MIL USHOR-2b Engine

Source: United States House of Representatives – Congresswoman Sharice Davids (KS-3)

WASHINGTON, D.C. — Today, the 988 LGBTQ+ crisis support line is being shut down as previously ordered by the Trump Administration. In response, a bipartisan group of federal lawmakers and national mental health advocates spoke out against the harmful decision and called for its immediate reversal. Today’s event follows an earlier plea to U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy, Jr., urging his office to “scrap this ill-advised plan.”

Since its launch in 2022, the LGBTQ+ subline under the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline has been a critical, life-saving resource for LGBTQ+ youth and adults facing mental health crises. The line has handled nearly 1.3 million calls, texts, and chats from LGBTQ+ individuals seeking support. Its closure comes at a time of growing need — just last year, nearly 40 percent of LGBTQ+ youth seriously considered suicide, according to national surveys.

WATCH: Bipartisan Lawmakers Urge Protection of 988 LGBTQ+ Crisis Support Line

“The 988 LGBTQ+ line is not just a phone number — it’s a lifeline,” said Rep. Sharice Davids (D-KS-03). “This resource has helped save lives and connect LGBTQ+ youth with trained counselors who understand their experiences. It’s deeply disturbing that the Trump Administration is choosing to dismantle this service at a time when so many young people are in crisis. Ending it now is dangerous, and I’m proud to stand with colleagues from both parties to fight for its restoration.”

“We all know someone with a mental health condition because it’s just as common as heart disease or diabetes in America,” said Rep. Seth Moulton (D-MA-06). “That is true in every corner of the country, in red states as well as blue. That’s why mental health should never be political, especially when it comes to kids.  It’s alarming that the Trump administration would rather leave LGBTQ+ youth at risk instead of simply keeping the Trevor Project line of 988 funded. We are going to keep pushing back until the funding is restored – lives depend on it.”

“The Trump Administration is once again attacking the LGBTQI+ community by terminating the 988 lifeline. This is cruel, and this is unacceptable,” said Rep. Andrea Salinas (D-OR-06). “Mental health is not a partisan issue, and our children should not be used as pawns in President Trump’s purely political game. I’m committed to expanding access to specialty mental health care, and I won’t stop fighting until everyone can access the affordable, high-quality care they deserve.”

“For the past three years, the 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline has been a lifesaving resource for millions of Americans,” said Rep. Doris Matsui (D-CA-07). “The Trump Administration’s cruel decision to shut down the 988 Lifeline’s LGBTQ+ youth option will cost lives. One of every twelve callers to the general 988 crisis line is an LGBTQ+ youth. These calls aren’t just statistics. These are real kids, with names, with families, and with dreams. I’m proud to stand with my colleagues to demand that this critical funding continue.”

“Stripping away specialized crisis services for LGBTQ+ youth is an act of cruelty, not cost-cutting,” said Rep. Paul Tonko (D-NY-20). “This was a lifeline for nearly 1.3 million young people, many of whom had nowhere else to turn. We should be expanding this support, not dismantling it to appease homophobic extremists.”

“LGBTQ+ youth are four times more likely to attempt suicide than their peers. It should not be a political issue, but a matter of basic human decency to restore the 988 hotline’s specialized services that have been proven to save LGBTQ+ children’s lives,” said Rep. Chris Pappas (D-NH-01). “We all know someone who struggles with their mental health. We will continue to call on the administration to right this wrong and make them see why they must fund these critical services for LGBTQ+ youth.”

The decision to shut down the LGBTQ+ subline has drawn widespread concern from mental health experts and civil rights organizations, including The Trevor Project, which helped establish the dedicated line in partnership with the federal government. The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services’ own data shows the subline has significantly expanded access to crisis care for LGBTQ+ individuals, especially youth in underserved communities.

Today’s press conference included Representatives Sharice Davids (D-KS-03), Seth Moulton (D-MA-06), Doris Matsui (D-CA-07), Paul Tonko (D-NY-20), Raja Krishnamoorthi (D-IL-08), Chris Pappas (D-NH-01), Andrea Salinas (D-OR-06), Mike Lawler (R-NY-17), and representatives from The Trevor Project, American Foundation for Suicide Prevention, and National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI). The bipartisan group emphasized that the LGBTQ+ subline is not duplicative or political — it is a proven, specialized tool that meets a real and growing public health need.

