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Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Andy Harris (MD-01)

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, Congressman Andy Harris (MD-01) applauds U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Brooke Rollins for ending the use of taxpayer dollars to fund solar projects on farmable land and for banning solar panels made by foreign adversaries in USDA-funded projects.

Announced yesterday, the new policy addresses the growing strain on farmland across the country. According to USDA, solar panels on farmland nationwide have increased by nearly 50% since 2012. Maryland state mandates pressured counties into accepting large-scale solar projects on productive farmland, resulting in reduced land available for agriculture and driving up costs for the next generation of farmers.

Many rural leaders have strongly opposed recent Maryland legislation, which stripped counties of their authority to regulate large-scale solar projects, forcing local farmers to upend their livelihoods for costly and inefficient solar energy farmland. This is yet another example by the Democrat controlled Maryland legislature of another bad decision in a series of deeply flawed energy policy choices.

Maryland farmers and local leaders alike have warned that implementing solar panels on the farmland will render it unusable for future agricultural endeavors due to the lack of decommissioning standards.  Of the current solar “farms,” they also cite their concerns about the environmental and public safety risks from foreign-manufactured panels and battery systems.

Statement from U.S. Department of Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins:
“Our prime farmland should not be wasted and replaced with green new deal subsidized solar panels. It has been disheartening to see our beautiful farmland displaced by solar projects, especially in rural areas that have strong agricultural heritage. One of the largest barriers of entry for new and young farmers is access to land. Subsidized solar farms have made it more difficult for farmers to access farmland by making it more expensive and less available. We are no longer allowing businesses to use your taxpayer dollars to fund solar projects on prime American farmland, and we will no longer allow solar panels manufactured by foreign adversaries to be used in our USDA-funded projects,” Secretary Brooke Rollins said.

Statement from Congressman Harris:
“I applaud Secretary Rollins’ directive to end solar panel subsidies. The Trump Administration must continue to end wasteful green new scam subsidies that have driven up energy costs and taken farmland out of production. In the rural areas of my district, we must continue to work to protect our prime farmland for its much needed food production for generations to come,” Congressman Harris said.

The USDA press release can be read HERE. 

Media Contact: Michella Carter (202) 225-5311| Michella.Carter@mail.house.gov 

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

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

Washington, DC – Today, Congressman Vicente Gonzalez announced that he sent a letter to Douglas A. Collins, Secretary of Veterans Affairs, raising serious concerns over the U.S. Department of Veteran Affairs’ (VA) plan to “voluntarily” reduce their workforce by 30,000 employees through the end of September 2025. The Congressman highlighted the potentially devastating effects these cuts could have on veterans in the Rio Grande Valley and Coastal Bend, where access to VA healthcare is limited.  

“Veterans in our community face significant barriers to access care, with many traveling nearly 300 miles to the nearest VA hospital in San Antonio. Any reduction in VA workforce threatens to exacerbate already long wait times and jeopardize essential services,” wrote Congressman Gonzalez.  

You can read the full letter HERE. 

The proud son of a Korean War Veteran and Merchant Marine, Congressman Vicente Gonzalez is deeply committed to ensuring South Texas veterans and personnel at Naval Air Station Kingsville receive the best care in a timely and efficient manner.  

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

TITUSVILLE, PA — On Monday, August 18, U.S. Rep. Mike Kelly (R-PA) led a ceremony to formally dedicate the U.S. Post Office in Titusville, Pennsylvania after Edwin Drake, the father of the American oil industry. Kelly was joined by officials from the U.S. Postal Service.

“Edwin Drake’s discovery led to a revolution that transformed the world and put Titusville and the Oil Region in the history books. Now, I am proud to cement his legacy in our Nation’s history with this honor,” Rep. Kelly said. “I would like to thank my colleagues for their support in honoring this American pioneer.”

In 2024, Kelly led legislation to officially rename the facility of the United States Postal Service located at 135 W. Spring St., as the Edwin L. Drake Post Office Building. Learn more about the legislation, which was signed into law in January 2025, here.

You can WATCH and DOWNLOAD Rep. Kelly’s speech on the floor of the U.S. House of Representatives from June 2024 here.

BACKGROUND

In 1859, Edwin Drake became the first person to use an iron pipe to drill for oil. His “drive pipe” quickly produced between 20-40 barrels daily, using all the whiskey barrels in Titusville. Drake’s oil well started the Pennsylvania oil rush in 1859. The Titusville oil well launched an economic revolution in Western Pennsylvania that would change economies worldwide.

Drake died in 1880, and rests in Titusville; the original tools used by Drake can be found at the Drake Well Museum in Titusville.

In 2022, Rep. Kelly passed similar legislation to rename the Butler, Pennsylvania Post Office after Butler County native and Civil War hero Andrew Gomer Williams. In 2023, Kelly led the renaming ceremony for the Post Office, which is now officially named the Andrew Gomer Williams Post Office Building.

Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Ted Lieu (33 District of California)

 LOS ANGELES – Congressman Ted W. Lieu (D-Los Angeles County) issued the following statement in response to unprecedented attacks on UCLA by the Trump Administration.

“UCLA is an engine for innovation and research, not only in our community but nationally as well. The UC system is among the best public university systems in the world and offers affordable college options for Californians. As a world-class academic institute, UCLA leads the charge on medical research, technology development, and scientific discovery. The Trump Administration’s outrageous and myopic decision to go after universities puts our country at a serious disadvantage when it comes to national security and international competition. Attacking UCLA’s research capabilities will hurt our country and our future.”

