alliances, and keep America at the center of global diplomacy and science.

I want to thank all of my colleagues—Democrat and Republican—for their leadership and for their work on this bill.

This bill has broad bipartisan support. It’s good for American diplomacy, good for American science, and good for American leadership in the world.

I urge all of my colleagues to vote yes on the PARTNER Act, and I reserve the balance of my time.

Source: United States House of Representatives – Congresswoman Grace Meng (6th District of New York)

WASHINGTON, D.C. –  U.S. Rep. Grace Meng (D-NY), a member of the House Appropriations Subcommittee on National Security, Department of State and Related Programs, and Rep. Young Kim (R-CA), along with U.S. Senator Mazie Hirono (D-HI) announced today that they wrote a bipartisan letter to President Trump and Secretary of State Marco Rubio urging the administration to prioritize the reunification of Korean American families with their relatives in North Korea. The letter was sent ahead of South Korean President Lee’s upcoming visit to the White House on August 25.

Approximately 100,000 Korean Americans have been separated from their relatives in North Korea since the Korean War. Since 2000, South Korea and North Korea have held over 20 family reunions; however, there has not been an official channel for Korean Americans to be included.

In their letter, Meng, Kim, and Hirono wrote, “Across the United States, tens of thousands of members of the Korean American community are seeking to reunify with their loved ones who were separated from family as a result of the Korean War. These divided families have relatives living on both sides of the 38th parallel, marking the divide between North and South Korea. Seven decades after the armistice, the lack of reunification opportunities—or even information about the whereabouts of family members—remains a source of deep pain for many.”

Meng originally introduced her Divided Families Reunification Act in 2019. It passed the House several times and was signed into law in 2022 as part of the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) thanks to bipartisan support from Rep. Young Kim and a companion bill in the Senate led by Senator Hirono.

The legislation required the U.S. Secretary of State, or a designee of the Secretary, to consult with South Korean officials on potential family reunion opportunities for American families and their relatives in North Korea. It also required the U.S. Special Envoy on North Korean Human Rights Issues to consult biannually with representatives of Americans who have family members in North Korea about its efforts to support family reunions, and to inform Congress of opportunities to utilize video conference technology to encourage virtual reunions.

The Members continued, “Seven decades after the armistice, time is running out. We urge you to include divided families in the conversations with South Korea as it is an issue of great importance to Korean Americans across the nation.”

The letter is supported by the Korean American Grassroots Conference and the Council of Korean Americans.

A copy can be viewed here.

Source: United States House of Representatives – Congresswoman Grace Meng (6th District of New York)

WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Rep. Grace Meng (D-NY), a member of the Congressional Food Safety Caucus, announced today the introduction of her Ban Harmful Food Dyes Act. This legislation would amend the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act to ban harmful dyes and petroleum-based additives that have no place in our food.

The bill was introduced following action by at least 21 states seeking to address food dyes and chemicals of concern, and the announcement of a voluntary measure earlier this year by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) and Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to phase out petroleum-based synthetic food dyes from the nation’s food supply. However, the Administration’s voluntary initiative fails to enforce the phaseout and fails to ban other harmful food additives, such as Titanium Dioxide. Titanium Dioxide has been scientifically demonstrated to be harmful to human health. The Ban Harmful Food Dyes Act continues that momentum and also includes a statutory ban on Red Dye 3, which was previously banned through regulation, but not through law. 

The full list of dyes that would be banned under Meng’s bill include:

• Red No. 40
• Red No. 3
• Yellow No. 5
• Yellow No. 6
• Blue No. 1
• Blue No. 2
• Green No. 3
• Orange B
• Citrus Red 2
• Titanium Dioxide
• Any additive that is substantially similar to those above

“Food additives with links to cancer and negative impacts on children’s health and development, including synthetic, petroleum-based dyes, do not belong in our food,” said Congresswoman Meng. “If the science says they aren’t safe, our government shouldn’t be allowing companies to use them in the first place. While efforts have been made by current and previous administrations to eliminate these chemicals from our food, there is no law banning their use. My Ban Harmful Food Dyes Act will do just that. Food safety should be a bipartisan issue, and I look forward to working with my colleagues on both sides of the aisle to deliver this commonsense bill to the President’s desk.”

Last year, Meng joined an effort alongside 22 lawmakers to successfully push the FDA to issue a regulation banning Red 3, which has been scientifically shown to cause cancer in animals. Titanium Dioxide, often used as a whitening agent, has been fully banned as a food additive in the European Union since 2022 due to concerns it can damage DNA or chromosomes, yet it continues to be used in foods sold across the United States.

Meng’s legislation is supported by the Environmental Working Group (EWG) and Consumer Reports. Now introduced in the House, the bill must be approved by the House Committee on Energy and Commerce before it can be brought to the floor for a vote.

Meng has long supported efforts to remove harmful dyes and additives from the food families eat every day. Meng is also an original sponsor of The Food Chemical Reassessment Act of 2025, which would require the Federal Government conduct regular studies on chemical additives in food to verify their safety.  She is also a cosponsor of the Do or Dye Act, which also aims to ban a range of harmful food dyes.

A copy of the bill can be viewed here.

