MIL USHOR-2b Engine

Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Morgan Griffith (R-VA)

The U.S. House of Representatives passed H.R. 3095, directing the United States Postal Service to designate single, unique ZIP Codes for certain communities in the United States. One community set to receive this designation is Fairlawn, Virginia.

Upon House passage of H.R. 3095, U.S. Congressman Morgan Griffith (R-VA) issued the following statement:

“For years, the lack of a unique ZIP Code has caused problems for the Fairlawn community. This issue is characterized in part by failed delivery of mail materials, lost access to tax revenue, and more recently, barriers to Hurricane Helene-related federal assistance. I am proud to have led an effort in the House to remedy this situation and secure a unique ZIP code for the Fairlawn community.” 

BACKGROUND

Although located in Pulaski County, Fairlawn is currently included in the City of Radford’s ZIP Code, 24141. 

While visiting Southwest Virginia sites impacted by Hurricane Helene, Congressman Griffith and staff spoke to affected Fairlawn residents. Fairlawn residents were unable to apply for Individual Assistance (IA) through the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) online portal because the City of Radford was not part of the disaster declaration at that time.

Congressman Griffith introduced an identical version of this bill in the 118^th Congress. 

In December 2024, the U.S. House of Representatives passed H.R. 8753 to designate single, unique ZIP Codes for certain communities in the United States, including Fairlawn, Virginia. Congressman Griffith spoke on the House floor in support of the measure.

In January 2025, as part of a joint effort with U.S. Senators Mark Warner (D-VA) and Tim Kaine (D-VA), Congressman Griffith introduced H.R. 279, to establish a single, unique ZIP Code for Fairlawn, Virginia.

H.R. 279 was later added to H.R. 3095. While H.R. 3095 passed the U.S. House, the bill awaits further consideration by the U.S. Senate.

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Source: United States House of Representatives – Congresswoman Mikie Sherrill (NJ-11)

WASHINGTON, DC —  Last night, Rep. Mikie Sherrill — along with U.S. Senators Cory Booker and Andy Kim and U.S. Representatives Herb Conaway, Josh Gottheimer, Tom Kean Jr., LaMonica McIver, Rob Menendez, Donald Norcross, Frank Pallone, Nellie Pou, Jeff Van Drew, and Bonnie Watson Coleman —demanded that Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth and Secretary of the Army Daniel Driscoll halt the Army’s proposal to restructure its acquisition offices, which would shift nearly $1 billion in funding and about 1,000 jobs away from New Jersey’s own Picatinny Arsenal. 

Currently, the plan to dismantle the Joint Program Executive Office for Armaments and Ammunition (JPEO A&A) at Picatinny Arsenal would have devastating consequences — threatening innovation, slowing weapons development, and risking military readiness. Picatinny’s specialized expertise in ammunition research and development is unique and cannot be easily replaced.

The lawmakers warned the proposal would return the Army to an outdated, inefficient system, undermining decades of Congressional reforms and worsening the gap between research and production.

The bipartisan group has requested a briefing by August 1, 2025, and is calling on the Army to pause any approval or implementation until their concerns are fully addressed.

Read the full letter here or below:

Dear Secretary Hegseth and Secretary Driscoll,

We write to you to express our grave concern over the Army’s proposed restructuring of its acquisition enterprise. We are aware that the Department of the Army is currently considering a proposal to dramatically reshape its acquisition offices and workforce by transitioning the 12 current Program Executive Offices (PEOs) to seven Capability Executive Offices (CEOs). This would damage the Army’s ammunition acquisition efforts and would have a devastating impact on Picatinny Arsenal in New Jersey where that effort is managed. There is no other DoD installation with the same uniquely experienced and qualified staff in arms and ammunition. Moving these missions to other installations would inevitably lead to reduced lethality and poorer weapons being delivered to our soldiers. 

