MIL USHOR-2b Engine

Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Don Bacon (2nd District of Nebraska)

Bacon Announces Nebraska Priorities Included in Bipartisan FY26 Transportation, Housing and Urban Development Appropriations

Washington – Rep. Don Bacon (NE-02) today announced that more than $21 million for several key Nebraska projects and funding priorities were included in the Transportation, Housing and Urban Development (THUD) section of the FY26 Consolidated Appropriations Act.

Rep. Bacon joined in the overwhelming 341-88 House vote to pass the minibus on January 22, which now heads to the Senate for consideration. Several of Rep. Bacon’s key priorities were included in the legislation. Such priorities include funding requests to modernize transportation infrastructure, improve roadway and pedestrian safety, upgrade water and sewer systems, strengthen stormwater management, and major investments in the continued expansion of Eppley Airfield.

“I am pleased to announce that this bipartisan appropriations package includes more than $21 million for priorities across the district. A major focus is the continued investment at Eppley Airfield, which is transforming Omaha’s front door and positioning our region to meet the needs of a growing metropolitan area, including expanded air service and international travel,” said Rep. Bacon. “The package also includes investments in safer roads and bridges, upgraded water and sewer infrastructure, and community development projects. I thank Appropriations Committee Chairman Tom Cole and THUD Subcommittee Chairman Steve Womack for their leadership and bipartisan cooperation in advancing this legislation and ensuring these important Nebraska projects were included.”

Nebraska projects included in the THUD section of the FY26 Consolidated Appropriations Act:

Title: Improvements at Eppley Airfield

Recipient: Omaha Airport Authority

Amount: $7,000,000 (Requested: $10,000,000)

Description: The Eppley Airfield Build OMA program includes enhancements to the terminal, roadway, airfield, and supporting infrastructure of Eppley Airfield. Terminal Modernization Program will be completed in multiple phases and includes a new central utility plant, additional aircraft gates, consolidated security checkpoint, a unified concourse, a federal inspection services facility for international arrivals, and new baggage systems. An important element of the Terminal Modernization Program is relocating ticketing to the second level of the terminal where there is a new consolidated security screening checkpoint located in the center of the terminal.  Access to the second level for ticketing and the checkpoint will be provided through covered overhead pedestrian walkways, spanning the roadway, and with added vertical circulation.

Title: Omaha Urban Core Renewal Phase 2

Recipient: City of Omaha, Nebraska

Amount: $3,500,000 (Requested: $10,000,000)

Description: This Urban Renewal project will provide pedestrian pathways, bicycle route connectivity, stormwater management, utility relocation, landscaped areas, parking relocation, and will add approximately 1.5 acres of green space to the urban core. This project will replace and/or improve 3.5 acres of streets and alleys. Lighting will be improved, and sidewalks will be repaired, replaced, or widened to improve safety and walkability. The streetscape portion of this project envisions improvements to pedestrian safety on 20th Street between Cuming Street and Cass Street. This project will improve pedestrian safety by slowing traffic and improving pedestrian crossing locations in a heavy pedestrian traffic area. Vehicular traffic control measures (such as improved pedestrian crossings and center-planted medians with areas of refuge) will slow speeds, providing a main street experience. Bus shelters and bike lanes will be added to encourage multimodal travel and transit-oriented development.  

Title: 38th Street Viaduct in Omaha

Recipient: Nebraska Department of Transportation

Amount: $5,000,000 (Requested: $6,000,000)

Description: Funding would be used for the construction of a viaduct, replacing the existing structure, which is essential to regional mobility and economic resilience. The project includes replacement of an 87-year-old viaduct that supports regional and national freight. Structure is deteriorating to include sidewalk closures, recurring emergency deck repairs. Carrying four lanes of traffic and pedestrian access between 42nd and 36th Streets, the 38th Street Viaduct serves as a vital east-west route along Highway 275 (L Street) in Omaha, Nebraska.

Title: Gretna Hwy 6/31 Overpass

Recipient: City of Gretna

Amount: $1,500,000 (Requested: $2,800,000)

Description: Hwy 6/31 currently serves as a physical barrier that cuts through the heart of the community, limiting access to these key public assets for residents located on the west side of the highway. The City is therefore requesting federal assistance to design and construct a pedestrian overpass that will restore safe, non-vehicular access across this critical corridor. Without such an investment, the growth and functionality of Gretna’s public infrastructure will remain constrained by mobility and safety challenges.

