MIL USHOR-2b Engine

Source: United States House of Representatives – Congresswoman Betty McCollum (DFL-Minn)

WASHINGTON, D.C. — On Thursday, the House of Representatives passed H.R. 7148, the Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2026. Upon passage of the temporary government funding measure, Congresswoman Betty McCollum, the Ranking Member of the House Appropriations Subcommittee on Defense, issued the following statement: 

“As Ranking Member of the House Appropriations Subcommittee on Defense, I am pleased that Republican leadership has finally allowed the Subcommittee to negotiate a bipartisan Fiscal Year 2026 Defense Appropriations Act that can win broad support in the House. Like previous years, months of delays could have been saved if Republicans had not included outrageous partisan riders in the House version of this bill. I’m pleased that all these partisan provisions were removed in the negotiation process. This compromise legislation provides our service members with the training and equipment necessary to complete their missions and come home safely. The bill also prioritizes our military families by including a 3.8 percent pay increase. Importantly, the bill also includes $1.27 billion for the Congressionally Directed Medical Research Program, which will begin to alleviate some of the damage done to medical research by severe cuts in the previous fiscal year’s Continuing Resolution. I am also pleased that the bill includes robust funding for environmental remediation efforts, including research on PFAS destruction technology.”
 

###

Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Ben Cline (VA-06)

This week, the U.S. House of Representatives passed the Fiscal Year 2026 Transportation, Housing and Urban Development (THUD) appropriations bill, taking the next step toward securing $17 million for long-needed safety and capacity improvements along Interstate 81. This latest investment, secured by Rep. Cline, will support critical upgrades and potential widening along the corridor and reflects his advocacy for Virginia’s Sixth District through the House Appropriations Committee. The bill is awaiting final approval in the Senate. 

“For years, residents of Virginia’s Sixth District have told me how dangerous and congested I-81 has become,” said Rep. Cline. “This bill’s passage out of the House puts us one step closer to critical improvements that will make I-81 safer, more efficient, and better equipped to serve commuters, families, and the truck drivers who keep our regional economy moving. This is a meaningful step toward delivering the reliable interstate our communities along the I-81 corridor deserve.”

BACKGROUND:

The I-81 Corridor handles an enormous volume of freight and passenger traffic. Each year, more than 12 million commercial trucks travel along the interstate, moving over $300 billion in goods. As traffic increases, so does the need to modernize the highway to support on-time delivery and reduce disruptions that hurt both local businesses and national commerce.

Originally built over 50 years ago, I-81 has not kept up with growing traffic and freight demands. A 2018 state report identified urgent needs along the corridor, and while Virginia has taken important steps to address them, additional federal investment is necessary.

Travel delays are becoming more frequent and unpredictable, impacting both freight movement and personal travel. To help fix this, Virginia’s Interstate 81 Corridor Improvement Program (CIP) includes plans to widen the road from two to three lanes in critical sections. These upgrades will reduce congestion, create more room for emergency response vehicles, and lower the risk of crashes by allowing more space for vehicles to maneuver.

Congressman Ben Cline represents the Sixth Congressional District of Virginia. He previously was an attorney in private practice and served both as an assistant prosecutor and a Member of the Virginia House of Delegates. Cline and his wife, Elizabeth, live in Botetourt County with their two children.

###

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

Headline: Newhouse Calls for Congressional Oversight of TikTok Deal

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, Rep. Dan Newhouse (WA-04) released the following statement on the joint venture deal to acquire TikTok’s United States assets. 

“Congress needs to exercise considerable oversight of this deal, and we will need to hear from the Administration about if this agreement truly protects U.S. users’ data and privacy. We are dealing with Communist China on every front and the last thing we need is uncertainty as to how much influence they may have through TikTok’s new algorithm. I will be working closely with Chairman Moolenaar and my colleagues on the Select Committee on the Chinese Communist Party to make sure this deal follows with the law and protects Americans from our greatest adversary.” 

