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Pappas Introduces Bipartisan Bill to Speed Up Housing Construction, Lower Costs

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

Today Congressman Chris Pappas (NH-01) joined Congresswoman Janelle Bynum (OR-05), Congressman Bryan Steil (WI-01), and Congressman Brian Fitzpatrick (PA-01) in introducing the bipartisan, bicameral Accelerating Home Building Act to support local governments in speeding up the permitting and home building process and lowering costs for Granite Staters. This legislation has been introduced in the Senate by U.S. Senators Lisa Blunt Rochester (D-DE) and Bernie Moreno (R-OH).

“It’s critical that all levels of government work together and listen to the needs of local communities to tackle the housing crisis that is hurting families, small businesses, and our economy. That’s why I’m introducing this bipartisan legislation that would expand tools and resources for local governments, empowering them to cut red tape and ease the process of building more housing,” said Congressman Pappas. “I’ll continue supporting commonsense action to grow our affordable housing supply.”

“NAR is grateful that Representatives Janelle Bynum (D-OR), Bryan Steil (R-WI), Chris Pappas (D-NH) and Brian Fitzpatrick (R-PA) introduced the bipartisan Accelerating Home Building Act to help address the nation’s housing affordability crisis through streamlined construction approval processes,” said Shannon McGahn, NAR Chief Advocacy Officer and Executive Vice President. “NAR recognizes that reducing regulatory barriers and streamlining approval processes are essential steps toward addressing the housing shortage affecting communities across the country. We support this legislation as part of comprehensive efforts to increase housing supply and improve affordability.” 

Nationwide, communities are investing in a process called pattern zoning, in which architects and local governments develop pattern books full of pre-approved, standardized plans and designs. Specifically, this legislation would: 

  • Establish a pilot HUD-administered grant program to fund the creation of pattern books with a focus on missing middle and infill construction; and
  • Provide set-asides for rural communities and prioritize high-opportunity areas and localities working to reduce barriers to housing development.

This legislation is endorsed by the American Planning Association, Congress for the New Urbanism, Up for Growth Action, National Apartment Association, Smart Growth America, Main Street America, and the National Association of REALTORS. 

 You can view a one-pager on the legislation here and the full text of the bill here.

Background: 

Pappas is working to ensure Granite State communities have the resources they need to increase the affordable housing stock and tackle the housing crisis. Pappas helped introduce the bipartisan Affordable Housing Credit Improvement Act to support the financing and development of affordable housing by expanding and strengthening the Low-Income Housing Tax Credit. Last year Pappas and the New Hampshire delegation welcomed more than $30 million in federal grants to build more affordable housing across the Granite State. 

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Pappas Leads Call for Trump Administration to Extend ACA Open Enrollment Period

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

Lawmakers call on the Trump administration to proactively extend the open enrollment period, give constituents more time to make and adjust health care decisions due to increase in costs

Today Congressman Chris Pappas (NH-01) led 61 members in calling on the Trump administration and Health and Human Services Secretary Kennedy to extend the 2026 open enrollment period through May 1, 2026. Extending the enrollment period would provide individuals more time to assess Marketplace prices and make an informed decision about health insurance coverage as Pappas continues to fight to extend the Affordable Care Act (ACA) enhanced premium tax credits in Congress. Congresswoman Maggie Goodlander (NH–02) is a signer of the letter.

“Despite the sustained efforts of congressional Democrats to extend the Affordable Care Act (ACA) enhanced premium tax credits prior to open enrollment starting, Congress has ultimately failed to do so. As a result, open enrollment has begun with sticker shock as enrollees are confronted with eye-popping premium increases,” wrote the lawmakers. “While we remain optimistic that Republicans will join Democrats to lower costs for consumers, in the meantime, we urge you to extend the 2026 open enrollment period through May 1, 2026.”

Stressing the importance of Congress extending ACA enhanced premium tax credits, the members wrote, “The enhanced premium tax credits have helped make health care more affordable and have driven record-breaking enrollment gains in the marketplace. Without an extension, the 22 million Americans who rely on the tax credits to afford coverage will see their costs rise by $1,000 on average—but many are seeing even higher increases. Individuals have already begun to see significant premium hikes in certain marketplaces, where some are learning that their costs will double or even triple.  As a result, younger, healthier, and lower-income people will likely drop coverage entirely due to unaffordable premiums, harming the risk pool and driving costs even higher.”