Title: Water Main Replacement

Recipient: City of Valley

Amount: $1,280,000 (Requested: $1,600,000)

Description: The City of Valley is seeking funding for the replacement of water mains in various locations within Valley. The funds will be utilized to replace old and deteriorated water main pipes. The segments selected were determined by the number of previous water main breaks from the City Operator and historical records of age and material. The new pipes will improve water quality within specific areas, improve water flow capacity, and increase the number of fire hydrants for fire protection.

Title: Burlington Economic Development Infrastructure Project

Recipient: City of Ralston

Amount: $2,000,000 (Requested: $4,000,000)

Description: The sewer reconstruction is a critical infrastructure project for residents of both Ralston and central Omaha. The sewer provides service to over half of the area of Ralston and an equal amount of area in Omaha. Together, it serves an equivalent population of over 13,000 people, consisting of residents and businesses in both cities. The continued degradation of the line threatens properties with potential sewer back-ups. The sewer situation is impeding further economic development efforts.

Title: Bluestem Stream Improvement Project

Recipient: City of Omaha

Amount: $1,000,000 (Requested: $1,820,000)

Description: The City of Omaha is seeking funding for the improvement of approximately 1,200 linear feet of storm sewer drainageway that runs directly through the center of Bluestem Prairie Phase 2, a new 64-home affordable housing development currently under construction by HFHO in North Omaha. This open-channel drainageway has eroded significantly into a steep, 22-foot drop that is filled with debris, posing a safety and structural concern for the affordable housing developed for families. 

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Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Don Bacon (2nd District of Nebraska)

Bacon Announces Nebraska Priorities and National Security Investments Included in Bipartisan FY26 Defense Appropriations

Washington – Rep. Don Bacon (NE-02) today announced the inclusion of more than $508 million in critical Nebraska priorities and $233 million in other defense and national security priorities he supported in the Defense Appropriations section of the FY26 Consolidated Appropriations Act. The bill also includes a 3.8 percent military pay raise for junior enlisted service members, a long-standing priority Rep. Bacon has championed to improve the quality of life for service members and their families. Rep. Bacon joined in the overwhelming 341-88 House vote to pass the minibus on January 22, which now heads to the Senate for consideration.  

“The passage of the Defense Appropriations bill is a major win for our national security and for Nebraska’s proud military community. Our state plays an outsized role in America’s defense, from the strategic missions at Offutt Air Force Base to the thousands of Nebraska service members and civilian workers who support our armed forces every day,” said Rep. Bacon. “I thank Appropriations Committee Chairman Tom Cole and Defense Subcommittee Chairman Ken Calvert for their leadership and bipartisan cooperation in advancing this legislation and ensuring these important projects were included.”

Nebraska Defense Priorities

• $474 million for two additional EC-37B Compass Call aircraft for the 55th Wing
• $26 million for USSTRATCOM’s NC3 Enterprise Center’s rapid engineering architecture collaboration hub (REACH) program
• $5 million to upgrade RC-135 aircraft based at Offutt AFB
• $3 million for contingency planning for extreme health events supporting University of Nebraska Medical Center and the needed military-civilian support

Additional Defense and National Security Priorities

• $200 million for Baltic Security Initiative, a key security cooperation with Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania to deter Russian aggression and bolster long‑term regional defense capabilities
• $20 million for joint military-civilian medical surge, an effort that rapidly combines military and civilian healthcare capabilities to expand emergency treatment capacity during major crises
• $8 million for Global HF relay stations providing a network of high‑frequency radio sites enabling long‑range, resilient communications for military and government users
• $5 million scaling of rare earth separation capabilities, expanding and modernizing processes to extract and enable larger, more reliable supplies for defense and high‑tech manufacturing

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Source: United States House of Representatives – Representative Ilhan Omar (DFL-MN)

WASHINGTON – Ranking Member Ilhan Omar (MN-05) delivered the following opening statement at a Workforce Protections Subcommittee hearing entitled, “Examining the Policies and Priorities of the Mine Safety and Health Administration.”

“Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Good morning, everyone. 

“And thank you, Assistant Secretary Palmer, for being here today. 

“Since its inception in 1977, the Mine Safety and Health Administration, or MSHA, has strived to protect America’s miners from occupational hazards and negative health impacts, and prevent disasters through inspection and oversight.

“MSHA sets vital health and safety standards, such as rules on dust levels, posting warning signs, and controls for explosive hazards. 

“To set those standards, MSHA heavily relies on the research capacity of other agencies, such as the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health, which identifies hazards and conducts health research.

“MSHA’s work is critical in keeping miners healthy and alive.

“Unfortunately, after declining for decades, black lung disease is now on the rise.

“X-ray surveillance data indicated that the prevalence of black lung disease had doubled from 2007 to 2017.

“Nearly one in five long-tenured miners in Appalachia have been diagnosed with black lung disease.

“The most severe form, called Progressive Massive Fibrosis (PMF) is now at epidemic levels.

“PMF, or complicated black lung, is caused by the inhalation of coal and silica dust.

“In fact, silica dust is 20 times more toxic than coal dust alone and has been identified as one of the main causes of the spike in black lung. 

“Black lung can be a devastating disease. 

“Miners gradually lose the ability to breathe, causing them to wheeze and gasp for air.

“For some with PMF, survival requires a lung transplant, but even then, life expectancy does not usually exceed five years.

“Even more troubling, PMF is now afflicting miners at far earlier ages, with cases being documented in miners in their 30s and 40s.

“And sadly, there is still no cure for black lung disease.

“The relationship between silica and black lung among coal miners is particularly well known, but silica dust is also a significant threat to workers in metal and nonmetal mines, which make up more than 90 percent of active mines in the country.

“These miners also face the risk of chronic lung disease and cancer.

“Recognizing this longstanding danger, the Biden Administration made one of the most significant updates to mine safety standards in decades to protect miners from exposure to silica dust.

“In 2024, the Biden-era Department of Labor issued a rule to protect workers from serious health threats by lowering the allowable levels of silica exposure in mines and extending operator-funded respiratory screenings to miners.

“But now the Trump Administration is reversing course on this progress by refusing to defend this new rule in court.

“We often hear our colleagues on the other side of the aisle accuse regulatory agencies in Democratic administrations of what they call “sue and settle”.

“But right now, this Administration appears to be working hand-in-hand with the mining companies to weaken this important silica rule.

“Also of critical concern is MSHA’s ability to hold bad operators accountable for injuring or killing miners. 

“MSHA now has only six hundred and fifty-four inspectors.

“I look forward to hearing more from the Assistant Secretary about his plans to restore the agency to full force.

“Staffing, ultimately, is the agency’s capacity to get its job done, to protect miners. 

“I worry that the current status is not serving miners well.

“In 2025 alone, there was a 21 percent increase in mine fatalities – driven by a 44 percent increase in deaths in metal/nonmetal mines.

“Ranking Member Scott and I sent two letters early last year, inquiring about the extent and impact of firings at DOL and MSHA.  

“The Administration has so far failed to provide a substantive response to these letters, leaving Congress and the miners who rely on the services of MSHA in the dark.

“By firing staff at MSHA and NIOSH, refusing to enforce safety regulations, and closing dozens of regional MSHA offices— the Trump Administration is failing to protect the health and safety of hardworking miners and sabotaging decades of efforts to prevent black lung.

“As healthcare costs skyrocket, miners should not have to worry about workplace exposures forcing them into hospitals.

“Assistant Secretary Palmer, I look forward to our conversation today, and I hope that we can work together to keep miners safe and prevent future tragedies.

“Thank you again, Mr. Chairman, and I yield back.”

Source: United States House of Representatives – Congresswoman Angie Craig (MN-02)

Earlier this month, Rep. Craig attempted to conduct a Congressional oversight visit at the Whipple Federal Building in Minneapolis, but was turned away by DHS officials

Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman John Garamendi – Representing California’s 3rd Congressional District

Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman John Garamendi – Representing California’s 3rd Congressional District

Source: United States House of Representatives – Representative Dwight Evans (2nd District of Pennsylvania)

PHILADELPHIA, PA (Jan. 23, 2026) — Today, Representatives Dwight Evans (PA-03), Brendan F. Boyle (PA-02), and Mary Gay Scanlon (PA-05) sent a letter to Interior Secretary Doug Burgum and National Park Service Acting Director Jessica Bowron opposing the removal of slavery-related exhibits at Independence National Historical Park.

