MIL USHOR-2b Engine

Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Jerrold Nadler (10th District of New York)

Nadler Celebrates World Trade Center Health Program Funding

Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Joe Neguse (D-Co 2)

Washington, D.C. — In case you missed it, yesterday, Colorado Congressman Joe Neguse, a member of the House Judiciary Committee, joined Morning Joe on MS NOW to discuss former Special Counsel Jack Smith’s public testimony.  

Neguse served as an impeachment manager during Donald Trump’s 2nd trial in front of the United States Senate on the January 6, 2021, attack on the Capitol. He underscored the importance of holding Trump accountable for his efforts to subvert the results of the 2020 election and pushing for the preservation of the peaceful transfer of power. 

The interview can be watched HERE. A full transcript is available below.  

MIKA BRZEZINSKI: Joining us now, Assistant Democratic Leader Congressman Joe Neguse of Colorado. He’s a member of the House Judiciary Committee and was an impeachment manager during Senate trials pertaining to the January 6th insurrection. Well, let’s — What are you hoping to hear from Jack Smith? What will you be most interested in asking? 

NEGUSE: Well, good morning, Mika. Good to be with you. First, let me just say I find it completely puzzling why Jim Jordan and Republicans have decided to proceed with this hearing in the first instance. I participated in the deposition of the Special Counsel last month. He’s an exceptional prosecutor. I found his answers to be compelling and persuasive. Every answer to questions that were made in bad faith by the Republicans was were cogent answers. And I can’t understand why Republicans want to now give him an opportunity to remind the American public of the body of evidence that exists that shows that President Trump engaged in unlawful and nefarious conduct in the days and weeks after the 2020 election, and, of course, culminating in January 6th. Which, as you mentioned, he was impeached for on a bipartisan basis, and ultimately, 57 votes in the United States Senate on a bipartisan basis for conviction.  

So the American public are going to have an opportunity to hear from Mr. Smith, as we did behind closed doors last month, and I believe that they will find his arguments very compelling. I suppose Republicans have decided that this is a way to obfuscate away from their lack of governing, and the fact that they have just over the course of the last 12 months, made life for everyday Americans a lot more expensive. And, perhaps this is a way for them to kind of engage — change the conversation rather, from what they would like to otherwise be talking about. 

ARI MELBER: Congressman, Ari Melber here. Curious what you think is important to come out of this? We, of course, lived through it. We had the January 6th Committee, which did a lot of important work putting this before the public, and these cases were public until they were stopped, as you know. So how much of this is about adding to that record? And how much is about on your side of the aisle, making sure the public understands that what they’ve done before when they lost elections, they could try again, and sort of Trump-proofing the future elections if they don’t go their way. 

NEGUSE: That’s a great question, Ari. I think you’ll hear, or you’ll see, the Democratic members give the Special Counsel an opportunity to talk at greater length about the investigations that he conducted. The reality is, President Trump has engaged in a five-year effort now to rewrite history. And that was, of course, born from, in my view, the sort of original sin of the, you know, United States Senate abdicating its constitutional duty to hold President Trump accountable in the wake of January 6th.

And now, of course, five years later, a year ago today, when President Trump issued pardons to those who had violently assaulted our nation’s Capitol. So, unfortunately, the reality is President Trump has never been held accountable for his conduct. And I think that today’s hearing will provide an opportunity for Mr. Smith to remind the country of what Mr. Trump and his sycophants engaged in and the risk that, ultimately, I think, still exists for future elections and the peaceful transfer of power, which was once considered sacrosanct. But of course, we now know we can no longer take for granted in the United States. 

JOHN HEILEMANN: Hey, Congressman, John Heilemann here. Let me ask you about a different topic. Everybody right now, very focused, rightly so, on what’s going on in Minneapolis, with ICE and with ICE more broadly across the country and its enforcement practices. You’ve been focused on something that kind of that’s kind of been out of the public view, but is really important, which is, the king of “Detention Industrial Complex,” the private prisons that the administration have kind of created this network that they’re funding hundreds of millions of dollars of taxpayer money going into those, you know, in a way where there’s not really been much oversight. I don’t think many people in the public are even aware of that kind of infrastructure that’s being built to support the ICE effort. Talk to us a little bit about what is happening on that front and what you’d like to see your colleagues in Congress do about it. 