“Our constituents are now confronted with the difficult decision of whether they will be able to afford their health insurance…” wrote the lawmakers. Highlighting how the expiration of the ACA’s premium tax credits will make this year’s open enrollment season more challenging for families, they continued, “If and when Republicans agree to negotiate, an extended open enrollment period will allow individuals and families, who otherwise would not have been able to afford it, to acquire coverage. You have the authority to give people the time they need to make informed decisions about their coverage during this period of uncertainty.”

Read the full letter here and below. 

Dear Secretary Kennedy,

Despite the sustained efforts of congressional Democrats to extend the Affordable Care Act (ACA) enhanced premium tax credits prior to open enrollment starting, Congress has ultimately failed to do so. As a result, open enrollment has begun with sticker shock as enrollees are confronted with eye-popping premium increases. While we remain optimistic that Republicans will join Democrats to lower costs for consumers, in the meantime, we urge you to extend the 2026 open enrollment period through May 1, 2026. 

The enhanced premium tax credits have helped make health care more affordable and have driven record-breaking enrollment gains in the marketplace.  Without an extension, the 22 million Americans who rely on the tax credits to afford coverage are seeing their costs rise by $1,000 on average—but many are seeing even higher increases.  Individuals have begun to see significant premium hikes across marketplaces, where some are learning that their costs will double or even triple.  As a result, younger, healthier, and lower-income people will likely drop coverage entirely due to unaffordable premiums, harming the risk pool and driving costs even higher. 

Our constituents are now confronted with the difficult decision of whether they will be able to afford their health insurance. While we continue to fight to keep health care affordable, we must provide Americans with additional time and flexibility to account for confusion caused by Republican inaction. Because almost 80% of all premium tax credits went to enrollees in states that President Trump won in 2024, we are hopeful that a deal to extend the premium tax credits will be reached before the end of the year.  If and when Republicans agree to negotiate, an extended open enrollment period will allow individuals and families, who otherwise would not have been able to afford it, to acquire coverage. You have the authority to give people the time they need to make informed decisions about their coverage during this period of uncertainty.

Failure to extend the enhanced ACA premium tax credits is raising premiums across the board for all enrollees, which will increase the number of uninsured individuals, and put additional strain on an already overburdened emergency care system as people are forced to forgo preventative care. Americans across the country cannot afford another blow to the health care system already reeling from cuts included in the “Big Ugly Bill.”    

While we continue to negotiate, we urge you to take this commonsense action to make things easier on the American people by extending open enrollment through May 1, 2026, and ask that you take all necessary steps to promote enrollment and protect coverage for eligible individuals and their families. Allowing individuals more time to make decisions about their 2026 coverage is an extremely simple step that we strongly urge you to take to prevent health insurance coverage from becoming even further out of reach for our constituents.

Sincerely,

Background:

Leadership from Lamprey Health Care spoke about the burden of these increased costs with Pappas last month during a roundtable, where they shared that they have been notified by their health insurance provider that their annual premium is expected to increase by 40% next year. Pappas also visited a New Hampshire manufacturer expected to see a 38% increase in its health insurance costs next year as a result of political inaction in Congress. 

Pappas supports legislation that would prevent extreme increases in health care premiums next year by extending the enhanced premium tax credits that keep health insurance affordable for Granite Staters and small businesses. Pappas joined a letter to Speaker Johnson highlighting the major impacts that small businesses will face if the enhanced premium tax credits expire, and urging the Speaker to end the shutdown by passing legislation to extend the enhanced premium tax credits immediately. 

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Pappas Joins Call for Speaker Johnson to Protect Small Businesses, Stop ACA Tax Credits from Expiring

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

In the letter, members underscored how the expiration of Affordable Care Act tax credits would impact the small business community

Today Congressman Chris Pappas (NH-01) joined Congresswoman Nikki Budzinski (IL-13) and 107 House Democrats in a letter to Speaker Mike Johnson calling out the upcoming harm small businesses will face should the Affordable Care Act’s (ACA) enhanced premium tax credits expire. 

