MIL USHOR-2b Engine

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

Reps. Don Beyer (D-VA), André Carson (D-IN), and Judy Chu (D-CA) today introduced the Fulbright Teacher’s Loan Forgiveness Act, legislation to expand student debt relief qualification under the Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF) program for participants in the Fulbright Teacher Exchange and Teaching Assistant programs. 

“Participants in the Fulbright Teacher Exchange and Teaching Assistant programs are educators serving the public, both in the U.S. and abroad. Their work meets the definition of public service that the Public Service Loan Forgiveness program was designed to honor, and Congress should recognize their public service by expanding PSLF benefits to help ease the burden of student loan debt.” said Rep. Don Beyer. “Not only have Fulbright teachers earned debt forgiveness through their service, but alleviating their debt would also encourage more talented educators to commit to public service without the fear of crippling financial debt.”

“Participants in the Fulbright Teacher Exchange and Teaching Assistant program are dedicated public servants,” said Rep. André Carson. “Their work plays a key role in America’s international relationships. We need to incentivize more leaders to participate in this program and provide relief to those who have served from debilitating student debt – which is exactly what this bill does.”

“Fulbright English Teacher Assistants (ETAs) and Teacher Exchange participants serve the American public by fostering mutual understanding between the United States and other countries through educational and cultural exchange, while receiving a modest stipend—similar to programs like the Peace Corps. But unlike Peace Corps participants, Fulbrighters aren’t eligible for Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF),” said Rep. Judy Chu. “It is past time for Congress to acknowledge Fulbright teachers as public servants deserving of loan forgiveness, and I want to thank Reps. Beyer and Carson for their partnership on this bill to do just that.”

The bill was developed following a constituent, and Fulbright alum’s, request for the programs to count toward PSLF benefits, similar to existing public service programs like the Peace Corps.

The bill is cosponsored by Reps. Dwight Evans (D-PA) and Sarah McBride (D-DE). The bill is endorsed by The Fulbright Association.

Text of the Fulbright Teacher’s Loan Forgiveness Act is available here.

Source: United States House of Representatives – Congresswoman Marcy Kaptur (OH-09)

Toledo, OH — Today, during the week of the 90^th Birthday of Social Security, Congresswoman Marcy Kaptur (OH-09) introduced a House Resolution affirming President Trump’s promise not to raise the retirement age for Social Security and Medicare. Alongside the bipartisan call to protect retirement security for America’s seniors, this measure underscores Congress’s responsibility to uphold the nation’s commitment to millions of workers who have spent a lifetime paying into these vital programs with the guarantee of a secure retirement and access to health care. Co-sponsors joining in introducing this legislation are Congresswoman Debbie Dingell (MI-06), Congresswoman Joyce Beatty (OH-03), Congressman Greg Landsman (OH-01), Congressman Mark Pocan (WI-02), Congressman Steven Horsford (NV-04), Congressman Juan Vargas (CA-52), and Congressman Vicente Gonzalez (TX-34).

“Social Security and Medicare are solemn promises, not bargaining chips. That is why as we celebrate the 90^th Birthday of Social Security this week, I am introducing this resolution,” said Congresswoman Marcy Kaptur (OH-09). “For generations, working families have contributed to these programs with the expectation that they will be there in full when they reach retirement age. We cannot and must not move the goalposts on them now. Our resolution affirms a simple, unshakable truth: the retirement age for Social Security and Medicare should not be raised. Keeping faith with the American worker is not a partisan value — it’s an American value. We must honor that sacred promise with the American people now and always.”

The resolution comes as more than 11,000 Americans turn 65 every day, with millions relying on Medicare at age 65 and Social Security benefits soon after. For many, these programs represent the foundation of their retirement security: nearly 40% of men and 44% of women aged 65 and older receive half or more of their income from Social Security.

Congresswoman Kaptur noted that the full retirement age has already increased from 65 to 67 for people born after 1960. A shift that has disproportionately burdened seniors in physically demanding jobs, workers in lower-income communities, and those with shorter life expectancies.