NEGUSE: John, you articulated it well. I think it has been lost in some respects during the course of the debate around the terrible abuses that have been committed and the violation of constitutional rights by ICE officials. The reality is, it is part and parcel to the wholesale corruption that’s happened at 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue. You are talking about hundreds of millions of taxpayer dollars that are being used to fund what you described and what others have described as a Detention and Deportation Industrial Complex. Some of the wealthiest private contractors of ICE are making money hand over fist by virtue of the slush fund that House Republicans created last year for ICE, and, of course, today we’re debating yet another bill — $10.3 billion that House Republicans would like to allocate towards ICE. We’re fighting against that.  

I think it is shameful. It’s reprehensible. There are a lot of wealthy corporations and wealthy individuals making a lot of money ultimately on these abuses and these, the misconduct that you know the press has so, in my view, comprehensively uncovered over the course of the last few months. So more is needed — needs to be done. I think we should end for-profit detention, and I’m leading a bill in the Congress to try to stop it. 

MIKA BRZEZINSKI: Democratic member of the House Judiciary Committee, Assistant Democratic Leader Joe Neguse of Colorado. Thank you. 

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Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Robert Aderholt (AL-04)

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Congressman Robert Aderholt, Chairman of the Labor, Health and Human Services, Education, and Related Agencies Subcommittee, released the following statement applauding House passage of the final four Fiscal Year (FY) 2026 appropriations bills. This completes the work on all twelve annual spending bills. 

The final four spending bills passed include Defense; Homeland Security; Labor, Health and Human Services, and Education; and Transportation, Housing and Urban Development. 

“I was honored to lead the effort to rein in spending and secure an America First future, while also ensuring these bills provide funding for critical projects that support jobs and growth in our districts,” said Congressman Aderholt. “Moving all 12 appropriations bills through the finish line is Congress’ first responsibility, but also the heaviest. Yesterday, we acted on that responsibility and delivered real results and real savings for all Americans.”

“For my part, I believe the Labor-HHS bill carefully balanced responsible fiscal stewardship while maintaining key investments in biomedical research, schools, and public health. Thanks to negotiations on a bicameral, bipartisan level, funding decisions moved through a deliberate, member-driven process on all appropriations bills that emphasize transparency, accountability, and timely consideration,” Aderholt added.

“Enactment of full-year appropriations implements provisions that keep our nation strong, secure, and competitive. We’ve shown that when committees assert their authority and do the work, results happen.”

Congressman Aderholt secured funding for several key community projects across Alabama’s Fourth Congressional District through the FY26 appropriations measures, with $44,563,000 included in the most recent package, $9,510,000 in the Agriculture, Rural Development, and Food and Drug Administration bill, and $2,174,898 from the Interior, Environment, and Related Agencies bill – for a total of $56,277,898 secured. These investments strengthen community infrastructure and rural healthcare.

• Winston and Franklin Counties, AL – I-22 Connector Feasibility Studies

$5,000,000 for all feasibility and environmental studies.

• Cullman, AL – U.S. 278/SR 69 St. Bernard Bridge Replacement and Supporting Infrastructure

$13,500,000 to replace St. Bernard Bridge, widen the approaches, and add pedestrian and biking lanes.

• Tuscaloosa, AL – Tuscaloosa National Airport – Airport Terminal Improvements 

$8,500,000 to design and renovate the old terminal.

• Albertville, AL – Albertville Regional Airport – Airport Expansions

$5,000,000 for White Oak Road to clear of land to allow for expansion of the airport for hangers and future runway expansion.

• Waterloo, AL – Waterloo Bridge Replacement

$7,000,000 for a new bridge on C.R. 14 to benefit interstate commerce on the TN River.

• Hanceville, AL – Wallace State Community College – Hanceville Affordable Housing 

$2,540,000 to construct tiny home village that will feature micro-dwellings equipped for living and offer childcare.

• Lauderdale County, AL – Agriculture Multipurpose Complex          

$1,500,000 for a metal building and installation, interior finishes, plumbing, HVAC, fire protection, and electrical.

• Winston County, AL – Commission Resurfacing 

$1,553,000 to resurface County Road 57 to access the USDA Forest Service Corinth Recreation Area and resurface County Road 61 to access the USDA Forest Service Houston Recreation Area.

