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Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Andy Harris (MD-01)

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Congressman Andy Harris, M.D. (MD-01) announced that the application process for nominations to the U.S. Service Academies is now open for students hoping to join the Class of 2030. Congressman Harris will consider qualified applicants from Maryland’s First Congressional District for nomination to the U.S. Military Academy, Naval Academy, Air Force Academy, and Merchant Marine Academy.

Each year, Congressman Harris nominates exceptional students to the U.S. Military Academy, Naval Academy, Air Force Academy, and Merchant Marine Academy. While the Coast Guard Academy does not require a nomination, Congressman Harris may recommend qualified applicants. 

Applicants are evaluated on academics, SAT/ACT test scores, physical aptitude, extracurriculars, and a panel interview. The deadline to apply for a nomination is October 31, 2025. Interviews will be conducted in the fall, and the Service Academies will receive Congressman Harris’ official nominations by December 31, 2025. 

Statement from Congressman Harris: 
“These academies develop leaders of character committed to serving our nation. I’m proud to nominate outstanding students from Maryland’s First District to these prestigious institutions,” Congressman Andy Harris said.

Students can complete the nomination application HERE.  

Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Roger Williams (25th District of Texas)

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, Congressman Roger Williams (TX-25), introduced the Blue Shield Privacy Act of 2025. This legislation updates 18 U.S.C. §119 to protect police officers and their families from targeted doxing attacks. 

“In today’s climate, law enforcement is being increasingly targeted online as a form of political retaliation and intimidation,” said Congressman Williams. “As digital threats against officers continue to rise, this bill fills a critical gap by accounting for new technological advances to ensure those who serve and protect can do so without fear of being doxed.” 

Read the bill text here.

Background:

• Amends 18 U.S.C. § 119, which has not been updated since 2008, to include license plate numbers, biometric data, workplace and school addresses, and GPS coordinates to the definition of ‘restricted personal information’.

Cosponsors: Reps. Brian Babin (TX-36), Barry Moore (AL-01), Julia Letlow (LA-05), Mary Miller (IL-15), and Anna Paulina Luna (FL-13).

Supporting Organizations: Fraternal Order of Police (FOP) and The Texas Municipal Police Association (TMPA).

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Congressman Roger Williams is the Chairman of the House Small Business Committee and member of the House Financial Services Committee. He proudly represents the 25th Congressional District of Texas.

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

WASHINGTON, D.C. — Today, President Donald Trump signed Congressman David Kustoff’s (R-TN) bill H.R. 517, the Filing Relief for Natural Disasters Act, into law. This new law will provide relief for taxpayers impacted by natural disasters and emergencies. 

“I thank President Trump for signing my bill, the Filing Relief for Natural Disasters Act, into law today,” said Congressman Kustoff. “This new law provides critical relief for all Americans when tornadoes, hurricanes, fires, flooding and other calamities affect communities across the nation. When disaster strikes, the last thing families and businesses should have to worry about is missing a tax deadline or paying Uncle Sam. The Filing Relief for Natural Disasters Act will ensure that these victims have the flexibility they need to rebuild and recover.” 

Rep. Judy Chu (D-CA) was an original cosponsor of this legislation that passed the House of Representatives on March 31, 2025. Click here to watch Congressman Kustoff’s remarks on the floor of the House of Representatives.

Photos from the Day: 
 

 

Background:
Currently, the U.S. Department of Treasury has the authority to postpone tax filing deadlines to taxpayers affected by federally-declared disasters. However, this does not extend to state-level emergencies. The Filing Relief for Natural Disasters Act would authorize the Treasury, in consultation with FEMA, to extend relief to impacted taxpayers as soon as the governor of a state declares a disaster or state of emergency. This legislation would also expand the current mandatory extension following a federally-declared disaster declaration from 60 to 120 days.

 

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Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Vicente Gonzalez (15th District of Texas)

WASHINGTON, D.C. — Today, Congressman Vicente Gonzalez (TX-34) announced his introduction of H.R. 4449, the Advocating for Small Business Act, alongside Republican Congressman Andrew Garbarino (NY-02). This bipartisan bill seeks to give small businesses in South Texas, New York, and across the country greater representation during the rule-making process at the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC).

The bill recently was reported favorably out of U.S. House Financial Services Committee (watch a video of Congressman Gonzalez’s remarks in committee HERE).

Among other objectives, the SEC is primarily responsible for enacting rules that both protect investors and help businesses raise the capital they need to grow and create jobs.

However, there is currently no dedicated office within the SEC that represents small business interests during the rulemaking process. This bill would correct that by establishing Offices of Small Business within each of the SEC’s rulemaking divisions—making the SEC more responsive and accessible to small businesses and entrepreneurs.