In their letter, Philadelphia’s US House delegation demanded answers from Administration officials on the censorship of these exhibits. The full letter, including the Representatives’ questions, can be found here and below.

Dear Secretary Burgum and Acting Director Bowron,

We write to express our opposition to the removal of slavery-related exhibits in Philadelphia’s historic district, specifically at the President’s House Site within Independence National Historical Park (INHP). These exhibits are an essential part of how the National Park Service presents the history of our nation’s founding, and the decision to remove them represents a disturbing departure from that mission.

Millions of visitors travel to INHP each year to learn about the origins of American democracy. The park’s fifty-five acres encompass landmarks such as Independence Hall and the Liberty Bell, and the interpretive panels at the President’s House Site play a critical role in explaining how slavery coexisted with the birth of the Republic. Presenting that history in full deepens public understanding of the long struggle to align our actions with our ideals.

Trying to remove that history just because it makes some people uncomfortable is deeply troubling. When a government starts hiding parts of its past, it begins to look more like a regime that rewrites history rather than one that learns from it.

With the National Park Service facing budget pressures and the nation preparing for its 250th anniversary, federal officials should be strengthening historic sites and expanding educational programming, not diverting staff time and public resources to dismantling established exhibits.

We believe the removal of these panels violates existing agreements between the National Park Service and the City of Philadelphia governing the preservation and interpretation of the President’s House Site. As Members of Congress representing Philadelphia, we therefore demand clear and complete answers to the following questions:

1. Why were the exhibits at the President’s House Site taken down or dismantled?
2. Who authorized or directed this decision, and at what level within the administration?
3. What role, if any, did senior administration officials play in initiating or approving this action?
4. Where are the removed panels and related materials currently being stored, and what plans exist for their reinstallation?
5. What documents, memoranda, emails, or other internal communications relate to these actions?

Philadelphia residents and visitors from across the country deserve an honest and complete account of our history. We request a written response no later than January 30, 2026.

Sincerely,

Brendan F. Boyle, Member of Congress

Dwight Evans, Member of Congress

Mary Gay Scanlon, Member of Congress

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Source: United States House of Representatives – Representative Dwight Evans (2nd District of Pennsylvania)

‘The Trump-Vance administration may try to whitewash an exhibit, but they cannot erase the shame of what they have done.’

Source: United States House of Representatives – Representative Judy Chu (CA2-27)

Bill would protect language access for 25 million individuals in the U.S. with limited English proficiency.

WASHINGTON, DC – Today, Rep. Judy Chu (CA-28), Chair Emerita of the Congressional Asian Pacific American Caucus (CAPAC), joined Rep. Grace Meng (NY-06), Rep. Juan Vargas (CA-51), and Rep. Dan Goldman (NY-10) in introducing the Language Access for All Act of 2026 to codify language access requirements for federal agencies, including translation and interpretation services under threat from the Trump administration.

In March 2025, President Trump signed Executive Order (EO) 14224 that declared English as the official language of the United States and revoked EO 13166, a 25-year-old mandate that required agencies and recipients of federal funding to provide critical language access to individuals with limited English proficiency (LEP). The Trump administration’s Department of Justice issued new guidance that minimizes multilingual services and redirects resources towards English language education and assimilation. 

These policy changes threaten language access for the over 25 million individuals in the United States—eight percent of the U.S. population—with limited English proficiency. Asian Americans have among the highest language access needs of any racial group, with 32 percent having LEP. 12 percent of Native Hawaiians and Pacific Islanders also have significant language access needs. And while Spanish language speakers make up the majority of those who speak another language in the United States, nearly 40 percent report speaking English “less than very well” in the most recent U.S. Census. 

The Language Access for All Act of 2026 modernizes and strengthens the federal government’s approach to language access by codifying EO 13166 and establishing a coordinated, accountable framework to ensure meaningful access for individuals with limited English proficiency. The legislation promotes consistency across agencies, increases transparency and public engagement, and updates federal language access policy to reflect evolving technologies.