The lawmakers noted that small business owners, their employees, and self-employed Americans are disproportionately represented in the ACA marketplace. Although they make up only 16 percent of the workforce under the age of 65, they account for nearly half of marketplace enrollees. Furthermore, according to the U.S. Department of the Treasury, 82 percent of small business owners and self-employed individuals rely on the enhanced premium tax credits to afford their ACA Marketplace coverage.

“If the ACA’s enhanced premium tax credits are not immediately extended, families and small businesses will begin to feel the impact as soon as November 1st, when Open Enrollment begins and Marketplace plans reflect steep premium hikes in 2026,” the members wrote. “Premiums are currently projected to increase by about 114% starting in 2026. For many families and small businesses, this is money they do not have.”

In the letter, the members highlighted that allowing the ACA enhanced premium tax credits to expire would force small business owners to make difficult decisions about their healthcare, including paying hundreds more per month, dropping their coverage entirely, or even having to close their business in the face of this financial pressure. 

“By making insurance more expensive for small business owners and employees, Republicans are not only squeezing family budgets – they are stifling American innovation and undermining the economic growth that small businesses drive,” the lawmakers continued. 

The full text of the letter is HERE and below: 

The Honorable Mike Johnson

Speaker

U.S. House of Representatives

H-232, The Capitol

Washington, D.C. 20515

Dear Speaker Johnson:

We write today to underscore the urgent risks that the pending expiration of the Affordable Care Act’s (ACA) enhanced premium tax credits poses for small businesses, self-employed entrepreneurs, and employees of small businesses. Without immediate action to extend these tax credits, millions of small business households across the country will feel the burden of soaring ACA premiums.

While much of the public discussion focuses on the broader individual ACA Marketplace, the reality is that this market is also powered by small business households. People tied to small businesses – owners, self-employed workers, and employees of firms with fewer than 25 workers – are disproportionately represented in the ACA Marketplace. Although they comprise only about 16 percent of the overall workforce under age 65, they account for nearly half of marketplace enrollees.  In fact, according to the U.S. Department of the Treasury, 82 percent of small business owners and those who are self-employed rely on the enhanced premium tax credits to afford their ACA Marketplace coverage.

Treasury data also shows that 3.3 million small business owners and self-employed workers had Marketplace coverage in 20223, including nearly 300,000 entrepreneurs who would not have qualified for affordable Marketplace coverage without the enhanced premium tax credits.  Recent projections for 2025 show that over 4.2 million small business owners and almost 2.7 million self-employed workers currently benefit from ACA coverage. These figures represent significant gains in ACA coverage over recent years and highlight the importance of the premium tax credits for small business owners and their employees. 

If the ACA’s enhanced premium tax credits are not immediately extended, families and small businesses will begin to feel the impact as soon as November 1st, when Open Enrollment begins and Marketplace plans reflect steep premium hikes in 2026. Premiums are currently projected to increase by about 114% starting in 2026.  For many families and small businesses, this is money they do not have. As a result, projected job losses in non-health care jobs are projected to total over 180,000, with state GDPs declining by $40 billion. 

For the nearly half of Marketplace enrollees tied to small businesses, the fallout will be immediate: they will either pay hundreds more per month, drop their coverage entirely, or be forced to make difficult life decisions about their healthcare. This is all while small businesses continue to contribute to our economy. Between 2013 and 2023, small businesses contributed 55 percent of total jobs created. Republicans claim to stand with small businesses, but their refusal to extend the premium tax credits will halt this progress in job growth and force small businesses to cut jobs or close their businesses altogether as they lose access to affordable healthcare.  By making insurance more expensive for small business owners and employees, Republicans are not only squeezing family budgets – they are stifling American innovation and undermining the economic growth that small businesses drive.

We urge you to work with Democrats to end the shutdown by passing legislation that extends the ACA’s enhanced premium tax credits and continues to allow our small business community and self-employed Americans to benefit from affordable ACA Marketplace coverage.