We are particularly concerned about the proposal to weaken the current Joint Program Executive Office for Armaments and Ammunition (JPEO A&A) at Picatinny and convert it into the CEO for Ammunition. JPEO A&A is not only responsible for the research and development, acquisition and life-cycle management of all conventional ammunition for the Army, but also the acquisition of conventional ammunition for the other services as well. This has allowed it effectively to oversee the management of the entire ammunition life cycle, ensuring that munitions we develop meet the needs of our soldiers, are properly included in Army budgets, and can be produced and acquired at sufficient volume. 

The proposed establishment of the CEO would strip many of the key functions from the JPEO A&A that have made it so effective since 2002. First, the Army’s proposal would shift  approximately $500 million a year in research and development work for ammunition currently overseen by JPEO A&A to other CEOs spread across the country. Second, the acquisition of all armaments, including mortars, artillery, and precision fires, would be transferred to other CEOs. Third, all sustainment efforts for the Army’s ammunition and armaments would be transferred to the CEO for Sustainment. Combined, this would lead to nearly $1 billion less in funding for Picatinny Arsenal and the loss of approximately 1,000 jobs. We believe that stripping these key functions from the JPEO A&A would hurt innovation, increase the amount of time it takes to field systems, and reduce the number of Army systems entering wide-scale production. 

The Army’s proposal to establish a more limited CEO for Ammunition would return the Army to a less effective acquisition model that was proven to be ineffective for decades. Before the Army centralized the acquisition and life cycle management of all Army ammunition into the original PEO for Ammunition in 2002, three separate components were responsible for different parts of the ammunition acquisition process. This led to poor coordination and duplication of work as cooperation between the three organizations was entirely voluntary. The Army’s proposal to have multiple CEOs manage different aspects of the ammunition life cycle would essentially recreate this failed system from the 1990s and before. It would lead to a significant breakdown in coordination and likely lead to the duplication of work as multiple CEOs concurrently seek and develop similar munitions. This means that the Army’s proposal would lead to wasting more money than the current acquisition process. 

Additionally, breaking apart the ammunition life cycle enterprise goes against Congressional intent. In the 1990s, Congress directed  multiple studies on the inefficiency of the Army’s ammunition acquisition process. The Fiscal Year 1996 National Defense Authorization Act required the Army to commission a study, which was ultimately conducted by the Pacific Northwest National Laboratory on the Army ammunition enterprise. That study found that having multiple organizations responsible for the development and procurement of ammunition was ineffective and duplicative. In 1997, Congress then commissioned the Government Accountability Office to review whether the Army was complying with the recommendations on the previous year’s study. Ultimately, this Congressional focus on the Army’s inefficiencies led to the centralization of ammunition development and acquisition in 2002 with the establishment of the first PEO for Ammunition. Returning to the previous acquisition and life cycle management structure runs against the previous work of Congress to increase efficiency.

Moreover, the Army’s proposal will deepen the valley of death for procuring ammunition and weapons, leading to more wasted taxpayer dollars. We agree that the Department of Defense’s (DoD) current acquisition process is bloated and inefficient. A prominent inefficiency with the current system is the so-called valley of death, the gap between the research and development of systems and them entering widespread production and acquisition. While the Army’s proposal claims it will lead to the increased development of weapons and ammunition, this is false. JPEO A&A currently oversees conventional Army ammunition from cradle to grave. This means that the individuals responsible for the research and development of ammunition and those responsible for producing and procuring it are co-located and report to the same commanding officer. This allows JPEO A&A to account for likely production, procurement, and sustainment concerns with a system during the research and development phase. This seamless management of arms and ammunition means that JPEO A&A is far more effective at getting systems across the valley of death. Moving the research and development of arms and ammunition to other offices will lead to less coordination and fewer systems entering production. Given the current constraints on the Army’s stockpiles and industrial base, this would cripple Army modernization. 

Further, the Army’s proposal would move responsibility for ammunition and armaments development to organizations and installations without an established expertise in those areas. Picatinny is home to more than 6,000 military and civilian personnel and leads the research, development, acquisition, and lifecycle management of advanced conventional weapons systems and ammunition. The Arsenal has supported the Army’s mission for over two centuries, playing a vital role in the success of the U.S. military in both wartime and peacetime operations. The Picatinny workforce has unique experience in successfully developing advanced arms and ammunition that cannot be easily replicated elsewhere. For example, the Arsenal is home to the Army’s Armaments Graduate School, which provides post-graduate education in science and engineering fields critical to weapons development. Moving key functions of the JPEO A&A to other installations would cripple the Army’s development pipeline for weapons specialists and lead to fewer scientists and engineers receiving the specialized training needed to develop advanced arms and ammunition.

