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Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Dan Newhouse (4th District of Washington)

Headline: Newhouse Votes for National Security, Spending Reductions in Funding Package

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, Rep. Dan Newhouse (WA-04) released the following statement upon House passage of H.R. 7006, the National Security and Department of State, and Financial Services and General Government Appropriations Act of 2026. 

“This government funding package invests in some of our most important national security interests while cutting overall spending by over nine billion dollars,” said Rep. Newhouse. “In this legislation, we refocused tax dollars on our domestic security, prioritizing threats by Communist China, the illegal flow of fentanyl from South America, and terror groups who look to do us harm. In the Financial Services funding bill, we fully funded the Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States as we work to expand its authority to protect American farmland and our natural resources.”  

“I thank Chairman Cole, and Subcommittee Chairs Diaz-Balart and Joyce, for their hard work in getting these funding bills through committee, to the floor, and now on the way to the Senate.” 

NATIONAL SECURITY, DEPARTMENT OF STATE, AND RELATED PROGRAMS APPROPRIATIONS ACT, 2026 

The National Security, Department of State, and Related Programs (NSRP) Appropriations Act provides a total discretionary allocation of $50.014 billion, a nearly $9.3 billion or 16 percent cut below the Fiscal Year 2025 enacted level. Even with the reduction in spending, the NSRP bill maintains robust funding for our allies like Israel, Jordan, Egypt, and Taiwan, and counters adversaries like the Communist People’s Republic of China (PRC), Iran, Cuba, and drug cartels. 

Key Takeaways 

Bolsters U.S. national security by: 

• Creating the America First Opportunity Fund to ensure the Secretary of State has the flexibility to quickly respond to unforeseen opportunities in an effort to advance the America First foreign policy agenda.
• Prioritizing funding and policies to combat the flow of fentanyl and other illicit drugs into the United States to help save American lives.
• Requiring the Secretary of State to consider a country’s United Nations voting record and support for Taiwan’s observer status when determining how assistance is allocated.
• Enhancing oversight and transparency requirements to ensure American taxpayer funds are not used by ineffective or fraudulent organizations, such as administering double-digit cuts for the United Nations while providing the Secretary of State with new leverage to strengthen reform efforts.

Boosts programs that support everyday Americans and reflect American values by: 

• Increasing support for religious freedom programs and demanding religious freedom protections for faith-based organizations, as well as holding foreign governments accountable for their persecution of people of faith.
• Providing robust support and Foreign Military Financing for Israel and Taiwan, as well as assistance to Egypt and Jordan, two key U.S. security partners.
• Providing $1.8 billion for United States national security interests in the Indo-Pacific and fully funding the Countering PRC Influence Fund at $400 million.
• Consolidating and reducing the number of accounts to facilitate efficient, strategic allocation of funds for programs that support United States national security interests.

Bill Highlights 

Department of State and Related Agencies: Provides $16.6 billion for the operations of the Department of State and several related agencies and commissions. 

Bilateral Economic Assistance: Provides $23.35 billion for global health, national security investment programs, and humanitarian programs administered by the Department of State and the Department of the Treasury. 

International Security Assistance: Provides $8.9 billion for Department of State security assistance. 

• Maintains the current level of $1.4 billion for International Narcotics Control and Law Enforcement, including increased funding to counter fentanyl.
• Maintains the current level of $870 million for Nonproliferation, Anti-terrorism, Demining, and Related Programs.
• Increases Foreign Military Financing Program to $6.2 billion, including: $3.3 billion for assistance for Israel, $300 million for assistance for Taiwan, and $100 million for assistance for the Philippines.

FINANCIAL SERVICES AND GENERAL GOVERNMENT APPROPRIATIONS ACT, 2026 

The Financial Services and General Government Appropriations Act provides a total discretionary allocation of $26.5 billion. The defense portion of the allocation is $45 million, and the non-defense portion of the allocation is $26.3 billion.

Key Takeaways 

Drives economic growth, supports U.S. financial systems, and invests in technology innovation: 

• Modernizes the Internal Revenue Service to reduce tax fraud.
• Supports small business development.
• Strengthens government-wide cybersecurity and information technology upgrades.
• Delivers targeted funding to support American leadership as the United States hosts the G-20 Summit.