“I’m proud of the key investments made possible through the appropriations process, these investments strengthen our rural communities and improve the quality of life for Alabama’s Fourth Congressional District.”

The appropriations package now goes to the Senate, where it is expected to pass next week and be signed into law by the President. 

Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Ron Estes (R-Kansas)

U.S. Congressman Ron Estes (R-Kansas), a member of the House Ways and Means Committee, joined a full committee hearing to question health insurance CEOs on the economic reality facing American families, and why the “efficiencies” of modern health care don’t translate into affordability for patients nationwide. 

You may click HERE or on the image above to watch Rep. Estes’ full remarks.

Highlights from Rep. Estes’ remarks include:

“You’d think vertical integration and scale would result in lower prices and a better patient experience. Yet for the people of Kansas, the 2026 health care market is characterized as a physical and financial desert.”

“Families in my district are facing finalized gross premium hikes of 26.6% with benchmark deductibles as high as $6,000 for individuals and $12,000 for families.”

“When we talk about consolidation, we aren’t just talking about companies. We’re talking about the loss of local options. In 2026, 14 Kansas counties now have only one single insurer left available to them. When a local hospital in a community like Derby, Kansas, closes – it isn’t just a business failure, it’s a new, permanent expense for every patient in that town. A routine checkup has turned into an all-day event, including lost wages and travel costs that weren’t covered by insurance.”

“I hope you can help me understand why American taxpayers who contribute the bulk of your revenue, particularly for what seems to be the Unaffordable Care Act, are seeing a diminishing return in the form of high denial rates and soaring out-of-pocket costs that are utterly unfair to them.”

“You own an insurer, you own a PBM, often own some physician practices – those should be designed to drive efficiencies and lower costs. However, your own data shows that the multi-billion dollar investments in integration, you still have an increase in health care spending. Naturally, it’s up $5.6 trillion in 2025, and health care costs outpaced inflation by 300%, and insurance-owned specialty drugs now cost patients three times more than they did a decade ago.”

“Let’s be clear, we have 15 years of the Democrats’ Unaffordable Care Act, and this has been the result. Americans cannot afford their health care, and the Democrats’ only solution is to cut another blank check to the insurance to paper over the inflationary prices.”

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

WASHINGTON — Today, Speaker Johnson spoke at the 53^rd annual March for Life on the National Mall. Speaker Johnson was joined by more than tens of thousands of attendees, Vice President JD Vance, and dozens of other speakers who proudly stood for the sanctity of every human life.

“Because we know that support for American families doesn’t end at birth, our policies reflect this. With the Working Families Tax Cuts, we passed the most pro-life and pro-family legislation that has been signed into law in decades, and we did it on July 4th last year,” Speaker Johnson said. “This group of legislators behind me and all of our colleagues, we worked hard to expand the child tax credit, to enhance the adoption tax credit, and we launched the first of its kind Trump investment accounts for every newborn in America.”

 

Watch Speaker Johnson’s full remarks here.

Below are Speaker Johnson’s remarks as delivered:

Thanks so much, what a great crowd, and right on the verge of a polar vortex. Your commitment is greatly appreciated. I want to congratulate my friend JD for the big announcement on the baby that’s due in July.

My wife Kelly is with me. Kelly, raise your hand. We have four children as well. We all celebrate life in word and indeed, and we’re so glad that you are here to prove that.

This is an important weekend. It always is because we welcome the opportunity to recommit ourselves to this cause of life and to remember why it is we gather and march in the cold weather. It’s important for us to stand together.

My friends, it’s especially important this year because as you know, this is the year we celebrate our nation’s 250th birthday, the greatest nation in the history of the world. The thing that we celebrate about America, there’s so much for which we are blessed and we’re thankful for, but the thing that we remember, especially at this time, is the foundational truth of America.

The bold statement of faith that set this experiment in self-governance, this independent country, along its way. We celebrate the self-evident truth. That all people, every single person, is made by God. We are made by our Creator.

The Founders understood that we are made in the image of our Creator, and that He is the one that gives us our inalienable rights, the rights of life and liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. Our rights do not derive from the government. They derive from God himself. And we need to remind everybody of that.

We celebrate that premise here today and every day because we understand that is what makes America unique and special. The idea that we are made in the image of God and we owe our responsibility to Him as well, and we have to exercise that freedom in a responsible manner.