The resolution rejects any proposals that would reduce or delay access to earned retirement benefits and reaffirms the House of Representatives’ dedication to protecting the current eligibility ages — consistent with President Trump’s public commitment on July 8, 2024.

A full copy of the resolution can be found by clicking here.

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Source: United States House of Representatives – Congresswoman Pramila Jayapal (7th District of Washington)

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

Congressman Don Beyer (D-VA), who represents a district in the U.S. that includes the jurisdictions of Arlington, Alexandria, Fairfax County, and Falls Church, today issued the following statement on Northern Virginia school districts’ response to the Trump Administration demands sent via the Department of Education regarding the treatment of transgender students:

“I am proud that local education leaders in our community are focused on following the law and ensuring a strong start to the year for all Northern Virginia students, as opposed to joining the Trump Administration’s political stunts.”

Source: United States House of Representatives – Congresswoman Marcy Kaptur (OH-09)

Toledo, OH – Congresswoman Marcy Kaptur (OH-09) Co-Founder and Co-Chair of the Congressional Ukraine Caucus alongside Ukraine Caucus members Congressman Lloyd Doggett (TX-37), Congressman Dan Goldman (NY-10), and Congresswoman Julie Johnson (TX-32), sent a forceful letter to President Donald J. Trump urging him to directly confront Russian Dictator Vladimir Putin during their meeting in Alaska over ongoing and intensifying cyberattacks against the United States that threaten American national security and homeland security.

“The American people deserve a government that meets cyber warfare with unwavering strength and focus, not one that leaves our defenses underfunded and distracted,” said Congresswoman Marcy Kaptur (OH-09). “When our courts, critical infrastructure, and communications are under siege, we must meet those threats head-on. Not with political theater, but with decisive action. The real problem with Trump’s Presidency is that he creates all this noise and drama and his own quagmires at the expense of what we should be focused on, our national and homeland security. It’s like a cat that chases its own tail while being stalked by a bear.”

“Donald Trump is all bluster when it comes to war criminal Putin,” said Congressman Lloyd Doggett (TX-37). “The president has an opportunity to truly put ‘America First’ by confronting serious Russian cyber threats to our national security and supporting Ukraine after the ongoing murders of thousands of Ukrainian civilians. If this becomes only a conference to appease Putin, similar to the 1938 appeasement of Hitler, Ukrainians will lose, Europeans will lose, and Americans will lose.”

“Protecting our country from cyberattacks is a fundamental responsibility of the federal government and should never be a partisan issue,” said Congressman Dan Goldman NY-10. “Yet President Trump continues to cozy up to Vladimir Putin and other hostile foreign actors responsible for many of these attacks, while also crippling critical intelligence agencies by slashing budgets and diverting resources. Both actions put the American people and our democracy in grave jeopardy. President Trump’s recklessness endangers our national security, public safety, and the global standing of our democracy.”

“Cyberattacks from Russia and other hostile nations represent direct assaults on our courts, our infrastructure, and the safety of every American family. These breaches put witnesses at risk, threaten the integrity of our justice system, and can cripple vital services we all rely on,” said Congresswoman Julie Johnson (TX-32). “Yet instead of strengthening the agencies charged with defending us, the Trump Administration has slashed their resources and diverted them to political sideshows. That is reckless and dangerous. As President Trump sits down with Vladimir Putin, he must make it crystal clear: the United States will not tolerate these attacks, and there will be real, serious consequences for every act of aggression. As a member of both the House Foreign Affairs Committee and House Homeland Security Committee, I’m committed to making sure America’s security remains our highest priority and not used as a bargaining chip during negotiations.”

The letter warns that repeated cyber breaches, from the Colonial Pipeline ransomware attack to the recent hack of the federal judiciary’s case filing system, have left critical American infrastructure and national security vulnerable. The Members also cite Chinese-linked operations, including the 2023 surveillance balloon and state-sponsored hacks, as examples of the urgent need for stronger, better-resourced defenses.