Sincerely,

Background:

Leadership from Lamprey Health Care spoke about the burden of these increased costs with Pappas last month during a roundtable, where they shared that they have been notified by their health insurance provider that their annual premium is expected to increase by 40% next year. Pappas also visited a New Hampshire manufacturer expected to see a 38% increase in its health insurance costs next year as a result of political inaction in Congress. 

Pappas supports legislation that would prevent extreme increases in health care premiums next year by extending the enhanced premium tax credits that keep health insurance affordable for Granite Staters and small businesses. 

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RELEASE: REP. KHANNA ANNOUNCES BAN CRYPTO CORRUPTION LEGISLATION FOLLOWING TRUMP’S PARDON OF FORMER BINANCE CEO

Source: United States House of Representatives – Rep Ro Khanna (CA-17)

Washington, DC — Today, Representative Ro Khanna (CA-17) announced that he will introduce a Ban Crypto Corruption resolution following President Trump’s pardon of Changpeng Zhao, the co-founder and former CEO of Binance.

“Trump pardoned a convicted foreign billionaire who supported the Trump family’s cryptocurrency. This is blatant corruption. The Ban Crypto Corruption legislation simply stops elected officials from profiting from crypto and eliminates conflicts of interest. No one should go into public service to make a profit,” said Rep. Ro Khanna. 

The Ban Crypto Corruption legislation will: 

  • Prohibit the issuance, sponsoring or endorsing of digital assets (including cryptocurrency, meme coins, stablecoins, tokens, NFTs, digital trading cards, and decentralized finance platforms) by the President, Vice President, Members of Congress, candidates for public office, elected public officials, high-ranking executive branch employees and special government employees, and the immediate family members of each of these.
  • Require politicians and their immediate family members to place any digital assets they hold in a qualified blind trust inaccessible during their candidacy, public service, and 2 years after an individual’s service.
  • Prohibit foreign investment in any digital assets issued, promoted, or controlled by politicians and their immediate family.
  • Mandate the full and timely disclosure of all cryptocurrency transactions by politicians and their immediate family.
  • Establish civil and criminal penalties for violations.

 

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LaMalfa Introduces Legislation to Reinstate Glenn Medical Center’s Critical Access Funding

Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Doug LaMalfa 1st District of California

Washington, D.C.—Today, Congressman Doug LaMalfa (R-Richvale) introduced the Rural Hospital Fairness Act, which would reinstate Critical Access Hospital (CAH) status for hospitals that were designated as such prior to 2002, still held active CAH status as of December 31, 2024, and serves as the sole hospital in the county in which it is located. The legislation comes in direct response to the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) misguided decision to revoke Glenn Medical Center’s CAH status earlier this year.

“Glenn Medical Center did everything right. Since receiving CAH status, it has served patients for over two decades, followed the rules, and maintained its designation year after year with CMS’ approval. Then CMS suddenly changed the route used to measure distance from main roads to rural backroads, and decided to take that status away,” said Rep. LaMalfa. “Now CMS admits it made a mistake over 20 years ago when the hospital was first designated, but it’s the people of Glenn County who are being punished for it. That’s unacceptable. CMS needs to take responsibility for its own error and fix this but is refusing to do so. That’s why I introduced the Rural Hospital Fairness Act to direct CMS to restore Glenn Medical and other rural hospitals’ CAH status, so they are not forced to pay the price for bureaucratic mismanagement and mistakes.”

Under federal law, a Critical Access Hospital must be located more than 35 miles from the next closest hospital. In Glenn Medical’s case, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) used a rural backroad to recalculate that distance, finding the hospital to be only 32.5 miles away from Colusa Medical Center. CMS admitted they are unaware which route was used to originally give Glenn Medical its designation, but no new roads or hospitals have been built since. Despite this, CMS reversed two decades of precedent and stripped Glenn Medical of its status.

The Rural Hospital Fairness Act provides a targeted, permanent solution by reinstating CAH status for hospitals that meet the bill’s criteria, including Glenn Medical Center. By restoring CAH status, the bill ensures these hospitals can continue receiving a higher Medicare reimbursement rate and regulatory flexibility, which helps account for unique challenges rural medical facilities face so they can continue to provide emergency care in rural areas.