Bolsters U.S. National Security and Border Protections:  

• Fully funding the Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States to ensure it has the tools to adequately scrutinize foreign investment by countries like China.
• Enhances funding for Treasury’s Office of Terrorism and Financial Intelligence to strengthen efforts to prevent and deter terrorists, criminals, and other bad actors from using the financial system.
• Invests in the High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area Program to strengthen interdiction efforts and stop narcotics from entering our borders and communities.

Bill Highlights 

Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States (CFIUS): $21 Billion 

Office of Terrorism and Financial Intelligence: 238 million  

Community Development Financial Institutions Fund: $324 million 

High Intensity Drug Trafficking Areas: $299 million 

Office of Management and Budget: $129 million   

Small Business Administration: $1 billion 

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Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Dan Newhouse (4th District of Washington)

Headline: Newhouse Introduces Legislation to Protect Public Lands from Foreign Adversaries

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, Rep. Dan Newhouse (WA-04) introduced the Keeping Public Lands Out of Adversarial Hands Act to add the United States Secretary of the Interior to the Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States (CFIUS).  

“Last summer, we were successful in adding the Secretary of Agriculture to the Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States to counter Communist China’s efforts to purchase American farmland. Today, I am taking the next step to protect American land by introducing legislation to add the U.S. Secretary of the Interior to CFIUS,” said Rep. Newhouse.  

Newhouse added, “In this role, the Secretary and the Department of the Interior will have the authority to review foreign investment into lands near public land across the country and help identify potential national security threats to the valuable natural resources we have right under our feet. Our adversaries like the CCP, North Korea, Russia, and Iran have no business owning these lands, and we need to seize every opportunity to ensure they never do.” 

Rep. Newhouse was joined by Reps. Jeff Hurd (CO-03), John Rose (TN-06), Ashley Hinson (IA-02), and Mike Ezell (MS-04) as cosponsors of the legislation.  

This legislation adds the Secretary of the Interior to CFIUS to review transactions for land or resources adjacent to land or sites owned or managed by the Bureau of Land Management, the Bureau of Reclamation, the Bureau of Indian Affairs, the National Park Service, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, and the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management. 

Background 

In July 2025, a Memorandum of Understanding between the Department of the Treasury and the Department of Agriculture was signed, implementing a provision Rep. Newhouse secured in the Fiscal Year 2024 Agriculture, Rural Development, Food and Drug Administration, and Related Agencies Appropriations bill to add the Secretary of Agriculture to CFIUS.

See full bill text here.  

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

Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Scott Perry (PA-10)

Washington, D.C. – Congressman Scott Perry (PA-10) introduced his Divesting from Communist China’s Military Act to tighten sanctions on Chinese military companies operating in the U.S. and undermining and threatening American prosperity. Senator Rick Scott (R-FL) is introducing companion legislation in the U.S. Senate.

 

“Our greatest enemy should never have access to, nor benefit from, our capital markets or military procurement process in any way; it’s ludicrous, and shouldn’t even have required legislation, but it does,” said Rep. Perry. “I’m happy to join forces with Senator Scott to get this through Congress, to the President’s desk, and stop this insanity once and for all.”

 

Senator Rick Scott said, “Communist China and Xi Jinping have shown time and again that they are our enemy, and American investments should not be used to support them in their attempt to destroy our way of life. For too long, Chinese companies have been given free rein to lie, cheat, and circumvent U.S. regulations intended to keep American investors safe and American dollars out of the hands of companies, like those associated with the Chinese military, bent on ruining our economy and our country. This bill is a commonsense effort to keep Americans’ money out of the hands of our enemies.”  

 

The Act mandates full parity between the U.S. Treasury’s Non-Specially Designated Nationals (SDN), Chinese Military-Industrial Complex Companies (NS-CMIC) List (bars Chinese Communist Party companies from accessing American capital markets), and the Department of War’s 1260H list (annual list of Chinese military companies that operate directly/indirectly in the U.S.).

 

The 1260H CMIC list faces a procurement prohibition beginning on June 30, 2026. Allowing these companies to benefit from American capital runs counter to American interests. This critical legislation aligns the two lists, strengthening our sanctions regime.

 

Read the bill text HERE. 

Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Glenn Grothman (R-Glenbeulah 6th District Wisconsin)

ICYMI: Rep. Grothman at RSC & VAT Panel Calls for Ending Marriage Penalties and Strengthening Families

Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Scott Peters (52nd District of California)

Washington, D.C. – Today, Representative Scott Peters (CA-50) issued the following statement after the House passed a package of three funding bills for Fiscal Year 2026—The Commerce, Justice, Science; Energy and Water Development; and Interior and Environment Appropriations Act, 2026. Included in the language of these bills were six of Rep. Peters’ Community Project Funding (CPF) requests. The package, including CPF requests, is subject to change as the legislation moves to the Senate.

“This package reflects the priorities my constituents, and hardworking Americans, want to see Congress address: lowering energy costs, strengthening public safety, investing in clean energy and science, and upgrading critical water infrastructure,” Rep. Peters said. “It also holds the Trump Administration accountable by reasserting Congress’s power of the purse and taking steps to end their slash-and-burn approach, ensuring no one is above the law. I hope the Senate gets this bill over the finish line without delay so we can deliver real results for San Diego and communities across the country.”

Highlights of the package include:

• Addresses high electricity costs by investing $375 million in our electric grid, which Rep. Peters helped secure, tackling a major point of rising electricity costs and strengthening reliability.
• Supports $1.8 billion in clean, affordable, and secure energy programs to lower energy bills, including nuclear energy activities—a bipartisan effort led by Rep. Peters to strengthen America’s nuclear energy sector.
• Curtails the reckless abuses of the Trump Administration by restricting efforts to dismantle entire agencies without Congressional authorization, blocking wasteful spending on useless vanity projects, and diminishing the Administration’s ability to wipeout Congressionally approved spending.
• Supports federal programs to support a wide range of criminal justice program areas, ensuring cities like San Diego have the tools to strengthen public safety, expand mental health crisis intervention programs, and invest in prevention efforts that keep our neighborhoods safe.
• Repudiates the Trump Administration’s anti-science agenda by providing strong funding for scientific and technological research. Rep. Peters led a bipartisan effort to secure $58 million for NASA’s Space Grant College and Fellowship Program, supporting STEM education and research through a network of colleges and universities, including the University of California, San Diego.
• Invests $2.8 billion in our nation’s water infrastructure, including drinking water, wastewater, and storm water management projects in San Diego, and across the country.

Also included in the package were six Community Project Funding requests led by Rep. Peters for FY 2026 funding, totaling more than $6.3 million.

“These investments will help prepare San Diego for the future, from safer water to stronger infrastructure to more opportunities for students to gain the skills that power our local economy,” Rep. Peters continued. “I’m proud to deliver targeted federal funding that improves the quality of life for my constituents and delivers real, tangible benefits for San Diegans.”

Community Project Funding requests made by Rep. Peters include:

• San Diego City College CyberLab — $1,031,000
  This funding would be used for modern computers, high-end laptops, and cyber range access to support students in the Cyber Defense and Analysis programs. It will address a critical gap in national security by preparing students to enter the cybersecurity workforce and counter evolving cyber threats.
• Coastal Ocean Pathogen Pollution Forecast Model — $1,031,000
  This funding would be used to develop, deploy, and maintain real-time monitoring stations of oceanographic conditions within the Tijuana estuary. It will help better manage beach contamination events, which in turn will minimize public health risks and economic damage.
• Engineering and Computer Science Capacity Building Project — $1,031,000
  This funding would be used to for laboratory and teaching equipment to expand California State University San Marcos’s systems, electrical, and computer engineering programs. This would address critical workforce needs, drive regional economic growth, and foster long-term societal benefits.
• City of Coronado Stormwater Mitigation Project — $1,092,000
  This funding would be used for the protection of surface and groundwater quality and assist with the minimization of pollutants entering waterways, preventing flooding during heavy rain events and enhance water quality.
• Pump Station Component D Upgrade — $1,092,000
  This funding would be used to increase the community’s drainage system’s capacity by providing electrical, structural, and mechanical improvements to the pump station. This is essential to mitigate flood risks, lower costs, and ensure the pump’s power reliability.
• Famosa Slough Alley Slope Restoration — $1,092,000
  This funding would be used for the construction phase of a storm drain infrastructure project to address severe erosion in an alleyway that floods during rain events, preventing further damage to nearby streets and residential neighborhoods.