Additionally, the Army will lose thousands of years of collective work experience in arms and ammunition by transferring those 1,000 jobs from Picatinny to other installations. While some individuals may choose to transfer if given the opportunity, it is unlikely that a significant number would move. Implementing the Army’s proposal would effectively gut the Army’s ammunition and weapons acquisition workforce without a pipeline to replace those employees. There are few individuals with the technical experience and training required to develop weapons and ammunition for the Army, so there is no ready pool of engineers and scientists at other installations to backfill these positions. Simply put, replacing the experience and specialized knowledge of these 1,000 employees is impossible. This loss of  knowledge and experience would inevitably lead to the slower development of new systems and inferior products being delivered to our soldiers. This is the exact opposite outcome the Army proposal seeks to achieve. 

Given the urgent nature of the matter, we request that you provide us a briefing no later than August 1, 2025, that includes further details on the Army’s acquisition reform proposal, an update on the status of the proposal’s approval, and answers to the following questions: 

1. What analysis was done to determine that breaking apart the responsibilities for the JPEO A&A would increase efficiency?
2. What are the goals of the Army’s proposal and how did it determine breaking apart the JPEO A&A would accomplish those goals?
3. How much will the Army’s proposal cost?
4. How many civilian positions and contracts would be eliminated by implementing the Army’s proposal?
5. How did the Army consult with local communities and Congress in developing this proposal?

We urge you to not break apart the mission of JPEO A&A and distribute it to other installations and organizations. Until this briefing occurs and Congress is properly consulted, we request that the Army not approve its acquisition reform proposal. 

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Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Tom Cole (OK-04)

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE | CONTACT: Olivia Porcaro 202-225-6165

Washington, D.C. – Early this morning, Congressman Tom Cole (OK-04) voted in favor of the Fiscal Year 2026 Defense Appropriations Act, which funds the United States Department of Defense:

“America’s military ensures that the call of duty never echoes unanswered. The Fiscal Year 2026 Defense Appropriations Act reflects that same unwavering commitment to our national security and the heroes in uniform who defend it. This bill ensures our troops can deter, fight, and win. It includes strategic investments that restore military strength, accelerate innovation, and reinforce peace through strength. The bill also bolsters U.S. industrial supply chains, delivers next-generation weapons and assets, and includes a well-earned pay raise for our troops. Each allocation in the Defense Appropriations Act upholds the warrior ethos, restores deterrence, and ensures our forces remain unmatched,” said Congressman Cole. “I am proud to have supported this bill, as it ensures an America First defense.”

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Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Scott Peters (52nd District of California)

Washington, DC – Today, Representatives Scott Peters (D-CA-50) and Blake Moore (R-UT-01) and Senators Brian Schatz (D-HI) and Jim Banks (R-IN) reintroduced the bipartisan, bicameral Build More Housing Near Transit Act to encourage the construction of low- and middle-income housing in transit-served, walkable locations. Rep. Peters previously introduced a standalone House version of the legislation in 2019 and a bicameral version in 2021 and 2023.  

The bill incentivizes the development of more housing near transit stops by tying the competition for federal transit funding to state and local housing plans along transit corridors. According to the National Low Income Housing Coalition, the United States has a shortage of 7.1 million affordable rental homes. In San Diego County alone, there is a shortage of nearly 100,000 homes for extremely low-income renters and that gap is nearly one million homes statewide. It is clear California is not doing enough to keep pace with growing demand – in 2024, the state only permitted 114,069 homes, according to California’s Housing and Community Development Department. Since 2021, San Diego County has permitted only 48,765 homes, just 28.4 percent of the total needed to meet demand according to the Regional Housing Needs Allocation formula.  