“For more than 25 years, both Democratic and Republican presidents have supported language accessibility across the federal government. Trump’s roll back of these protections is simply wrong. In my district, translation services are essential for parents applying for a home loan, seniors accessing Medicare, immigrants starting a small business, and disaster survivors accessing the FEMA’s resources. That is why I’m proud to co-lead the Language Access for All Act to ensure no one is denied health care, housing, or disaster assistance because English is not their first language. Language access is a civil right and rolling back these services is an attack on our immigrant communities,” said Congressmember Judy Chu (CA-28).

“Every American deserves equal access to federal services and programs in a language they can understand. Language access is essential to ensure individuals are able to access small business loans or receive the right medical care,” said Rep. Grace Meng (NY-06), Chair of the Congressional Asian Pacific American Caucus. “I am proud to introduce the Language Access for All Act alongside my colleagues to safeguard translation services for individuals with limited English proficiency, including millions in the Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander community. We will continue to fight against the Trump administration’s attacks on immigrants and the essential services that our communities rely on and deserve.” 

“For decades, federal language access services have helped millions of people file taxes, get emergency alerts, apply for loans, and access health care. Trump’s decision to designate English as our country’s official language and attempt to scrap these critical services is dead wrong,” said Rep. Juan Vargas (CA-51). “No one should be locked out of federal programs because of the language they speak. This legislation is critical as we fight to push back on Trump’s anti-immigrant agenda and keep in place the services our communities rely on.”

“In my district, in the most linguistically diverse city on earth, language access mandates across the federal government helps ensure that everyone has meaningful access to housing loans, health care, workforce programs, and life-saving emergency alerts. Trump’s attempt to roll back language access is just one of his many xenophobic attempts to attack immigrant communities, and it is completely unacceptable. I am proud to be introducing legislation to restore common sense requirements and ensure information about basic government services is made available to all,” said Rep. Dan Goldman (NY-10).

The Language Access for All Act of 2026: 

• Requires federal agencies to ensure that individuals with LEP can meaningfully access the federally conducted programs and activities of the agency, including through translation and interpretation.
• Creates a public complaint system to track complaints regarding barriers to meaningful access at agencies.
• Requires agencies to develop and maintain language access plans consistent with EO 13166, with public notice and comment, and to submit plans to Congress and publish them on LEP.gov.
• Establishes language access technical standards that allow individuals with LEP to access agency content. This applies to all agency communications, including AI and automated language assistance services.
• Ensures AI-assisted language services do not replace qualified translators and interpreters, comply with federal privacy requirements, and are continuously tested for bias, discrimination, and errors.
• Creates an interagency language access working group to provide guidance, coordination, and technical assistance.
• Requires each agency to designate a language access coordinator to lead implementation and serve as a point of contact.

Together, these reforms aim to improve service delivery, reduce barriers to access, and ensure federal agencies are equipped to meet the language needs of the public. 

This bill builds upon Congressmember Chu’s longstanding commitment to ensuring language accessibility, beginning with her work as a City Councilmember, fighting against an ugly “English-only” movement in her hometown of Monterey Park. On August 15, 2025, Reps. Chu, Meng, and Vargas led 58 House colleagues in a letter to President Trump and the Department of Justice, on the administration’s rollback of language access across federal agencies and its impact on LEP communities. On April 11, 2025, Rep. Chu also led an oversight letter with Rep. Meng and 54 other House Democrats opposing the initial release of President Trump’s EO 14224.