In April 2024, Congress passed legislation forcing TikTok parent company, ByteDance, to sever ties with its U.S. operations. The legislation included a U.S. ban on the application if ByteDance did not comply.  

The President signed the legislation, and the Supreme Court upheld the law after TikTok argued against it in federal court in Washington, D.C. 

Today’s deal outlines joint ownership by U.S.-based Oracle and Silver Lake, and Abu Dhabi-based MGX, each owning 15 percent. 35 percent will be owned across eight other private investors. ByteDance will maintain a 19.9 percent stake in U.S. operations under the agreement. 

### 

Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Henry Cuellar (TX-28)

Today, U.S. Congressman Henry Cuellar, Ph.D. (TX-28), issued the following statement after the House advanced FY26 government spending bills that include major investments to strengthen health care in South Texas and nationwide:

“This is a clear win for patients, providers, and communities that depend on a strong health care system,” said Congressman Cuellar. “These bills make real investments, stop real cuts, and give health care providers the support they need to keep serving people where they live.

“Health care is a cost-of-living issue for families. When community clinics can see more patients, rural hospitals can keep essential services in place, and providers have the stability to keep delivering care, costs come down and access goes up. These bills move us forward with purpose.”

The FY26 government spending bills include $4.6 billion in mandatory funding for Community Health Centers through 2026, representing the largest funding increase in a decade and nearly $1.2 billion more than previously proposed. This funding expands access to primary and preventive care, particularly in areas where community health centers serve as the front door to the health care system.

The legislation also prevents $16 billion in hospital cuts by eliminating two years of reductions that would have disproportionately affected vulnerable patients. By maintaining this funding, hospitals can continue offering essential services and responding to community needs.

The bills further strengthen Medicaid support for providers serving vulnerable populations and provide nearly $2 billion in value-based Medicare payments to physicians. These encourage high-quality care and help ensure timely access to services for seniors and patients with complex medical needs.

In addition to funding, the FY26 legislation advances policies to support the health care workforce, improve preventive care, and extend key programs that benefit rural hospitals, telehealth services, behavioral health providers, and maternal health initiatives.

“These investments matter,” Congressman Cuellar added. “They strengthen care close to home, provide certainty for providers, and deliver better outcomes for families. That is a real result, and it is worth fighting for.”

Congressman Cuellar continues to support practical funding solutions that expand access to care, strengthen local providers, and improve health outcomes for families across South Texas.

Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Rick Larsen (2nd Congressional District Washington)

Today, Representative Rick Larsen (WA-02) released the following statement after voting yes yesterday on a package of three Fiscal Year 2026 (FY26) spending bills. The package passed the House with bipartisan support on a 341-88 vote and now heads to the Senate for consideration.

“These funding bills will create jobs, expand access to education and give a pay raise to servicemembers in Northwest Washington and across the country,” said Rep. Larsen. “My colleagues in Congress and I continue to ignore the President’s requests to end critical government services. I will keep fighting for the people I represent and holding the Trump administration accountable to spending these funds as Congress has directed.”

Larsen and Congress Reject Trump’s Cuts

Despite the President’s requests to eliminate funding for jobs, education and health services the American people rely on, Congress continued to fund those priorities. The final package of bills funds the following agencies and programs, all of which the President proposed eliminating or significantly cutting: 

• $116 billion for the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), which supports critical public health investments at the National Institutes of Health (NIH), Center for Disease Control (CDC) and Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA); 

• $13.7 billion for the Department of Labor; 

• $79 billion for the Department of Education, along with language clearly stating no authority exists for the Department to offload its responsibilities to other agencies and requirements that the Department to maintain staff necessary to fulfill its functions; 

• $22.5 billion for Pell Grants, which help low-income students achieve bachelor’s and graduate degrees, rejecting the President’s proposal to cut Pell Grant awards by more than $1000; 

• $1.76 billion for the Job Corps program, which helps low-income young people in Northwest Washington and across the country complete college credits and professional certifications; 

• $557 million for AmeriCorps grants, which engages more than five million Americans in service through a variety of stipended volunteer work programs; 

• $292 million for the Institute for Museum and Library Services, which supports public libraries across Northwest Washington and the country; 

• $4.4 billion to Homeless Assistance Grants, including the Continuum of Care (CoC) program, which is the largest source of federal funding for homeless services and housing programs; and 

• $15 million for the Housing and Urban Development – Veterans Affairs Supportive Housing (HUD-VASH) program, which helps veterans in Northwest Washington obtain and keep stable housing. 