“Small businesses are the backbone of every community across the country and it’s time federal regulators, like the Securities and Exchange Commission, take their concerns and ideas seriously,” said Congressman Gonzalez. “Day after day, year after year, I hear from small business owners in South Texas about the challenges they face in complying with rules and regulations that are designed with only the biggest businesses in mind.  Businesses of all sizes are confronting rising prices due to tariffs and a national worker shortage, and our small businesses are especially feeling the pinch. I am proud to work with my colleague, Congressman Garbarino, on a bipartisan bill that will give our small businesses a greater voice in Washington.”

“If we want more small businesses to grow, succeed, and access capital here at home, we need rules that support innovation and open doors for investment. I was proud to partner with Congressman Gonzalez on this commonsense bill to make sure small businesses have a real voice in SEC policymaking, and I am glad to see it moving forward,” said Congressman Garbarino.

Congressman Gonzalez has previously announced actions on behalf of South Texas small businesses to alleviate the worker shortage, boost our local economy, and find commonsense solutions in response to the Administration’s mass deportation policies. Read more about this HERE.

Read the full text of the bill HERE.

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Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Vicente Gonzalez (15th District of Texas)

BROWNSVILLE, TEXAS — Today, Congressman Vicente Gonzalez (TX-34) submitted written testimony to both the Texas Senate and Texas House Redistricting Committees demanding that both bodies host an in-person redistricting field hearing in South Texas.  

Congressman Gonzalez is fighting to ensure that South Texas voices are heard as the committees hear from Texans in other parts of the state as part of the ongoing redistricting process.  

The full testimony is as follows: 

Chairman King and Chairman Vasut:  

As the United States Congressman proudly serving the 34th Congressional District of Texas, I write to convey my written testimony to this committee. First and foremost, I would like to assure that the record reflects the following: never in the history of our country have we seen the Governor of Texas bow down to a New Yorker. Gone are the days of tenacious and fiercely independent leadership in the Lone Star State.    

I am ashamed to see such a blatant attempt to sell out Texans and shut out key communities – like my own in the Rio Grande Valley – from the process. Our community is strong, and we deserve to be properly represented during both this process and in Congress. I wrote to you all just a few days ago urging you to schedule a field hearing – in-person, not virtual – in the Rio Grande Valley, where all of our citizens have the opportunity to participate if they so choose.  

My district is a hardworking and rapidly growing community of over 778,000 South Texans. It is home to SpaceX’s Starbase, two liquefied natural gas facilities, and the Port of Brownsville, the only deepwater port on the United States – Mexico Border, not to mention a multitude of land ports of entry that are economic drivers on not just the state scale, but on the international scale. 

 With all that we have to offer, our region finds it wholly unacceptable and disgusting that metropolitan areas such as Houston, Dallas-Fort Worth (Arlington), and Austin  are afforded hearings for their populations, but the Rio Grande Valley, an entire region of the state, won’t have a physical hearing before our legislature decides to cheat the system and silence our voice. I am not asking for you to move heaven and earth, we are only asking for the Rio Grande Valley have the same opportunity as people in other parts of Texas – not have to travel hundreds of miles to do so.  

Therefore, I urge the Texas House and/or Senate Select Committees on Congressional Redistricting to hold an official and in-person field hearing in the Rio Grande Valley that is accessible to all voters in our region. I remind the committees that the voters of Texas are watching closely, and they will remember this on election day. We will not be silenced. 

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Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Vicente Gonzalez (15th District of Texas)

Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Vicente Gonzalez (15th District of Texas)

WASHINGTON, D.C. — Today, Congressman Vicente Gonzalez (TX-34) and Congresswomen Judy Chu (CA-28), Sydney Kamlager-Dove (CA-38), and Veronica Escobar (TX-16), introduced the Visible Identification Standards for Immigration-Based Law Enforcement (VISIBLE) Act of 2025. This bill would require immigration enforcement officers to clearly display visible identification during public enforcement actions. 

As the Trump Administration continues to carry out its mass deportation agenda, there have been an increase in civil enforcement action involving officers wearing unmarked tactical gear, concealing clothing, and face coverings that obscure both agency affiliation and personal identity. Without visible badges, names, or insignia, the general public often has no way to confirm whether they are interacting with legitimate government officials. 

By requiring immigration enforcement officers to clearly display identification, it will reduce widespread fear and confusion caused by unmarked and armed personnel detaining people during enforcement actions. The bill will also build trust between the public and immigration enforcement personnel, reduce miscommunication, and increase officer safety and credibility.  

“We’re living through a time when Americans cannot confirm whether armed and masked individuals are law enforcement officers or criminals taking advantage of this lack of transparency,” said Congressman Gonzalez. “This is a common sense fix to an issue that must be corrected to increase the safety of both the general public and our immigration enforcement personnel.”  