This moment is truly a historic one for the pro-life movement, and you all know that. For the first time since Roe v. Wade was reversed, we have the White House, the Senate, and the House all working together to deliver meaningful and historic pro-life victories.

Just consider, as the Vice President was saying just a moment ago, just consider what one year of commonsense pro-life leadership can actually accomplish. With President Trump and Vice President Vance, the Republican team is making and taking a new approach.

For the first time, our greatest metric of success is not just the size of the gross domestic product or highs in the stock market. It is the strength of the American family. Again, that’s what we’ve brought back.

We measure our success on the number of lives we save and the lives we improve and uplift with commonsense, life-affirming policies. It’s you, my friends, who will help us to usher in America’s New Golden Age as President Trump says.

Republicans are working hard to deliver on the mandate that you gave us in the last election to make it easier than ever before to raise a family in this great country of ours.

Because we know that support for American families doesn’t end at birth, our policies reflect this. With the Working Families Tax Cuts, we passed the most pro-life and pro-family legislation that has been signed into law in decades, and we did it on July 4 last year. This group of legislators behind me and all of our colleagues, we worked hard to expand the Child Tax Credit, to enhance the Adoption Tax Credit, and we launched the first of its kind Trump investment accounts for every newborn in America.

Thanks to this bill, we also delivered the largest middle- and working-class tax cuts in the history of this country. We put more money in your pocket, and you can decide what’s best for your family instead of government bureaucrats.

We also achieved something that is totally unprecedented, and it was mentioned a little bit earlier, and we should say it again. For years now, we know that Medicaid funds have skirted the essential protections under the Hyde Amendment and funneled tax dollars to abortion providers. We said no more.

And in the Working Families Tax Cuts, the Big Beautiful Bill, for the first time ever, we finally defunded big abortion, and it was a long time coming. We stand here today with one united voice to affirm that federal government should not be subsidizing any industry that profits from the elimination of human life.

And today, I’m so proud to stand along so many principled leaders here in Congress. You heard their names; they helped us achieve these victories. Chris Smith, as was said for four decades, has been leading the pro-life caucus in Congress.

Just this week, Congresswoman Michelle Fischbach, she introduced her bill ensuring federal assistance can be used to support pregnancy resource centers across the country. That’s a big thing.

We know how important those centers are to give hundreds of thousands of pregnant women and moms a choice in the care they receive. Another warrior, Congresswoman Ashley Hinson passed her bill, the Pregnant Students Right Act, which equips young women finishing their education with the resources they need to choose life.

I could go on and on. I could be up here all day telling you about all of the things that are being done, but you need to know, in summary, that we are fulfilling our promises and that promise that is central to what we stand for is to protect the sanctity of human life.

We contend these warriors, and I tell you what, in the election cycle coming up this year, we’re going to send some more pro-life champions here to Congress.

I just want to close with this. It was mentioned earlier that we all have a reason that we march. We all have a reason that we believe so strongly in this principle and my life story is that one.

In two sentences, I was the product of an unplanned teen pregnancy exactly one year before Roe in January of 1972. And a lot of people try to convince my very young parents that they should just take care of that problem, but I am eternally grateful that they allowed me the chance at life.

I think of the millions of children that did not have that same opportunity, and every single child deserves the opportunity to fulfill their God-given potential. And it is up to us to defend that freedom and that right, that essential freedom to be born, the unalienable right to life that is imperiled in our generation, and we’re so grateful that you are willing to march and stand and speak for that issue.

I’m happy to say that all this is changing because of you. And despite the special interests that fund abortion, and despite the voices that tell you to look away from the beating heart, and despite all those who continue to deny the truth, you are here and we are here, and we stand together for life. We are so grateful for all that you do.

Every single one of you has the power to change hearts and minds and ultimately to save lives. And we can never forget that. And I know that you won’t.

I want to thank you all for coming out, braving the cold and the weather that’s on the way, it’s worth it. We’re going to save lives together. God bless you all. May God bless the United States of America. 

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Source: United States House of Representatives – Congresswoman Haley Stevens (MI-11)

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, Congresswoman Haley Stevens (D-MI) announced over $8 million in federal funding she secured for Oakland County projects in the House-passed bipartisan funding bill, H.R. 7148. Stevens voted in favor of the bill, which passed overwhelmingly at 341-88, and funds the Departments of Defense, Labor, Health and Human Services, Transportation, Housing and Urban Development, and Education. The bill now heads to the Senate for passage and must be signed into law by the president.