The final package of bills also rejects the President’s request for additional funding for military operations in Venezuela and the Caribbean. 

Larsen Priorities for Jobs, Education, Defense and World Cup Included

The bills provide funding to create jobs, help students access educational opportunities, support the military and prepare for the World Cup this summer:

Jobs 

• $95.8 million to help the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) hire 2,500 new air traffic controllers; 

• $4 billion for the Airport Improvement Program, which provides grants for the planning and development of public-use airports and in 2023 provided more than $15 million for infrastructure projects at airports in Northwest Washington; 

• $40 million for Aviation Workforce Development Grants, which grow the talent pipeline of aviation workers and in 2022 awarded Aviation Technical Services in Everett a $459,206 grant to support careers in aviation maintenance; 

• $6.2 million for research into stormwater management to reduce the impacts of 6PPD and 6PPD-quinone on salmon-bearing streams; 

• $25 million for ferry grants, with $4 million set aside for low- and no-emission ferries; 

• $145 million for the Better Utilizing Investments to Leverage Development (BUILD) grant program, which enables communities of all sizes to carry out road, rail, transit and other surface transportation projects with significant local or regional impact; 

• $35 million for Small Shipyard Grant Program, which helps shipyards modernize, increase productivity and create jobs; 

• $103 million for Port Infrastructure Development Program, which provides funding for projects that improve the safety, efficiency, or reliability of the movement of goods in ports; 

• $38.4 billion for Section 8 vouchers, which help low-income families, particularly those with seniors or individuals with disabilities, afford housing; 

Education 

• $12.4 billion for Head Start, which provides early learning, health, and family well-being services to children and families; 

• $1.2 billion for TRIO, which help students from disadvantaged backgrounds access higher education;  

• $12.4 billion for Impact Aid, which provides funding for school districts impacted by a federal presence and ensures they can provide a quality education; and $70 million for Department of Defense supplemental Impact Aid for schools serving large populations of military families; 

Defense and World Cup 

• 3.8 percent pay raise for servicemembers; 

• $400 million for assistance to Ukraine, $100 million more than FY25; and  

• $194 million for public transportation assistance relating to the 2028 Olympic Games and the 2026 World Cup (Rep. Larsen introduced the Transportation Assistance for Olympic and World Cup Cities Act to ensure transit agencies would get funding prior to these events). 

###

Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Don Bacon (2nd District of Nebraska)

Bacon, Bera, & Colleagues Introduce Bill to Expand Access to General Surgery in Underserved Communities

Bipartisan legislation directs the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) to study and designate general surgery shortage areas

WASHINGTON – Reps. Don Bacon (NE-02), Ami Bera, M.D. (CA-06), Scott Peters (CA-50), and John Joyce, M.D. (PA-13) introduced the Ensuring Access to General Surgery Act of 2026, bipartisan legislation to strengthen how the federal government identifies communities that lack access to general surgeons and to help expand access to care by establishing a framework for general surgery shortage areas.

Rural communities face persistent workforce challenges when accessing general surgery care. A 2020 HRSA report found that rural areas have only 69 percent of the general surgeons needed to meet demand. The Association of American Medical Colleges projects that demand for surgeons will continue to outpace supply nationwide, resulting in a shortage of 10,100 to 19,900 surgeons by 2036.

“I’m pleased to join Rep. Bera in introducing the Ensuring Access to General Surgery Act, which will direct HRSA to conduct a comprehensive, data-driven study of how we can better identify general surgery shortage areas,” said Rep. Bacon. “By examining factors from travel times to hospital capabilities, we can ensure federal resources are targeted where they’re needed most to help families in rural Nebraska and communities nationwide.”