 

 

Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Greg Steube (FL-17)

September 02, 2025 | Press ReleasesWASHINGTON — U.S. Representative Greg Steube (R-Fla.) joined with Senator Mike Lee (R-Utah) today in introducing the Department of War Restoration Act. This bill redesignates the Department of Defense as the “Department of War.”
“From 1789 until the end of World War II, the United States military fought under the banner of the Department of War,” said Rep. Steube. “Thanks to their courage and sacrifice, the standard of excellence was established for all servicemembers who followed in their footsteps. It is only fitting that we pay tribute to their eternal example and renowned commitment to lethality by restoring the name of the ‘Department of War’ to our Armed Forces.”
“For the first 150 years of our military’s history, Americans defeated their enemies and protected their country under the War Department,” said Senator Lee. “I’m proud to introduce the Department of War Restoration Act to make President Trump’s return to tradition permanent in federal law. It should always be clear to anyone who would harm our people: Americans don’t just play defense.”
Background: The Department of War Restoration Act redesignates the Department of Defense as the “Department of War.” It also renames the position of Secretary of Defense as “Secretary of War.”
Read the full bill text 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, announced he secured significant federal funding for two airports in San Luis Obispo County for infrastructure improvements. SLO County Airport will receive $2,725,597.00 to construct a new 315-foot Taxiway B3 to bring the airport into conformity with current standards. Oceano Airport will receive $313,500.00 to reseal 2,325 feet of existing Runway 11/29 pavement to extend its useful life.

“SLO’s regional airports are critical for the Central Coast’s tourism sector, emergency response capabilities, pilot training, and other vital activities,” said Rep. Carbajal. “This federal funding will modernize key infrastructure at both SLO County and Oceano Airports and ensure they remain safe, efficient, and ready to serve our communities for years to come.”

“We are grateful for Congressman Carbajal’s continued support in helping us secure these critical infrastructure grants. These investments allow us to modernize facilities, extend the life of our runways and taxiways, and maintain safe, efficient operations for passengers and aviation partners. With these improvements, our airports can keep pace with community needs while supporting long-term economic growth and connectivity across the Central Coast,” said Courtney M. Johnson C.M., C.A.E. Director of Airports at San Luis Obispo County. 

This funding is from the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law’s Airport Infrastructure Grant (AIG) program, which provides federal grants for airport infrastructure projects such as runways, taxiways, signage, lighting, and markings.

Since its passage in 2021, the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law has delivered more than $1 billion in funding to projects up and down the Central Coast of California. As a senior member of the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee, Carbajal played a key role in crafting and passing the landmark legislation in partnership with the Biden Administration.

Source: United States House of Representatives – Representative Mike Johnson (LA-04)

WASHINGTON — During the August District Work Period, Speaker Johnson and House Republicans delivered the good news of the One Big Beautiful Bill in Congressional Districts across America.

In Louisiana’s 4th Congressional District, Speaker Johnson participated in a panel discussion with Louisiana farmers to discuss how the One Big Beautiful Bill delivers for American agriculture and explained how the One Big Beautiful Bill will help Louisiana families keep more of their hard-earned money in their pockets.

“Policy that is good for the family is good for the whole country. Family is the seedbed of society, and when you foster strong families, and you can make better economic opportunity for them and give them better educational choices,” Speaker Johnson said at an event in Louisiana. “These things are going to foster stronger communities. Our policies in the Republican Party are geared toward hardworking families, and the One Big Beautiful Bill is a good testament to that. It’s geared for hardworking lower and middle-income families, who will be the greatest beneficiaries of these collective policies.”

Speaker Johnson at a Farm Bureau panel discussion

Speaker Johnson took questions from business owners and local leaders

regarding the One Big Beautiful Bill’s impacts on Louisiana

Across the country, Speaker Johnson met with business owners and workers who will benefit from the One Big Beautiful Bill’s pro-growth tax provisions, including the historic no tax on tips and no tax on overtime provisions which will allow millions of workers nationwide to keep more of their hard-earned money. Speaker Johnson also joined CNN to dispel Democrats’ and the mainstream media’s incessant lies and mischaracterizations of the legislation.

Speaker Johnson discussed No Tax on Tips with Nashville bartenders

Speaker Johnson met with an Idaho manufacturer to discuss how the

One Big Beautiful Bill eases the tax burden on job creators and innovators

IN THE NEWS

LA Farm Bureau: Louisiana Farmers Flock to Ruston for “One Big Beautiful Bill” Celebration with Speaker Mike Johnson, AFBF President Zippy Duvall

Bossier Press Tribune: Speaker Mike Johnson Discusses Big Beautiful Bill

Ruston Daily Leader: Johnson Touts ‘Big Beautiful Bill’ in Ruston

KTBS: Speaker Mike Johnson touts Trump-Backed budget bill during Louisiana tour

KNOE: Speaker Mike Johnson Promotes Budget Bill During Northeast Louisiana Tour

KSLA: Speaker Johnson Discusses Big Beautiful Bill During News Conference in Bossier City

Fox News: Mike Johnson touts Trump tax bill at iconic Nashville bar

East Idaho News: U.S. Speaker Mike Johnson touts One Big Beautiful Bill from Melaleuca headquarters

Fox News: Johnson hits iconic Nashville bar, blasts Dems for ‘lying’ about Trump’s agenda

KIFI: Speaker Mike Johnson tours Melaleuca, Promotes ‘Big Beautiful Bill’ for business growth

READ MORE: Republicans are Touting the One Big Beautiful Bill Across America

###