“My job in Congress is to put Michigan first. This bipartisan funding package reflects that work,” said Congresswoman Haley Stevens. “I’m proud to have secured federal dollars for critical projects here at home that will improve our infrastructure, support good-paying jobs, and invest in Michigan’s economy.”  

Stevens, who was recently recognized as the most effective Michigan Democrat in Congress, secured funding for nine projects totaling $8,420,000. Specifically, the funding she secured provides:

• $2,000,000 to Oakland County for Oakland County transit fleet expansion. The funding will be used for the purchase of 16 new buses, allowing the County to provide 100,000 more transit rides per year.
• $2,000,000 to the City of Pontiac for a youth recreation center. The center will include several classrooms, a gymnasium, a pool, and space for events, meetings, and additional programming.
• $1,200,000 to the City of Birmingham to renovate the former YMCA building into a new senior and recreation center. The center will provide community services and resources, along with health and well-being programming for children, seniors, and families in Birmingham and surrounding communities.
• $850,000 to the City of Farmington Hills to build a new senior center to serve seniors and residents with disabilities.
• $850,000 to the City of Royal Oak for a multi-purpose indoor field facility and wellness hub. The hub will provide comprehensive fitness, health, and wellness activities along with community event space.
• $520,000 to the City of Madison Heights for road repairs. The funding will be used to repave Avis Drive from East 14 Mile to Dequindre Road.
• $500,000 to Oakland County to replace aging water infrastructure at the Detroit Zoo.
• $250,000 to the City of Troy to acquire a generator for the Troy Community Center. A generator will allow the center to be used during emergencies as a shelter and gathering place, as well as a warming and cooling location during extreme weather.
• $250,000 to the Charter Township of Commerce to construct connecting sidewalks and pathways between Commerce Township and the city of Wixom.

Earlier this month, Rep. Stevens secured additional funding for six critical Oakland County infrastructure projects in a separate government funding bill. That bill has passed the House and Senate and is awaiting the President’s signature.

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

Yesterday, Representative Rick Larsen (WA-02) joined Washington state’s entire Congressional delegation in a letter to President Donald Trump urging him to approve Governor Bob Ferguson’s request for a Major Disaster Declaration for Individual Assistance to unlock an estimated $21.3 million in federal FEMA resources for families whose homes were destroyed or significantly damaged in the extreme flooding that hit Washington state in December. A Major Disaster Declaration for Individual Assistance ensures that disaster survivors have access to a full range of authorized programs and services, including housing assistance, disaster case management, and crisis counseling. This is the first of two Major Disaster Declaration requests the Governor is expected to make in response to the December flooding; the second will be for funding to help repair Washington state’s damaged infrastructure.

From early to mid-December, severe storms and devastating flooding battered Washington state, threatening lives, property, businesses, and livestock across the state. The flooding caused severe damage that wreaked havoc in communities across Washington state, and is among the most devastating natural disasters to ever hit the state. Hundreds of thousands of people were evacuated from their homes, nearly 4,000 homes across 17 counties were affected by flooding, more than 11 percent of affected homes were destroyed or severely damaged, and thousands of homes will require significant repair or replacement.

“As members of the Washington state delegation, we write in support of Washington state’s January 21, 2026 request for a Major Disaster Declaration for Individual Assistance due to devastating flood damages incurred from December 5 through December 22. The individual assistance requested by Governor Ferguson is essential for the thousands of Washingtonians whose homes were destroyed or significantly damaged,” the Members wrote. “We implore you to approve the request for assistance as quickly as possible.”

Joining Representative Larsen in signing the letter to President Trump were Senators Maria Cantwell (D-WA) and Patty Murray (D-WA), and U.S. Representatives Suzan DelBene (D, WA-01), Marie Gluesenkamp Perez (D, WA-03), Dan Newhouse (R, WA-04), Michael Baumgartner (R, WA-05), Emily Randall (D, WA-06), Pramila Jayapal (D, WA-07), Kim Schrier (D, WA-08), Adam Smith (D, WA-09), and Marilyn Strickland (D, WA-10).