Since Glenn Medical’s CAH status was revoked in April 2025, Congressman LaMalfa has actively worked with the hospital, CMS, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), and the White House to find a solution. HHS initially indicated that Glenn Medical’s status would be restored, but CMS later refused to do so without legislation. Despite CMS’ admission of their error nearly twenty-five years ago, they claim their hands are tied without Congressional action. Therefore, this bill is essential for protecting rural access to emergency care and ensuring our government functions with accountability and fairness. The Rural Hospital Fairness Act ensures that long-serving rural hospitals like Glenn Medical Center are not punished for bureaucratic inconsistencies.

You can find full text of the Rural Hospital Fairness Act, here.

Congressman Doug LaMalfa is Chairman of the Congressional Western Caucus and a lifelong farmer representing California’s First Congressional District, including Butte, Colusa, Glenn, Lassen, Modoc, Shasta, Siskiyou, Sutter, Tehama and Yuba Counties.

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Crow Introduces Five Bills to Improve Veterans Services and Strengthen Veteran Benefits

Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Jason Crow (CO-06)

WASHINGTON — Congressman Jason Crow (D-CO-06), a former Army Ranger, will introduce a package of legislation to improve services that veterans and their families rely on and strengthen the benefits they earned through their service.

Congressman Crow has long worked to address the challenges faced by veterans when they return home from service. Crow will introduce bills that would: combat veteran suicide; enhance mental health care; expand access to educational opportunities for veterans’ families; lower recidivism for veterans involved in the criminal justice system; and improve care for veterans struggling with ALS.

“I went to war three times for this country, and throughout my time in Congress, I have worked hard to ensure my fellow veterans are equipped to transition to civilian life,” said Congressman Crow. “Challenges still remain, but our veterans simply can’t wait any longer for the help they need. That’s why I’m introducing five bills to address challenges facing our veterans so that they and their families have the resources to thrive.” 

As an Iraq and Afghanistan veteran, ensuring America’s military servicemembers and their families get appropriate care and resources is a top priority for Congressman Crow. Earlier this year, he introduced the Support Modern Approaches in Recovery Technology for Traumatic Brain Injury (SMART for TBI) Act, bipartisan legislation that would improve care for active-duty servicemembers suffering from traumatic brain injury (TBI). In the 117th Congress, he supported the PACT Act, which expands care to millions of servicemembers exposed to toxic chemicals.

Read more about each of the bills Crow will introduce below.

Combatting Veteran Suicide

Congressman Crow is introducing the Veterans’ Sentinel Act, bipartisan legislation to address suicides on Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) campuses by requiring comprehensive analysis of the underlying causes and enhancing congressional oversight of these facilities. Veterans make up less than eight percent of the population, yet in 2023 represented a disproportionate 13.8% of all suicide deaths among adults in the US annually.

This bill would establish a working group focused on accurately collecting and analyzing the data, while also requiring the VA Secretary to submit an annual report to Congress detailing on-campus veteran suicides and suicide attempts and recommendations for improving prevention efforts.

Congressman Jake Ellzey (R-TX-06) will join Congressman Crow in introducing this bill. 

Click here for a one-pager detailing more information about this bill. 

Enhancing Mental Health Care

Congressman Crow is introducing the Building Resources and Access for Veterans’ Mental Health Engagement (BRAVE) Act, which would enhance veterans’ access to mental health care at the VA. It would achieve this by strengthening the VA’s mental health workforce and and services, and would renew the Staff Sergeant Parker Gordon Fox Suicide Prevention Grant Program—a grant program that provides funding for local organizations combatting veteran suicide.

Congresswoman Jen Kiggans (R-VA-02) will join Congressman 

Crow in introducing this bipartisan legislation. 

Click here for a one-pager detailing more information about this bill. 

Expanding Access to Education for Veterans’ Families

Congressman Crow is introducing the Veterans Earned Education Act, a bipartisan bill that expands educational opportunities for dependents of servicemembers who qualify for the Post-9/11 Educational Assistance Program. Under current transfer guidelines, servicemembers may not transfer these benefits unless they have already completed at least six years of service and agree to serve an additional four years from the date of the transfer request. This requirement places an additional burden on some of our most deserving servicemembers – those who have dedicated their lives to service and those who are medically retired. The bipartisan Veterans Earned Education Act would expand educational opportunities for the dependents and spouses of those servicemembers without imposing additional service obligations.

