MIL USHOR-2b Engine

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

In letters to Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnik and Subcommittee Chairman Hal Rogers, lawmakers urge the rejection of proposed funding cuts and facility closures at NOAA. 

Washington, DC— Following the release of the White House’s Fiscal Year 2026 budget proposal, Congressman Joe Neguse (CO-02) led a coalition of 23 lawmakers urging both the Department of Commerce and their colleagues on the House Appropriations Committee to reject devastating proposed cuts to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) by the Trump administration. The budget proposal would decimate funding for NOAA’s critical programs, including the Oceanic and Atmospheric Research (OAR), and terminate several Weather Laboratories and Cooperative Institutes, including several in Colorado’s Second Congressional District.   

In their letter, the lawmakers condemned the proposed budget cuts to NOAA and underscored the importance of the agency and its Cooperative Institutes. Colorado is home to several of NOAA’s Climate Laboratories, including the Physical Sciences Laboratory (PSL), the Chemical Sciences Laboratory (CSL), and the Global Monitoring Laboratory (GML), all located in Boulder, CO. 

Colorado is also the only state in the nation home to two Cooperative Institutes, the Cooperative Institute for Research in the Atmosphere (CIRA) at Colorado State University and the Cooperative Institute for Research in Environmental Sciences (CIRES) at the University of Colorado Boulder, which are academic and non-profit research centers that have provided invaluable support to NOAA’s mission and work in drought, wildfire, and space weather since 1967. The lawmakers denounced the proposed cuts in their letter to Department of Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick and Subcommittee Chairman Rogers and Ranking Member Meng, as well as any plans to terminate funding for these institutions, making clear the damage to our nation would be irreversible, and emphasizing the important work that is ongoing at both CIRES and CIRA.  

“CIs are home to experienced researchers and long-standing data collection programs with major impacts on human societies. If these sweeping cuts are made, the damage will be irreversible. Even short-term interruptions in their research could threaten the safety and economies of the communities that CIs serve across the nation. These cuts would primarily leave tornado and weather research and ocean observation to be reprogrammed to other offices, effectively moving weather research and development under the National Weather Service, while getting rid of most of the people and infrastructure that do this critical work.” 

They continued: “The value NOAA and its programs, like OAR, provide to our communities cannot be overstated. OAR operates research laboratories across the country providing the foundation for understanding and predicting changes in Earth’s atmosphere, oceans, and inland waters. This work improves weather and climate forecasts, provides early warnings for natural disasters, and enhances our understanding of Earth’s systems. The work our scientists and civil servants do at NOAA is essential to U.S. national security and economic prosperity, as well as the personal safety and daily lives of Americans. Any attempt to gut these essential programs would have devastating effects on Americans.” 

 

Read their full letter HERE and below: 

July 8, 2025

The Honorable Howard Lutnick 

Secretary

U.S. Department of Commerce 

1401 Constitution Ave. NW 

Washington, DC 20230

 

The Honorable Laura Grimm

Acting Administrator

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

1401 Constitution Avenue NW Washington, DC 20230
 

Dear Secretary Lutnick and Acting Administrator Grimm,

We write to implore you to reject the proposed funding cuts to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) as laid out in the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) Fiscal Year 2026 budget request. NOAA’s programs provide essential services to all Americans, and gutting its programs and research would be gravely irresponsible.

In NOAA’s FY26 Congressional Justification document, the agency lays out plans to effectively eliminate NOAA’s Operations, Research, and Facilities for FY26. This includes a decrease in 216 employees and complete termination of Oceanic and Atmospheric Research (OAR) Climate Laboratories and Cooperative Institutes. 

This document also proposes closing down several NOAA facilities across the United States that are in our respective districts. This includes the Atlantic Oceanographic & Meteorological Laboratory (AOML) in Miami, FL; the Air Resources Laboratory (ARL) in College Park, MD, Idaho Falls, ID, and Oak Ridge, TN, Physical Sciences Laboratory (PSL) in Boulder, CO; the Chemical Sciences Laboratory (CSL) in Boulder, CO; the Geophysical Fluid Dynamics Laboratory (GFDL) in Princeton, NJ; , as well as a nation-wide network of soil moisture sensors; the Global Monitoring Laboratory (GML) in Boulder, CO, Utqiaġvik, AK; Mauna Loa, HI; Hilo, HI; Big Island, HI; American Samoa, and the South Pole; and the Pacific Marine Environmental Laboratory (PMEL) in Seattle. Shutting down these facilities would be devastating for our communities.