“This system of ‘atmospheric rivers’ has brought torrential rain, wind, and snow to much of the region, resulting in record-breaking flooding and power outages for thousands of residents. Hundreds of communities were immediately at risk, forcing hundreds of thousands of Washingtonians across the state to evacuate, including the entire city of Burlington and Sedro-Woolley. In the city of Pacific, a breached levee left hundreds of homes vulnerable to floodwater. This storm claimed the life of one Washingtonian and has damaged the homes and livelihoods of many more,” the Members continued.

“From the Olympic Peninsula to Central Washington, communities across the state experienced devastating losses. An initial assessment found that catastrophic flooding and devastating winds affected nearly 4,000 homes across 17 counties. More than eleven percent of affected homes were destroyed or severely damaged and thousands of residences will require significant repair or replacement,” the Members concluded. “While the state was able to provide some assistance for residents whose homes were severely impacted, it requires additional federal support to meet the need across the state.”

If FEMA approves Individual Assistance as part of the major disaster declaration, the next step for residents is to apply directly with FEMA. Governor Ferguson’s request currently includes Chelan, Grays Harbor, King, Lewis, Pacific, Pierce, Skagit, Snohomish, Thurston, and Whatcom counties, as well as 15 federally recognized Tribal nations.

Back in December, Rep. Larsen joined Washington state’s entire Congressional delegation in a letter to President Donald Trump urging him to approve Governor Ferguson’s request for an expedited Emergency Declaration for the devastating storms and severe flooding hitting Washington state—that request was approved.

The lawmakers’ full letter to President Trump is available HERE and below:

Dear Mr. President,

As members of the Washington state delegation, we write in support of Washington state’s January 21, 2026 request for a Major Disaster Declaration for Individual Assistance due to devastating flood damages incurred from December 5 through December 22. The individual assistance requested by Governor Ferguson is essential for the thousands of Washingtonians whose homes were destroyed or significantly damaged. We implore you to approve the request for assistance as quickly as possible.

This system of “atmospheric rivers” has brought torrential rain, wind, and snow to much of the region, resulting in record-breaking flooding and power outages for thousands of residents. Hundreds of communities were immediately at risk, forcing hundreds of thousands of Washingtonians across the state to evacuate, including the entire city of Burlington and Sedro-Woolley. In the city of Pacific, a breached levee left hundreds of homes vulnerable to floodwater. This storm claimed the life of one Washingtonian and has damaged the homes and livelihoods of many more.

From the Olympic Peninsula to Central Washington, communities across the state experienced devastating losses. An initial assessment found that catastrophic flooding and devastating winds affected nearly 4,000 homes across 17 counties. More than eleven percent of affected homes were destroyed or severely damaged and thousands of residences will require significant repair or replacement. While the state was able to provide some assistance for residents whose homes were severely impacted, it requires additional federal support to meet the need across the state.

We reiterate our full support for the January 21, 2026 request for a Presidential Disaster Declaration for Individual Assistance. We appreciate you in advance for your prompt attention to this urgent matter.

Sincerely,

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Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Bob Latta (R-Bowling Green Ohio)

Today, Congressman Bob Latta (OH-5) announced that he received an A+ on the Susan B. Anthony’s Pro-Life Scorecard. This score takes into account votes and actions of every member of Congress for the first session of the 119th Congress. This morning, Congressman Latta attended an event in support of the right to life on Capitol Hill.   

“Whether in Washington, DC, or marching across the nation, today and every day I stand with thousands of pro-life supporters who believe in the right to life. Every human life is precious, and we must continue working to build a community that protects and supports moms, babies, and the unborn. Protecting unborn children means standing strong for life and advancing commonsense legislation to help defend those who cannot defend themselves—the unborn,” Latta said.  

Latta’s pro-life legislation 

Support and Value Expectant (SAVE) Moms and Babies Act: 

• This bill would prevent labeling changes, such as removing the Risk Evaluation and Mitigation Strategies (REMS), for already approved abortion drugs. It would also prevent providers from “dispensing” the drugs remotely, by mail, or via telemedicine, and would prevent the FDA from approving new chemical abortion drugs. Chemical abortions have the highest complication rate of available procedures and allowing chemical abortion drugs to be dispensed without an in-person appointment and ultrasound dramatically increases the risk to mothers.  

Protecting the Dignity of Unborn Children Act: 

• This bill would make it a federal crime to dispose of aborted baby body parts in landfills or in any navigable waters of the United States. 

