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Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Mario Diaz-Balart (25th District of FLORIDA)

Miami, Florida – Congressman Mario Díaz-Balart (FL-26), Dean of the Florida Delegation, attended the City of Miami Springs and the City of Hialeah’s Senior Centers to discuss the economic wins and historic tax relief for seniors that are included in H.R. 1, the One Big Beautiful Bill legislation.

“The City of Miami Springs and the City of Hialeah Senior Centers carry out exceptional work supporting our seniors and enhancing the quality of life in the community. I thank the local leaders for their crucial work in making these events available and accessible to residents.

“One of the things I most enjoyed while attending each event was sharing how the ‘One Big Beautiful Bill’ – now law – delivers real relief, protecting the average taxpayer in Florida’s 26th district from a 24% tax hike. Among its many wins, it includes a $6,000 bonus tax exemption for low- and middle-income seniors. That means lower taxes and more money in your pocket.

“I’m proud to have supported the passage of the America First ‘One Big Beautiful Bill,’ which brings concrete wins to the community by lowering taxes for working families and seniors. I look forward to continuing to deliver real results for South Florida.”

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Source: United States House of Representatives – Representative David Kustoff (TN-08)

WASHINGTON, D.C. — It is a relief to share that Austin Robert Drummond, the suspect in the tragic quadruple homicide in Lake County, has been apprehended. 

I want to thank the U.S. Marshals Service, the FBI, and the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation for their efforts in bringing this manhunt to an end. I am also grateful to the many state and local law enforcement agencies who devoted their time and resources to this search — including the Tennessee Highway Patrol, Madison County Sheriff’s Office, Lake County Sheriff’s Office, and Dyer County Sheriff’s Office, and the Jackson Police Department. 

West Tennessee is fortunate to have federal, state, and local law enforcement agency coordination. An all-of-the-above approach to fighting crime is instrumental in making our communities a safer place to live, work, and raise a family. 

Roberta and I continue to keep the victims and their families in our thoughts. 

Source: United States House of Representatives – Representative Bryan Steil (Wisconsin-1)

 

Source: United States House of Representatives – Representative Gus Bilirakis (FL-12)

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today Congressman Gus Bilirakis (FL-12), Chris Pappas (NH-01), Congresswoman Dina Titus (NV-01), and Congresswoman Nicole Malliotakis (NY-11), co-chairs and vice co-chairs of the Hellenic Caucus, led a bipartisan group of 40 lawmakers in calling on the U.S. Department of State to reject Turkey’s attempts to rejoin the F-35 Joint Strike Fighter program. Turkey was removed from the program by the Trump Administration in 2019 and is currently subject to sanctions under the Countering American Adversaries Through Sanctions Act (CAATSA) because of the Erdogan government’s decision to purchase Russia’s S-400 surface-to-air missile defense system in direct violation of U.S. law. 

Underscoring the danger of readmitting Turkey to the F-35 program while in possession of the Russian-made S-400 missile defense system, the lawmakers wrote, “Lifting sanctions or allowing Turkey back into the F-35 program without first removing its S-400s would jeopardize the integrity of F-35 systems; expose U.S. military secrets to Russian intelligence; undermine our defense industrial base and allied confidence in purchasing future U.S. platforms; and disrupt development of the next-generation fighter jet recently announced by the Administration.”

They stressed the bipartisan, bicameral support for Turkey’s removal from the program and continued sanctions: “This is not a partisan issue. Congress has consistently supported CAATSA sanctions and Turkey’s removal from the F-35 program across multiple administrations and with bipartisan support. We urge the Administration to uphold U.S. law, maintain CAATSA sanctions, and protect American defense and intelligence assets. We must continue to hold allies and adversaries alike accountable when their actions threaten U.S. interests.”

“We stand firmly in support of our servicemembers, our defense industrial base, and preserving United States leadership in global aerospace and defense capabilities, and we urge you to do the same,” they concluded.

The full text of the letter can be found here. 