These cuts would also affect Cooperative Institutes (CIs), which are academic and non-profit research institutions that support NOAA’s goals, containing 80 universities and institutions across 33 states. CIs are home to experienced researchers and long-standing data collection programs with major impacts on human societies. If these sweeping cuts are made, the damage will be irreversible. Even short-term interruptions in their research could threaten the safety and economies of the communities that CIs serve across the nation.

These cuts would primarily leave tornado and weather research and ocean observation to be reprogrammed to other offices, effectively moving weather research and development under the National Weather Service, while getting rid of most of the people and infrastructure that do this critical work. You cannot simply shuffle a handful of programs across NOAA offices while terminating an entire line office responsible for providing the research base for the agency and expect continued success; to maintain American excellence in this work requires continuity of OAR’s core functions as well as its skilled workforce, including at the labs and CIs.

The value NOAA and its programs, like OAR, provide to our communities cannot be overstated. OAR operates research laboratories across the country providing the foundation for understanding and predicting changes in Earth’s atmosphere, oceans, and inland waters. This work improves weather and climate forecasts, provides early warnings for natural disasters, and enhances our understanding of Earth’s systems. The work our scientists and civil servants do at NOAA is essential to U.S. national security and economic prosperity, as well as the personal safety and daily lives of Americans. Any attempt to gut these essential programs would have devastating effects on Americans. As such, we urge you to reject these proposed funding cuts and facility closures at NOAA.

Sincerely,

 

Read their full letter HERE and below: 

July 8, 2025

 

The Honorable Hal Rogers 

Chairman

Subcommittee on Commerce, Justice, Science, and Related Agencies

Committee on Appropriations

H-310 The Capitol Washington, DC 20515

 

The Honorable Grace Meng

Ranking Member

Subcommittee on Commerce, Justice, Science,

and Related Agencies

Committee on Appropriations

H-310 The Capitol, Washington, DC 20515

 

Dear Chairman Rogers and Ranking Member Meng,

As you continue crafting the Fiscal Year 2026 Commerce, Justice, Science, and Related Agencies appropriations bill, we write to implore you to reject the proposed funding cuts to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) as laid out in the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) Fiscal Year 2026 budget request. NOAA’s programs provide essential services to all Americans, and gutting its programs and research would be gravely irresponsible.

In NOAA’s FY26 Congressional Justification document, the agency lays out plans to effectively eliminate NOAA’s Operations, Research, and Facilities for FY26. This includes a decrease in 216 employees and complete termination of Oceanic and Atmospheric Research (OAR) Climate Laboratories and Cooperative Institutes. 

This document also proposes closing down several NOAA facilities across the United States that are in our respective districts. This includes the Physical Sciences Laboratory (PSL) in Boulder, CO; the Chemical Sciences Laboratory (CSL) in Boulder, CO; the Geophysical Fluid Dynamics Laboratory (GFDL) in Princeton, NJ; Atlantic Oceanographic & Meteorological Laboratory (AOML) in Miami, FL; the Air Resources Laboratory (ARL) in College Park, MD, Idaho Falls, ID, and Oak Ridge, TN, as well as a nation-wide network of soil moisture sensors; the Global Monitoring Laboratory (GML) in Boulder, CO, Utqiaġvik, AK; Mauna Loa, HI; Hilo, HI; Big Island, HI; American Samoa, and the South Pole; and the Pacific Marine Environmental Laboratory (PMEL) in Seattle. Shutting down these facilities would be devastating for our communities.

These cuts would also affect Cooperative Institutes (CIs), which are academic and non-profit research institutions that support NOAA’s goals, containing 80 universities and institutions across 33 states. CIs are home to experienced researchers and long-standing data collection programs with major impacts on human societies. If these sweeping cuts are made, the damage will be irreversible. Even short-term interruptions in their research could threaten the safety and economies of the communities that CIs serve across the nation.

These cuts would primarily leave tornado and weather research and ocean observation to be reprogrammed to other offices, effectively moving weather research and development under the National Weather Service, while getting rid of most of the people and infrastructure that do this critical work. You cannot simply shuffle a handful of programs across NOAA offices while terminating an entire line office responsible for providing the research base for the agency and expect continued success; to maintain American excellence in this work requires continuity of OAR’s core functions as well as its skilled workforce, including at the labs and CIs.