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

The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) today reported that the unemployment rate in Virginia rose again in July, to 3.6 percent, the seventh consecutive increase in the Commonwealth’s unemployment rate. Virginia’s 0.8 percent year-over-year unemployment rate increase is now the second fastest in the nation during that period, tied with Oregon and trailing only Mississippi. In the past 50 years, Virginia’s unemployment rate has only risen this sharply six times, all preceding or during nationwide recessions.

Virginia’s labor force participation rate (LFPR) declined in July, to 64.9 percent. Labor force participation in Virginia has declined every month since January, and 2025 has already seen the Commonwealth’s sharpest LFPR decline since the early months of the pandemic. 

The BLS data likely downplays the state of Virginia’s labor market, as a significant portion of the federal workers and contractors who have lost their jobs due to the Trump Administration’s purges of the federal workforce are not yet reflected in government labor statistics because their departures officially take effect later in the year. Additionally, President Trump’s tariffs are also keying a substantial slowdown in the labor market across the country.

Congressman Don Beyer (D-VA), who serves as the top House Democrat on the Congressional Joint Economic Committee, said:

“Thanks to Donald Trump, Glenn Youngkin, and Winsome Earle-Sears, Virginia’s unemployment rate is rising faster than nearly every other state in the country. Unfortunately, we have every reason to think it will get worse, as Trump’s purges of federal workers and contractors drive a surge in unemployment that may spread to other job sectors. Virginia families and small businesses are getting hit harder every day by Trump’s tariffs, with higher inflation and rising costs. The worst part is that our economy isn’t reeling from a natural disaster or a global financial crisis, this is happening entirely because of bad policy choices made by Republican leaders.”

CNBC recently downgraded Virginia in its annual “Top State for Business” rankings to the lowest point in nearly a decade, specifically citing “federal job cuts.” Recent mass firings by the Trump Administration are likely to substantially increase these cuts even further in coming months.

The rising unemployment rate in Virginia may also be an early indicator of broader damage to the Commonwealth’s economy which Virginia-based forecasters warn could be severe. Yet despite these warnings and increasingly threatening strains on local governments, Governor Youngkin and Lieutenant Governor Earle-Sears have so far continued to support the Trump Administration’s mass layoffs and broader cuts to the federal government’s footprint in Virginia.

Historical economic data, including unemployment rates for states including Virginia, is tracked by the Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis (FRED).

Rep. Don Beyer (D-VA) is the Senior House Democrat on Congress’ Joint Economic Committee, and serves on the House Committee on Ways and Means, which has jurisdiction over major economic levers include tax policy, trade, and Social Security. He previously served as Virginia’s Lieutenant Governor from 1990-1998.

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

The U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has awarded the Twin County Airport Commission, based in Carroll County, Virginia, a $850,000 grant. The funding supports the Twin County Airport Runway 1 Extension project. U.S. Congressman Morgan Griffith (R-VA) issued the following statement:

“I am proud that my community project funding request, also known as an earmark, was approved to deliver federal funds to the Twin County Airport, which serves the City of Galax as well as Carroll and Grayson Counties.

“This DOT grant for $850,000 helps the Twin County Airport Commission conduct measures to extend a runway at Twin County Airport.”

BACKGROUND

These funds come as a result of Congressman Griffith’s community funding project requests for Fiscal Year 2024.

Twin County Airport is one of the only airports in the region that does not have at least a 5,000-foot runway to accommodate the needs of business jet traffic.

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

The U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has awarded the Smyth Wythe Airport Commission, based in Wythe County, Virginia, a $1,000,000 grant. The funding supports the Mountain Empire Airport (MKJ) East End Hangar Development project. U.S. Congressman Morgan Griffith (R-VA) issued the following statement:

“I am proud that most of my community project funding request, also known as an earmark, was approved to deliver federal funds to the Mountain Empire Airport.

“This DOT grant for $1,000,000 helps the Smyth Wythe Airport Commission update facilities at Mountain Empire Airport for enhanced aircraft storage.”

BACKGROUND

These funds come as a result of Congressman Griffith’s community funding project requests for Fiscal Year 2024.

More storage hangars will help Mountain Empire Airport meet requests for aircraft storage.

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

The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) has awarded Virginia Tech, based in Blacksburg, Virginia, a $428,578 research grant. The funding supports research into focused ultrasound therapies for tendinopathies, which are chronic pains in the tendons. U.S. Congressman Morgan Griffith (R-VA) issued the following statement:

“Many people suffer from tendinopathies, such as tendonitis and tendinosis. 

“This HHS grant for more than $428,000 helps Virginia Tech test focused ultrasound therapies for the treatment of tendinopathies.”

BACKGROUND

Earlier this month, Congressman Griffith visited the Fralin Biomedical Research Institute at VTC in Roanoke, Virginia. The Institute is responsible for more than 40 faculty-led research teams. Congressman Griffith spoke with Institute leadership and met with different research leaders to learn more about their progress.

This August, Congressman Griffith announced a series of HHS grants to Virginia Tech for research.

In July, Congressman Griffith announced separate HHS grants to Virginia Tech for cancer research.

The awarding office of this HHS grant is the National Institute of Biomedical Imaging and Bioengineering.

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Source: United States House of Representatives – Congresswoman Norma Torres (35th District of California)