The Members express deep concern that the Administration has weakened the very agencies responsible for defending against these threats by cutting budgets, reducing staffing, and diverting resources to politically motivated operations rather than genuine national security priorities.

The letter calls on President Trump to:

• Raise the issue of the judiciary breach and broader hostile cyber activity directly with Putin, making clear that continued attacks will bring serious diplomatic and economic consequences.
• Restore and expand staffing and funding for DOJ, FBI, and CISA to match the scale of today’s cyber and counterintelligence threats.
• Launch a coordinated federal initiative to close known vulnerabilities in the judiciary’s CM/ECF system and other high-risk federal networks.

Protecting the safety of American citizens, ensuring the resilience of critical systems, and preserving the credibility of US national security requires urgent, coordinated action.

Dear President Trump,

On the eve of your meeting with the murderous Russian dictator Vladimir Putin, we write to express urgent concern that your Administration is failing to address the most pressing national security threats facing our nation from Russia and our other adversaries. In the last five years, our country has endured repeated and escalating Russian attacks on US systems and infrastructure:

• The Colonial Pipeline ransomware attack (2021) by Russian criminal hackers disrupted fuel supplies across the East Coast.1
• The JBS cyberattack (2021), also traced to Russian actors, disrupted the US meat supply chain. 

The most recent breach of the federal judiciary’s electronic case filing system (CM/ECF) is a stark example of the danger. Russian-linked hackers are believed to have stolen sealed case data, source code, and information that could jeopardize witness safety and ongoing prosecutions. This is not the first such incident; an almost identical intrusion occurred in 2020 and exploited the same vulnerabilities that have gone unaddressed for five years despite repeated warnings. Today, some federal courts have been forced to revert to pen-and-paper operations to protect their most sensitive work.

There have similarly been numerous attacks from China.

• The Chinese surveillance balloon incident (2023) traversed the continental United States collecting intelligence before being shot down.
• The Chinese Communist Party state-backed hack of US government emails (2023) compromised sensitive diplomatic and security communications.
• The Volt Typhoon campaign (2023–2024) saw Chinese cyber operators target US water utilities, ports, and energy systems to pre-position for possible disruption.

All of these incidents required stronger, more coordinated, and well-resourced defenses. Instead, we have seen those defenses weakened by budget cuts, workforce reductions, and the diversion of critical agencies toward low-priority political operations.

This is occurring against a backdrop of budget cuts and staffing reductions at the Department of Justice (DOJ), the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), and the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA).7 These are the very agencies responsible for defending against such attacks, yet they have been left with fewer resources and diminished capacity. Rather than reinforcing these institutions, the Administration has repeatedly redirected their personnel to operations that offer political optics but deliver little in the way of genuine security gains.

To protect the American people and the integrity of our justice system, we respectfully urge you to:

• Address the Judiciary breach, and the broader pattern of hostile cyber activity, directly with Dictator Vladimir Putin during your upcoming meeting. You must make it clear that continued attacks will result in serious diplomatic and economic consequences.
• Fully restore and expand staffing and operational funding for DOJ, FBI, and CISA to meet the scale of today’s cyber and counterintelligence threats.
• Direct a coordinated, whole-of-government initiative to close known vulnerabilities in the judiciary’s CM/ECF system and other high-risk federal networks.

The safety of our citizens, the resilience of our critical systems, and the credibility of our national security posture depend on confronting real threats with urgency and resolve, rather than diverting attention to operations that serve political ends while leaving our defenses exposed. We can and we must do better to face the pressing national security threats we face from cyberattacks. We urge you to please act on these matters with haste and resolve.

