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Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Josh Harder (CA-10)

WATCH: Harder speaks with KCRA about his new bill to lower costs
 

STOCKTON – In case you missed it, Rep. Josh Harder (CA-09) spoke with KCRA’s Brandi Cummings yesterday about new legislation to finally crack down on hidden junk fees that are driving up costs for working families. Harder’s Lower Internet Costs Act forces internet service providers to lower internet plan prices by banning hidden fees and requiring more transparency in pricing models. Read the highlights from conversation below:

KEY POINTS:

• Brandi Cummings – “Service fees, equipment rentals, data overages, installation fees – internet companies add hundreds of dollars to the average household bills every year. Now one Congressman wants to help crack down on those costs.”
• “This right now is absolutely unacceptable,” said Rep. Harder. “People are getting nickel-and-dimed by deceptive internet service plans. We’ve all seen it where you find a plan that says it’s going to cost $40 a month – by the time you finally get to checkout, it’s $100 or more.”
• “There’s so many additional fees that are getting tacked on, this bill would fix all of that,” Harder continued. “It creates one requirement that there is an all-in fee for any internet service plan that will ultimately save families hundreds of dollars per year.”

Watch the interview here.

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Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Josh Harder (CA-10)

LODI – Today, Rep. Josh Harder (CA-09) demanded an immediate reversal of cuts that will cancel funding for the Lodi Energy Center Hydrogen Project, which would lower energy bills, create jobs, and clean up our air. The U.S. Department of Energy is cancelling nearly $8 billion in projects across the country, which includes $35 million for the Lodi hydrogen facility. If completed, the Lodi project would be the only one of its kind in Northern California.

Valley families desperately need more clean energy:

• California ratepayers pay the second highest bills in the country, and for many families, monthly energy bills are often higher than their rent.

• Clean energy shortages make our air quality worse – Stockton and Sacramento rank among some of the worst air quality metropolitan areas in the country.

“It’s outrageous that the Department of Energy is pulling the plug on this vital project. Valley families desperately need cheaper energy, better air quality, and good paying jobs. This project was a win-win-win,” said Rep. Harder. “I’m calling on the Energy Secretary to immediately reverse these cuts and stop making life more expensive in the Valley. Washington needs to learn that our health, wallets, and future are not negotiable.”

Harder has fought for this project every step of the way:

• Historic funding – Harder helped pass the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law that provided this $35 million investment in Lodi.

• Local priority – Harder successfully pushed the Department of Energy to prioritize the Lodi hydrogen facility in the award funding process.

• Immediate reversal – Harder is sending a letter to Energy Secretary Chris Wright demanding an immediate reversal of these cuts and a restoration of the Lodi project.

“This project would have brought millions to the City of Lodi, not only through clean and affordable energy but by creating good-paying local jobs and positioning Lodi as a central hub in the clean energy future,” said Lodi City Councilmember Mikey Hothi. “Thank you to Representative Harder for taking up the mantle on this. As proposed, this would be among the first truly green hydrogen projects in the United States, a landmark we should be proud to host.”

If completed, the Lodi Hydrogen Project would be a historic asset and economic driver for the Valley. Constructed at the Northern California Power Agency’s (NCPA) existing natural gas facility, the project would produce clean hydrogen energy and increase grid reliability without any additional strain on precious Valley water supplies.

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Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Josh Harder (CA-10)

MANTECA – Rep. Josh Harder (CA-09) helped kick off the 4th annual Durga Puja Festival with the Manteca Indians, American Desi Society, and over 600 people from Manteca. One of the biggest Hindu celebrations of the year, Durga Puja brings together family, friends, and neighbors to honor tradition with dancing, great food, and a packed night of entertainment.

“I’m incredibly grateful to everyone for coming out and showing their support, as well as the over 200 volunteers who worked day and night to make the 2025 Durga Puja such a success,” said Rep. Harder. “From amazing artwork to exquisite foods and one-of-a-kind shows, the contributions of Manteca’s Indian community are on full display and help make the Valley such an incredible place to call home.”

Harder was joined by representatives from the Manteca Indians and American Desi Society, as well as Manteca Mayor Gary Singh, and hundreds of families from across the Valley.

 

Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Josh Harder (CA-10)

STOCKTON – Last night, Rep. Josh Harder (CA-09) hosted his 2025 Military Scholarship and Opportunity Night at the San Joaquin County Office of Education to give Valley students an opportunity to explore exciting military careers. The event brought together representatives from U.S. service academies, ROTC programs, and military recruiters to provide middle and high school students and families with information about scholarships, military career opportunities, and the congressional nomination process for America’s service academies.

“Nominating Valley students to our nation’s service academies is one of the greatest honors of my job,” said Rep. Harder. “We have some of the hardest-working kids in the country right here in our community, and I’m so proud to see them take the first steps toward service, leadership, and opportunity.”