The Language Access for All Act of 2026 is endorsed by the following organizations: AAPI Equity Alliance, AIDS Foundation Chicago, Americans for Financial Reform, Apicha Community Health Center, Asian & Pacific Islander American Health Forum (APIAHF), Asian Resources, Inc, Association of Asian Pacific Community Health Organizations (AAPCHO), Association of Language Companies, Center for Human Rights and Constitutional Law, CenterLink, Chinese for Affirmative Action, Colorado Language Access Coalition, Connecticut Fair Housing Center, Consumer Action, East Bay Sanctuary Covenant, Empowering Pacific Islander Communities (EPIC), Joint National Committee for Languages (JNCL) and the National Council for Languages and International Studies (NCLIS), Justice in Aging, Language Matters, Language Policy & Innovation Institute, Latino Community Fund INC (LCF Georgia), Latino Victory Project, League of United Latin American Citizens (LULAC), National Asian American Pacific Islander Mental Health Association (NAAPIMHA), National Asian Pacific American Bar Association (NAPABA), National Asian Pacific American Women’s Forum (NAPAWF), National CAPACD- National Coalition for Asian Pacific American Community Development, National Consumer Law Center (NCLC), National Council of Asian Pacific Americans (NCAPA), National Health Law Program, National Immigration Law Center, North East Medical Services (NEMS), The Praxis Project, Sauti Yetu Center for African Women, Sikh American Legal Defense and Education Fund (SALDEF), Southeast Asia Resource Action Center (SEARAC), Spring Institute for Intercultural Learning, Stakeholders Advocating for Safe and Ethical use of AI in Interpreting Task Force (SAFE-AI TF), Stop AAPI Hate, TESOL International Association, and UnidosUS. 

Read the full text of the bill here.

Source: United States House of Representatives – Representative Judy Chu (CA2-27)

PASADENA, CA — On Saturday, January 17, 2026, Rep. Judy Chu (CA-28) announced the winners of the 2025 Congressional App Challenge for middle and high school students in the West San Gabriel Valley. This annual computer science competition, hosted by the U.S. House of Representatives, encourages students to learn how to code and inspires them to pursue careers in STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Math) fields. 

This year, 52 apps were submitted to this competition.  The winner, Anika Jha of Arcadia High School, submitted an app “Fire Up” to assist residents and first responders with an AI-powered wildfire prediction, live detection, risk-assessment and evacuation planning into real-time, localized alerts through a single, human-centered platform.  After her family was nearly evacuated during the January 2025 wildfires, she created this app so all the fragmented information from NASA, NOAA, and CalFire can be integrated into one place and visualized onto an interactive map.  Families, schools and communities can connect to low-cost hardware that can feed into the app to detect fire and smoke early, and the app also includes an evacuation planner that recommends safer routes by avoiding active danger zones.  

Rep. Judy Chu issued the following statement:

“I was thrilled to host my 7thAnnual Congressional App Challenge Competition and highlight the increasing importance of STEM education in our country.  STEM grows more valuable for our nation’s youth, and the powerful skills gained from coding and programming will ensure that our nation remains at the forefront of technological progress and advancements.  All our submissions came from talented young coders who worked collaboratively to fix problems facing the world. I’m proud of all our winners and everyone who participated in the competition. Congratulations to each one of them!”

List of Winners:

First Place: Fire Up by Anika Jha (https://youtu.be/M6boFqd9h_E)

 Second Place: SCREAM++ by Tony Kan (https://youtu.be/ONdKvxl1Xgo)

 Third Place: EyeMAX by Drexel Ngo, Alina Ramos, Evan Lau, and Athicha Chanpradub (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IpZ1x8xMZCA)

 Fourth Place: No Nurdles by Bernice Deng (https://youtu.be/AF45KeqGvBQ)

Fifth Place: Chorify by Chenxi (Eva) Huang (https://youtu.be/-EDnSJqf-5I)

Honorable Mention: SeeSomething AI by Spursh Deshpande, Timofey Tkachev, and Thomas Haddad (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hR3zwcc3pQ8)

 Honorable Mention: MyMelody by Lily Chen (https://youtu.be/aQCLCxCFqhg)

 Honorable Mention: PathGuard by Aaron Shen (https://youtu.be/50tSXgX29zg)

 Honorable Mention: MediHelp by Theo Mirzakhanian and Karen Avetisyan (https://youtu.be/wferZ6MPRDw)

Honorable Mention: EcoQuest by Chloe Tam (https://youtu.be/v594sB1TY3o)

The winners were chosen by a panel of expert judges from the California Institute of Technology (Caltech), Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL), and Motiv Space Systems who made their decisions based on the app’s purpose, concept, technicality, creativity, and design.  The winning app, Fire Up, will be displayed on the Congressional App Challenge Website and on a digital display in the Capitol Building.