U.S. House passed pro-life legislation 

This week, the House passed two important bills to support women, parents, and families. The Supporting Pregnant and Parenting Women and Families Act gives states flexibility to use Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) funds to support pregnancy centers that protect life and provide real help to moms, dads, and families. The House also passed the Pregnant Students’ Rights Act, which ensures pregnant students are aware of their rights and have access to critical resources so they can succeed in the classroom and beyond. 

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

This week, as we marked the anniversary of Roe v. Wade, Representative Sharice Davids voted against two partisan bills presented as measures to support parents but instead would misdirect federal resources, stigmatize reproductive health care, and make it harder for Kansans to receive the reproductive health care they need to stay safe.

“Let’s be honest — these partisan bills don’t help expecting parents or families at all. They’re designed to mislead, shame, and make it harder for Kansans to get the health care they need,” said Davids. “Kansans have been crystal clear that they don’t want politicians inserting themselves into deeply personal medical decisions. I’m going to keep fighting back against these extreme attacks and pushing for real solutions that protect health care, respect people’s freedoms, and help families live safe, healthy lives.”

The first bill would allow states to divert funding, intended for poor children, to anti-abortion propaganda and facilities that provide deceptive and inaccurate information with very little oversight, all while putting women’s health in danger. The second would keep pregnant students who are weighing life-altering medical decisions from learning the truth about all the reproductive health care options available to them.

WATCH: Davids joined Planned Parenthood Great Plains Votes for an Instagram Live yesterday

Since the Supreme Court’s Dobbs decision that overturned Roe v. Wade, extreme Republicans have made it clear that their attacks on reproductive health care will continue. Just last year, President Trump revoked federal guidance requiring hospitals to provide emergency abortions when needed to save women’s lives. U.S. Speaker Mike Johnson supports a national abortion ban and banning IVF. And in Kansas, GOP politicians have introduced bills that could criminalize doctors, restrict birth control access, and attack the right to travel for care. These dangerous efforts demand a strong federal response.

Davids joined her Democratic colleagues to introduce the Women’s Health Protection Act, which would restore the nationwide right to access abortion care by creating a federal guarantee for providers to deliver, and patients to receive, reproductive health services — free from medically unnecessary state-level bans and restrictions. In the wake of the Dobbs decision, nearly half of women of reproductive age now live under abortion bans, with some forced to travel hundreds of miles for care.

This effort is part of Davids’ ongoing work to protect reproductive health care access and push back against dangerous efforts to criminalize patients and providers. She has also:

• Voted against President Trump’s extreme budget, which included severe Medicaid cuts and a provision prohibiting Medicaid payments to providers offering abortion services, disproportionately impacting Planned Parenthood.
  • Davids introduced the Restoring Essential Healthcare Act, which would repeal this harmful provision.
• Introduced the Ensuring Women’s Right to Reproductive Freedom Act, which would ensure no one can be punished for traveling to access lawful reproductive care and hold accountable any person who tries to block this constitutional right.
• Voted against extreme legislation that would criminalize reproductive health providers and restrict access to lifesaving abortion care.
• Introduced the Expanding Access to Family Planning Act, which would safeguard and increase federal support for the Title X program — the nation’s only dedicated source of funding for family planning and preventive health services.
• Urged U.S. Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. to immediately restore Title X funding to ensure access to essential care remains available across Kansas and the country.
• Supported the EACH Act, which seeks to repeal the Hyde Amendment.

Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Adam Smith (9th District of Washington)

WASHINGTON, D.C. –  U.S. Representative Adam Smith (D-Wash.) announced the passage of several Community Project Funding (CPF) requests that will deliver federal investments to support transportation connections, public facilities, emergency services, workforce training, and community infrastructure across South King County.

“These projects reflect the priorities of our cities, colleges, and first responders, and while not every request was funded at the full level, these investments represent meaningful progress for communities that have long been under-resourced,” said Rep. Smith. “I will continue working with our local partners to build on this funding and ensure these projects move forward.”