Sincerely,

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

August 15, 2025 | Press ReleasesWASHINGTON — U.S. Representatives Greg Steube (R-Fla.) and Rep. Jared Golden (D-Maine) today introduced the Secure Trade Act. This bill provides supplemental support for President Trump’s trade policies to protect U.S. workers and industries and crack down on Chinese trade manipulation. 
“American workers have the right to compete on a level playing field,” said Rep. Steube. “If foreign governments insist on tariffing our exports, then American industries deserve the same protections to remain competitive. This bill holds serial trade manipulators like China accountable, reduces the offshoring of manufacturing jobs, and secures America’s long-term economic and national security for generations to come.”
“It’s long past time that Congress got some skin in the game in setting our nation’s trade and tariff policies,” said Rep. Golden. “The free trade status quo has cost Americans jobs and left us reliant on other nations for strategic goods critical for our nation’s safety and prosperity. The Secure Trade Act incentivizes the production and purchase of domestic goods, increases our economic security and makes clear that U.S. trade policy will be used to advance our interests, not those of our competitors.”
The Secure Trade Act has the support of American Compass and the Coalition for a Prosperous America.
“The bipartisan Secure Trade Act is a crucial step toward rebalancing global trade, restoring American industrial strength, and reducing our reliance on adversarial supply chains. The bill’s 10 percent global minimum tariff will help lower the U.S. trade deficit, raise revenue and level the playing field for American workers and manufacturers. The legislation’s provisions to create a separate tariff schedule for China are long overdue to address China’s abusive economic practices, including intellectual property theft, suppressed wages and predatory industrial subsidies. The bill also strengthens domestic investment screening to ensure the United States isn’t selling its assets to those who don’t share our interests. Reps. Jared Golden (D-ME) and Greg Steube (R-FL) deserve tremendous credit for this bold and necessary effort to reassert U.S. economic independence, stabilize our trade balance and protect our long-term national interests.” —Mark DiPlacido, policy adviser for American Compass
“Our country needs tariffs, both to protect industries and as a preferred funding source for the government. This bill codifies the 10 percent Universal Tariff that President Trump campaigned on, bringing in much needed revenue, as well as updates the U.S. tariff system with a China-specific tariff schedule that reflects their clear record of abusive economic practices. CPA salutes Representatives Golden and Steube for putting America first.” —John Toomey, CEO of the Coalition for a Prosperous America
Background:The Secure Trade Act establishes a new 10% tariff on all imports, in addition to any existing tariffs. It also requires all foreign investments involving land or factory creation from countries of concern (Russia, China, North Korea, and Iran) to receive approval from the Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States (CFIUS) Review. 
Additionally, the Secure Trade Act sets a 35% minimum tariff on most goods imported from China, a 100% tariff on strategic items including critical minerals and dual-use goods produced in the PRC, and requires Chinese imports to be appraised at U.S. market value. It expands the presidential authority on trade to raise tariffs beyond statutory minimums if warranted, and empowers the White House to as ban or enact quotas on Chinese goods on the grounds of unfair practices or national security.
Read the full bill text here.

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

Today, Representative Lois Frankel (FL-22) reintroduced the bipartisan Connected Maternal Online Monitoring (MOM) Act to help pregnant and new mothers stay healthy and safe.

“As a mom and now a grandmother, I know how important it is for expectant mothers to feel safe and supported every step of the way,” said Rep. Frankel. “Too many women in our country face preventable complications during pregnancy and after childbirth, especially women of color. By giving doctors the tools to monitor moms virtually, we can catch problems early, save lives, and give families the healthy start they deserve.”

The bill would make it easier for health care professionals to use modern technology,  including devices and services that allow remote monitoring for conditions like high blood pressure, to check for life-threatening complications during pregnancy and after childbirth. It direcs the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) to provide guidance and resources to state Medicaid programs on covering these devices, helping expand access nationwide, give families peace of mind, and improve outcomes for moms and their babies.

The bill is supported by several health advocacy groups, including the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG), American Medical Association (AMA), American College of Cardiology (ACC), March of Dimes, and the American Telemedicine Association (ATA).