Congressman Joe Wilson (R-SC-02) will join Congressman Crow in introducing this bipartisan legislation. 

Click here for a one-pager detailing more information about this bill. 

Improving Care for Veterans with ALS

Congressman Crow is introducing the Veterans with ALS Reporting Act. Data suggests that veterans are twice as likely to develop ALS – which is why the VA recognizes ALS as a service-connected disease and assigns a 100% disability rating upon diagnosis. However, very little is known about why this link exists or what can be done to protect those who serve. 

Congressman Crow’s bipartisan bill would require the VA to study the prevalence of ALS within the military and veteran communities, and create a strategy to improve access to clinical trials for veterans with the condition. 

ALS Caucus Co-Chairs Congressman Brian Fitzpatrick (R-PA-01), Congresswoman Terri Sewell (D-AL-07), and Congressman Ken Calvert (R-CA-41) will join Congressman Crow in introducing this bill. 

Click here for a one-pager detailing more information about this bill. 

Lower Recidivism for Veterans in the Criminal Justice System

Congressman Crow is introducing the Justice Involved Veterans Support Act, bipartisan legislation to reduce recidivism and provide support to veterans involved with the criminal justice system across the country. 

More than half of these veterans face mental health challenges, such as PTSD and depression, or substance abuse disorders, such as alcoholism and drug addiction. While existing services such as Veteran Treatment Courts and Veterans Justice Outreach programs have been shown to lower recidivism and facilitate access to VA services, many justice-involved veterans do not know that these services exist. The Justice Involved Veterans Support Act would create a pilot program to help identify veterans involved in the criminal justice system so they can better access these resources.

Congressman Don Bacon (R-NE-02) will join Congressman Crow in introducing this bipartisan legislation. 

Click here for a one-pager detailing more information about this bill. 

 

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Congressman Crow Demands Transparency from the Trump Administration over Lethal Boat Strikes in the Western Hemisphere

Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Jason Crow (CO-06)

WASHINGTON — Congressman Jason Crow (D-CO-06), a former Army Ranger who serves on the House Armed Services Committee and Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence, in a new bipartisan letter, is calling for answers about a series of lethal military strikes on suspected drug-smuggling vessels in the Caribbean Sea and Eastern Pacific. Congressman Crow was joined on this letter by Reps. Seth Moulton (D-MA-06), Don Bacon (R-NE-02), and Mike Turner (R-OH-10).

The letter asks the administration to clarify the legal basis for the strikes, whether the administration intends to seek congressional authorization, whether the individuals being targeted truly pose an active threat to the United States, and what processes exist to verify targets. It also calls for a classified briefing to the Armed Services Committee on how individuals and vessels are identified and what post-strike review mechanisms are in place.

“We need to stop the flow of illegal drugs into our communities, but I have yet to hear a strategy from this administration on how they are going to accomplish that. Congress, and the American people, need answers,” said Congressman Crow. It seems like this administration has learned nothing from 25 years of war, trillions of dollars spent, and thousands of lives lost. This is not a problem we can bomb our way out of, Americans want restraint and lasting security, not more endless conflicts.”

“We support efforts to reduce the flow of deadly drugs,” the lawmakers wrote. “But every U.S. military action must adhere to the legal, moral, and ethical standards that set America apart from its adversaries.”

Congressman Crow has been vocal about the need for Congress to re-assert its authority over the use of military force. He introduced a War Powers Resolution to block future military action without approval from Congress following the unauthorized use of force in the Caribbean Sea. He also serves as the top Democrat on the bipartisan Cartel Task Force within the House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence. This bipartisan task force is working to identify legislative actions that can combat the threat from dangerous cartels in the Western Hemisphere, including narcotics trafficking, human trafficking, the arms trade, and other illegal and destabilizing activities.

