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Source: United States House of Representatives – Reprepsentative Kathy Castor (FL14)

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Yesterday, U.S. Rep. Kathy Castor (FL-14) played in the friendly rivalry softball game between the women of Congress and women of the D.C. press corps at the 16th Annual Congressional Women’s Softball Game (CWSG). Since 2009, the CWSG has supported the Young Survival Coalition by raising awareness of breast cancer in young women and honoring current fighters and survivors of cancer.

This year, Rep. Castor stepped up to the plate for her District Advisor Shahra Lambert, a breast cancer survivor and dedicated advocate for residents across the Tampa Bay area. As District Advisor, Lambert uses her expertise and deep understanding of the region to meaningfully engage with constituents and stakeholders across the community. Lambert’s impressive career includes fifteen years in leadership roles for former U.S. Senator Bill Nelson, during which time she worked on several initiatives to promote equity and community engagement. After Nelson was confirmed to lead NASA, Lambert joined the Administrator’s team as Senior Advisor. Her extensive experience with federal agencies, grassroots advocacy and strategic planning has been instrumental in advancing the district’s priorities and fostering stronger connections within the community.

Photos of the game are available here.

“I’m humbled and honored that Congresswoman Castor is not only playing in my honor but playing for all those survivors and their loved ones’ cancer journey,” said Lambert. “It takes a village, and I’m glad to be a part of and root for Team Castor and the Congressional Women’s Softball.”

“The Congressional Women’s Softball Game brings people together for a friendly rivalry game that helps bring people of all sides together to support initiatives raising awareness of breast cancer and underscoring the importance of young women knowing their risks and getting their screenings,” said Rep. Castor. “I was honored to play for my District Advisor, Shahra Lambert, whose exceptional experience and dedication to serving Florida families and small businesses are vital to my ability to connect with constituents and address their needs effectively. Shahra has been an asset in fighting to secure emergency federal support for my neighbors recovering from last year’s devastating hurricanes.”

An estimated 316,950 women will be diagnosed with breast cancer in 2025, and an estimated 43,700 women will die from the disease, according to the American Cancer Society. Rep. Castor has been a leader in Congress in advancing legislation to fight cancer through increased preventative care, expanded access to cancer screenings, coverage for timely cancer treatment and investments in cancer research.

“While I am thrilled to receive the Rep. Joanne Emerson Most Valuable Player Award this year as the Member Team’s pitcher, all of the women who have been diagnosed with breast cancer and have fought through the diagnosis are the true winners in my book,” said Rep. Castor.

Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Earl L Buddy Carter (GA-01)

Headline: Carter Introduces Bill to Spur American Economic Development in Housing

WASHINGTON D.C. – Rep. Earl L. “Buddy” Carter (R-GA) and Rep. Greg Stanton (D-AZ) introduced the Catalyzing Housing and American Ready Growth and Expansion (CHARGE) Investments Act, a bill that will encourage economic growth and development throughout the country by modernizing the eligibility for Transit Oriented Development (TOD) projects. The CHARGE Investments Act will create jobs, add housing, revitalize underused urban areas, and drive long-term economic growth without expanding the federal deficit. 

Currently, federal law restricts TOD loans to projects within a half mile radius of intercity rail stations. This traditional standard largely benefits older Northeast cities, whereas most U.S. cities intentionally built their historic freight rail hubs modestly further from their downtowns. The CHARGE Investments Act ensures fair access to fiscally responsible federal loan financing administered by the Build America Bureau by expanding the TOD eligibility radius for those U.S. cities whose central business district is more than half a mile from its intercity rail or light rail. Projects inside the closest central business district within a two-mile radius of intercity rail stations, or for cities lacking intercity rail, projects within a ¼ mile radius from a light rail station, shall now be eligible.  

“By modernizing the Railroad Rehabilitation and Improvement Financing program, the CHARGE Investments Act marks a critical step towards unlocking economic development for rural towns and growing cities alike. This bill will stimulate economic activity in not only Georgia but nationwide, ensuring some regions are not given preference over others,” said Rep. Carter. 

“Light Rail has absolutely transformed the Valley, driving billions in private and public investment along the lines. As the cost of living rises and Arizona grows, we need more tools to develop new affordable housing units and businesses near our city centers and along the transit lines,” said Rep. Stanton. “Our CHARGE Investments Act modernizes federal financing options for transit-oriented retail and housing developments—a win-win for Arizona businesses and families.”

