MIL USHOR-2b Engine

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

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Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Jerrold Nadler (10th District of New York)

Upon reaching 100 cosponsors in the House, today, Representatives Jerrold Nadler (NY-12), Adam Smith (WA-09), and Jim Himes (CT-04) sent a letter to House Foreign Affairs Committee Chairman Brian Mast urging him to schedule a markup of H.R. 3045, the West Bank Violence Prevention Act. 

Reaching the 100-cosponsor milestone demonstrates the legislation’s wide and broad support. Additionally, companion legislation was introduced in the Senate, led by Senators Cory Booker (D-NJ), Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH), Jack Reed (D-RI), Mark Warner (D-VA), Chris Coons (D-DE), and Michael Bennet (D-CO).

The lawmakers explained that the legislation would enshrine Executive Order 14115 of 2024 into law, which sought to prevent acts of violence in the West Bank and to punish those who commit such acts, regardless of their nationality. President Trump repealed EO 14115 on the first day of his term, January 20, 2025.

“As a result, violent extremist organizations like the Palestinian group Lions’ Den and the Israeli settler group Hilltop Youth are no longer designated under the Specially Designated Nationals and Blocked Persons List (SDN List). With their assets no longer frozen, these groups continue wreaking terror in the West Bank unencumbered,” wrote the Members.

Settler violence increased an estimated 30% over the first few months of 2025, compared to the same period in 2024, according to the Washington Institute for Near East Policy.

“As the ceasefire in Gaza continues to command attention in the region and around the world, it is incumbent upon us not to overlook the situation in the West Bank, which continues to deteriorate. Preventing acts of violence, which have killed and injured American citizens, is the most fundamental and basic step to help bring stability to the region. The passage of the West Bank Violence Prevention Act is an important effort by the United States Congress towards that goal, which begins with you scheduling a markup of this legislation. Together, we hope the eventual passage and enactment of such legislation will help improve the reality on the ground for Israelis and Palestinians, in service of ultimately achieving a long-term peace through a negotiated and viable two-state solution,” concluded the Members.

The current cosponsors of H.R. 3045 include:

Jerrold Nadler (NY-12), Adam Smith (WA-09), James A. Himes (CT-04), Gabe Amo (RI-01), Yassamin Ansari (AZ-03), Jake Auchincloss (MA-04), Becca Balint (VT-At Large), Donald S. Beyer (VA-08), Suzanne Bonamici (OR-01), Shontel M. Brown (OH-11), Julia Brownley (CA-26), Nikki Budzinski (IL-13), Salud O. Carbajal (CA-24), Troy A. Carter (LA-02), Ed Case (HI-01), Sean Casten (IL-06), Joaquin Castro (TX-20), Judy Chu (CA-28), Yvette D. Clarke (NY-09), Emanuel Cleaver (MO-05), James E. Clyburn (SC-06), Steve Cohen (TN-09), Joe Courtney (CT-02), Jason Crow (CO-06), Sharice Davids (KS-03), Madeleine Dean (PA-04), Diana DeGette (CO-01), Rosa L. DeLauro (CT-03), Suzan K. DelBene (WA-01), Christopher R. Deluzio (PA-17), Mark DeSaulnier (CA-10), Maxine Dexter (OR-03), Lloyd Doggett (TX-37), Veronica Escobar (TX-16), Dwight Evans (PA-03), Valerie P. Foushee (NC-40), Laura Friedman (CA-30), Maxwell Frost (FL-10), John Garamendi (CA-08), Robert Garcia (CA-42), Sylvia R. Garcia (TX-29), Daniel S. Goldman (NY-10), Maggie Goodlander (NH-02), Chrissy Houlahan (PA-06), Val T. Hoyle (OR-04), Jared Huffman (CA-02), Jonathan L. Jackson (IL-01), Julie Johnson (TX-32), Sydney Kamlager-Dove (CA-37), Marcy Kaptur (OH-09), William R. Keating (MA-09), Ro Khanna (CA-17), John B. Larson (CT-01), Teresa Leger Fernandez (NM-03), Mike Levin (CA-49), Sam T. Liccardo (CA-16), Zoe Lofgren (CA-18), Stephen F. Lynch (MA-08), Seth Magaziner (RI-02), John W. Mannion (NY-22), Sarah McBride (DE-At Large), Jennifer L. McClellan (VA-04), Betty McCollum (MN-04), Kristen McDonald Rivet (MI-08), Morgan McGarvey (KY-03), James P. McGovern (MA-02), Gregory W. Meeks (NY-05), Dave Min (CA-47), Gwen Moore (WI-04), Seth Moulton (MA-06), Kevin Mullin (CA-15), Joe Neguse (CO-02), Eleanor Holmes Norton (DC-At Large), Johnny Olszewski (MD-02), Chris Pappas (NH-01), Scott H. Peters (CA-50), Brittany Pettersen (CO-07), Chellie Pingree (ME-01), Mark Pocan (WI-02), Nellie Pou (NJ-09), Mike Quigley (IL-05), Emily Randall (WA-06), Jamie Raskin (MD-08), Deborah K. Ross (NC-02), Andrea Salinas (OR-06), Mary Gay Scanlon (PA-05), Janice D. Schakowsky (IL-09), Terri A. Sewell (AL-07), Eric Sorensen (IL-17), Suhas Subramanyam (VA-10), Mark Takano (CA-39), Bennie G. Thompson (MS-03), Mike Thompson (CA-04), Jill N. Tokuda (HI-02), Paul Tonko (NY-20), Lori Trahan (MA-03), Derek Tran (CA-45), Nydia M. Velázquez (NY-07), James R. Walkinshaw (VA-11), Maxine Waters (CA-43), and Nikema Williams (GA-05).