“As a physician, I’ve seen how delays in care can turn treatable conditions into emergencies,” said Rep. Bera. “When families can’t access a general surgeon close to home, it can mean hours on the road, longer wait times, and worse outcomes. This bipartisan bill will help us better identify where the gaps are so we can strengthen access to timely surgical care and make sure your ZIP code doesn’t determine whether you can get the care you need.”

“Americans should receive quality health care, no matter where they live,” said Rep. Peters. “Unfortunately, many communities don’t have access to general surgery, preventing many patients from getting the care they need. The first step toward improving access to general surgery is knowing where these underserved populations are. Then, we can work to expand access to care and lower costs for San Diegans and patients everywhere.”

“As a physician, I know firsthand how important it is for American patients to have access to the care they need, where they live. This is particularly relevant in rural areas such as Pennsylvania’s 13th Congressional District,” said Rep. Joyce. “Every American should have access to high-quality care, including general surgery, in their community. By investing in data to pinpoint geographical gaps in patient care, this legislation would address long-standing imbalances and adequately expand access for patients throughout the country.” 

“In light of growing evidence demonstrating a maldistribution of general surgeons, the American College of Surgeons believes that additional research is necessary to better understand where critical shortage areas exist,” said Patricia L. Turner, MD, MBA, FACS, Executive Director and CEO of the American College of Surgeons. “Determining where patients lack access to surgical services and designating a formal surgical shortage area will provide the Department of Health and Human Services with a valuable new tool for increasing access to the full spectrum of high-quality health care services. Incentivizing general surgeons to locate or remain in communities with workforce shortages is critical in guaranteeing all patients, regardless of geographic location, have access to quality surgical care. We thank Representatives Ami Bera, MD, John Joyce, MD, Scott Peters, and Don Bacon for their continued leadership on this important issue.”

The Ensuring Access to General Surgery Act directs HRSA to study how underserved populations access general surgeons and evaluate whether existing federal shortage designations accurately reflect access to surgical care. The bill directs HRSA to evaluate a data-driven method to identify general surgery shortage areas, taking into account factors like travel time, wait times, health outcomes, and critical access hospitals with surgical capabilities but lacking a general surgeon. The legislation would ensure consultation with stakeholders, require a report to Congress within one year, and provide for ongoing public reporting and regular updates to shortage area designations.

Read the full text of the legislation here. 

###

Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Mario Diaz-Balart (25th District of FLORIDA)

Washington, D.C. – Congressman Mario Díaz-Balart (FL-26), Vice Chair of the House Appropriations Committee and member of the Defense Subcommittee, issued the following statement after House passage of H.R. 7148, which funds the Fiscal Year 2026 appropriations for Defense, Labor-HHS-Education, and Transportation and Housing and Urban Development; and H.R. 7147, which funds the Fiscal Year 2026 appropriations for the Department of Homeland Security:

“House Republicans have delivered on our promise to the American people by passing legislation that prioritizes America’s security, prosperity, and future, while cutting wasteful spending, rooting out inefficiencies, and ensuring taxpayer dollars are spent responsibly. The appropriations package once again demonstrates that, under Chairman Tom Cole’s steadfast leadership, we are fulfilling our fundamental duty to serve the American people by keeping the government funded and avoiding another disastrous government shutdown.

These bills strengthen America’s deterrence by supporting the day-to-day readiness of our brave men and women in uniform, investing in proven priorities that save lives and expand opportunity, modernizing our transportation and transit systems, and protecting the homeland from terrorists, narco-traffickers, criminals, and others who wish us harm.

Importantly, these bills reflect a disciplined approach to governance, targeting funding toward proven priorities, eliminating duplicative and outdated programs, and demanding accountability from federal agencies.

I commend Chairman Tom Cole for these accomplishments and thank Subcommittee Chairmen Ken Calvert, Robert Aderholt, and Steve Womack for working directly with me to address key priorities in Florida and for my constituents in FL-26.”