The letter is supported by AHEPA, the American Hellenic Institute (AHI), American Jewish Committee (AJC), American Friends of Kurdistan, Armenian National Committee of America (ANCA), Coordinated Effort of Hellenes, CUFI Action Fund, FDD Action, the Hellenic American Leadership Council (HALC), Middle East Forum (MEF), and PSEKA – International Coordinating Committee Justice for Cyprus.

Background: 

The Trump Administration removed Turkey from the F-35 Joint Strike Fighter program in 2019. In recent months, it has been reported that the Trump Administration is actively discussing Turkey’s readmission to the program with President Erdogan.

Bilirakis and Pappas have led bipartisan efforts under both the Trump and Biden administrations to stop the sale of fighter jets to Turkey in response to Turkey’s continued violation of U.S. law, unprovoked aggression against key U.S. allies, and destabilizing actions throughout the region. Following repeated calls on the State Department to block the sale of fighter jets to Turkey, Pappas secured passage of a bipartisan amendment in the House FY2023 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) that would have prohibited the sale of F-16s to Turkey. 

In response to the Biden Administration’s notification to Congress of plans to proceed with the sale of F-16s to Turkey, Pappas again led multiple efforts opposing the proposed sale and advocating for conditions if any such sale proceeded.  

Source: United States House of Representatives – Representative Gus Bilirakis (FL-12)

Congressman Gus Bilirakis released the statement below:  

“Earlier today, Armenia and Azerbaijan signed a historic peace agreement, formally bringing an end to decades of conflict over the Nagorno-Karabakh region,” said Congressman Gus Bilirakis. “This landmark accord—brokered by President Trump in coordination with international mediators—includes mutual recognition of national borders, the reopening of vital transportation corridors, and commitments to enhanced regional cooperation. As Co-Chair of the Congressional Caucus on Armenian Issues, I commend this significant achievement as a critical step toward enduring peace and stability in the South Caucasus.”

Source: United States House of Representatives – Representative Salud Carbajal (CA-24)

Today, U.S. Representative Salud Carbajal (D-CA-24) hosted a press conference at Rocky Nook Park to reintroduce the Central Coast Heritage Protection Act, which would designate approximately 250,000 acres of public land in the Los Padres National Forest and Carrizo Plain National Monument as wilderness, the highest form of federal protection available. A wilderness designation would protect the land from future oil or gas drilling. 

“From the rugged trails of the Los Padres National Forest to the sweeping Carrizo Plain, the Central Coast is home to some of the most pristine public lands in the country,” said Rep. Carbajal. “With my Central Coast Heritage Protection Act, we’ll take bold steps to ensure these landscapes are safeguarded so that future generations can continue to enjoy the natural beauty that defines our region.”

“CalWild was thrilled to celebrate Representative Carbajal’s reintroduction of his Central Coast Heritage Protection Act today.  In addition to protecting important ecological, cultural, recreational and other values in the Central Coast region, this bill sends a strong message that we all love our national public lands and want them to remain accessible to all of us.  We applaud Representative Carbajal’s leadership and ever enduring commitment to see these lands and waters managed in a way that ensures they will remain the same for many generations to visit and enjoy,” Linda Castro, Assistant Policy Director, CalWild.

“The Central Coast Heritage Protection Act would permanently protect some of the most biodiverse areas in Los Padres National Forest and across the Carrizo Plain National Monument. We thank Congressman Carbajal for his relentless efforts in championing this legislation, especially at a time when threats to our nation’s public lands have never been greater,” Bryant Baker, MS, Director of Conservation & Research.

“I know we will succeed thanks to Representative Carbajal’s tenacity and leadership,” Jonathan Ullman, Director of the Sierra Club: Santa Barbara-Ventura Chapter.

The bill is supported by nearly 500 Central Coast landowners, businesses, elected officials, farmers, ranchers, civic leaders, wineries, recreationalists, and outfitters. The public lands this bill would protect are home to a wide array of plant and animal life, and the bill will help sustain the ecological future of 468 species of wildlife and more than 1,200 plant species.