The value NOAA and its programs, like OAR, provide to our communities cannot be overstated. OAR operates research laboratories across the country providing the foundation for understanding and predicting changes in Earth’s atmosphere, oceans, and inland waters. This work improves weather and climate forecasts, provides early warnings for natural disasters, and enhances our understanding of Earth’s systems. The work our scientists and civil servants do at NOAA is essential to U.S. national security and economic prosperity, as well as the personal safety and daily lives of Americans. Any attempt to gut these essential programs would have devastating effects on Americans. As such, we urge you to reject these proposed funding cuts and facility closures at NOAA, and to instead fully fund NOAA in the FY26 Commerce, Justice, Science, and Related Agencies appropriations bill.

Sincerely,

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Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Josh Harder (CA-10)

$18 million for hiring teachers, STEM education, and after-school programs locked up

Clock running out with first day of school just weeks away

STOCKTON – Today, in response to unacceptable education funding freezes just weeks away from the first day of school, Rep. Josh Harder (CA-09) demanded the immediate release of these funds to ensure Valley students heading into the new school year aren’t affected. More than $18 million in federal funding promised to San Joaquin County is currently locked up.

Here’s what’s on Washington’s chopping block:

• Funding for homework assistance and after-school clubs.
• Investments in STEM education and digital learning services.
• Hiring and training more teachers — one local school district has a 100+ shortage.

“Make no mistake — this is an attack on our kids and their futures, and I’m furious that Washington is trying to pull the rug out from under our schools just weeks away from the first day of school,” said Rep. Harder. “Working families deserve to know that their tax dollars are going to invest in our schools, not sit locked up in the hands of politicians. I’m calling on Washington to immediately reverse this mindless decision before it’s too late.”

In his letter, Harder urged Washington to:

• Immediately release the $18 million promised to San Joaquin County.
• Restore funding for hiring teachers and providing education programs.
• Prioritizekids’ education and career futures.

Read the full letter here.

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Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Josh Harder (CA-10)

Rips health care away from nearly 50,000 San Joaquin County residents, lays off 3,000 health care workers 

Finances trillions in handouts for billionaires like Elon Musk

WASHINGTON – Today, following the U.S. House of Representatives’ passage of the largest health care cut in American history, Rep. Josh Harder (CA-09), who voted no, released the following statement condemning the bill:

“I’m heartbroken for our community. This bill is cruel beyond words. It rips health care away from 50,000 people in San Joaquin County, shutters clinics, lays off thousands of health care workers, and sends premiums through the roof – all so billionaires like Elon Musk can get another handout. 

“Thousands of working families will lose access to in-home care for aging parents. They’ll be forced to skip doctor’s appointments for their kids. They won’t be able to afford an emergency room visit if there’s an accident. This isn’t just politics, this is life and death.

“Our families were already stretched thin – now they’re being kicked off their health care so the rich can get even richer. I’m heartbroken. I’m furious. I voted no, and I’ll do everything in my power to fight back against this heartless betrayal.”

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Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Josh Harder (CA-10)

New report: U.S. drug overdose deaths on the rise again

Nearly 200,000 fentanyl pills seized in the Valley since September, enough to kill 26 million people

WASHINGTON – Today, on the International Day against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking, Rep. Josh Harder (CA-09) announced two bipartisan bills to crack down on fentanyl drug dealers and expand overdose training for first responders. The Disrupt Fentanyl Pill Production Act, led with Rep. Dan Crenshaw (TX-02), helps local law enforcement track down drug dealers manufacturing counterfeit pills laced with fentanyl, and the Safer Response Act, led with Rep. Mike Lawler (NY-17), funds a grant training program to expand overdose training to local first responders.

Valley communities are on the front lines of the drug epidemic:

“This is about stopping criminals who are poisoning our families,” said Rep. Harder. “Fentanyl is flooding into our communities and we have to do something about it. These bipartisan bills give law enforcement the tools they need to crack down on traffickers and make sure more people are trained to save lives when every second counts. This is life or death – we need to pass these bills.”

Stopping drug dealers with the Disrupt Fentanyl Pill Production Act:

• Tracking down dealers by requiring traceable serial numbers on all machines used to mass-produce counterfeit pills.
• Tougher penalties for dealers caught with pill press machines.
• Better coordination between local, state, and federal law enforcement agencies.

“For the safety of our communities, it’s imperative that we give law enforcement the ability to trace these illicit pill presses moving across borders. This legislation will allow officers to better understand the criminal supply chain,” said Rep. Crenshaw. “Serializing pill presses will also give them better tools to effectively catch and prosecute cartels who use this equipment to disguise deadly drugs and exploit our children for profit.”

Preventing overdose deaths with the Safer Response Act:

• New training for local first responders to address and reverse overdoses.
• Outreach coordination teams to bridge gaps between public and private medical and emergency response partnerships.

