MIL USHOR-2b Engine

Source: United States House of Representatives – Congresswoman Robin Kelly IL

Legislation would incentivize gun owners to securely store their firearms, practice safe storage

Source: United States House of Representatives – Representative Mike Quigley (IL-05)

Today, U.S. Representative Mike Quigley (IL-05), a member of the House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence, released the following statement on recent violence in the West Bank and Gaza Strip:

“I was horrified by the murder of 20‑year‑old Palestinian‑American Sayfollah ‘Saif’ Musallet in the West Bank. There must be an independent investigation into Saif’s murder, and those responsible must be held accountable.

“I am a proud cosponsor of the West Bank Violence Prevention Act to bring an end to violence in the West Bank and ensure that any perpetrators are brought to justice. Amid their grief, Saif’s family has asked only for an end to the violence in the West Bank. Congress must do our part to provide them that justice.

“Over the weekend, I was equally horrified by the 94 Palestinians who were killed while seeking food aid and at least 33 people, including 12 children, who died of starvation. The time for Israeli reassurances about food aid has long passed. The United Nations must resume full control of humanitarian efforts in the Gaza Strip. More than 80 children have died of malnutrition since the war began, and 90,000 women and children are now in urgent need of treatment. These conditions are unacceptable and must come to an immediate end.

“As Israel’s closest ally, we have an obligation to hold our friends to the same standard we would any other international actor. That is why I am urging an immediate ceasefire and for Israel to immediately reinstate UN control over humanitarian aid distribution.”

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

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, Congressman Vicente Gonzalez (TX-34) exposed the truth about Republicans’ most significant betrayal of our seniors to date: the so-called “Big, Beautiful Bill.” 

Full remarks can be watched here.

Transcript below: 

GONZALEZ: Mr. Speaker, I rise today on behalf of every senior citizen in Texas and across America.  

Unfortunately, it’s not with celebration, but with outrage and disgust. I’m here to shed continued light to the damage this institution has caused seniors by the recent passage of this Big, Beautiful Bill, which was anything but. It is the most significant betrayal of our senior citizens yet. A betrayal of our values and our nation’s promise.  

Folks, let’s not be fooled by the branding. This bill wasn’t beautiful. It was brutal. It slashed Medicare funding under the guise of reform. It wrapped its cruelty in buzzwords like “efficiency” and “modernization” and “fiscal responsibility.”  

But beneath the surface, it is a cold and calculated attempt to strip millions of Americans of the dignity they have earned over a lifetime of work.  

This bill tells our parents and grandparents, thank you for building this country. Now, go fend for yourself.  

It says to the most vulnerable: health care is a luxury in this country, not a right. And they dare to call it beautiful.  

Let’s be clear Medicare is not a handout. It is a sacred promise paid by workers every day their entire lives. And it is a lifeline for seniors choosing between food and prescriptions, for families relying on home health care, for Americans who believe that aging should not come with abandonment. Cutting Medicare was not fiscally responsible. It was a moral failure.  

All of this was done at the bequest of their master. A master who wants tax breaks for the ultra-wealthy billionaires and multinational corporations, and empty slogans for the rest of Americans. It has sacrificed the well-being of American retirees on the altar of political theater.  

In fact, they were so diabolical about it that they purposely set a start date for these policies: December 2026, right after midterm elections, trying to poke seniors’ eyes.  

They want to fool voting senior citizens by making these painful policies kick in right after November elections. They’re not fooling anyone, folks. 

Americans are smarter than this. We need health care policies that uplift older Americans, not undermine them. That care for them, not cast them aside.  

That honor our social contract to American senior citizens.   

So, to those who voted for this bill, don’t call it beautiful. Own what it is: a betrayal to older Americans who helped build this country.  

To every senior who is watching today to every caregiver, to every grandchild and child caring for an older American, to every worker in Texas and across this great nation in hopes to retire with peace and dignity: we see you, we hear you, and we will not stop fighting.  

And I yield back.

###

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

RIO HONDO, TEXAS — Today, Congressman Vicente Gonzalez (TX-34) announced $20,539,148 in federal funding to Neighbors in Need of Services, Inc. (NINOS) from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) to support their Head Start Projects. The award comes from HHS discretionary funding for Fiscal Year 2025, which Congressman Gonzalez voted to pass.

