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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)

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

August 19, 2025 | Press ReleasesWASHINGTON — U.S. Representative Greg Steube (R-Fla.) today introduced the Health Privacy From Global Bureaucrats Act. This bill prohibits the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) and the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) from sharing taxpayer, patient, and vaccine data with the World Health Organization (WHO) and foreign governments.
“No foreign government or international organization should have unfettered access to your private medical records and tax returns,” said Rep. Steube. “Americans deserve the peace of mind knowing their personal information is not being passed around the World Health Organization and neighboring states. My bill will make sure bureaucrats at the IRS and HHS respect your right to privacy as a U.S. citizen.” 
Background: The Health Privacy From Global Bureaucrats Act directs the Secretary of Health and Human Services and the Secretary of the Treasury to prohibit the release of taxpayer, patient, and vaccine data to the World Health Organization and foreign governments.
Read the full bill text here.

Source: United States House of Representatives – Congresswoman Dina Titus (1st District of Nevada)

WASHINGTON – Congresswoman Dina Titus (NV-01), as a member of the Congressional Arts Caucus, today introduced the Fine Arts Protection Act with Congresswoman Chellie Pingree (ME-01) to hold the Trump administration accountable for protecting historical works of art owned by the federal government.

The legislation directs the U.S. Government Accountability Office (GAO) to survey the art in General Services Administration (GSA)’s Fine Arts collection, provide an estimate of the value of the collection, and examine whether GSA is the best suited agency to house the collection.

“Trump’s decimation of the Fine Arts Program at GSA threatens the preservation of national artwork reflecting our rich, diverse culture and history,” said Rep. Titus. “It is critical that we hold our federal agencies accountable for protecting these national treasures and ensure the public has full access to the 26,000 works of art exhibited in museums and federal buildings around the country. The Fine Arts Protection Act will safeguard the public’s right to access art dating back to the 1850s and will maintain the preservation of historical artifacts that describe our shared American story, like Ben Shahn’s 1942 fresco The Meaning of Social Security. Art commissioned by the federal government is a vital part of our national heritage and deserves to be preserved for future generations. Yet Trump continues his assault on American culture, turning our artistic institutions into his own propaganda machine.” 

“The Trump Administration’s mass layoffs at the GSA’s Fine Arts Program have put the future of more than 26,000 works of public art in jeopardy — from New Deal murals to modern masterpieces that tell the story of our nation’s history and values. Gutting the very staff responsible for preserving and inspecting these works leaves priceless cultural treasures at risk of neglect, damage, or even disappearance,” said Rep. Pingree, Co-Chair of the bipartisan Arts Caucus. “The public has a right to know the value and condition of art commissioned with their tax dollars, and to be assured it will be cared for and accessible for generations to come. The Fine Arts Protection Act will bring critical transparency and accountability to the stewardship of this collection, ensuring these treasured works remain accessible to the people they were created for.”

Representatives Nadler, Kamlager-Dove, Holmes Norton, and Johnson also signed onto the Fine Arts Protection Act as original cosponsors.

Background

Through its Fine Arts Program, GSA maintains one of the oldest and largest public arts collections in the United States. The civic artworks in the collection date back to the 1850s and are displayed in federal buildings and courthouses across the United States. Through this program, GSA also manages art that was created under New Deal programs. Today, more than 20,000 New Deal works of art are on long-term loan to museums and other nonprofit institutions.

In April of 2025, Rep. Dina Titus led other members of the Congressional Arts Caucus in a letter to GSA raising concern over reports that over half of the Fine Arts Program’s staff, who play a critical role in preserving the collection, had been put on leave. The letter underscored that art plays an important role in helping us preserve and understand our country’s history. It also asserted that the public has a right to access art that was commissioned by the federal government.

As Co-Chair of the Congressional Humanities Caucus and a member of the Congressional Arts Caucus, Congresswoman Titus has fought to protect historical and cultural artifacts from attacks under the Trump Administration. In May 2025, Congresswoman Titus published an op-ed sounding the alarm on the Administration’s unprecedented attacks on the nation’s cultural fabric.

During the Fiscal Year 2026 appropriations process, Congresswoman Titus’s letter calling for robust funding for the National Endowment for the Humanities garnered a record 153 bipartisan signers, reflecting the enduring support these institutions have across the political aisle and the widespread recognition of their importance in our communities.

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