Read the full letter here and below.

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 Dear Chairman Mast,

We write to request you schedule a markup for H.R. 3045, the West Bank Violence Prevention Act in the House Foreign Affairs Committee. 

The legislation now has 100 cosponsors in the House, signaling that it enjoys broad support. Additionally, the Senate has recently introduced a companion bill led by Senators Booker, Shaheen, Reed, Warner, Coons, and Bennet.

The West Bank Violence Prevention Act would codify and enshrine into law Executive Order 14115 of 2024, which sought to prevent acts of violence in the West Bank and to punish those who commit such acts. 

The legislation, like the Executive Order, applies to any foreign person who commits an act of violence in the West Bank, regardless of their nationality. Determinations under the Executive Order were made regarding both Palestinian and Israeli organizations and individuals.

Unfortunately, the Executive Order is no longer in effect. As a result, violent extremist organizations like the Palestinian group Lions’ Den and the Israeli settler group Hilltop Youth are no longer designated under the Specially Designated Nationals and Blocked Persons List (SDN List). With their assets no longer frozen, these groups continue wreaking terror in the West Bank unencumbered.

According to the Washington Institute for Near East Policy, settler violence increased by an estimated 30 percent over the first few months of 2025 compared to the same period in 2024. Such violence has reached a fever pitch, causing the West Bank to become “a tinderbox,” one match away from igniting into catastrophe.

As the ceasefire in Gaza continues to command attention in the region and around the world, it is incumbent upon us not to overlook the situation in the West Bank, which continues to deteriorate. Preventing acts of violence, which have killed and injured American citizens, is the most fundamental and basic step to help bring stability to the region. The passage of the West Bank Violence Prevention Act is an important effort by the United States Congress towards that goal, which begins with you scheduling a markup of this legislation. Together, we hope the eventual passage and enactment of such legislation will help improve the reality on the ground for Israelis and Palestinians, in service of ultimately achieving a long-term peace through a negotiated and viable two-state solution.

Sincerely,

Rep. Jerrold Nadler (NY-12)

Rep. Adam Smith (WA-09)

Rep. Jim Himes (CT-04)

CC:        

The Honorable Gregory W. Meeks, Ranking Member, House Committee on Foreign Affairs

The Honorable Jim Jordan, Chairman, House Committee on the Judiciary

The Honorable Jamie Raskin, Ranking Member, House Committee on the Judiciary

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

Congressman Don Beyer (D-VA) today issued the following statement on the Senate’s proposed continuing resolution, which would extend current levels of government funding through January 30 while failing to address the expiration of critical health care tax credits under the Affordable Care Act that help millions of Americans afford health insurance:

“I will be voting no on Senate Republicans’ proposed continuing resolution in the U.S. House. Republican leaders have turned their backs on Americans facing rising health care costs and refuse to engage in serious negotiations toward real solutions for the affordability crisis their own policies created. I have said from the beginning that my goal is to end the shutdown in a way that protects Americans from skyrocketing health care costs, and this bill fails that test.

“President Donald Trump prolonged the shutdown and intentionally made it worse for the American people. He illegally fired public servants across the country, illegally withheld government assistance that helps millions of Americans buy groceries, and threatened to deny federal employees the back pay they are legally owed.

“This legislation includes provisions to reverse recent reductions in force (RIFs), reinstate federal workers who were wrongfully terminated during the shutdown, and prevent further RIFs through January 30. Should this continuing resolution become law, these protections must be rigorously enforced. But the larger legislation remains deeply flawed. In addition to not addressing the health care affordability crisis, it fails to address President Trump’s illegal infringement upon Congress’s constitutional authority over federal spending or rein in his administration’s lawlessness.

“The American people deserve responsible legislation that ends the shutdown, prevents skyrocketing increases in health care costs, ensures our public servants receive the pay and protections they are legally owed, and upholds the Constitution. Anything less leaves American families, our federal workforce, and our democracy at risk.”