Carbajal’s bill has passed the U.S. House of Representatives five times over his tenure in Congress, but has stalled in the U.S. Senate in previous terms.

In 2023, the legislation was advanced to the Senate floor as part of U.S. Senator Alex Padilla’s (CA) public lands package to restore and expand protection for over 1 million acres of federal public land.

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, multiple grants for research. The awards include:

• $567,977 for brain imaging research related to parent-infant interaction
• $832,818 for research project exploring expanded safe water access to improve health outcomes in Appalachia
• $442,750 for pharmacology, physiology, and biological chemistry research related to enzymes and molecular biology

U.S. Congressman Morgan Griffith (R-VA) issued the following statement:

“This is great news for Virginia Tech, which continues to be a dynamic leader in the country for medical and scientific research.

“These HHS grants for more than $1.8 million help Virginia Tech make even greater research contributions to related scientific fields.”

BACKGROUND

This week, 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.

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

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

Griffith Statement on Death of Jim McGlothlin

Source: United States House of Representatives – Representative Jesús Chuy García (IL-04)

CHICAGO — Congressman Jesús “Chuy” García (IL-04) issued the following statement in response to DHS Secretary Noem’s claims about ICE arrests:  

“Secretary Kristi Noem is lying, and she knows it. The vast majority of people ICE has detained have no criminal record. ICE has been detaining and deporting hundreds of thousands of working people, mothers with children, student activists, tourists with visas and even U.S. citizens, all to meet the absurd quotas Trump has established, and fulfill the racist immigration policy Stephen Miller is directing.  

“This week, Senator Durbin and I led all Democrats in the Illinois Congressional Delegation in a letter demanding an end to unlawful attacks on local policies that build trust between police and keep communities safe.

“Our communities deserve safety, dignity, and respect. Trust between police and neighbors makes us safer, and ICE has no right to take that away. The Trump Administration’s attacks have no basis, and the courts have already thrown out their lawsuit. We’ve told them loud and clear: respect our laws, stop targeting hard-working immigrants, and stop going after our communities.”

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Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Sam Graves (6th District of Missouri)

WASHINGTON, DC – Congressman Sam Graves (MO-06) introduced the Rails to Trails Landowner Rights Act today. The bill strengthens landowner rights to stop federal land seizures. 

“Our right to own property, to farm, and to provide for our families is sacred,” said Graves. “The Founding Fathers sought to protect landowners from government land grabs with the Fifth Amendment. Sadly, Washington bureaucrats don’t seem to miss an opportunity to go after our rights. They’ve got to be held accountable so we can protect landowner rights and stop these federal land grabs.”

The Rails to Trails Landowner Rights Act reigns in the Surface Transportation Board’s Rails to Trails program, which allows the federal government to take former railroad corridors and give those corridors to third parties for use as recreational trails. This broken process violates the constitutional rights of landowners and unfairly cuts them out of the process. Graves’ legislation would require trail sponsors to get sign off from all impacted landowners and fully compensate landowners when a project moves forward.

The Rails to Trails Landowner Rights Act is cosponsored by Reps. Virginia Foxx (NC-05), Ann Wagner (MO-02), Mark Alford (MO-04), Harriet Hageman (WY-AL), and Bob Onder (MO-03).

You can read the Rails to Trails Landowner Rights Act here.

What They Are Saying:

Missouri Farm Bureau President Garrett Hawkins:

“Missouri Farm Bureau has long stood up for the rights of property owners, and we remain concerned about the impact of the federal Rails to Trails program, which can convert unused rail corridors into public trails without the consent of those who own the land. Safeguarding private property rights is fundamental to our mission. We commend Chairman Graves for his unwavering commitment to ensuring landowners have a voice in these decisions. As this legislation moves forward, we are eager to collaborate with Chairman Graves, his colleagues in Congress, and an expanding coalition of supporters who share our dedication to protecting property rights and finding common ground on this important issue.”

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