“The 988 Lifeline’s ‘press 3’ option represents a landmark, bipartisan achievement that has connected more than 1.5 million LGBTQ+ youth in crisis with life-saving care during their darkest moments,” said Jaymes Black, CEO, The Trevor Project. “Ending our country’s suicide crisis is about people, not politics — and we are devastated that the federal government has prioritized a political agenda over saving the lives of at-risk young Americans. Even in the wake of this difficult news, we express our enormous gratitude to the champions in Congress and across the mental health space who have fought to protect these life-saving services — and who continue to fight for a country that supports the health, happiness, and safety of LGBTQ+ young people everywhere. For any LGBTQ+ young person who needs help or support, The Trevor Project’s counselors are still here for you 24/7 — no matter what. Visit TheTrevorProject.org/Get-Help.”

“LGBTQ+ youth face unique challenges — including stigma, discrimination, and elevated stress — that contribute to a suicide attempt rate more than four times higher than their non-LGBTQ+ peers,” said Robert Gebbia, Chief Executive Officer, American Foundation for Suicide Prevention. “Recognizing the urgent need for culturally competent support, Congress established a dedicated crisis line for LGBTQ+ youth in 2022. Since then, usage has grown steadily, with over 1.4 million contacts as of June 2025. We are grateful to Representatives Moulton, Krishnamoorthi, Davids, Matsui, Salinas, Tonko, Pappas, Fitzpatrick, and Lawler for championing continued support for this life-saving resource. At a time when youth, including LGBTQ+ youth, are facing a mental health crisis, eliminating specialized services would endanger lives.”

“Since its launch, over 1.3 million individuals have reached out to the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline’s specialized services for LGBTQ+ youth and young adults. The importance of talking to someone who understands your experience or has a shared experience with you is invaluable, and it has saved countless lives,” said Hannah Wesolowski, Chief Advocacy Officer, National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI). “NAMI urges the Administration to immediately reverse its decision eliminating these specialized services and to support resources for the mental health of our LGBTQ+ friends and family, who are tragically at a higher risk of suicide.”

If you or someone you know is in crisis, please call, text, or chat with the Suicide and Crisis Lifeline at 988, or contact the Crisis Text Line by texting TALK to 741741.

Source: United States House of Representatives – Congresswoman Sharice Davids (KS-3)

This week, U.S. Representative Sharice Davids joined Members of Congress from both chambers in reintroducing the Child Care for Working Families Act, comprehensive legislation to make high-quality child care more affordable and accessible for families across the country. It supports pre-K programs, strengthens wages for child care workers, and invests in Head Start.

“As someone raised by a single mom who often worked more than one job, I know how essential reliable, affordable child care is to working families,” said Davids. “Across Kansas and the country, parents are being forced to make impossible choices — between paying the bills and finding care for their kids. This bill addresses the child care crisis head-on and gives parents the tools they need to succeed and keep working.”

Nationwide, the cost of child care has skyrocketed — rising 29 percent since 2020, outpacing inflation. The average annual cost of child care now exceeds $13,000, placing enormous pressure on families. In Kansas and nearly every other state, those costs exceed rent or even in-state college tuition. The child care crisis is not only a burden for families, but also for the economy, costing the U.S. over $100 billion per year in lost earnings, productivity, and revenue.

The Child Care for Working Families Act would:

• Cap child care costs at 7 percent of a family’s income, with many paying significantly less or nothing at all.
• Expand access to high-quality child care and pre-K programs nationwide.
• Increase wages for child care and Head Start workers.
• Stabilize the child care sector and support full-day, full-year programming.

Davids has made child care a cornerstone of her work in Congress, introducing her own legislation — the Affordable Child Care Act — to support early learning and boost supply. She has also secured investment funding for Kansas child care providers and continues to advocate for working parents at the federal level.

But while Davids is working to lower costs, recent actions by the Trump Administration have only worsened the child care crisis. The administration has gutted oversight of the federal child care office, delayed disbursement of key child care and Head Start funds, and forced massive holes in state budgets, which include drastic cuts to Medicaid and SNAP. These harmful decisions are forcing states to consider pulling back on their own investments in child care, right as families need them most.

To read the bill text, click here. To read the fact sheet, click here. To read the section-by-section, click here. 

Source: United States House of Representatives – Congresswoman Sharice Davids (KS-3)

Representative Sharice Davids (KS-03) and Gwen Moore (WI-04) led their colleagues in calling for the Department of Justice (DOJ) to restore the Not Invisible Act Commission Report to their website. This report included critical information on the Missing and Murdered Indigenous Person (MMIP) crisis but was abruptly removed due to an executive order, erasing years of needed research.