A PDF of Congressman Crow’s letter can be found here and below:

Dear Mr. President: 

We write as bipartisan Members of Congress who share your goals of protecting American families from the deadly toll of narcotics and of halting the flow of these substances into our country. We understand that beginning on September 2, 2025, the United States military began carrying out lethal strikes against boats reportedly smuggling drugs in the Caribbean Sea and the Eastern Pacific Ocean and has conducted fifteen such strikes to date. In a notification to Congress dated September 15, 2025, your administration provided a justification for the use of lethal military force, and on October 30, 2025, representatives briefed members of the House Committee on Armed Services on the strikes. We remain committed to public safety and have questions about the strategy and legal status of these strikes.

Accordingly, we respectfully request that you provide thorough answers to the questions below no later than November 14th, 2025. 

  1. Do you intend to request an Authorization for the Use of Military Force from Congress for this operation? If you do not believe that to be necessary, please explain your rationale.
  2. The September notification states that the United States is now in a non-international armed conflict with drug-trafficking organizations, which represents a major shift in how our country fights transnational crime. Under what specific legal authority are these strikes being conducted? 
  3. For decades, counter-drug operations in this region have been conducted via visit, board, search, and seizure (VBSS) missions with DoD in a supporting role. Why have you pivoted to employing lethal strikes instead of using those resources in support of law enforcement–based interdiction and arrest operations? 
  4. What is your plan to brief Congress at the appropriate classification level on the military intelligence used to designate certain transnational criminal organizations as terrorist groups and to positively identify the vessels and individuals subject to these strikes? 
  5. Cartels often force low-income individuals into maritime smuggling through threats or deception. What evidence confirms that those killed were cartel operatives, rather than coerced, deceived, or trafficked civilians? What review mechanisms exist to investigate and assess strikes? Will Congress receive post-strike identity verification and target assessment reports for every engagement? 
  6. Your administration has deemed the individuals on these boats to be unlawful combatants posing an imminent threat to U.S. security that warrants lethal engagement. At the same time, survivors of the October 16 strike were repatriated to their home country with no agreement for their prosecution. Could you clarify how this approach aligns with your stated legal and policy rationale? 

We strongly support the effort to reduce the flow of narcotics into this country. This effort, like every action the United States military takes, must be done within the legal, moral, and ethical framework that sets us apart from our adversaries. We look forward to hearing your answers on this critical national security issue. We respectfully request a response by November 14th, 2025. Thank you for your attention.

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Crow Works to Reopen Government as Republican Shutdown Threatens Food Assistance

Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Jason Crow (CO-06)

WASHINGTON — Congressman Jason Crow (D-CO-06), in a new letter, is calling on President Trump and congressional Republicans to reopen the government as 42 million Americans–including 1 in 10 Coloradans– are at risk of losing their food assistance benefits.

600,000 Coloradans are projected to lose their food assistance through the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) unless Congress acts. The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) has said it will halt money sent to states, including Colorado, starting November 1. In addition to SNAP, funding for the USDA’s Emergency Food Assistance Program — which provides food to food banks — will also cease on November 1 unless government funding is restored.

“While Donald Trump builds himself a $300 million ballroom, Secretary Kristi Noem buys herself two new luxury jets, Republicans give billionaires a massive tax cut, and the President gives a $40 billion taxpayer-funded bailout to corrupt foreign leaders, working Coloradans are being hurt by this government shutdown and going hungry,” said Congressman Crow. “Republicans have created a health care crisis in this country. Yet they are not focused on making life more affordable and lowering costs. As people suffer, they can’t even show up for work. It’s truly shameful.”

Congressman Crow has repeatedly called on Speaker Johnson and congressional Republicans to bring the House back to negotiate, pass a budget, and end the shutdown.

A PDF of Congressman Crow’s letter can be found here and below:

Dear Madam Secretary,

Right now, millions of Americans are struggling to afford food due to the Administration’s ill-conceived trade war. Just this year, we’ve seen household staples like eggs, coffee, and ground beef hit record high prices. Now more than ever, millions of families across the country depend upon the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) to make ends meet. For far too many veterans, seniors, and children, SNAP benefits are the difference between having food or not. Now, due to the government shutdown, they are facing crippling levels of uncertainty about whether they will be able to afford food next month. 