Below are Funding Highlights for Florida’s 26th Congressional District:

Bolsters our Defense capabilities and provides for our servicemen and women

• Directs the Secretary of Defense to maintain the current U.S. Southern Command (SOUTHCOM) headquarters and mission, recognizing its critical role in protecting U.S. interests in the Western Hemisphere, countering transnational threats such as drug trafficking, and promoting stability throughout Latin America and the Caribbean
• $350.8M for SOUTHCOM and counternarcotics activity
• Delivers a 3.8% pay raise for all service members and continues historic pay increases for junior enlisted service members
• $27B increase over the FY23 enacted level, and directs that funding to critical national defense efforts, including countering the People’s Republic of China (PRC), increasing counternarcotics efforts, and investing in quality-of-life initiatives for servicemembers and their families
• Maxes out production of critical munitions
• Doubles security cooperation funding for Taiwan
• Invests in next-generation fighter aircraft, helicopters, tactical combat vehicles, and submarines
• Prohibits the President from being able to close the Guantanamo Bay Detention Facility or transfer detainees to the United States.
• Prohibits funding for the Wuhan Institute of Virology and EcoHealth Alliance in China.
• Local businesses in FL-26 with proven products are allowed to compete for $35M for the Enhanced Ballistic Armor Protection Systems
• Invests in 5th and 6^th-generation aircraft
• Continues modernizing the nuclear triad and invests in the new Golden Dome missile defense system
• Accelerates funding for hypersonic weapon systems
• Includes funding for 17 new ships

Supports our local community with over $30M for local projects

• $9M for the Collier County VeteransCommunityCenter Project
• $7.2M for the Everglades CityCommunityCenter Project
• $2M for the Feasibility Analysis for Proposed Interchange at I-75 and Everglades Boulevard Project
• $6M for the I-75 Project Development and Environmental Study, NW 107thStreet and NW 154th Street Project
• $973,000 for the Miami Lakes Big Cypress Drainage Improvements Project
• $4.9M for the City of Hialeah Southeast Hialeah Stormwater Improvements Project

Continues the investments into our nation’s infrastructure and public safety

• $145M for the National Transportation Safety Board, a critical independent agency in the wake of near-misses at airports nationwide and train derailments.
• $4B for facilities and equipment through the FAA
• $10.34B to fully fund air traffic control operations and allow the FAA to hire 2,500 air traffic controllers to replace the retiring workforce
• $309.5M through the Pipelines and Hazardous Materials Administration, to fully fund safety efforts with increases to help communities prevent, prepare for, and respond to hazardous materials incidents

Provides housing opportunities to our most vulnerable populations

• Increased to $18.543B for Project-Based Rental Assistance, which provides full renewal of housing contracts serving 1.3 million households
• Increased to $1.03M for Housing for the Elderly, which provides a full renewal of housing contracts serving 123,000 households
• Increase to $287M for Housing for Persons with Disabilities, serving 33,000 households
• Maintains housing assistance for vulnerable Americans, including the elderly disabled, and veterans by:
• Providing full renewal for all currently-leased, tenant-based rental assistance vouchers, all project-based rental assistance contracts, and all housing for the elderly and persons with disabilities contracts
• Rental assistance vouchers for veterans
• Funding for the Melania Trump foster youth rental assistance vouchers
• Increase to $4.4B for Homeless Assistance Grants
• $3.3B for Community Development Block Grants
• $529M for housing for persons living with HIV/AIDS, the elderly, and persons with disabilities
• $158M for Neighborworks, helping local communities’ partner with the public and private sector to provide housing

Supporting our seniors

• Increase to $16.2M for Prostate Cancer research at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
• $10M for providing increased access to Advanced Cancer Screening in Underserved Communities
• $180M for Polio Eradication
• $2.5B for Older Americans Act programs  