In the letter, the Members highlight the important insights in the report, writing, “The Not Invisible Act Commission was composed of Tribal leaders, law enforcement, federal partners, service providers, and survivors who made recommendations to the DOJ and DOI on combating violence against American Indians and Alaskan Natives. The Commission held seven in-person field hearings and one multi-day virtual national hearing to hear from over 260 people. Many people who spoke to the Commission were family members of lost loved ones or themselves victimized by violence. Their stories and insights were essential to the report’s final recommendations and provided critical insight into addressing the MMIP crisis. This landmark report was a culmination of months of due diligence collection of testimony and data from across the country.”

“This legislation took a critical step in establishing how the government can continue to address the longstanding and ongoing MMIP crisis through the comprehensive collection of information and reporting on a federal agency level. However, on February 18th, 2025, the 212-page report titled, Not One More, was removed from the DOJ website. We understand that this was done to comply with President Trump’s Executive Order entitled Defending Women from Gender Ideology Extremism and Restoring Biological Truth to the Federal Government (Defending Women). However, the work done by the Not Invisible Act Commission explicitly does not promote gender ideology or extremism and is compliant with sections d and f of the OPM memo on this matter.”

In the letter the Members emphasize the importance of this report given that Indigenous people, especially Indigenous women, face higher rates of violence yet these incidences are underreported. 

“Indigenous people face disproportionate rates of violence. According to DOJ’s National Institute of Justice, 84.3 percent of women and 81.6 percent of men have experienced violence in their lifetime.1 At the same time, lack of data due to racial misclassification and adverse relationships between tribal government and outside law enforcement have led to an un-reporting of MMIP cases.”

The Members call for action, writing “We ask that the DOJ take immediate steps to restore the Not Invisible Act Commission Report as removing the data from public government websites obstructs long-overdue justice and harms any efforts to combat the crisis.”

The Members continue, “Accessible data is essential to addressing this crisis as it identifies patterns of disappearances and death, supports law enforcement and community responses, and informs public policy decision-making. The final report’s removal strips our most powerful tool in the pursuit of justice.”

Read the full text of the letter here.

Source: United States House of Representatives – Congresswoman Sharice Davids (KS-3)

Landmark Project to Create Thousands of Jobs and Cement Kansas as a National Leader in Clean Manufacturing

Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Jared Golden (ME-02)

WASHINGTON — Congressman Jared Golden (ME-02) is urging the House Natural Resources Committee (HNRC) to protect Maine’s lobstermen from new regulations related to the protection of the North Atlantic right whale until 2035. 

Golden worked with the Maine delegation and Governor Janet Mills to enact a moratorium on such regulations starting in 2023, but it is scheduled to expire in 2028. The HNRC Subcommittee on Water, Wildlife, and Fisheries met today to discuss a draft amendment to the Marine Mammal Protection Act (MMPA), which would extend the moratorium for seven more years.

“It was only three years ago that Maine’s lobster industry was on the verge of shutting down because of a regulatory process that was based on flawed interpretation of the MMPA and biased modeling that relied heavily on hypothetical threats that fisheries posed to the right whale,” Golden said. “[This amendment] would give the government the time it needs to craft regulations based on real science, reliable data and input from Mainers. And it would give lobstermen the time they need to prepare for whatever additional costs and changes to their harvesting practices may be required by new regulations.”

Golden also introduced into the record a letter in support of the amendment from Maine stakeholders, including the Maine Lobstering Union, Maine Lobster Association, New England Fishermen’s Stewardship Association and Downeast Lobstermen’s Association. (See here)

The Congressman’s full remarks, as drafted, are included below: 

“Thank you, Madam Chair. 

“The Marine Mammal Protection Act has a tremendous impact on the lives and livelihoods of the thousands of Maine lobstermen and fishermen I have the privilege to represent. So, I am grateful to you and the Ranking Member for having this hearing to discuss potential changes to the law.  

“I have serious concerns with the MMPA and I believe that changes need to be made to the law to ensure that it cannot be used to shut down entire fisheries and the communities they support. Simply put, the federal government should not be in the business of destroying the lives of hardworking Americans and thousands of small family-owned businesses based on assumptions that are not grounded in sound data.

“This is particularly true when it comes to regulations seeking to protect the North Atlantic right whale. It was only three years ago that Maine’s lobster industry was on the verge of shutting down because of a regulatory process that was based on flawed interpretation of the MMPA and biased modeling that relied heavily on hypothetical threats that fisheries posed to the right whale.