The CHARGE Investments Act preserves the fiscally responsible foundation of the program by maintaining loan-based financing and requiring at least 25% private or non-federal investment while expanding access to cities unintentionally left out due to outdated limitations. These investments often generate 4–5x returns for the Treasury, driven by growth in construction, housing, hospitality, and retail.

“The CHARGE Investments Act is the kind of forward-looking reform the hotel industry needs to spur new development opportunities, create jobs, and drive economic growth. The proposed legislation would expand loan-based financing for transit-connected projects, providing hoteliers with a critical pathway to develop projects that meet local demand. We thank Congressman Carter for his leadership on this important issue and look forward to working with him to move this legislation swiftly through Congress,” said Rosanna Maietta, President & CEO of the American Hotel & Lodging Association.

“AAHOA also applauds the bill’s commitment to fiscal responsibility. The CHARGE Investments Act encourages market-driven investment while safeguarding taxpayer dollars by relying on loans instead of grants and requiring a minimum 25% private capital contribution. For our industry, it creates a valuable financing tool that supports smart growth, adaptive reuse, and transit-connected development,” said Kamalesh (KP) Patel, Chairman of the Asian American Hotel Owners of America (AAHOA).

“By facilitating redevelopment near transit corridors and enabling hotel investment in high-impact areas, the CHARGE Investments Act offers a smart, modern, and locally responsive model for infrastructure and economic growth. GHLA applauds your leadership in advancing this thoughtful, pro-growth legislation. We are proud to support the CHARGE Investments Act and look forward to partnering with your office to move it forward,” said Chris Hardman, Director of Governmental Affairs for the Georgia Hotel and Lodging Association.

Read full bill text here.

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Source: United States House of Representatives – Representative Riley Moore (WV-02)

Washington, D.C. – Today, Congressman Riley M. Moore and Senator Josh Hawley of Missouri introduced a resolution condemning the persecution of Christians in Muslim-majority countries across the globe.

In April, Congressman Moore gave a speech on the House Floor highlighting the rampant violence and martyrdom many Christians are facing simply for proclaiming their faith in Jesus Christ.

The bill is endorsed by ADF International, Heritage Action for America, the Ethics and Religious Liberty Commission, In Defense of Christians, Global Christian Relief, CatholicVote, Advancing American Freedom, Center for Urban Renewal and Education (CURE), Family Policy Alliance, Christians Engaged, and Save the Persecuted Christians.

Congressman Moore issued the following statement:

“Around the world, our brothers and sisters in Christ face rampant persecution for simply acknowledging the name of Jesus. That is unacceptable.

“In Nigeria alone, more than 50,000 Christians have been martyred and more than 5 million have been displaced simply for professing their faith. During a Divine Liturgy in Damascus last month, an islamic jihadist opened fire on worshippers and detonated an explosive device — killing at least 30 and wounding dozens more. These examples illustrate the violence and death Christians face on a daily basis.

“Unfortunately, decades of U.S. foreign policy blunders have exacerbated this crisis, with ethno-religious cleansing accelerating in Iraq after our failure to stabilize the country following the 2003 invasion.

“We as lawmakers cannot continue to sit idly by. I urge my colleagues to join me in condemning the persecution of Christians across the globe.”

Senator Hawley added:

“Our country was founded on religious liberty. We cannot sit on the sidelines as Christians around the world are being persecuted for declaring Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior. We must condemn these heinous crimes. Year after year, the number of Christians murdered by extremists in Nigeria has numbered in the thousands. Millions more have been displaced. We cannot allow this to continue. I urge my colleagues to join me in condemning the persecution of Christians around the world by supporting this resolution.”

The Daily Wire first covered introduction of the resolution. Read more here.

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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 are driving up costs while taking nutritional assistance and healthcare away from millions of Americans in order to reward billionaires.

LEADER JEFFRIES: Good afternoon, everyone. The American people desperately want an economy that is affordable for hardworking taxpayers. Donald Trump and House Republicans promised that costs would go down in the United States of America. Costs aren’t going down. They’re going up. They certainly have not gone down on day one, as Republicans promised the American people. Inflation is on the way up. Life is getting more expensive. And Donald Trump and House Republicans are driving the economy off of a cliff. Donald Trump and House Republicans have done nothing—nothing—not a single thing to make life more affordable for hardworking American taxpayers.