Source: United States House of Representatives – Congresswoman Lois Frankel (FL-21)

“In 2017, President Trump signed the Women, Peace, and Security (WPS) Act into law with broad bipartisan support, reaffirming America’s leadership in advancing women’s participation, protection, and empowerment worldwide. The law requires the Administration to submit regular reports to Congress detailing how it is carrying out this national-security mandate. This year’s report was due on October 31, and the Administration failed to submit it, leaving it out of compliance with the very law the President himself signed,” said Rep. Frankel.

“These reports are essential for Congress to conduct oversight, evaluate progress, and ensure the United States is living up to its commitments to elevate women’s leadership in preventing conflict, building peace, and strengthening global stability. The delay blocks transparency, undermines informed policymaking, and weakens our credibility with allies who look to the United States for leadership on Women, Peace, and Security.

At a time of growing global conflict, WPS principles are more vital than ever. As Co-Chair of the bipartisan WPS Caucus, I am calling on the Administration to follow the law, release this overdue report, and reaffirm America’s commitment to peace through women’s leadership.”

Source: United States House of Representatives – Congresswoman Mikie Sherrill (NJ-11)

LIVINGSTON, NJ — Congresswoman Mikie Sherrill (NJ-11) announced today that Morris County School of Technology student Paul Rowe is the winner of the 2025 Congressional App Challenge for New Jersey’s 11th District for his app SoniSight.

SoniSight is an AI-powered web application designed to make ultrasound analysis clearer, more transparent, and more educational. The app allows users to upload or select from a set of built-in breast ultrasound images and receive an instant analysis of whether the scan appears normal or suspicious.

It works by combining computer vision and artificial intelligence. Behind the scenes, OpenCV (an image-processing library) cleans up the ultrasound image, enhances contrast, and detects potential regions of interest (like lesions or dense tissue areas). Then, Google Gemini AI steps in to interpret those findings, explaining what visual features make a region look suspicious or normal. The model analyzes traits such as shape, margins, and texture, and produces a short, human-readable rationale along with probabilities for each category. The results include clear measurements, probabilities, and even an overlay box showing where the mass is located, all designed for easy interpretation by medical students and early-stage professionals. To see Paul’s work, click here. 

“The Congressional App Challenge brings out the best from students across NJ-11, and every year, I look forward to the immense talent and hard work that goes into these projects,” said Rep Sherrill. “Allowing students to express their creativity with STEM resources is a great way to promote achievement in our schools, and Paul’s work is a prime example of how this project can stimulate learning while helping our community. Congratulations, Paul, and thank you to all of this year’s participants and judges.”

“On behalf of the staff of the Morris County School of Technology, congratulations to Paul on his amazing accomplishment and we commend his ability to merge his personal experience with his technical skills to develop a concept that can provide greater medical insight to those facing situations similar to his own.”  said Mark Menadier, Principal of Academies at MCST.

The 2025 App Challenge winners are:

1st Place: Paul Rowe, Morris County School of Technology 
2nd Place: Oma Makhija, Morris Hills High School
3rd Place: Claire Gao, Tanya Shah, Yug Shah, Atiksh Akunuri, Livingston High School

46 submissions representing 20 schools participated in the App Challenge this year. Judges scored apps based on functionality, creativity, and user experience. The NJ-11 panel of judges included:
 

• Dr. Alfred Bentley III PhD, Founder and CEO, vipHomeLink
• Professor Hongbou Zhou Montclair State University
• Brian Nixon, Picatinny Arsenal

The Congressional App Challenge, launched in 2014, is designed to engage student creativity and encourage their participation in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math (STEM) education fields. The winner’s app is eligible to be displayed in the U.S. Capitol building and featured on the U.S. House of Representatives’ website.

The competition was open to middle school and high school students who live or attend school in NJ-11. The full set of eligibility rules for individual and team entries can be found at https://www.congressionalappchallenge.us/.

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

Griffith Attends Fort Chiswell Middle School Veterans Day Assembly

Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Hakeem Jeffries (8th District of New York)

House Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries issued the following statement after Congresswoman Bonnie Watson Coleman announced she would not seek another term in the House of Representatives:

Congresswoman Bonnie Watson Coleman has never been afraid to speak truth to power. During her time in public service, Rep. Watson Coleman has been a historic leader, an inspiring trailblazer and an incredible advocate for those she has been privileged to represent.

As the first Black woman from New Jersey to serve in the House of Representatives, her iconic leadership has opened the door for a new generation of leaders. Continuing the legendary legacy of her late father, Rep. Watson Coleman broke barriers as the Majority Leader of the New Jersey General Assembly. During her time in the Assembly, she fought for the least, the lost and the left-behind and led the effort to help formerly-incarcerated individuals successfully reenter their communities.