“That is why one of my proudest accomplishments in Congress was the successful effort in 2022 — working with the entire Maine delegation and our governor, on a bipartisan basis — to enact a moratorium on these regulations until 2028, coupled with additional funding to support right whale research. 

“However, based on my conversations with fishermen, more time is needed to incorporate the research and data collected during the pause into future right whale regulations. I am grateful to Congressman Begich of Alaska for working with me on this Discussion Draft and for including a much-needed extension of the regulatory pause until 2035 to ensure that any future actions taken to protect right whales are informed by a greater volume of data.

“I know that some of my colleagues, in the interest of protecting the right whale, have concerns with this Discussion Draft. So, let me share with you some facts: 

“First, and perhaps most importantly: It remains the case that Maine lobstermen do not pose an existential threat to the North Atlantic right whale. In the decades since we began tracking the cause of marine mammal serious injury and mortality, there has been only one instance where Maine lobster gear has been attributed to a right whale death — though even that linkage is tenuous at best. Maine lobstermen have a proven track record of leading the way when it comes to ocean resource conservation and mitigating the risk of whale entanglements, including the adoption of weak links and gear marking. 

“Second: The premise behind the original regulations has since been struck down by the courts. In 2023, the U.S. Court of Appeals ruled that the National Marine Fisheries Service had distorted the science and relied on egregiously wrong interpretations of the Marine Mammal Protection Act in crafting its proposed rules. The Court admonished the agency for basing its edicts on arbitrary, worst-case scenarios that were ‘very likely wrong.’ 

“Third: Fishermen need more time. In part because the court order forced regulators to go back to the drawing board, the Atlantic Large Whale Take Reduction Team won’t hold its first meeting on new regulations until 2026. If the moratorium expires in 2028, lobstermen will have insufficient time to plan for new regulations and may well find themselves unable to comply and forced to stop fishing entirely. 

“Maine’s lobster fishery has most recently been valued at more than half a billion dollars — and that’s just the value of the catch. It also supports tens of thousands of jobs. It is an iconic part of our state’s economy, heritage and appeal to visitors. As the largest source of lobster in the country, this fishery is an integral part of domestic and international supply chains.

“Maine’s fishermen are responsible stewards of our marine resources. No one is more invested than they are in ensuring a healthy ocean ecosystem. I urge my colleagues to support this amendment. It would give the government the time it needs to craft regulations based on real science, reliable data and input from Mainers. And it would give lobstermen the time they need to prepare for whatever additional costs and changes to their harvesting practices may be required by new regulations. 

“To close Madam Chair, I ask unanimous consent to submit into the record a letter from fishermen on both coasts in support of the MMPA Discussion Draft. Signatories on the letter include my constituents in the Maine Lobstering Union, Maine Lobster Association, New England Fishermen’s Stewardship Association and Downeast Lobstermen’s Association. 

“Thank you and I yield back.”

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Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Jared Golden (ME-02)

Congressman secures funding for destroyers, requirement for military footwear to be ‘Made in USA,’ among other wins

Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Jared Golden (ME-02)

H.R. 2550 has earned support from 222 members of Congress — more than enough to pass the bill

Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Jared Golden (ME-02)

WASHINGTON — Congressmen Jared Golden (D-ME-02) and Don Bacon (R-NE-02) introduced bipartisan legislation today to ensure those who risk their lives to protect others are afforded greater protections.

The Back the Blue Act creates new criminal provisions regarding the killing of, or attempting or conspiring to kill, federal law enforcement officers, U.S. judges and federally funded public safety officers. It also opens new streams of federal funding to strengthen the relationship between police and communities.

“At a time when violence against law enforcement is trending upward, we must do more to protect the protectors,” Golden said. “This bill takes a strategic two-pronged approach: First, it makes clear with new criminal provisions that violence against federal law enforcement officers, judges and other federally funded public safety officers will not be tolerated. Second, it opens new federal funds to strengthen the relationship between officers and the communities they serve and protect. It’s a tough, smart bill to ensure those who attack or kill officers pay a steep price, and to help reduce violence against officers before it happens.”

“Those who protect our communities – whether it’s on the beat, from the bench, behind a hose, or performing CPR – deserve extra protection from violence directed at them, including assault, intent to kill, or conspiracy to kill,” said Rep. Bacon. “The anger and violence have risen against these community guardians and this legislation is needed now. I am looking forward to working with Rep. Golden to get this long-overdue legislation passed into law.”

The bill earned the support of Maine State Lodge of the Fraternal Order of Police (FOP). 