 
Transportation and Community Infrastructure

• City of Bellevue — Bellevue Grand Connection: I-405 Crossing (Downtown to Eastrail)
  Federal Funding Secured: $2,000,000
  The City of Bellevue is requesting $3 million to support final design and community engagement for the Grand Connection I-405 Crossing project—part of a broader pedestrian-oriented corridor stretching from Lake Washington through downtown Bellevue to the regional Eastrail in Wilburton. The funding will support outreach, engineering, and environmental review work during the 30% to 100% design phase of this transformative crossing, which will connect people walking, biking, and rolling across I-405 to jobs, transit, and housing.
• City of SeaTac — Airport Station Area Pedestrian Improvements Project
  Federal Funding Secured: $250,000
  The City of SeaTac is requesting $4 million from the DOT’s Transit Infrastructure Project account to fund construction of the Airport Station Area Pedestrian Improvements Project. This 1.3-mile multimodal project in the City Center Urban Village will improve access to transit, schools, and the airport by enhancing pedestrian safety, lighting, and mobility infrastructure—particularly for low-income and underserved residents living in dense multifamily housing.
• City of Des Moines — Midway Park Construction
  Federal Funding Secured: $850,000
  The City of Des Moines is redesigning and expanding Midway Park, located in the Pacific Ridge neighborhood. It is not easily accessible, has outdated lighting, temporary porta-potties, and often has many abandoned cars parked along its frontage. The design improvements to the existing Midway Park, including expanded park area, will provide increased opportunities for park visibility and physical activity, with durable, functional yet aesthetically pleasing amenities that promote for a healthier lifestyle and family gatherings.  The proposed design will improve usability as well as safety throughout the park and create more cohesive and inclusive opportunities for recreational activities within a currently underserved community area.

 
Public Facilities and Community Spaces

• City of Tukwila — Tukwila Community Center HVAC Replacement
  Federal Funding Secured: $850,000
  The Tukwila Community Center (TCC) is a recreation center serving intergenerational program participants from across all of Tukwila and King County that has an aging heating, ventilation, and air-conditioning (HVAC) system that is at the end of and past its useful life. Original to the building from 1997, the HVAC system needs to be replaced with a new, more energy efficient system before the old system fails completely. The center is critical for community recreational activities and also as a resource during natural disasters and extreme weather events. It has been used as both a healing and cooling center.
• Highline College — Soccer and Sports Complex Rehabilitation
  Federal Funding Secured: $1,200,000
  Highline College is renovating and turfing their soccer fields in order to improve community access and fill a critical gap in recreational infrastructure in South King County. The new complex will directly address the long-standing lack of adequate recreational facilities highlighted by the community, including youth who often express their disadvantage compared to peers in more affluent areas like Seattle.
• City of Seattle & Seattle Public Library —  Columbia Library Seismic Retrofit     
  Federal Funding Secured: $1,145,444 The Columbia Branch Library is one of Seattle’s three unreinforced Carnegie libraries. It is at high risk for damage and loss of life in the event of an earthquake. The Seattle Public Library is working on a comprehensive structural upgrade to significantly increase the safety of the building during an earthquake.

 
Workforce Development and Clean Energy Training

• Green River College — Electric Vehicle Automotive Center
  Federal Funding Secured: $250,000
  Green River College offers a National Institute for Automotive Service Excellence (ASE)-certified Automotive Technology department. With the goal of creating a regional hub for EV maintenance technician training, Green River College is renovating and equipping an instructional facility that can accommodate an EV-focused curriculum in development. As the demand for EVs grows, the workforce trained to repair them is lacking.

 
Public Safety and Emergency Response

• South King Fire — Firefighter PPE CO₂ Decontamination Unit
  Federal Funding Secured: $850,000
  The South King Fire Training Consortium is acquiring a machine that uses liquid CO2 to decontaminate clothing and equipment that comes in contact with the many carcinogenic materials (e.g. PFAS and asbestos) that firefighters are exposed to when responding to fires and other emergencies.
• City of Federal Way — Day Center Relocation Project
  Federal Funding Secured: $250,000
  The City of Federal Way is requesting $2.5 million from the HUD Economic Development Initiative (EDI) account to support the relocation and renovation of the Federal Way Day Center, which serves individuals experiencing homelessness. The new site—a repurposed pool building at the Red Lion Hotel property owned by King County—would co-locate the Day Center with an emergency shelter, improving service delivery, operational efficiency, and community support. The facility will offer hygiene services, case management, and other essential supports.

 
Community Project Funding allows Congress to support locally driven projects with clear public benefits. Rep. Smith will continue advocating for additional federal resources to help these projects reach completion and meet the needs of South King County residents.

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