Ensuring the safety of our schools

• $5M for the U.S. Secret Service National Threat Assessment Center, to provide critical training for our nation’s schools, houses of worship, and communities
• Report language regarding research and training on targeted school violence conducted by the U.S. Secret Service National Threat Assessment Center
• Report language reiterating grant eligibility under the Urban Areas Security Initiative and State Homeland Security Grants for school hardening measures like, bullet resistant doors and glass; suing-locking mechanisms; immediate notification to emergency 911 systems; and installation of countermeasure technology administrated by law enforcement to provide real time actionable response during threats

Promoting early childhood development, school-choice and higher education

• $12.4B for Head Start
• Increased to $500M for Charter Schools Grants
• $231M for Developing Hispanic-Serving Institutions Program
• $22.47B for Pell Grants and sets the maximum award to $6,335
• $15.49B for special education

Continuing the fight against the opioid epidemic

• $1.583B for State Targeted Response to Opioid Crisis Grants
• Increase to $7M for Comprehensive Opioid Recovery Centers
• Increased funding to $299M for the High Intensity Drug Trafficking Areas Program

Ensuring resources to keep our nation and communities safe

• Supporting security preparation and planning for the 2026 FIFA World Cup and other major events:
• $44.6M for National Special Security Events
• $25M to support security efforts
• $3.4M for Counter Unmanned Aerial Systems
• $100M for supplemental support for transit agencies in the 11 U.S. host cities for the 2026 FIFA World Cup
• Bolstering disaster preparedness, response, and recovery efforts for U.S. communities through increased grant funding for firefighters and first responders
• $26.4B for the Disaster Relief Fund to support response and recovery efforts following major disasters and emergencies
• $398.1M for Federal Law Enforcement Training Centers to strengthen training capacity and enhance public safety
• $684M for Assistance to Firefighters and Staffing for Adequate Fire and Emergency Response Grants to recruit, train, and equip frontline firefighters
• Securing our border by providing $513M to sustain 22,000 Border Patrol agents
• Enhancing resources to detect and counter the spread of deadly drugs, like fentanyl, that poison our communities
• Protect critical infrastructure, prevent cyberattacks, and strengthen cybersecurity resilience:
• $2.6B for the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency
• $20M to hire critical positions at the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) to counter the threat from China
• $13.9B for the U.S. Coast Guard for maritime security, search and rescue and law enforcement
• $300M for the Nonprofit Security Grant Program to support houses of worship and other eligible organizations at risk of a terrorist attack
• $6.1B for the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) screening workforce
• $1.9M for the Federal Emergency Management Agency Over-the-Road Bus Security grants for transportation infrastructure security activities
• $297.1M for the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) Flood Hazard Mapping and Risk Analysis Program to help communities identify, assess, and mitigate their flood risk

Other district priorities included in the funding bills

• Maintains $1.9B to support community health centers that provide affordable, accessible, and high-quality health care in underserved communities.
• $2.57B for the Ryan White HIV/AIDS Program 
• $25M for the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Infectious Diseases Rapid Response Reserve Fund, an account I have long supported and fought for
• $27.8M for Poison Control Centers in the Department of Health and Human Services
• $19M for survivors of torture in the Department of Health and Human Services
• $2.3B for the program integrity to safeguard the Social Security system for all Americans
• $83.2B for the Social Security Administration to support frontline services for America’s seniors and other beneficiaries through field office visits, calls, and online services

###

Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Brad Sherman (D-CA)

Washington, D.C. – Today, Congressman Brad Sherman (CA-32), along with House Foreign Affairs Committee Ranking Member Gregory Meeks (NY-05) and all House Foreign Affairs Committee Democrats, introduced theEvan Anzoo Memorial Act, legislation to create a formal U.S. government account of the hundreds of thousands of deaths resulting from the Trump Administration’s dismantling of USAID and its lifesaving programs. 

For the past 20 years, the generosity of the American people through USAID has saved 91 million lives around the globe – at the cost of less than 1% of our federal budget. 