“Over 80,000 lives were lost last year to overdoses and opioids like fentanyl continue to proliferate in our communities,” said Rep. Lawler. “I’m proud to co-lead the reintroduction of the Safer Response Act with Congressman Josh Harder to equip our first responders with the training and tools necessary to fight the opioid epidemic and save lives.”

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Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Josh Harder (CA-10)

Administration budget proposal includes 53% cut to construction project funding

1,100 miles of levees need repairs along the Delta 
 

WASHINGTON – Today, Rep. Josh Harder (CA-09) demanded a reversal of proposed cuts to U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) flood protection projects, including the San Joaquin River Basin Project in Stockton. The Administration’s budget request for Fiscal Year 2026 (FY26) is 53% lower than previously enacted levels, and excludes funding for vital flood prevention projects in the Valley and across California.

Proposed cuts come at a crisis moment in Valley flood mitigation:

“Yanking flood protection funding at the last-minute makes no sense and puts our Valley communities at risk,” said Rep. Harder. “We face flood threats every year because of aging infrastructure and we worked across the aisle to finally get the flood protection we need. Now, Washington is trying to steal back funding for our levees, and I refuse to let them get away with it.”

In his letter Harder urged Washington to:

• Reject the 53% cuts to USACE projects.
• Fully fund USACE flood risk mitigation efforts.
• Protect projects like the San Joaquin River Basin project.

Read the full letter here.

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Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Josh Harder (CA-10)

In the last year alone, the cost of the Delta Tunnel has ballooned by 25%

Harder leading federal legislation to kill disastrous boondoggle
 

STOCKTON – Today, ahead of the hearing to consider auditing the ballooning cost of the Delta Tunnel, Rep. Josh Harder (CA-09) released the following statement urging approval of this critical investigation:

“Sacramento politicians have tried to backdoor the Delta Tunnel for years because they know this budgetary monstrosity won’t create a single drop of water for anyone. Worse still, the price tag to build it and the cost to Valley communities keeps going up. We need a full investigation into this $20 billion boondoggle. It’s time Sacramento admits what we already know – the Delta Tunnel is a direct attack on Valley communities and our way of life.”

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Source: United States House of Representatives – Congresswoman Lauren Underwood (IL-14)

WASHINGTON – Representative Lauren Underwood introduced the Prioritizing Rural Hospitals Act, bipartisan legislation co-led by Rep. Tracey Mann (R-KS). The Prioritizing Rural Hospitals Act would address the pressing health care disparities that rural communities face by prioritizing funding for rural health care facilities applying for Rural Development funding through the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA).

“Republicans just passed the largest cut to health care in American history, and now hundreds of rural health care facilities are projected to close. We must act immediately to address the significant challenges that people in our rural communities are facing in accessing quality health care,” said Congresswoman Underwood. “The Prioritizing Rural Hospitals Act is a crucial step towards addressing these disparities, providing essential resources to improve health care infrastructure, and support the dedicated professionals who serve these areas.”

Nearly 1 in 5 Americans live in rural areas and they face significant health care disparities compared to Americans living in urban areas. The shortage of physicians, longer wait times, and need to travel long distances to access medical care are just a few of the challenges rural residents endure.

This bill will provide much-needed support to these communities by prioritizing funding for health facilities and ensuring USDA resources can be used to renovate, remodel, and equip closed facilities.

Rural hospital closures result in inadequate preventive health care for rural residents, increasing the need for emergency treatments that are becoming increasingly unavailable. By prioritizing funding and resources for rural health care facilities, the Prioritizing Rural Hospitals Act will help ensure that residents in rural areas receive the essential care they need.

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Source: United States House of Representatives – Congresswoman Lauren Underwood (IL-14)

WASHINGTON — This week, Representative Lauren Underwood announced a new round of federal funding she has secured for affordable housing, environmental cleanup, and research in the 14^th District.

As a member of the Appropriations Committee, Underwood has made securing federal resources for northern Illinois a top priority. The following funds will support programs in the 14^th District with federal resources:

The Neighbor Project, Aurora, Illinois – $57,000

The Neighbor Project will receive $57,000 in federal funding from NeighborWorks America through the NeighborWorks Flexible Impact Grant program.

This grant will support efforts to lower housing costs, expand housing supply, spark economic opportunity, revitalize neighborhoods, and strengthen communities across Illinois’s 14th Congressional District. NeighborWorks America, a public nonprofit established by Congress in 1978, provides financial and technical support to nearly 250 local and regional partner organizations nationwide.