Community Project Funding enables Members of Congress to advocate directly for local priorities, ensuring transparency and accountability. To see more about Rep. Peters’ FY26 requests, click here.

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Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Scott Peters (52nd District of California)

“By letting ACA tax credits expire on January 1st, President Trump and Congressional Republicans drove health care costs up overnight while offering no plan to stop insurance premiums from skyrocketing. Today’s vote shows immediate action to prevent the health care crisis is a priority for Democrats and even some Republicans.

“The Affordable Care Act is not perfect, and a three-year extension of these credits is not a fiscally sustainable solution on its own. But Republican health care policies caused so much chaos that we had to act immediately to address the premium increases millions of Americans are feeling right now.

“Combined with deep Medicaid cuts in the so-called ‘One Big Beautiful Bill,’ higher premiums are pushing patients to delay care, drop coverage, or go without health care altogether. If Congress fails to act, millions of Americans will lose their health care and get sicker. We cannot afford to wait until things get even worse.

“This step is especially important for San Diego. Nearly 150,000 San Diegans relied on the ACA tax credits to afford coverage, and more than 125,000 are already seeing their health care costs surge, including 28,000 people in CA-50 alone. If Republicans continue to block action, tens of thousands of San Diegans will lose their health care coverage – and I’m doing everything I can in Congress to prevent this from happening.

“While I have concerns about this resolution, it’s the strongest step forward right now to provide immediate relief to millions of Americans, and I’m willing to work with anyone, Republican or Democrat, who has a comprehensive solution.

“In the meantime, this was an important step to move the conversation to the Senate and keep pressure on Republicans to stop obstructing and start working with us on real health care reforms.”

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Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Scott Peters (52nd District of California)

Washington, D.C. – Today, Representative Scott Peters (CA-50) issued the following statement after President Trump’s announcement that the U.S. conducted a large-scale military operation in Venezuela overnight, capturing President Nicolás Maduro and his wife:

“I was deeply alarmed to wake up to the news that the United States has invaded—and now taken over—Venezuela.

“Nicolás Maduro is an illegitimate dictator who has caused immense suffering for the Venezuelan people. But Venezuela does not pose a security cost to the United States that would justify this action. It seems to be a move on Venezuelan oil resources. We know from the pardon of former Honduran President Hernandez that bringing Maduro to justice on drug charges is a pretext.

“And while many Venezuelans and Americans hoped to see Maduro gone, we know that ‘running a country’ will have ongoing costs. We know that from the two decades and trillions of dollars we gave in the Middle East.  President Trump has now pulled the U.S. into another conflict that polling shows Americans overwhelmingly oppose. And after decades of endless wars, we do not need another one.

“In San Diego, a proud military community, we know better than most the costs of military action for our service members and their families back home. That’s why we are particularly suspicious of impulsive military decisions with unclear objectives. We are grateful that no U.S. service members were killed and that the mission went as planned, but we are concerned about the undefined mission ahead.

“From the President’s press conference, it’s clear that there is no strategy for going forward. Capturing a leader is not a plan. Without a defined endgame, this action risks prolonged instability, unpredictable escalation, and U.S. casualties on the ground.

“Congress is vested by the Constitution with the power to declare war, but Congress was not notified of this action ahead of time. Ordering a major military operation without Congress is not only dangerous but unconstitutional. That’s why I voted for the War Powers Resolution to reaffirm that the president does not have the authority to take military action in Venezuela.

“It’s time for the Administration to brief Congress on this action and the strategy going forward. Donald Trump continues to make our country weaker by losing friends and gaining enemies around the world. We need to prevent this from becoming another ill-conceived nation-building debacle.”

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Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Scott Peters (52nd District of California)

Washington, D.C. – Today, Representatives Scott Peters (CA-50), Gabe Evans (CO-08), Andrew Garbarino (NY-02), and Gabe Vasquez (NM-02) released a discussion draft for the Create Expedited Reviews to Transform American Infrastructure Now (CERTAIN) Act to transform the federal permitting process and meet America’s energy and electricity needs. Reps. Juan Ciscomani (AZ-06) and Adam Gray (CA-13) have also signed on.

The CERTAIN Act would address permit certainty—ensuring federal agencies handle project authorizations and environmental reviews fairly and efficiently, with clear timelines, notice requirements, and accountability. This would facilitate the build out of the energy we need to lower costs, create jobs, and protect our environment. It also emphasizes coordinating between different agencies involved in these processes to avoid unnecessary delays.