“In Trump’s America, immigrants are being snatched off the streets by ICE agents wearing plain clothes, face masks, and no proper identification. This isn’t about officer safety—it’s an authoritarian tactic meant to sow fear and distrust within our communities,” said Rep. Kamlager-Dove. “Regardless of where you were born, every single person in this country has the fundamental right to know who is detaining them and why. ICE’s lawlessness must end now—the VISIBLE Act is a commonsense measure to increase transparency and trust between immigration enforcement and the communities they serve.” 

“Americans across the country have witnessed masked, armed, and unidentified individuals apprehending people, sometimes violently,” said Congresswoman Escobar. “Lack of any meaningful credentials by ICE agents has even inspired criminals to easily impersonate law enforcement in an effort to deceive their victims and the public. The VISIBLE Act is common-sense legislation to help ensure both officer and public safety.” 

“Donald Trump’s mass ICE raids have indiscriminately targeted entire communities, undermined every person’s right to due process, and greenlighted ICE agents and immigration enforcement to act with impunity. We saw this happen in front of our eyes in my district in Pasadena, California where masked ICE agents targeted community members, including those on the way to assist in Eaton Fire recovery, brandished guns at innocent bystanders, and refused to identify themselves. That is why I am proud to join Representatives Gonzalez, Kamlager Dove, and Escobar in introducing the VISIBLE Act, which would prohibit all immigration enforcement officers from wearing non-medical face coverings, require them to display their name or badge number and the agency they represent, and require DHS to implement disciplinary procedures for agents’ violations of the law. All Americans deserve to know who is exercising federal immigration authority in their communities. Immigrant communities and their rights deserve to be upheld and protected, not decimated,” said Congresswoman Chu. 

Specifically, the VISIBLE Act: 

· Requires immigration enforcement officers — including DHS personnel such as Customs and Border Protection (CBP) and Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), federal agents detailed to immigration operations, and deputized state or local officers — to display clearly legible identification, including their agency name or initials and either their name or badge number, in a manner that remains visible and unobscured by tactical gear or clothing; 

· Prohibits non-medical face coverings (such as masks or balaclavas) that obscure identity or facial visibility, with exceptions for environmental hazards or covert operations; and 

· Requires DHS to establish disciplinary procedures for violations, report annually to Congress on compliance, and investigate complaints through its Office for Civil Rights and Civil Liberties. 

The bill does not apply to covert or non-public facing operations, nor does it prohibit face coverings when necessary for officer safety. It also does not apply to enforcement actions conducted solely under criminal authority.  

The Senate version of the bill was introduced by Senator Alex Padilla (CA) and Senator Cory Booker (NJ).  

Read the full bill text here. 

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Source: United States House of Representatives – Congresswoman Aumua Amata (Western Samoa)

Washington, D.C. – Congresswoman Uifa’atali Amata, who serves as Vice Chairman of the House Veterans’ Affairs Committee (HVAC), is a cosponsor of H.R. 740, the Veterans’ Assuring Critical Care Expansions to Support Servicemembers (ACCESS) Act, led by Chairman Mike Bost, who introduced it in January with a companion bill led by Senator Jerry Moran. The Committee voted through this bill, one of the Chairman’s top priorities, which is now eligible for consideration by the full U.S. House of Representatives, as part of a considerable slate of 25 Veterans’ bills reported out last week.

“It was good to see 25 bills advanced last week by our Committee to deal with numerous Veterans’ concerns,” said Vice Chairman Amata. “Congratulations to Chairman Bost on this bill. Our Veterans nationwide want more choices and reduced wait times, including the option of seeing community providers. The bottom line is the importance of getting services to our Veterans promptly.”

H.R. 740 builds on both the MISSION Act and the CHOICE Act – two major Veterans reforms of recent years – with the goal of improving veterans’ access to care through community providers under the Veterans Community Care Program of the Department of Veterans Affairs. The VA MISSION Act, officially the Modernizing Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) Infrastructure in Communities Act, was signed into law in June 2018 to allow broader access to community providers. 

The Veterans’ ACCESS Act would establish existing community care access standards as the baseline standard of care for veterans seeking care in the community, increase access to life-saving care, strengthen wait time standards, and create an online patient self-service scheduling system.  

The bill is supported by numerous Veteran service organizations, representing millions of Veterans, including Wounded Warrior Project (WWP), The American Legion, Veterans of Foreign Wars of the United States (VFW), Tragedy Assistance Program for Survivors (TAPS), Elizabeth Dole Foundation, AMVETS, Paralyzed Veterans of America (PVA), Military Order of the Purple Heart, Vietnam Veterans of America (VVA), Mission Roll Call (MRC), IAVA, Veteran Action, Military Officers Association of America (MOAA), Concerned Veterans for America, and Americans for Prosperity (AFP).