The One Big Ugly Law will do nothing to meaningfully address the cost of living crisis that we have in this country. In fact, the One Big Ugly Law will make life more expensive for everyday Americans, particularly as it relates to utility bills in this country. Utility bills are going to go up as a result of the actions that have been taken by Donald Trump and Republicans. More than 17 million people are going to lose their healthcare as a result of the action taken by Donald Trump and Republicans. Children, veterans and seniors who are hungry are going to lose their nutritional assistance as it relates to the actions taken by Donald Trump and House Republicans connected to the One Big Ugly Law. And all of this has been done to reward billionaires with massive tax breaks and at the same time skyrocket and explode the debt by more than $3 trillion.

It’s unconscionable what Donald Trump and House Republicans have done to hurt the American people. The job of those of us who are in public service should be at all times to make life better for everyday Americans, to improve the quality of life for the American people, to ensure, as Democrats are focused on, that when you work hard and play by the rules in the United States of America, you should be able to afford to live the good life—good paying job, good housing, good healthcare, good education for your children and a good retirement. That’s the American dream, and far too many people are unable to achieve it even though they are working hard and playing by the rules. Republicans haven’t made it easier to achieve the American dream. They are making it harder for everyday Americans. And that’s a shame.

Full press conference can be watched here.

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Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Donald Norcross (1st District of New Jersey)

WASHINGTON, D.C. — Today, Congressman Donald Norcross (NJ-01), co-chair of the Congressional Labor Caucus, joined Congressman Jared Golden (ME-02), House Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries (NY-08), AFL-CIO President Liz Shuler, Congresswoman Debbie Dingell (MI-06), Congressional Progressive Caucus Chair Congressman Greg Casar (TX-35), AFGE President Dr. Everett B. Kelley, National Federation of Federal Employees President Randy Erwin, and IFPTE President Matthew Biggs to announce a discharge petition on the Protect America’s Workforce Act, forcing a vote on the House floor to overturn President Trump’s executive order that stripped collective bargaining rights away from over one million federal workers. 

A discharge petition is a procedural tool that can be used to bypass House Republican leadership and force a vote on the Protect America’s Workforce Act. If 218 representatives sign on to the discharge petition, the bill will come to the House floor for a vote. 

“I’ve spent my life fighting for workers’ rights, at the bargaining table, on the picket line, and now in Congress. President Trump’s executive order to strip federal workers of their collective bargaining rights is a clear union-busting tactic, plain and simple,” said Congressman Norcross, co-chair of the Congressional Labor Caucus and an IBEW member. “This week, I fought back against this illegal attack on workers by authoring an NDAA amendment to restore collective bargaining rights for defense workers, which passed with bipartisan support. Now, the Protect America’s Workforce Act discharge petition is our chance to ensure ALL federal employees have their collective bargaining rights restored.”  

The Protect America’s Workforce Act, introduced by Representatives Jared Golden (ME-02) and Brian Fitzpatrick (PA-01), is a bipartisan effort to protect the collective bargaining rights of federal employees. The bill directly counters President Trump’s executive order issued on March 27, which eliminated collective bargaining rights for unionized federal employees, including the Department of Defense. 

Earlier this week, Rep. Norcross introduced an amendment to the FY2026 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) to block Trump’s illegal attack on collective bargaining rights for Department of Defense (DoD) employees. The amendment passed out of committee, with three Republicans voting in favor of it. 

Rep. Norcross, a co-founder of the Congressional Labor Caucus, is a union electrician by trade, a former union organizer, and was president of an AFL-CIO regional labor council for nearly two decades.  

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Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Greg Steube (FL-17)

July 17, 2025 | Press ReleasesWASHINGTON, D.C. — U.S. Representatives Greg Steube (R-Fla.) and Janelle Bynum (D-Ore.) today introduced bipartisan legislation requiring the FDA to begin studying the health impacts of microplastic exposure in food and water. This bill addresses growing concerns regarding the link between microplastics and serious health conditions affecting coastal communities in the United States.
“For years, the federal government buried its head in the sand while microplastics infected our water and food supply,” said Rep. Steube. “Charlotte, Lee, and Sarasota Counties have all been flagged as high-risk areas for microplastic exposure, with alarming rates of chronic illness and disease. Yet the FDA still tells Americans not to worry. This is unacceptable. Americans deserve to know what they’re being exposed to, how it’s affecting their health, and what Washington plans to do about it.”
“We can’t take a wait-and-see approach here – it’s time to be proactive. We’ve got to get a handle on how microplastics are getting in our food, beverages, and everyday items, and figure out how they’re affecting our health.” said Rep. Bynum. “I’m all about the data. That’s why I’m teaming up with Senator Merkley, Senator Scott, and Representative Steube to get the information we need to keep our constituents – and all Americans – safe and healthy.”
This legislation has been introduced in the Senate by Senators Rick Scott (R-Fla) and Jeff Merkley (D-Ore): 
“I’m deeply concerned about how microplastics may be impacting the health of Americans – particularly vulnerable groups like our youth. As chairman of the U.S. Senate Special Committee on Aging, I’m also especially focused on the long-term harm microplastics pose to aging Americans,” said Senator Rick Scott. “Microplastics have been found throughout the human body, including in the blood, liver, placenta, and even brain tissue, and have been linked to serious health conditions such as cancer, endocrine disruption, and chronic illness. The Microplastics Safety Act is a critical step toward understanding the full scope of these risks. As exposure continues to grow through food, water, air, and everyday products, this legislation will help ensure we’re guided by sound science to protect public health and our next generation.”“Most of us have been taught the three Rs: reduce, reuse, and recycle. Too often, the reality for plastics is really the three Bs—buried, burned, and borne out to sea—as dangerous chemicals are seeping into our soil, air, and water,” said Senator Merkley. “Microplastics threaten human health and our environment, and our bipartisan effort will ensure the federal government better understands the dangers they pose, ensuring a healthier planet and future for all Americans.”Background:The bill directs the Secretary of Health and Human Services, acting through the FDA Commissioner, to study the effects of microplastic exposure on cancer, chronic illness, the endocrine system, reproductive health, and children’s health. It also requires a report to Congress within one year detailing the findings and policy recommendations.The federal government has never conducted a formal study on how microplastics in food and water affect human health. There is no government data, no health risk assessment, and no plan in place. This bill fills that gap.
A recent American Heart Association study found significantly higher rates of diabetes, stroke, and heart disease in counties with very high marine microplastic levels. That list includes all three counties in Florida’s 17th District: Charlotte, Lee, and Sarasota. The MAHA report, issued by HHS Secretary Kennedy, also identified microplastics as an emerging concern, yet no federal agency has ever conducted a formal study on the issue. The FDA still claims there is no evidence that microplastics in food and water pose a threat to human health.
Rep. Steube previously co-sponsored the bipartisan MICRO Plastics Act to monitor plastic pollution in waterways and has long championed clean water and coastal health in Congress.Read the full bill text here.

Source: United States House of Representatives – Congresswoman Ayanna Pressley (MA-07)

“This bill gives a green light to the self-enriching crypto schemes we’ve seen where officials at the highest levels of power, including in the White House, have generated hundreds of millions of dollars in personal profit.”

“The American people deserve crypto legislation that is fair, transparent, and accountable—not a bill that opens the floodgates to conflicts of interest and weakens investor protections.”

Video (YouTube)

WASHINGTON – Today, Congresswoman Ayanna Pressley (MA-07) delivered a floor speech in which she assailed the CLARITY Act, harmful legislation that lacks consumer protections and would legalize Donald Trump’s crypto corruption and brazen abuse of power. In her remarks, Rep. Pressley condemned the bill as a green light for self-enriching crypto schemes and urged Congress to instead pass crypto legislation that is fair, transparent, and accountable.

A full transcript of her remarks is available below and the full video is available here.

Transcript: On House Floor, Pressley Assails CLARITY Act as Green Light for Corruption, Financial Abuse
House of Representatives
July 17, 2025

Thank you, Ranking Member Waters.

Mr. Speaker, I rise in vigorous opposition to the CLARITY Act.

This bill gives a green light to self-enriching crypto schemes where officials at the highest levels of power, including in the White House, have generated hundreds of billions of dollars in personal profit.

We need legislation that stops financial abuse, not encourages it, especially during a time when the SEC has dropped enforcement actions against major crypto firms and undermined investor safety.

Across our country, millions of working families are battling rising costs, our elders are targeted by financial scams, and investors are trying to recover from volatile markets, but Republicans are ignoring all of that to prioritize the crypto industry’s wish list.

To be clear: the people deserve crypto legislation that is fair, transparent, and accountable—not a bill that opens the floodgates to conflicts of interest and weakens investor protections.

The CLARITY Act fails that test.

Republicans’ need some clarity alright, moral and legislative.

I agree with Ranking Member Waters, this is really the CALAMITY Act and I urge my colleagues to oppose this bill.

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

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

“Like so many women in the United States, I heard those devastating words no one wants to hear: ‘you have breast cancer.’ My personal experience battling this terrible disease led to the creation of the EARLY Act, which was designed to help educate women and their health care providers about the specific threats and warning signs of breast cancer in younger women that lead to early detection, diagnosis, and survival,” said Wasserman Schultz, who was diagnosed with breast cancer and the BRCA2 gene mutation at age 41 and after 15 months of surgery, has been cancer free for 17 years. “Reauthorizing the EARLY Act means that we will continue the vital work of educating young and higher risk women about their breast health and do everything we can to save more lives.”

Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman David Scott (GA-13)

WASHINGTON D.C. – Today, Congressman David Scott (GA-13), a senior member of the House Agriculture Committee, was joined by fellow House Agriculture Committee member Congressmen Jonathan Jackson (IL-1) in reintroducing the Black Farmers and Socially Disadvantaged Farmers Increased Market Share Act, a bill designed to expand market access for Black and historically disadvantaged farmers. The proposal combines economic development with civil rights reforms to confront longstanding discrimination inequities faced by Black and minority farmers within the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA).

“Generations of Black farmers have lost their land and livelihoods because of systemic discrimination and the federal government’s failures to meaningfully intervene,” said Congressman David Scott. “Black farming communities have been deeply harmed by this historical injustice. Whereas they comprised over 14% of all U.S. farmers less than a century ago, they now represent less than 2%. We know that combining targeted economic development with civil rights reforms is the surest way of confronting longstanding inequities. That is exactly what this bill does. Congress has a responsibility to reverse the decades of inaction by restoring trust, creating new market opportunities, and ensuring USDA supports our Black and socially disadvantaged farmers.”

“Black farmers have been the backbone of American agriculture since this nation’s founding, yet they’ve endured over a century of systemic discrimination, land loss, and exclusion from federal farm programs,” said Congressman Jonathan L. Jackson. “In 1920, there were nearly 1 million Black farmers in the United States. But today, fewer than 50,000 remain. That’s a staggering 95% decline. This did not happen by accident — it is the result of broken policies, discriminatory lending practices, and a lack of market access. The Black Farmers and Socially Disadvantaged Farmers Increased Market Share Act represents a crucial opportunity to reverse that legacy and build a future where equity in agriculture is not just an ideal, but a reality. I am proud to support legislation that helps restore what was taken and empowers the next generation of Black farmers to reclaim their rightful place in our agricultural economy.”

The Black and Socially Disadvantaged Farmers Increased Market Share Act of 2025 would:

·         Establish Food Hub Grants – a competitive grant program to support new and expanding food hubs that are designed to increase market access to help Black and minority farmers reach wholesale, retail and institutional buyers.

·         Establish New Tax Incentives – creates a 25% tax credit for agricultural food products purchased from food hubs that have been expanded under the bill.

·         Prioritize Procurement – directs USDA to establish new processes to prioritize the purchase of agricultural products from socially disadvantaged farmers.

·         Civil Rights Accountability – establishes an independent Office of the Civil Rights Ombudsperson to assist farmers navigating the civil rights review process; makes structural reforms by which USDA is held accountable for engaging in discriminatory practices, harassment, retaliation, or civil rights-violating actions.

·         Improve USDA Policies – including the methods by which USDA can provide monetary relief to farmers wrongly denied access to payment and loan programs.

The Black and Socially Disadvantaged Farmers Increased Market Share Act, builds on Congressman David Scott’s decades-long effort to spotlight the intertwined crises of historical discrimination and modern inequities faced by Black farmers. His advocacy encompasses the fight to defend pandemic relief for Black farmers under the American Rescue Plan Act and expanding land ownership for minority famers across the nation. As Chairman, he highlighted the deeply unequal distribution in COVID-era farm aid, citing testimony that only 0.1% of a $26 billion USDA spending package went to Black farmers. He continues to champion tax incentives to incentivize processors and buyers to source from socially disadvantaged farmers and penalties for USDA Civil Rights violations. With renewed discussions around a Farm Bill Reauthorization, the proposal can ensure equity and justice remains front and center in any negotiations.

Full text of the bill can be accessed HERE.

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