Yet, on January 24th, 2025, the Trump Administration abruptly shut down the lifesaving agency with a disastrous stop-work order that cut recipients around the world off from lifesaving care overnight. As a result, some 600,000 people have died in the past year after being cut off of lifesaving health and food aid provided by USAID – about two thirds of them children. One of those children was Evan Anzoo, a 5 year old boy born with HIV and kept alive through American health aid. After the Trump Administration cut of USAID programs overnight, Evan lost access to his HIV medication and died shortly after. A study by the UCLA Fielding School of Public Health estimates that USAID’s continued dismantling will lead to 14 million additional deaths globally by 2030, including more than 4.5 million children under five. 

Despite top U.S. research institutions and publications reporting on hundreds of thousands of deaths occurring this year due to the Trump Administration’s USAID’s shuttering, Secretary Rubio told the House Foreign Affairs Committee that “no one has died” from USAID’s dismantling, and that “no children are dying on [his] watch.”

“Secretary Rubio came before the House Foreign Affairs Committee and lied to America when he claimed ‘no one has died’ from Trump’s USAID shuttering. That was a bold-faced lie – but if Republicans are so confident in his answer, they should support my legislation to have Congress’s watchdog issue an independent and formal review of how many people have died as a result of this evil policy,” Sherman said. “Instead, all House Foreign Affairs Committee Republicans voted against this legislation in September because they are afraid of the truth.”

“Despite numerous denials and outright obfuscation by the administration – including Secretary Rubio’s claim that no one has died as a result of U.S. foreign assistance cuts – the reality is far more damning. Millions of preventable deaths will have occurred as a direct result of Trump’s evisceration of USAID. These cruel decisions demand real accountability and oversight. The Evan Anzoo Memorial Act will help ensure the American public and Congress confront the true human consequences of these policies,” said Ranking Member Meeks.

The American people overwhelmingly support providing lifesaving foreign aid around the world; they deserve to know the true impact of the Trump Administration’s deadly dismantling of USAID and whether the Secretary of State lied before Congress. The Evan Anzoo Memorial Act will create a formal report from the Government Accountability Office (GAO), Congress’s independent and nonpartisan watchdog, as to how many people around the world have died as a result of this policy.

All House Foreign Affairs Committee Democrats joined Sherman and Meeks in introducing this legislation: Rep. Sydney Kamlager-Dove (CA-37), Rep. Madeleine Dean (PA-04), Rep. Joaquin Castro (TX-20), Rep. Brad Schneider (IL-10), Rep. Sara Jacobs (CA-51), Rep. Jim Costa (CA-21), Rep. Sarah McBride (DE-AL), Rep. Sheila Cherfilus-McCormick (FL-20), Rep. Johnny Olszewski (MD-02), Rep. Bill Keating (MA-09), Rep. Jonathan Jackson (IL-01), Rep. Pramila Jayapal (WA-07), Rep. Dina Titus (NV-01), Rep. George Latimer (NY-16), Rep. Ted Lieu (CA-36), Rep. Greg Stanton (AZ-04), Rep. Julie Johnson (TX-32), Rep. Kweisi Mfume (MD-07), Rep. Jared Moskowitz (FL-23), Rep. Gabe Amo (RI-01), Rep. Ami Bera (CA-06).

###

Source: United States House of Representatives – Representative Debbie Wasserman Schultz (FL-23)

“I’m so proud to help retore this critical bipartisan, bicameral funding that curbs the Trump Administration’s cruel push to gut public services and helps restore our legislative purse strings, while also vital funding the medial research, national defense and education programs that make life healthier and more secure in South Florida,” said Wasserman Schultz, Ranking Member on the Military Construction and Veterans Affairs Appropriations Subcommittee. “The reason I fight so hard in Washington is so I can deliver cancer screenings, mammograms, drowning prevention programs and vital road, port and university research back home, and help keep our community safer, stronger and economically thriving.”

Source: United States House of Representatives – Representative Debbie Wasserman Schultz (FL-23)

I rise in support of this resolution because I simply do not trust this President to truly prioritize democracy and the will of the Venezuelan people. I represent one of the largest Venezuelan communities in the country. Many of my constituents fled brutal repression under Chavez and Maduro.