“The cost of housing remains the greatest barrier to prosperity in California, forcing people to move farther and farther from where they work, which means longer commutes and more air pollution,” said Rep. Peters. “Our bill will get more cars off the road by maximizing federal investments in public transportation and will increase affordable housing options for families across the country.  As a Co-Chair of the YIMBY Caucus and founding member of the growth–oriented Build America Caucus in Congress, I look forward to getting this commonsense legislation across the finish line to help relieve the pressure on cost-burdened Americans.” 

“Housing has consistently been one of the most pressing issues for Utahns since I joined Congress. In some ways, Utah is a victim of its own success. Our incredible quality of life, economic opportunity, and low unemployment rates have put significant strains on our housing market, which has priced out young families from starter homes and presented major challenges to servicemembers at Hill Air Force Base,” said Rep. Moore. “I’m proud to introduce legislation that will condition federal transit grants on whether states are reducing zoning barriers for housing near new bus or rapid transit lines, something that Utah has already been doing for years through the leadership of partners such as UTA along the Wasatch Front and Connect in Cache Valley. The end result will bring more of Utah’s common-sense policies to Washington and help more families find affordable and accessible homes.” 

“The clearest way out of our national housing shortage is by building more housing,” said Senator Schatz. “Our bipartisan bill incentivizes cities and towns to build housing when they expand or redevelop their public transit systems. This will help put more families in homes, grow local economies, and cut carbon pollution. It’s a win for everyone.” 

“This bill makes it easier for communities to build homes for working families by cutting red tape and giving them the freedom to create strong, family-friendly neighborhoods near public transit,” said Senator Banks. 

The Build More Housing Near Transit Act would direct the Department of Transportation to incentivize local governments to promote housing development and regional growth in and around the transit corridors of future New Starts projects. Specifically, this bill will amend U.S. Code Section 5309, which governs the application process for capital investment grants to: 

• Direct the Secretary of Transportation to boost a transit project’s rating if the project includes pro-housing policies for areas along the project route; 

• Define pro-housing policies as a state or local action to remove regulatory barriers to constructing or preserving housing, reduce or eliminate parking minimums or minimum lot sizes, establish by-right approval processes for multi-family housing, commit substantial public property to affordable housing development or preservation, and eliminate or raise residential property height limits; and 

• Engage the Department of Housing and Urban Development to develop a methodology to evaluate the merits of the pro-housing policies documented in a CIG application. 

A letter of support from more than 100 national, state, and local groups, including Circulate San Diego, is available here. A full list of supporting organizations is available here. 

“In San Diego we have made a conscious effort to spur housing development along our growing public transit system,” said City of San Diego Mayor Todd Gloria. “The Build More Housing Near Transit Act will provide additional incentives to create affordable housing near transit, helping our region address both our housing affordability and climate crises.” 

“America is experiencing a severe housing shortage that affects every aspect of American lives and the economy,” said Mike Kingsella, CEO of Up for Growth Action. “The Build More Housing Near Transit Act addresses the critical link between transportation and housing and would create greater access to affordable commutes and abundant housing. We applaud the lead sponsors for introducing this bill, serving as an example of how the federal government can use its leverage to ensure the right types of housing are available in the places people want to live. 

“The United States needs to build millions of new homes and rental units for low- and middle-income Americans,” said David Dworkin, President and CEO, National Housing Conference (NHC). “The Build More Housing Near Transit Act would help unlock supply and smarter, more efficient development by linking housing and transit planning and development. Transit-oriented development can help reduce costs, grow local economies, increase affordable housing supply, and increase access to opportunities for families. The National Housing Conference is proud to endorse this legislation, and we are grateful to the leadership of Representatives Scott Peters and Blake Moore, and Senators Brian Schatz and Jim Banks.” 

“For decades, the federal government has funded mass transit projects in cities whose growth control laws do not allow people to live near and ride on transit,” said Alex Armlovich, Senior Housing Policy Analyst, Niskanen Center. “The Build More Housing Near Transit Act finally corrects this. It protects transit riders and the federal taxpayer from spending scarce transit capital on projects doomed by rigid zoning regulations to low housing growth and low future ridership, while uplifting projects in localities that welcome housing & transit ridership growth. This bill is the essential first step in restoring bipartisan confidence in America’s mass transit investments for taxpayers and transit riders alike.” 