“There are several states where pregnant patients have to drive nearly an hour or more to a hospital with a labor and delivery unit, and we will likely see an increasing number of patients experience challenges in accessing prenatal care in their communities in the years ahead. The timely reintroduction of the bipartisan Connected MOM Act would provide states with resources to help make it easier for pregnant patients to access care by allowing them to monitor their blood pressure and glucose levels through remote medical devices. The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists fully supports this legislation as it would decrease the need for unnecessary office visits while also potentially increasing adherence to evidence-based prenatal care plans. Things like remote monitoring and telehealth have also shown clear maternal health benefits by not only improving access to care but also addressing socioeconomic and racial health inequities. ACOG applauds the leadership of Representatives Frankel, Salazar, Castor, and Letlow for remaining steadfast in their efforts to improve maternal health outcomes,” said Steven J. Fleischman, MD, MBA, FACOG, President of the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG).

“The American Medical Association commends Reps. Lois Frankel (D-FL), Maria Salazar (R-FL), Kathy Castor (D-FL), and Julia Letlow (R-LA) for introducing this crucial bipartisan legislation that will make a meaningful difference in the fight to prevent maternal mortality and morbidity,” said Bobby Mukkamala, M.D., President of the American Medical Association (AMA). “Patients and physicians recognize that telehealth and remote patient monitoring services offer effective and convenient health care. The AMA believes this legislation would significantly improve maternal and infant health outcomes for pregnant and postpartum women across the U.S., especially for those who are high-risk, lower income, and live in rural areas.”

“The American College of Cardiology believes the Connected MOM Act is a vital step to ensuring every pregnant patient, regardless of geographic or socioeconomic barriers, has access to life-saving remote monitoring tools. This legislation represents a commonsense, bipartisan effort to modernize maternal care and improve outcomes for high-risk patients. By expanding access to remote monitoring, we enable earlier detection of complications such as pre-eclampsia and gestational diabetes and can ensure a timely intervention. The ACC strongly supports this effort to align policy with clinical innovation to make pregnancy safer and more equitable for all,” said Christopher Kramer, MD, FACC, President of the American College of Cardiology.

“March of Dimes research shows that more than 2.3 million women of childbearing age and over 150,000 babies live in counties called maternity care deserts—places with no or limited access to maternity care services—forcing families to find new ways to get the care they need. To help ensure every mom has the healthiest pregnancy and birth, we must advance policies that expand telehealth and access to remote monitoring devices,” said Stacey Y. Brayboy, March of Dimes, Sr. Vice President, Public Policy & Government Affairs. “The bipartisan Connected Maternal Online Monitoring (MOM) Act, sponsored by Reps. Frankel, Salazar, Castor, and Letlow, and Sens. Cassidy and Hassan, takes important steps to require the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) to strengthen state resources– like Medicaid telehealth toolkits–and issue coverage recommendations for devices that track blood pressure, blood glucose, and pulse rates which can be early indicators of pregnancy complications. This legislation can help providers act sooner, improve outcomes, and save lives.”

“There is an unacceptably high rate of maternal mortality in the U.S., particularly in underserved communities. Telehealth can provide a valuable solution to help prevent maternal deaths and adverse health outcomes, and we fully support the bipartisan Connected Maternal Online Monitoring (MOM) Act to help solve gaps in care for high-risk expectant mothers enrolled in Medicaid. Our thanks go to Congresswoman Lois Frankel and her co-authors in the House, Representatives Maria Elvira Salazar, Kathy Castor, and Julia Letlow, and their Congressional counterparts, Senators Bill Cassidy and Maggie Hassan, for reintroducing this essential legislation. By reducing barriers to regular prenatal and postpartum care using remote monitoring tools, we can effectively improve maternal and child health outcomes,” said Kyle Zebley, ATA Executive Director, Senior Vice President of the American Telemedicine Association (ATA).

For full text of the bill, click here.

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Source: United States House of Representatives – Congresswoman Debbie Dingell (12th District of Michigan)

Congresswoman Debbie Dingell (MI-06) today convened senior advocates, local elected officials, and other community members at the Ypsilanti Township Community Center to celebrate the 90^th anniversary of Social Security and recommit to protecting and expanding it.