 

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Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Josh Harder (CA-10)

Following completion of the Smith Canal Gate Project, Harder called for a federal flood risk re-evaluation

Source: United States House of Representatives – Representative Hank Johnson (GA-04)

WASHINGTON, D.C. — Congressman Hank Johnson (GA-04) and the entire Georgia Democratic delegation sent a letter to House Speaker Mike Johnson (LA-04) urging him to call the U.S. House back to Washington immediately to engage in good-faith bipartisan efforts to address the healthcare crisis Republican created. Below and here is a copy of the letter.

The Honorable Mike Johnson
Speaker of the House
H-232, The Capitol
Washington DC, 20515

Dear Speaker Johnson:

With health insurance premiums set to double for more than 20 million Americans and government funding lapsed, we are shocked to learn that you have decided the U.S. House of Representatives will not even come to work this week. House Republicans have now not come to work for 18 days.

Overwhelming majorities of Americans want Congress to act to prevent huge increases in health care costs and to end the government shutdown. We urge you to call the U.S. House back to Washington immediately to engage in good-faith bipartisan efforts to address these issues.

Our constituents get up each morning and come to work. With Georgians’ health care on the line and government funding expired, they expect the same from the Members of Congress who represent them.

Sincerely,

Congressman Henry C. “Hank” Johnson, Jr., Senator Jon Ossoff, Senator Raphael Warnock, Congressman Sanford Bishop, Congressman David Scott, Congresswoman Lucy McBath, Congresswoman Nikema Williams.

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Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Raja Krishnamoorthi (8th District of Illinois)

WASHINGTON – Congressman Raja Krishnamoorthi, Ranking Member of the Subcommittee on Health Care and Financial Services, and Congressman Robert Garcia, Ranking Member of the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform, sent a letter today to Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard demanding all intelligence and law enforcement materials related to Jeffrey Epstein, Ghislaine Maxwell, and their network of associates as the Oversight Committee continues its investigation into the Epstein files.

In their letter, the lawmakers wrote:

“Numerous public reports, including reports from attorneys representing survivors and court filings and investigative journalism, have raised significant questions regarding Mr. Epstein’s extensive contacts with foreign nationals, his unexplained sources of wealth, and his potential ties to foreign or domestic intelligence entities.”

“Survivors of Jeffrey Epstein and Ghislaine Maxwell’s sex trafficking conspiracy deserve justice and closure, and the American people deserve a full accounting.”

In pursuit of relevant information, the letter requests documents, reports, financial intelligence, and communications concerning Epstein and Maxwell’s contacts, foreign ties, and potential involvement with intelligence services. The lawmakers also directed the Office of the Director of National Intelligence to preserve all relevant documents and electronically stored information.

Specifically, Krishnamoorthi and Garcia requested the following materials no later than October 21, 2025:

1. All reports, assessments, memoranda, briefing materials, or other intelligence, counterintelligence, law enforcement documents, or other materials in your possession or control referencing Mr. Epstein or Ms. Maxwell in any context, whether as primary subjects or in connection with third parties;

2. All references to Mr. Epstein or Ms. Maxwell in signals intelligence, human source reporting, or other intelligence materials in your possession or control. To the extent minimization procedures or U.S. person privacy protections mean the names of Mr. Epstein or Ms. Maxwell do not directly appear in a given product, please produce all documents where there is reason to believe the names of Mr. Epstein or Ms. Maxwell would appear but for the application of such procedures or protections;

3. All financial intelligence reports referencing or related to accounts or business entities involving Mr. Epstein’s or Ms. Maxwell;

4. All internal memoranda, briefings, communications, or comparable preparations relating to security risks posed by Mr. Epstein or Ms. Maxwell, including any discussions of involvement with foreign intelligence services;

5. All communications and documents reflecting foreign government inquiries to your agency concerning Mr. Epstein or Ms. Maxwell; and

6. Any communications or other correspondence by agency personnel, including electronic correspondence, referring or related to Mr. Epstein, Ms. Maxwell, or their activities.

Their letter is available here.

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

Chairman Harris and Maryland Freedom Caucus Call on Maryland Democrats to End Their Government Shutdown 

Washington, D.C.  — In response to Governor Wes Moore and the Maryland Delegation’s press conference at BWI-Marshall this morning, Congressman Andy Harris and the Maryland Freedom Caucus called on Maryland’s Democrat delegation to end their government shutdown and to stop pretending to stand with federal workers while voting to keep them furloughed.

House Republicans passed a responsible plan to fund the government and protect hardworking taxpayers. Instead of working toward a reasonable agreement, Maryland Democrats chose to shut it down over unrelated policy demands.

Statement From Congressman Andy Harris:

“Despite the high number of federal workers in our state, I was the only member of our delegation to vote to keep the government open,” said Congressman Harris. “Governor Moore and Maryland Democrats talk about ‘supporting workers,’ but their actions tell a different story. Every Member of the Maryland Delegation voted to shut the government down and Maryland’s Senators Chris Van Hollen and Angela Alsobrooks have voted to shut down the government five times – and by all accounts will continue to do so. They could end this shutdown today if they truly cared about Maryland families.”

Statement From Maryland Freedom Caucus Members: 

“Governor Wes Moore runs to a microphone instead of leading. Federal workers need Senators Alsobrooks and Van Hollen to vote to reopen the government, not demand taxpayer-funded health insurance for illegal immigrants. Marylanders deserve leadership, not political theater.”