Full text of the legislation here. 

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Source: United States House of Representatives – Congresswoman Norma Torres (35th District of California)

Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Rick Allen (R-GA-12)

On Friday, the International Trade Commission (ITC) made an affirmative final determination in the antidumping duty (AD) and countervailing duty (CVD) investigations on low-speed personal transportation vehicles (LSPTVs) from China. Upon the announcement, Congressman Rick W. Allen (GA-12) issued the following statement:

“I applaud this ruling from the ITC to impose strict antidumping duties and enforce our trade remedy laws. China’s adversarial and unfair trade practices have harmed domestic manufacturers like Club Car and E-Z-GO for far too long. Alarmingly, it has taken China less than four years to completely upend the American LSPTV market.

“However, with this ruling, domestic LSPTV producers can now rely on a level playing field—where they can out-innovate and out-compete anyone in the world. Over the last year, I have proudly led a bipartisan and bicameral effort to bring more attention to this issue, and I thank the ITC for delivering this win and standing with American manufacturers,” said Congressman Rick Allen.

“This final determination from the U.S. International Trade Commission is a clear win for fair competition and the thousands of American jobs that power our industry,” said Craig Scanlon, President and CEO of Club Car. “It allows us to stay focused on what matters most — our customers — and continue delivering the high-quality, reliable vehicles and exceptional experience that have defined Club Car for decades. We are proud to engineer, build, and support our products right here in the U.S., and we appreciate the Commission and its staff for their thorough work in reaching this important decision. We are also especially grateful to Congressman Rick Allen for his leadership and advocacy throughout this process.”

“We are thankful for Congressman Allen’s support of our industry, and his testimony before the International Trade Commission about the impacts of the unfair trade practices of Chinese importers on our employees and our community,” said Rob Scholl, President and CEO of Textron Specialized Vehicles. “This determination will help to protect the health of a uniquely American industry that employs thousands of hardworking residents of the 12th Congressional District, who build products that represent Augusta and Georgia around the world.”

TIMELINE

June 28, 2024: Congressman Allen sends letter to then-Ambassador Katherine Tai with the Office of the United States Trade Representative (USTR) – urging Ambassador Tai to include vehicles such as golf carts, Personal Transportation Vehicles (PTVs), and Low-Speed Vehicles (LSVs) in the definition of “electric vehicle” as it relates to forthcoming tariffs on Chinese subsidized imports.

November 21, 2024: Congressman Allen sends a bipartisan, bicameral letter to then-Secretary Gina Raimondo – urging Secretary Raimondo to side with U.S. producers in the antidumping and countervailing duty cases filed by the U.S. LSPTV industry.

January 27, 2025: The U.S. Department of Commerce announces its preliminary finding that Chinese producers have sold low-speed personal transportation vehicles (LSPTVs) into the United States at less than fair value, violating U.S. international trade laws. In response, Commerce calculated affirmative antidumping duties ranging from 127.35% to 478.09%.

June 3, 2025: Congressman Allen sends a bipartisan, bicameral letter to Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick notifying his office of efforts by Chinese LSPTV producers to avoid paying duties and to circumvent and evade U.S. trade measures, urging his department to take all steps necessary to ensure that Chinese producers do not continue to erode U.S. trade measures.

June 6, 2025: Congressman Allen sends a bipartisan, bicameral letter to International Trade Commission (ITC) Chair Amy Karpel expressing support for the American low speed personal transportation vehicle (LSPTV) producers who have faced a surge of unfairly traded imports from China, and urging the ITC to carefully and fully consider the arguments raised by the U.S. industry throughout the ITC investigation.

June 13, 2025: Congressman Allen testifies before the United States International Trade Commission (USITC) to urge the Commissioners to take immediate action and hold China accountable for unfair trade practices that are harming U.S. producers in the Low Speed Personal Transportation Vehicles (LSPTV) industry.