“For 90 years, Social Security has been a part of the fabric of who America is and how we care for our seniors. But it’s been more than 50 years since Congress enhanced Social Security benefits for everyone. It’s time to not only protect but expand benefits. In fact, it’s long overdue,” Dingell said. “Social Security was created on the promise that no American will grow poor into retirement – a promise of economic security and dignity after a lifetime of hard work, and a promise to make sure no one is left behind as they age. In 90 years, it has never once failed to deliver on that promise. I will continue to fight in Congress to make sure we keep that promise and will continue to look out for the wellbeing of aging Americans, today and for generations to come, and I thank all our community partners who share a commitment to this effort.”

Dingell was joined by Representatives from Washtenaw County, members of senior centers across the region, and senior-focused organizations including AgeWays and Meals on Wheels.

View photos from the event here.

Background

There are 150,769 Social Security recipients in MI-06 who receive $328 million in monthly benefits including:

• 118,275 retirees
• 7,288 children
• 7,365 widows
• 3,896 spouses
• 13,945 disabled workers

Two out of every three retirees rely on Social Security for the majority of their income, and millions of families depend on the program for disability or benefits after the loss of a loved one.

The creation of Social Security was a landmark moment for the Democratic Party. Since FDR signed Social Security into law 90 years ago, tens of millions of working Americans earned a guaranteed safety net every year. It lifts 22 million people out of poverty, including nearly one million children. 

According to a new survey from the AARP, Social Security is deemed important by 96% of Americans in 2025, but confidence in the future of Social Security has declined 7 percentage points since 2020 (from 43% to 36%).  

Source: United States House of Representatives – Congresswoman Debbie Dingell (12th District of Michigan)

Congresswoman Debbie Dingell (MI-06) today announced that the University of Michigan will receive $37,206,192 in federal grant funding from the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) to conduct research in areas including pharmacology, physiology, and biological chemistry, aging, neurological disorders, mental health, allergy immunology, and other areas.

“Supporting medical research is more important than ever. We must ensure the United States remains the global leader in research, innovation, and technology,” said Dingell. “These federal dollars will drive groundbreaking work across a wide range of areas—from cancer and cardiovascular disease to diabetes and addiction. These investments not only reinforce UM’s role as a national leader in research but will also improve health outcomes in our communities.”

Additional projects receiving funding include:

• $879,066 for Heart and Vascular Diseases Research
• $775,521 for Blood Diseases and Resources Research
• $610,233 for Diabetes, Endocrinology and Metabolic Research
• $545,630 for Non-invasive and Long-lived CNS Delivery of Treg-inducing Cytokine Depots 
• $568,151 for Cancer Detection and Diagnosis Research
• $432,749 for Silent Functional MRI Using Looping Star 
• $1,468,663 for Cancer Biology Research
• $283,968 for Drug Abuse and Addiction Research Programs
• $650,820 for Biological Research Related to Deafness and Communicative Disorders 
• $476,287 for Oral Diseases and Disorders Research
• $3,784,455 for Cancer Treatment Research
• $184,010 for Michigan Translational Imaging Program M-TIP
• $1,050,479 for Research for Mothers and Children
• $340,000 for T72 – Pediatric Pulmonary Centers
• $411,391 for D88 – Academic Administrative Units in General Pediatric and Public Health Den
• $213,862 for Nursing Research
• $223,880 for Senior International Fellowship Awards Program
• $1,449,424 for Cancer Control
• $429,000 for Lung Diseases Research

Find a full list of projects receiving grant funding here.

HHS is the largest grant-making agency in the US. Most HHS grants are provided directly to states, territories, tribes, and educational and community organizations, then distributed to eligible individuals and organizations. For more information on HHS grants click here.

Source: United States House of Representatives – Congresswoman Debbie Dingell (12th District of Michigan)

Dingell Announces $5.9 Million in NSF Grants for the University of Michigan