“This funding will significantly enhance early childhood education services for families in Cameron and Willacy Counties,” said Congressman Gonzalez. “While the future of Head Start remains at the mercy of the Trump Administration, rest assured that I will continue to fight for these vital services for the betterment and success of our youth.”

“We sincerely thank Congressman Gonzalez and the Department of Health and Human Services for their continued investment in the children and families of South Texas. This year’s grant allows us to build on our long-standing commitment to providing comprehensive Head Start and Early Head Start services to over 2,000 families in Cameron and Willacy Counties,” said David Kowalski, Executive Director of NINOS, Inc.

Since 1990, NINOS, Inc., has offered educational programs, nutritional guidance, dental health services, and special services tailored to children from birth through four years of age to children and families in Cameron and Willacy Counties. The funding announced today will allow NINOS to continue its important work in early childhood development.

###

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

Legislation Endangers Texans’ Safety and Preparedness for Future Natural Disasters

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

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, Congressman Vicente Gonzalez (TX-34) announced the introduction of H.R. 4317, the PBM Reform Act, a piece of bipartisan legislation which protects South Texas patients and pharmacies from the harmful and anticompetitive business practices of pharmacy benefit managers (PBM). Congressman Gonzalez introduced this bill alongside Republican Congressman Earl L. “Buddy” Carter (GA-01) and 10 other members of Congress (full list below).    

The PBM Reform Act would ban “spread pricing” in Medicaid and move to a transparent system that ensures pharmacies are fairly and adequately reimbursed for serving Medicaid beneficiaries. The bill would also promote transparency for both employers and patients in their prescription drug plans and lastly require the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) to define and enforce “reasonable and relevant” contract terms in Medicare Part D pharmacy contracts and enforce oversight on reported violations. 

“Pharmacy Benefit Managers line their pockets and drive up the cost of life saving drugs at the expense of South Texans and the community pharmacies they depend on — this is shameful, dangerous, and must be stopped,” said Congressman Gonzalez. “I’m proud to introduce this bipartisan legislation with Congressman Buddy Carter that puts patients first, increases price transparency, and holds PBMs accountable.” 

“It’s time to bust up the PBM monopoly, which has been stealing hope and health from patients for decades. As a pharmacist, I’ve seen how PBMs abuse patients firsthand, and believe that the cure to this infectious disease is transparency, competition, and accountability, which is exactly what our bipartisan package provides,” said Congressman Buddy Carter.  

The full list of original co-sponsors include: Congresswoman Debbie Dingell (MI-12), Congressman Greg Murphy (NC-03), Congresswoman Deborah Ross (NC-02), Congressman Jodey Arrington (TX-19), Congresswoman Diana Harshbarger (TN-01), Congressman Rick Allen (GA-12), Congressman Raja Krishnamoorthi (IL-08), Congressman John Rose (TN-06), Congressman Derek Tran (CA-45), and Congresswoman Nicole Malliotakis (NY-11).  

Background 

Pharmacy benefit managers were created as middlemen to reduce administrative costs for insurers, validate a patient’s eligibility, administer plan benefits, and negotiate costs between pharmacies and health plans. Over time, PBMs have been allowed to operate virtually unchecked as they consolidated to where three companies now control 80% of the prescription drug market. 

Vertical integration and a lack of transparency have led to pharmacy closures and higher costs for patients across the country. 

Read the full text here.

### 

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

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today [originally released on Thursday, July 3, 2025], Congressman Vicente Gonzalez (TX-34) released a statement following his vote against the updated Republican Budget Bill that strips healthcare from almost 17 million Americans, including more than 1.6 million Texans and over 100,000 South Texans, and adds almost $4 trillion to the deficit over the next decade – all to give billionaires and multinational corporations a tax break. 

“This bill is nothing but One Big Betrayal to the American people,” said Congressman Gonzalez. “It goes back on our promise to senior citizens, veterans, and students. It guts lifeline programs for hundreds of thousands of South Texans. Fiscally irresponsible and cruel, President Trump’s ‘One Big Beautiful Bill’ will force children to go hungry in school, put Medicare and Meals on Wheels on the chopping block, and drive our nation and our students deeper into debt. I could not in good conscience vote for legislation that will make South Texans sicker and poorer while making the ultra-rich even richer.”  