Chairman Bost said, “The Veterans’ ACCESS Act strengthens and promotes the Veterans Community Care Program. It picks up where the MISSION Act and the Choice Act started. Many of us remember the waitlist scandals of 2014. It is as clear now as then: veterans deserve healthcare choice.” He continued, “This bill would take key steps toward better care for veterans. But this is not the end of the road. We wanted to require that VA’s referral standards prioritized veterans’ preference for care. We also wanted to increase access to Residential Rehabilitation Treatment programs.”

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Source: United States House of Representatives – Congresswoman Aumua Amata (Western Samoa)

Washington, D.C. – Congresswoman Uifa’atali Amata, who serves as Vice Chairman of the House Veterans’ Affairs Committee (HVAC), was an original cosponsor upon introduction in April of the Service Dogs Assisting Veterans Act, known as the SAVES Act. This week, the full Committee passed the bill, which will proceed to future consideration by the House.

“This bill substantially expands on our prior efforts to provide Veterans with trained service dogs, and builds on those successful outcomes,” said Vice Chairman Amata. “I cosponsored other good bills in previous Congresses, such as the PAWS for Veterans Therapy Act, and the results have been encouraging. Service Dogs are a blessing to many Veterans’ lives, and we can make this wonderful possibility available to thousands more Veterans to benefit from this aid and companionship.”

Under this legislation, the Secretary of Veterans Affairs would award grants to nonprofit organizations supporting programs providing service dogs to eligible veterans. This includes training for the service dogs, and extending the availability of this program to veteran disabilities, such as blind, deaf, traumatic brain injuries (TBI), military sexual trauma, paralysis, and Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD).

At introduction by Rep. Morgan Luttrell (R-TX) with Morgan McGarvey (D-KY), the bill was supported by a bipartisan group of 24 Members of Congress, which continues to expand. 

The previous PAWS for Veterans Therapy Act, signed into law in 2021 after four years of congressional efforts, focused on Veterans learning to train their own or others’ dogs, and this new bill takes into account that successful pilot program.

Some 20 percent of Iraq and Afghanistan war veterans suffer from post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and more than 450,000 service members have been diagnosed with a traumatic brain injury over the past two decades. These veterans suffer from higher rates of depression, anxiety, joblessness, homelessness, substance use, and suicide. 

This bipartisan bill creates a VA grant program to fund nonprofit organizations providing trained service dogs to eligible veterans at no cost. The nonprofits must meet requirements, including training standards and aftercare services, and be accredited by Assistance Dogs International (ADI) or a similar organization. The program will support veterans with disabilities like PTSD, TBI, military sexual trauma, and more.

A host of veterans organizations have endorsed this legislation. Thousands of service dogs already help veterans with disabilities across the United States. Service dogs successfully assist with conditions like blindness, mobility impairments, PTSD, and traumatic brain injury. 

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Source: United States House of Representatives – Congresswoman Aumua Amata (Western Samoa)

Washington, D.C. – Congresswoman Uifa’atali Amata extends heartfelt condolences to the family and fans of George “Fiji” Veikoso, who passed away recently at age 55 in his homeland of Fiji, surrounded by loved ones. 

“We’ve lost a true ambassador of Pacific music,” said Congresswoman Amata. “Fiji’s music was more than entertainment—it was a cultural bridge that brought people together across oceans and generations. May his legacy continue with the music and his influence on the Pacific music industry live on.”

Born in Tailevu, Fiji, he began performing professionally at a young age and rose to become one of the most celebrated voices in Pacific reggae and island soul. His accolades include the 1998 Na Hoku Hanohano Awards for Male Vocalist of the Year and Favorite Entertainer of the Year, a Grammy nomination for the Island Warriors compilation, and a 2021 Lifetime Achievement Award from the Pacific Music Awards. He co-wrote the theme song for Baywatch Hawaii, appeared in the film Blue Crush, and released multiple beloved albums, including Evolution and Born and Raised. His song “Lia” and over 500 million global streams reflect his widespread impact.

In 2024, Fiji hosted a two-day Homecoming concert in Nadi that drew major Pacific artists and boosted the local economy by over FJD $1 million. He was supported by Fiji’s government as a cultural leader and continued to uplift the Pacific through music until his passing. 

“His spirit, rooted in love and truth, will continue to live on in every note of his music,” concluded Congresswoman Amata. “I extend my deepest condolences to his family and all who loved him. May he rest in peace.”

Ia manuia lau malaga, Fiji. Moce mada, turaga vinaka.

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