 

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Source: United States House of Representatives – Representative Mike Johnson (LA-04)

WASHINGTON — This evening, after Senate Democrats rejected the clean, short-term, nonpartisan continuing resolution to fund the government for the sixth time, Speaker Johnson joined The Lead on CNN, Balance of Power on Bloomberg TV, and Hannity on Fox News to discuss the government shutdown’s harmful effects on everyday Americans. Speaker Johnson also addressed Israel and Hamas agreeing to the first phase of President Trump’s historic peace plan. 

Watch Speaker Johnson on CNN, on Bloomberg TV, and on Fox News.  

On the harmful effects of the Democrat shutdown:

On October 15, troops begin to lose a real paycheck. And you’ve got TSA agents and border patrol agents and all these people sacrificing their own safety to protect everyone else, and they won’t be paid. You’ve got nutrition programs and health services and FEMA services, and all sorts of other things stalled. And half the civilian workforce of the federal government is now furloughed. This is dangerous stuff. Real people are being hurt. Air traffic controllers are falling back on the jobs because they don’t have enough personnel. This is serious stuff. And we need the Democrats to come to their senses and do the right thing.

On Republicans offering a clean, nonpartisan CR:

I am a good faith operator, I am a negotiator, I like to find common ground. Here’s the problem, because we were operating in good faith and doing the most basic simple thing – I mean, the bare minimum piece of legislation to keep the lights on – I literally don’t have anything to negotiate on the CR. I can’t go into that document then say, “Oh, let me pull off these Republican priorities and see if we can get some more Democrats to vote on it.” I don’t have anything to pull off of it. I sent over a clean continuing resolution. And by the very important, it continues Biden-era policies and spending, which we conservatives don’t like. We’re trying to change that, but we need the appropriations process to finish it. All we needed was seven more weeks on the clock to finish the process. And the Republicans and Democrats who are appropriators are the ones that decided that date and decided it should be clean and everything was going smoothly until Chuck Schumer decided to blow it up. Is he going to fold? I don’t know, but I’ll tell you what needs to happen. Some other Senate Democrats need to come to their senses and realize they should not be blamed for the pain that’s being inflicted on the people. Make it stop as soon as possible, do the right thing and join your Republican colleagues and open the government back up.

On President Trump’s historic peace plan between Israel and Palestine:

What stands out tonight is this stunning contrast of what we’re seeing. History is being made. Here’s President Trump showing peace through strength, using his power and position to bring peace to the Middle East. I mean, a truly massive historic foreign policy achievement, returning hostages, restoring security to Israel, setting a foundation for lasting peace and reducing taxes on hardworking Americans at the same time. And ending the border crisis, ending the crime crisis, and reducing fraud, waste and abuse in government, and now settling international conflicts all around the globe. And here’s the Democrats on Capitol Hill acting like a bunch of clowns. They’re trying to lie to the American people. They’re trying to play politics with government funding, and real Americans are being harmed. I think that there is such a stark contrast. I’m not sure there has ever been such a strong contrast between two political parties. The Republican Party is delivering for the American people, and the Democrats are trying to make a show out of this.

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Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Thomas Massie (4th District of Kentucky)

For Immediate Release
Contact: massie.press@mail.house.gov
Contact #: 202-225-3465

Today, Representative Thomas Massie (R-KY) introduced HR 5704, the Repeal the Smith-Mundt Modernization Act of 2013, to protect American audiences from the domestic dissemination of federally funded propaganda by the State Department, the United States Agency for Global Media (USAGM), and their component networks. 

“The 2013 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) included the Smith-Mundt Modernization Act, legislation that ended a prohibition on the federal government exposing American audiences to its propaganda,” said Rep. Thomas Massie. “I voted against that NDAA, and I offered an amendment to the 2026 NDAA to reinstate the original prohibition, but Speaker Johnson blocked a vote. The Smith-Mundt Modernization Act needs to be repealed. Taxpayer-funded fake news should not be used by the federal government to wage influence campaigns against the American people.”

The Repeal the Smith-Mundt Modernization Act of 2013:

• Repeals the 2013 Smith-Mundt Modernization Act to restore the longstanding firewall prohibiting federal domestic propaganda.
• Stops the domestic dissemination of propaganda by the State Department, United States Agency for Global Media, and their component networks.
• Creates a secure mechanism for oversight by allowing Members of Congress and accredited media to review propaganda materials sent overseas, without enabling those materials to be exploited against the American people.
• Prevents clandestine online influence operations by prohibiting the State Department and USAGM from creating covert social media accounts, websites, or podcasts to target Americans.
• Requires archiving of propaganda materials at the National Archives with 20 years of delayed public access and added disclaimers identifying both the U.S. government as the source of the materials and also the foreign audience for which the materials were intended.

Rep. Scott Perry (R-PA) is an original cosponsor and co-lead of the Repeal the Smith-Mundt Modernization Act of 2013.  

The text of the Repeal the Smith-Mundt Modernization Act of 2013 is available at this link.  

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