BACKGROUND: Last month, the U.S. Department of Commerce concluded that low-speed personal transportation vehicles (LSPTVs) imported from China were being sold at unfairly low prices and subsidized, leading to the issuance of antidumping (AD) and countervailing duty (CVD) orders. Following the U.S. International Trade Commission’s recent ruling, these imports will face antidumping duties ranging from 119% to 478% and countervailing duties between 31% and 679%. The Commission also identified critical circumstances in its AD and CVD investigations, meaning importers will face retroactive duties based on Commerce’s preliminary rates, applicable to entries up to 90 days prior to those determinations.

 These AD/CVD orders will remain in place for at least five years, with the possibility of future increases in duty rates through annual administrative reviews. Moving forward, Congressman Allen plans to focus on ensuring compliance by monitoring for illegal practices such as tariff avoidance, absorption, indirect shipping, or circumvention by foreign producers and U.S. importers.

Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Hakeem Jeffries (8th District of New York)

Today, House Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries held a press conference where he emphasized that Donald Trump and House Republicans One Big Ugly Law will drive up costs and rip healthcare and nutritional assistance from millions of Americans to reward their billionaire donors.

LEADER JEFFRIES: Good afternoon, everyone. Donald Trump is deeply unpopular. The American people clearly recognize that the Trump administration is in free fall and are actively hurting everyday Americans in order to reward their billionaire donors with massive tax breaks. The One Big Ugly Law is deeply unpopular. The American people clearly recognize that Donald Trump and House Republicans have not done a thing to make life better for them and meaningfully lower the high cost of living in the United States of America. Instead, what Donald Trump and Republicans have done is to rip away healthcare from more than 17 million people and steal food from the mouths of hungry children, seniors and veterans while skyrocketing the nation’s debt by more than $3 trillion and setting the country on a course toward possible bankruptcy. The One Big Ugly Bill is a complete and total failure, substantively and in the minds of the American people.

House Democrats will continue to focus on the issues that matter, like driving down the high cost of living in the United States of America, because we recognize that for far too long, the cost of living in this country has been too high. Housing costs are too high. Grocery costs are too high. Utility costs are too high. Childcare costs are too high. Insurance costs are too high. America is too expensive. There are far too many people in this country struggling to live paycheck to paycheck. That should not be the case in the wealthiest country in the history of the world. Imagine an America where when you work hard and play by the rules, everyone can afford to live the good life. That’s the America that House Democrats are working hard to bring about. Good-paying jobs, good housing, good healthcare, good education for your children and a good retirement. When you work hard in this country and play by the rules, you should be able to afford to live the good life, but our system is broken and Republicans are making it worse.

Full press conference can be watched here.

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Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman French Hill (AR-02)

Rep. French Hill (AR-02) today voted in favor of H.R. 4, the Rescissions Act of 2025, which passed the House by a vote of 216-213. The bill saves taxpayers $9 billion by rescinding unobligated funding for the State Department and returning the Corporation for Public Broadcasting to a normal budgeting cycle.

Rep. Hill said, “With our national debt approaching $40 trillion and annual deficits of nearly $2 trillion, it’s critical we rein in unchecked federal spending. This was one of the top issues in the last campaign, and Americans spoke loud and clear that they want Washington to stop wasting their money. This rescissions package is a modest but meaningful step that demonstrates we have the spine to keep our promises.

“These are commonsense cuts that don’t impact current operations or national security. If Congress cannot cut $9 billion from a nearly $7 trillion federal budget, then we are not serious about restoring fiscal responsibility.

“Arkansans understand the value of living within their means, and they expect the same from their government. This is what my fellow central Arkansans sent me here to do: ensure responsible spending that puts taxpayers first.”

Background

The Senate Amendment to H.R 4, the Rescissions Act of 2025, would rescind $9 billion in funding appropriated in FY24 and FY25 from programs in the State Department and the Corporation for Public Broadcasting (CPB). Specifically, $7.9 billion of unobligated funding is rescinded from foreign aid programs in the State Department, and $1.1 billion is rescinded from future funding for the CPB, which funds National Public Radio (NPR) and the Public Broadcasting Service (PBS). The rescinded funds from the State Department are unobligated spending, meaning the money was never going to be spent. The rescinded funds from CPB are for future FY26 and FY27 appropriations; it does not cut current funding.

Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman French Hill (AR-02)

Rep. French Hill (AR-02) today voted in favor of H.R. 4016, the Department of Defense Appropriations Act, 2026, which passed the House by a vote of 221-209. The bill strengthens America’s national security, bolsters military readiness, and delivers for Arkansas’s servicemembers and their families.

Rep. Hill said, “With aggression from foreign adversaries like China and Russia continuing, and a security environment that is increasingly dynamic and complex, it is critical for America’s military to have the capabilities necessary to confront emerging threats and challenges. This defense appropriations bill strengthens our military readiness and invests in the advanced technology and equipment our servicemembers need to protect the nation. I will always prioritize America’s security and stand firmly with the brave men and women who serve and defend our freedoms.

“I am also proud that this bill delivers for our servicemembers here in central Arkansas, including funding for the C-130J Super Hercules, along with support for next-generation defense systems and precision strike capabilities. These investments are vital so that Camp Robinson and Little Rock Air Force Base can receive the tools and funding they need to be mission-ready.”

Background:

H.R. 4016, the Department of Defense Appropriations Act, 2026, provides $831.5 billion in discretionary funding for the Department of Defense and related agencies, matching FY25 enacted levels. It supports our servicemembers and their families by including a 3.8% pay raise. The bill invests in advanced aircraft and next-generation weapons systems, modernization of the nuclear triad, unmanned systems, missile defense, and innovation. It reinforces U.S.-Israel defense cooperation, enhances counterdrug efforts, and reaffirms a focus on military strength and mission readiness.

During the House Appropriations process, Rep. Hill wrote in support of the following programs, which were included in H.R. 4016:

• C-130J Super Hercules aircraft for the Air National Guard
• Congressionally Directed Medical Research Programs (CDMRP) for Tuberous Sclerosis Complex Research Program
• CDMRP for the Peer-Reviewed Neurotoxin Exposure Treatment Parkinson’s Research
• CDMRP Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS) Research Program
• CDMRP Peer-Reviewed Neurofibromatosis Research Program
• CDMRP Prostate Cancer Research Program
• CDMRP Peer-Reviewed Cancer Research Program
• CDMRP Pancreatic Cancer Research Program
• CDMRP Breast Cancer Research Program

Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Jim Costa Representing 16th District of California

WASHINGTON – In a heartfelt tribute, Congressman Jim Costa (CA-21) honored the life and legacy of John C. Harris on the floor of the U.S. House of Representatives, recognizing his decades of leadership in California and San Joaquin Valley agriculture. This formal recognition is one of the highest honors a Member of Congress can bestow.John C. Harris, a farmer, horse breeder, and philanthropist who passed away at the age of 81, was a pioneering force in California agriculture. As the longtime head of Harris Ranch, he transformed a family-owned operation into one of the most respected agricultural enterprises in the nation.  
Watch his full remarks here.  

Read the transcript of Congressman Costa’s Floor remarks below:  
“Mr. Speaker, I rise today sadly to pay tribute to John Harris, a good friend, a giant of California agriculture, and the San Joaquin Valley.  
Born on July 14th, 1943, in Fresno County, John was a proud uh graduate of the University of California, Davis, and a United States Army veteran.  
For over 40 years, he was not only a pioneer in agriculture but also a good friend of mine. He was a leader. He was well respected throughout the country. 
John shaped the Harris ranch into one of the nation’s largest beef producers in America. In addition, his passion was as a leader in the horse racing industry, in which his horses were successful and won on numerous occasions.   But John always understood the importance of education and gave back generously. Not only was it to Fresno State and the Maddie Institute, but also on mentoring, mentoring the next generation of agricultural leaders.  His impact will stretch far beyond his ranch. He helped shape the agriculture of our region and left a legacy of innovation, integrity, and service that will benefit generations to come. Thank you, John.  I yield back.”