A potential lapse in benefits would be felt by Americans of all ages and affect every corner and congressional district in the country. As the largest food assistance program in the United States, SNAP serves 42 million people. That includes 16 million children, 8 million seniors, 4 million people with disabilities, and 1.2 million veterans. 

That is why we were deeply concerned to see your comments suggesting that SNAP will run out of funding in two weeks and that no SNAP benefits will be issued in November. USDA’s shutdown plan acknowledges that “Congressional intent is evident that SNAP’s operations should continue since the program has been provided with multi-year contingency funds…” USDA still has significant funding available in SNAP’s contingency reserve – which Congress provides precisely for this reason – that can be used to fund the bulk of November benefits.

We urge USDA to use these funds for November SNAP benefits and issue clear guidance to states on how to navigate benefit issuance. Additionally, while the contingency reserve will not cover November benefits in full, we urge USDA to use its statutory transfer authority or any other legal authority at its disposal to supplement these dollars and fully fund November benefits.

There are clear steps the administration can and must take immediately to ensure that millions of families across the country can put food on their table in November. Choosing not to ensure SNAP benefits reach those in need this November would be a gross dereliction of your responsibilities to the American people. We appreciate your consideration of these requests.

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CONGRESSMAN VICENTE GONZALEZ INTRODUCES BILL TO PROHIBIT MID-DECADE REDISTRICTING

Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Vicente Gonzalez (15th District of Texas)

Washington, D.C. –Today, Congressman Vicente Gonzalez (TX-34) announced his introduction of H.R. 5879, the Save American Democracy (SAD) Act. The bill would prohibit states from carrying out more than one Congressional redistricting after a decennial census and appointment unless it is strictly mandated in the legislation used to implement the new Congressional Map or it is necessary to comply with the Constitution of the United States, the Voting Rights Act of 1965 or the Constitution of the State  

In an unprecedented move this past summer, Texas Republicans created five new congressional seats through a rushed, hyper-partisan mid-decade redistricting plan pushed by continued pressure from the Trump Administration. 

“Republicans know they are losing the support of the American people, so instead of enacting legislation that actually helps working families, they’d rather cheat the system to cling on to whatever power they can,” said Congressman Vicente Gonzalez. “Across the country, redistricting has turned into a political weapon that allows both parties to choose their voters instead of the voters choosing their leaders. It doesn’t matter which side is doing it, it’s wrong. The people who are really losing in all of this are the American people, whose voices are being silenced. That’s why I am leading my Texas Delegation colleagues in introducing the Save American Democracy Act.” 

Co-sponsors of this legislation include: Congressman Lloyd Doggett (TX-35), Congressman Marc Veasey (TX-33), Congresswoman Sylvia Garcia (TX-29), Congressman Joaquin Castro (TX-20) and Congresswoman Veronica Escobar (TX-16).  

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CONGRESSMAN VICENTE GONZALEZ URGES THE CITY OF MCALLEN TO SPEAK UP AGAINST THE ADMINISTRATION’S DECISION TO CANCEL MEXICAN AIRLINE ROUTES

Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Vicente Gonzalez (15th District of Texas)

Washington D.C. –Today, Congressman Vicente Gonzalez (TX-34) released the following statement in response to the U.S. Department of Transportation’s recent decision to suddenly revoke approval for 13 routes operated by Mexican airlines into the United States.   

One of the routes disrupted by this decision connected McAllen International Airport (MFE) with Felipe Ángeles International Airport (NLU) near Mexico City.  

“It is unacceptable that the City of McAllen is being used as a pawn by the administration by threatening flights that serve as a vital economic engine for the Rio Grande Valley,” said Congressman Gonzalez. “McAllen Airport is a cornerstone of our regional economy.  City leadership must do more to speak up against this Administration that is pushing policies that harm our region and economic prosperity. South Texans are strong, and it’s time all of our leaders step up. Pongance las pilas! Stop letting Washington push us around. Every member of Congress in South Texas should be publicly pushing back on this administration for the horrific policies that are affecting our local economy. Everything from tariffs squeezing our farmers to ICE raids creating a major labor shortage for small businesses is having a massive economic impact. This is not a time to stay quiet in an effort to appease the very powers that are ruining our local economy. 

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