“On behalf of the Maine Fraternal Order of Police, we would like to thank Congressman Golden for being the lead sponsor of the Back the Blue Act,” said Michael Edes, executive director of the Maine FOP.“This bill creates new criminal provisions that focus on protecting the dedicated men and women that, every day, stand the thin blue line between good and evil. Congressman Golden has consistently had the backs of Maine’s law enforcement officers, and we appreciate his ongoing efforts to protect the protectors.”

Other federally funded public safety officers covered by the legislation include firefighters, chaplains, and members of a rescue squad or ambulance crew, among others. The bill would impose a mandatory minimum sentence of 30 years if a death occurs, and the offender would be subject to the death penalty. Otherwise, the offender would face a minimum sentence of 10 years.

In addition, the legislation creates a new federal crime with escalating penalties, including mandatory minimums for assaulting a federally funded law enforcement officer, based on the extent of any injury and the use of a dangerous weapon. An offender who attempted to flee from justice to avoid prosecution would be subject to a mandatory minimum sentence of 10 years.

Finally, it creates a specific aggravating factor for federal death penalty prosecutions and expands self-defense and Second Amendment rights for law enforcement officers. 

The full text of the Back the Blue Act can be found here.

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Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Doug LaMalfa 1st District of California

Washington, D.C.—Today, Congressman Doug LaMalfa (R-Richvale) along with members of the California Republican delegation sent a letter to U.S. Department of Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy urging that the $4 billion recently recovered from the failed California High-Speed Rail project be redirected to long-overdue highway improvements across the state.

The letter outlines key projects for the federal funding, including expansion and repairs to State Route 99, Interstates 5 and 395, State Routes 65 and 70 as well as others.  Some key features highlighted in the letter are improvements requested near San Louis Reservoir and Lake Shasta to allow for both reservoirs to be expanded, as well as the Marysville bypass.

“California drivers have been stuck in traffic on worn-out, undersized highways while billions were wasted on this boondoggle,” said Rep. LaMalfa. “It’s decades behind and over $100 billion short. Finally, this is an opportunity to get serious about upgrading our highways and make improvements that also clear the way to build additional water storage capacity. Instead, we should be clearing bottlenecks, moving freight, and getting people where they need to go. The federal government took this money back from a failing, worthless project, and now we can use that money in a way that truly helps Californians. These projects have been put off for too long. We need real infrastructure that real people can use.”

A full copy of the letter can be found here.

Congressman Doug LaMalfa is Chairman of the Congressional Western Caucus and a lifelong farmer representing California’s First Congressional District, including Butte, Colusa, Glenn, Lassen, Modoc, Shasta, Siskiyou, Sutter, Tehama and Yuba Counties.

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Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Doug LaMalfa 1st District of California

Washington, D.C.—Congressman Doug LaMalfa (R-Richvale) released the following statement after the U.S. Department of Agriculture announced that the U.S. Forest Service is awarding $80 million in Wood Innovation Grants to promote wood products manufacturing, expand forest management, and fuel economic growth across America’s timber producing regions.

“This funding supports the kind of work we’ve been calling for: harvesting timber, reducing fuels, restoring local mills, and finding new uses for American wood,” said Rep. LaMalfa. “Years of federal mismanagement and red tape have turned our forests into firetraps. We’re finally seeing real steps to reverse that. These projects will strengthen rural economies, create good jobs, and help get our forests back to a healthy, managed state. I want to thank Secretary Rollins and President Trump for their leadership in making this happen.”

With this funding, the Forest Service is moving forward on 189 project proposals across the public, private, and non-profit sectors in 39 states and the District of Columbia. These projects will:

• Expand markets for mass timber construction, including workforce housing
• Upgrade lumber production infrastructure to boost local processing capacity
• Scale up biochar and wood energy using advanced pyrolysis technology and new kilns
• Help convert forest restoration byproducts into usable materials, reducing hazardous fuels and making forests safer

These Forest Service grants directly support jobs in harvesting, milling, and wood manufacturing, while advancing new uses for wood—a renewable, domestic, and cost-effective resource that’s vital to America’s construction and energy sectors.

This announcement builds on USDA’s $200 million timber investment in May of this year and is part of a broader strategy to promote economic opportunity and long-term forest health by streamlining regulations and speeding up project approvals.

The full list of funded projects can be found here.

Congressman Doug LaMalfa is Chairman of the Congressional Western Caucus and a lifelong farmer representing California’s First Congressional District, including Butte, Colusa, Glenn, Lassen, Modoc, Shasta, Siskiyou, Sutter, Tehama and Yuba Counties.

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