“It’s no secret that our surging energy demand is straining our grid and our wallets,” Congressman Peters said. “As we face the growing challenge of powering our nation’s future, we must act quickly and effectively. Our CERTAIN Act is the comprehensive solution we need—giving us the tools to tackle energy challenges head-on, without unnecessary delays, and ensuring we’re meeting the moment with urgency and responsibility.”

“As the representative of a truly all-of-the-above energy district, I hear from oil and gas and renewable energy producers alike that overburdensome permitting processes and lack of permit certainty has plagued investment and delayed innovation. Across the U.S., modernizing how we permit our infrastructure is absolutely vital to meeting our growing energy demand and lowering costs for working families. I’m proud to lead these bipartisan discussions to build upon the work already done in the House to strengthen American jobs, businesses and markets, reduce cost of living, and provide investors greater certainty when allocating capital to current and future energy projects,” said Congressman Evans

“Endless permitting roadblocks hurt communities and drive up energy costs. I’m proud to co-lead the bipartisan CERTAIN Act to bring transparency and accountability to the permitting process and ensure projects that meet their requirements can move forward on time,” said Congressman Garbarino.

“Over the past decade, we’ve seen how shifting policies from one administration to the next lead to stalled energy projects and make long-term planning impossible, and we cannot afford to leave our energy producers exposed to this political pendulum. That’s why I’m proud to be leading the CERTAIN Act, a bipartisan solution that protects the permitting process for all types of energy projects from undue political interference,” said Congressman Vasquez.

“We need to build more, fast, if we are going to address the nation’s affordability and reliability setbacks,” said Congressman Gray “Achieving an all-of-the-above energy approach is critical for our communities.  I am proud to co-lead this bipartisan reform to ensure all projects can move forward without threat once permitted.” 

“Arizona families and businesses are counting on smart, reliable energy solutions that support growth and opportunity,” said Congressman Ciscomani. “The CERTAIN Act brings clarity, coordination, and common sense to the federal permitting process so we can responsibly build the energy infrastructure our communities need. We can and should increase energy production while protecting our environment, and this bipartisan effort sets clear timelines and accountability to create jobs, strengthen our grid, and power America’s future responsibly.”

Key provisions of the CERTAIN Act include:

• Protection from Political Interference: Provide certainty for infrastructure investment by ensuring that lawfully issued permits that remain in compliance are safeguarded from political interference.
• Clear Timelines and Deadlines: Set specific deadlines, timelines, and milestones for federal agencies in the environmental review process. This would cover all reviews, under all environmental laws, for all projects.
• Transparency and Accountability: Promote transparency and accountability throughout the federal environmental review process, including by empowering decision-makers to resolve disputes.
• Address Workforce Needs: Require agencies to analyze and respond to workforce and technical needs, ensuring they can meet statutory obligations for environmental reviews.
• Agency Accountability: Strengthen communication between agencies and project sponsors on any delays, with opportunities to hold agencies accountable in court for missing deadlines and review milestones.

A section-by-section on the draft is available HERE. A one pager is available HERE. Read what organizations are saying HERE. Legislative text for the discussion draft is available HERE.

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

Today, Rep. Frankel (FL-22) spoke in front of the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee to highlight the impact on Palm Beach County communities of disruptive 24/7 flight restrictions around Mar-a-Lago. In her remarks, Rep. Frankel called on the Committee to expedite direct engagement between the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and the U.S. Secret Service, Palm Beach International Airport leadership, local officials, and residents in the affected neighborhoods.

Below is an excerpt from Rep. Frankel’s remarks, as prepared:

“Residents are reporting constant noise, increased air pollution, declining property values, and growing concerns about delays and flight safety at Palm Beach International Airport. In just a short period of time, the county airport has received hundreds of complaints…

In Florida, people live their lives outdoors. Because these restrictions are now in place year-round, thousands of residents are living with disruption every single day.

We know that protecting the President is essential. No one disputes that. The question is, do security and quality of life have to be mutually exclusive? My community is hoping that there is room to explore alternatives that maintain strong security while reducing the impact on surrounding areas.”

For Rep. Frankel’s full remarks, click here: