MIL USHOR-2b Engine

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

“For the average ACA customer in my district, costs will skyrocket and blow an average annual hole of $490 in their personal budgets – a 72% increase in premiums,” said Wasserman Schultz. “Almost no family has that kind of extra money lying around. The cost of living is already too high. Families need relief.”

Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Bill Huizenga (MI-02)

Huizenga Applauds USDA Block Grants to Boost Michigan Agriculture & Specialty Crop Growers

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

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Yesterday, Rep. French Hill (AR-02) and Rep. Jim McGovern (MA-02) introduced a bipartisan resolution reaffirming the United States’ commitment to advancing religious freedom abroad and calling attention to countries recommended by the U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF) for placement on the State Department’s Special Watch List (SWL) due to severe violations of religious freedom.

Congressman Hill said, “Religious freedom is a foundational American value and a basic human right, and we cannot turn a blind eye when people around the world are persecuted simply for exercising their faith. This resolution puts countries on notice that the United States will continue to call out religious oppression wherever it exists. We have a responsibility to use our voice and our influence to stand up for those who cannot speak for themselves, and I am proud to take the lead on this issue alongside my colleague, Representative McGovern.”

Congressman Jim McGovern said, “International law guarantees all people the right to freedom of religion or belief. This year, the U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom has recommended the placement of twelve countries on the State Department’s Special Watch List due to their governments’ failure to guarantee that right. I am proud to join Representative Hill in introducing this resolution to affirm that the U.S. must lead when it comes to religious freedom.”

Background
The United States codified its commitment to promoting religious liberty abroad through the International Religious Freedom Act of 1998, which made religious freedom a priority of U.S. foreign policy.

This resolution draws attention to countries designated by the United States Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF) as recommended for placement on the U.S. Department of State’s Special Watch List (SWL). The SWL identifies foreign countries with “severe violations of religious freedom” that do not meet the stricter criteria for Countries of Particular Concern (CPC) but still require close monitoring.

The resolution focuses on the following foreign countries that USCIRF has recommended for the SWL: Egypt, Indonesia, Iran, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Malaysia, Sri Lanka, Syria, Turkey, and Uzbekistan.

The resolution calls on the House of Representatives to:

• Affirm the United States’ leadership in promoting religious freedom around the world.
• Urge the Department of State to engage robustly with allies and international partners on issues related to religious liberty.
• Affirm the importance of the Ambassador-at-Large for International Religious Freedom and the Special Envoy to Monitor and Combat Antisemitism

This resolution strengthens U.S. efforts to defend religious freedom globally and hold foreign countries accountable that violate religious freedom.

Click HERE for a downloadable one-pager.

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

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, Rep. Hill (AR-02) and his co-leads — Rep. Gottheimer (NJ-05), Rep. Kean Jr. (NJ-07), Rep. Lawler (NY-17), and Rep. Moskowitz (FL-23) — released the following statements after the House Committee on Foreign Affairs advanced legislation that included language from their bill, H.R. 4179, the Countering Wrongful Detention Act of 2025. This language was incorporated into a broader package, the Department of State Policy Provisions Act.

Congressman Hill said, “At a time when foreign adversaries are increasingly targeting Americans, it’s vital for the U.S. government to have the ability to deter and punish those who would use our citizens as pawns. Including language from the Countering Wrongful Detention Act in the State Authorization bill makes clear that those who wrongfully detain Americans will face real consequences and gives the State Department stronger tools to hold bad actors accountable. Our bipartisan measure is a strong step toward protecting our citizens and keeping Congress fully engaged in the process, and I’m grateful to Chairman Mast and Ranking Member Meeks for their leadership.”

Congressman Kean Jr. said, “Far too many American families have endured the fear and heartbreak of having a loved one taken hostage overseas and used as a political pawn. Hostile regimes like Iran continue to exploit innocent Americans as bargaining chips, subjecting them to mistreatment, dehumanization, and even death. The Countering Wrongful Detention Act, which I co-led, was included in the Department of State Policy Provisions Act that passed out of the Foreign Affairs Committee today. This measure sends a clear message that such actions will carry consequences, and the United States will go to great lengths to protect its citizens. I look forward to advancing this legislation through the House and ultimately seeing it signed into law.”

Congressman Josh Gottheimer said, “As the United States faces increasing threats from foreign adversaries, protecting Americans abroad must remain a top priority. I’m proud that the bipartisan Countering Wrongful Detention Act, which I helped introduce with Congressman Hill, has passed out of committee as part of the State Department Policy Provisions Act. This bipartisan bill will help bring home Americans wrongfully detained around the world and strengthen efforts to prevent future hostage-taking. To those being held, and their families, our message is clear: we stand with you and we are fighting every day to bring you home.”

Congressman Mike Lawler, Chairman of the Middle East and North Africa Subcommittee, said, “As a co-lead on the Countering Wrongful Detention Act, I’m proud to see this bipartisan legislation advance through the Foreign Affairs Committee as part of H.R. 5300. Hostile regimes like China, Russia, and Iran have used American citizens as bargaining chips for too long. The United States will not stand by when our citizens are unlawfully detained abroad.”

Background:
The language from the Countering Wrongful Detention Act included in the Department of State Policy Provisions Act creates a new authority for the Secretary of State to formally designate countries or nonstate actors as state sponsors of unlawful or wrongful detention, creating a deterrent framework similar to the existing state sponsors of terrorism designation.

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

RELEASE: REP. HILL’S STATEMENT ON HOUSE PASSAGE OF CONTINUING RESOLUTION

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

Congresswoman Stevens cites RFK Jr.’s dangerous cuts to medical research, increased costs to healthcare, abuses of power, and ongoing threats to public health after previously calling on Kennedy to resign

WASHINGTON, D.C. – In response to HHS Secretary RFK Jr.’s ongoing efforts to jeopardize public health, increase the cost of healthcare, and cut critical medical research – from pediatric cancer initiatives to cutting-edge vaccine developments – Michigan Congresswoman Haley Stevens released the following statement announcing that she is drafting articles of impeachment against Secretary Kennedy:

“RFK Jr. is making our country less safe and making healthcare less affordable and accessible for Michiganders. His contempt for science, the constant spreading of conspiracy theories, and his complete disregard for the thousands of research hours spent by America’s top doctors and experts is unprecedented, reckless, and dangerous. Enough is enough – we need leaders who put science over chaos, facts over lies, and people over politics, which is why I am announcing today that I have begun drafting articles of impeachment against Secretary Kennedy. 

“Secretary Kennedy has violated his oath of office and proven himself unfit to serve the American people. Congress must act to hold him accountable, and I intend to lead the charge to remove him from office.”

Rep. Stevens’ articles of impeachment against RFK Jr. will focus on: 

• RFK Jr.’s abdication of duty by cutting funding for lifesaving research, including:

• RFK Jr. severely restricting access to vaccines and spreading absurd conspiracies, putting lives in danger, and raising healthcare costs:

• RFK Jr. lying in his confirmation hearing:

  • He made promises to Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions (HELP) Committee Chairman Bill Cassidy (R-LA), which he has not upheld.

• RFK Jr.’s failure to carry out statutory duties of HHS in administering the FDA and CDC:

  • He fired every member of the CDC’s vaccine expert panel.

  • He has politicized the FDA by calling it a “sock puppet agency,” and oversaw a staffing shortage that has limited the agency’s ability to fulfill its public duties.

  • He suggested eliminating entire FDA departments.

  • He ended public comment for HHS rulemaking, severely limiting the ability for health experts to be involved in HHS policy development, which was widely opposed by major public health advocates and supporters of government transparency.

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Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Jimmy Gomez (CA-34)

LOS ANGELES, CA – Today, U.S. Representative Jimmy Gomez (CA-34) rallied with health care providers from across Los Angeles to demand that Republicans in Washington join Democrats in extending cost-saving Affordable Care Act tax credits that help working families afford health care premiums.  

If Republicans let ACA tax credits expire, 4.2 million people across the country will lose their health insurance, and families could see their premiums increase by an average of 75%. In California, a 60-year-old couple making $82,000 would see premiums jump from $7,000 to more than $26,000.

“In my district alone, 27,000 people rely on ACA credits for their health insurance,” said Rep. Jimmy Gomez. “That’s 27,000 of our family, friends, and neighbors who could lose access to affordable healthcare if Republicans don’t act. Democrats are ready to make a deal to prevent a government shutdown, but Republicans are refusing to even come to the table. I’ll keep pressing them to negotiate so it’s not working families paying the price.”

“Arroyo Vista Family Health Center appreciates Congressman Jimmy Gomez’s unwavering support for affordable health care access and urgently requests Congress to act now and extend the health insurance premium subsidies to prevent 660,000 Californians and millions across the United States from losing essential health care coverage,”  said Irene Holguin, Director of Preventative Care and Community Relations at Arroyo Vista Family Health Center. “Without an extension, Covered CA enrollees will have their premiums doubled, which will price out many hardworking families, leaving them vulnerable and uninsured. People who are uninsured are more likely to delay care and end up in the emergency room for preventable conditions – this leads to increased system costs. Extend health insurance premium subsidies now and protect affordable healthcare for our communities!”

“In Los Angeles county, health centers offer access to comprehensive quality care to over two million Angelenos, and they’re only able to do that because of expansions of the Affordable Care Act and ACA subsidies,” said Louise McCarthy, President and CEO of Community Clinic Association of Los Angeles County. “I urge our leaders in DC to look at the big picture to realize we cannot have access without coverage, and we need to prevent these subsidies from expiring now.”

The possible expiration of these tax credits is another part of the health care crisis Republicans have created. In July, Donald Trump and Republicans passed the Big, Billionaire Bill, which cuts Medicaid and takes health care away from millions of Americans, all while giving huge tax breaks to billionaire Republican donors and adding $4 trillion to America’s national debt. Rep. Gomez joined every House Democrat in voting against the bill.

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

Washington, D.C. – Rep. French Hill (AR-02) sent a letter to Secretary of Commerce Howard Lutnick applauding the administration for its strong leadership in reforming the Broadband Equity, Access, and Deployment (BEAD) program and urging continued efforts to ensure taxpayer dollars are used efficiently to expand reliable internet access across Arkansas and the United States.

Rep. Hill said, “Internet access is essential to daily life, yet 120,000 homes and businesses across Arkansas still lack reliable broadband. For nearly four years, the BEAD program under the Biden Administration was tied up by red tape that drove up costs and delayed deployment. Despite spending billions, not a single home was connected during that time. Thanks to the leadership of President Trump and Secretary Lutnick, BEAD is now focused on cutting costs, boosting competition, and delivering for the American people. In Arkansas alone, these changes mean hundreds of millions in savings and expanded opportunities for local providers. This is proof that when results are prioritized over bureaucracy, taxpayers win — and Arkansas is leading the way.”

Background:

Congress appropriated $42.45 billion to the National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) to administer the Broadband Equity, Access, and Deployment (BEAD) program to expand high-speed internet access nationwide. According to NTIA data, nearly four years after its creation, no homes had been connected under BEAD. In June 2025, the Administration issued the BEAD Restructuring Policy Notice, which removed requirements related to labor, climate, fiber-only mandates, and rate regulation in order to streamline implementation. Arkansas projects more than $275 million in savings under the revised framework and has provisionally awarded over $200 million to Arkansas-based internet service providers.

Read the full letter HERE.

Source: United States House of Representatives – Congresswoman Pramila Jayapal (7th District of Washington)

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

Today, Reps. Jerry Nadler (NY-12), Mark Takano (CA-39), Zoe Lofgren (CA-18), Lou Correa (CA-46), Juan Vargas (CA-52), Raul Ruiz (CA-25), Amata Coleman Radewagen (AS-AL), and Maria Elvira Salazar (FL-27) reintroduced the Veteran Service Recognition Act. In the Senate, Senator Alex Padilla (D-CA) is introducing companion legislation.

The Veteran Service Recognition Act would allow noncitizen servicemembers to apply for naturalization during basic training, establish a review process for those who are in removal proceedings, and provide an opportunity for noncitizen veterans who have been removed or ordered removed, and who have not been convicted of a serious crime, to obtain legal permanent residence. 

“The men and women who risk their lives to serve our country should not have to worry about their immigration status when they get home,” said Rep. Nadler. “No matter where they were born, our veterans deserve the utmost respect and should be honored for their bravery and sacrifice, and that includes providing them a path to citizenship. I am proud to join Representative Takano in reintroducing the Veteran Service Recognition Act.”

“If you are willing to raise your right hand, put on the uniform, and defend this country, you should have a clear path to citizenship,” said Rep. Mark Takano, Ranking Member of the House Committee on Veterans’ Affairs. “The Veteran Service Recognition Act makes good on that promise, and it gives us a way to bring home veterans who served honorably but were deported. Standing up for our veterans has always been bipartisan, and this bill carries that tradition forward.”
  
“Immigrants have valiantly served in our nation’s military since its founding,” said Rep. Lofgren. “Those who put their life on the line for our country should not be facing the possibility of deportation. I’m proud to be re-introducing the bipartisan Veteran Service Recognition Act with my colleagues, so that Congress rights these wrongs and ensures that noncitizen veterans are protected and can access the care and benefits that they’ve earned.” 
 
“If you put your life on the line for our country, you deserve the right to stay in our country,” said Rep. Ruiz. “That’s why the Veteran Service Recognition Act works to stop the deportation of noncitizen servicemembers and ensures they have due process here in America and a fair chance at citizenship. With today’s introduction of the Veteran Service Recognition Act, we are one step closer to making sure noncitizen veterans are never treated as second-class veterans.”
 
“Our nation’s veterans served with honor, and they should be treated with respect and dignity regardless of immigration status,” said Rep. Vargas. “The Veteran Service Recognition Act is an important step towards giving noncitizen veterans a pathway to citizenship in the country they put their lives on the line for, and I’m honored to be an original cosponsor of this legislation.”
 
“Veterans put their lives on the line to protect our nation and the ideals it represents,” said Rep. Correa. “This legislation honors that service by making it easier for active duty servicemembers to become citizens and creating a pathway to legal resident status for U.S. Veterans. Fighting for the United States is the ultimate act of patriotism—let’s deliver our vets the justice and equality they deserve.”
 
“Thank you to our many U.S. Service Members who volunteer from our closest allies and Freely Associated States,” said Rep. Radewagen. “After their service, it is common sense and good policy for these Veterans to be able to remain as permanent residents or pursue citizenship if they choose. They strengthened our military and strengthened the country. All our veterans showed commitment to the country through service, in turn we as a nation have a commitment to support our veterans. Thank you Congressman Takano for leading this effort.” 
 
“All members of our Armed Forces deserve to be treated with dignity and respect,” said Rep. Salazar. “Noncitizen veterans, just like their American peers, make the ultimate sacrifice in service of the United States. I’m proud to reintroduce this legislation with Congressman Takano, to streamline the naturalization process for noncitizen veterans and provide due process for those who were wrongfully deported.”
 
Endorsements: The American Legion, VoteVets, LULAC, AFL-CIO, UnidosUS, ACLU.
 
You can find the bill text here and a one pager here.

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