###

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

 

Washington, D.C. – Congresswoman Uifa’atali Amata welcomes the House Natural Resources Committee’s unanimous passage of a bipartisan bill she cosponsored, H.R. 3858, the Sport Fish Restoration, Recreational Boating Safety, and Wildlife Restoration Act of 2025. 

Introduced by Congresswoman Debbie Dingell, D-MI, who represents a district near Great Lakes recreation and wildlife areas, the bill has bipartisan support with nine cosponsors including Congresswoman Amata. The next step is full House consideration. The bill was one of a slate of 12 bills passed by the committee addressing conservation issues, outdoor recreation, and firefighter support. 

“I’m happy to cosponsor this bipartisan effort to better support a wide range of outdoor activities while promoting healthy wildlife habitat,” said Congresswoman Amata. “Thank you to my friend Congresswoman Dingell for her leadership on this issue.”

This legislation supports and strengthens America’s outdoor recreation economy by reauthorizing and reforming the Sport Fish Restoration and Boating Trust Fund by amending and updating the Dingell-Johnson Sport Fish Restoration Act to further bolster restoration efforts and recreational boating safety.

Since 1950, the Trust Fund has supported projects, fisheries, habitat restoration, boating access infrastructure, and aquatic education.

###

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

Washington, D.C. – Congresswoman Uifa’atali Amata released the following statement in celebration of Manu’a Flag Day 2025, also known as Manu’a Cession Day, celebrating the islands’ historic 1904 decision officially joining the United States. 

“I’m delighted to take part in this year’s celebration in Manu’a. This is the anniversary of the 1904 U.S. flag-raising in Manu’a, as beautiful Ta’u, Ofu, and Olosega officially joined the United States as part of American Samoa. This celebration is a wonderful tradition. We appreciate and honor the wisdom of these forefathers, the Matai chiefs of the time, providing generations of security and blessings to our people. Since then, our Service Members, Veterans, and military families can take special pride in their service to the greater cause of freedom as part of the United States. I’m so happy to take part in this year’s celebration with the people of Manu’a!”

###

Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Adriano Espaillat (NY-13)

WASHINGTON, DC — Yesterday, Representative Adriano Espaillat (NY-13) joined journalist Jorge Ramos for a featured interview on Así Veo Las Cosas, Ramos’s new digital news platform on YouTube, to discuss the state of immigration policy in the United States, rising community fears over increased enforcement actions, and the bipartisan “Dignity Act.” 

“In communities across New York and the nation, there is real fear—but also hope,” said Rep. Espaillat. “Families are afraid to go to work, send their children to school, or simply walk down the street. This is not who we are as a country. That’s why we are pushing for transparency, accountability, and real solutions like the Dignity Act to protect our immigrant communities.” 

During the conversation, Rep. Espaillat condemned recent ICE raids, including a disturbing incident in Harlem where federal agents questioned children as young as 11 years old about their immigration status. He also highlighted growing bipartisan support in Congress for legislation that would protect Dreamers, accelerate family reunification, and impose new restrictions on ICE operations near schools, churches, and hospitals. 

“This plan is not perfect—but it is a step in the right direction,” Espaillat said. “We must meet this moment with courage and compassion and ensure that our policies reflect our values.” 
 

Rep. Espaillat also called for full public disclosure of records related to the Epstein case, stating, “The American people deserve to know the truth—no exceptions, no special treatment.” 

The full interview is available on Jorge Ramos’s official YouTube channel: Así Veo Las Cosas – Jorge Ramos 

###

Representative Espaillat is the first Dominican American to serve in the U.S. House of Representatives and his congressional district includes Harlem, East Harlem, West Harlem, Hamilton Heights, Washington Heights, Inwood, Marble Hill and the north-west Bronx. First elected to Congress in 2016, Representative Espaillat is serving his fifth term in Congress. Representative Espaillat currently serves as a member of the influential U.S. House Committee on Appropriations responsible for funding the federal government’s vital activities and serves as Ranking Member of the Legislative Branch Subcommittee of the committee during the 119th Congress. He is Chairman of the Congressional Hispanic Caucus (CHC), a member of the Congressional Progressive Caucus (CPC), and serves as a Senior Whip of the Democratic Caucus. To find out more about Rep. Espaillat, visit online at https://espaillat.house.gov/.

Media inquiries: Candace Person at Candace.Person@mail.house.gov