In the Congress, Bonnie twice passed the CROWN Act through the People’s House to ban discrimination based on an individual’s hair texture and established the Congressional Caucus on Black Women and Girls. She has brought funding home to her constituents and led House Democrats in introducing bills that support women and children, protect our communities and stand up for economic, social and racial justice.

Her entire career has been focused on making America live up to its promise of liberty and justice for all. Rep. Watson Coleman will be deeply missed by the House Democratic Caucus and we wish her, her husband William and their family the very best in this next chapter.

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Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Hakeem Jeffries (8th District of New York)

House Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries held a press conference where he made clear that House Democrats will continue to push back against the Republican funding bill and fight on to end the Republican healthcare crisis.

LEADER JEFFRIES: From the very beginning of this year, Donald Trump and Republicans have failed to deliver on their core promise to lower the high cost of living in the United States of America. In fact, what Donald Trump and Republicans said is that costs were going to go down on day one. But costs haven’t gone down, they’re going up. Inflation is going up under Republican policies. Housing costs are going up. Child care costs are going up. Grocery costs are going up. Electricity prices are through the roof. And now, because of the Republican refusal to extend the Affordable Care Act tax credits, tens of millions of Americans are about to experience dramatically-increased healthcare costs. In some cases, their health insurance premiums will increase by $1,000 or $2,000 per year. That is unacceptable. It will be unaffordable for working-class Americans, middle-class Americans and everyday Americans to be able to go see a doctor when they need one. And so House Democrats and Senate Democrats have been fighting hard to address the Republican healthcare crisis and to lower the high cost of living for everyday Americans in the United States of America because the reality is America is too expensive and far too many people are struggling to live paycheck to paycheck. They can’t thrive. They can barely survive. And that’s why Democrats have been waging this fight and we’ll continue to wage this fight no matter what comes over to us from the United States Senate to the House of Representatives at some point this week.

Our position as House Democrats has been crystal clear. We will sit down with any Republicans, anytime, anyplace, anywhere, in order to find a bipartisan path forward, but we’re not down with their my-way-or-the-highway approach to governance. That’s failed the American people. It’s been a disaster for the American people. And the American people know it, which is why last Tuesday, Republicans all across the country got wiped out. One of the most decisive off-year elections ever in modern American history. And so as House Democrats, we know we’re on the right side of this fight, the right side of the American people. And we’re not going to support a partisan Republican spending bill that continues to gut the healthcare of the American people. And we’re going to continue the fight to extend the Affordable Care Act tax credits. And if it doesn’t happen this week, next week, this month, next month, then it’s the fault of Donald Trump, House and Senate Republicans who continue to make life more expensive for the American people.

Full press conference can be watched here.

Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Hakeem Jeffries (8th District of New York)

Today, Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries released the following statement after Congressman Chuy García announced he would not seek another term in the House of Representatives:

Throughout his entire career, Congressman Jesús G. “Chuy” García has been a fierce fighter for the least, the lost and the left-behind. Whether on the Chicago City Council, the Illinois State Senate or the Cook County Board of Commissioners, Chuy has always been grounded in his roots and authentically represented the communities that he’s privileged to serve. 

Born in the small village of Los Pinos, Rep. García made history as the first Mexican American immigrant elected to Congress from the Midwest. Throughout his impressive tenure in the People’s House, Chuy has been an inspiring advocate for Latinos, immigrants and working families, a principled progressive champion and a committed coalition builder. As a Member of the Transportation and Infrastructure Committee and the founder of the Future of Transportation Caucus, Rep. García has led the fight for equity, accessibility and sustainability in our transportation systems. On the House Judiciary Committee, Chuy has helped lead the fight for justice and civil rights. 

We will miss Chuy and wish him, his wife Evelyn and their family the best in this next chapter. 

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Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Hakeem Jeffries (8th District of New York)

Today, Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries released the following statement after Congressman Jared Golden announced he would not seek another term in the House of Representatives:

Representative Jared Golden is a patriotic public servant who has never hesitated to answer the call to serve our country. After 9/11, Jared left college to enlist in the Marines in both Afghanistan and Iraq, and following his return home, went on to serve in the Maine legislature before his election to the United States Congress.

In the House, Jared Golden has always channeled the independent spirit of his small hometown and the Mainers he represents. As a Member of the Armed Services and Natural Resources Committees, he has stood up for our national security and rural communities in Maine and across the country, along with the fishermen, farmers and loggers who are the backbone of Maine’s second congressional district. Jared has run and won elections in one of the most rural areas in the country, bridging the geographical gap from his hometown of Lewiston to Maine’s North Country in order to reach his constituents in the largest district east of the Mississippi. 

Consistent with his oath as a decorated United States Marine, Jared has been always faithful to the people he has been privileged to represent. Our gratitude and appreciation are with Jared’s wife, Izzy, and their children as their beautiful family embarks on this next chapter of their public service journey.

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