Rep. Underwood helped secure this funding through her work on the Appropriations Committee.

City of Ottawa, Ottawa, Illinois – $1,243,270

The City of Ottawa will receive $1,243,270 in federal funding from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s Brownfields Cleanup Grant Program.

The grant will fund the cleanup of the former Beer Depot site at 429 W. Lafayette Street, which was previously used for oil and coal distribution from 1891 until the 1970s. The site, vacant since the 1970s and contaminated with semi-volatile organic compounds, metals, and pesticides, will be remediated to support community revitalization and economic redevelopment.

Rep. Underwood helped secure this funding through the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law and her work on the Appropriations Committee.

A Cubed Design LLC, Aurora, Illinois – $305,000

A Cubed Design LLC has been awarded federal funding from the National Science Foundation (NSF) through a Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Phase I grant to develop an affordable, durable, and user-repairable refreshable braille display.

This project aims to address the high cost and limited accessibility of current refreshable braille technology, which hinders braille literacy and digital access for blind and low-vision individuals. The innovation has strong commercial potential in a rapidly growing market and is expected to benefit thousands of users within three years of launch, expanding access to education, employment, and digital tools for the blind and low-vision community.

Rep. Underwood helped secure this funding through her work on the Appropriations Committee.

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

Washington, D.C. – Congressman Robert Aderholt (AL-04) announced today that he will host two Vietnam Veteran Pinning Ceremonies this August to honor and thank Vietnam veterans living in Alabama’s Fourth Congressional District for their service and sacrifice.

The ceremonies will take place in Tuscumbia and Cleveland, Alabama. These events are part of the ongoing United States of America Vietnam War Commemoration effort to give long-overdue recognition to those who served during the Vietnam War era. Family members and the public are welcome to attend.

“These men and women served our nation with courage during a difficult chapter in our history, and many never received the recognition they so rightfully deserved when they returned home,” said Congressman Aderholt. “These ceremonies are a small but heartfelt way to say ‘thank you’ on behalf of a grateful nation.”

Event Details:

📍Tuscumbia Ceremony
Date: Friday, August 22, 2025
Time: 10:30 AM
Location:Alabama Music Hall of Fame
617 U.S. Hwy 72 W, Tuscumbia, AL 35674

📍Cleveland Ceremony
Date: Friday, August 29, 2025
Time: 10:30 AM
Location:Blount County Multi Purpose Center
6700 Co Hwy 1, Cleveland, AL 35049

Each Vietnam veteran in attendance who resides in the Fourth Congressional District will receive a commemorative lapel pin from Congressman Aderholt as a symbol of the nation’s gratitude.

Vietnam veterans who live in the district and wish to be honored are asked to sign up in advance by visiting:
👉https://aderholt.house.gov/services/vietnam-veterans-50th-anniversary-pin-program

Or call (256) 546-0201

Please register by August 18^th.

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

Washington, D.C. — Congressman Robert Aderholt (AL-04) today released the following statement after the U.S. House of Representatives passed President Donald J. Trump’s “One Big Beautiful Bill,” sending the landmark legislation to the President’s desk for his signature:

“The One Big Beautiful Bill delivers the America First agenda in a fiscally responsible way. Getting this bill to the President’s desk to deliver his mandate for an economy that is pro-growth, pro-family, pro-business, and pro-worker. It also continues to support the most vulnerable in our society while helping able-bodied individuals get back to work.”

In addition to the bill’s broad economic and social reforms, Congressman Aderholt successfully fought for the inclusion of a key pro-family provision — a refundable Adoption Tax Credit. This critical measure will help make adoption more accessible for lower- and middle-income families by ensuring they can fully benefit from the tax credit, regardless of their federal tax liability.

“As someone who has long championed pro-life and pro-family policies, I was proud to lead the charge to make the Adoption Tax Credit refundable once again,” Aderholt said. “No family should be denied the opportunity to adopt a child simply because they can’t afford the upfront cost. This provision ensures that families of modest means receive the same support as wealthier households when they open their hearts and homes to a child in need.”

The “One Big Beautiful Bill” is a sweeping legislative package aimed at restoring American prosperity, securing the border, promoting work, and uplifting families. With its passage, Congress takes a bold step forward in delivering on the America First vision and strengthening the nation from the ground up.

“Despite what many of my Democrat colleagues and the national news media have claimed, this bill does not remove children or veterans from Medicaid or food assistance. What it does do is restore these vital programs to their original purpose — providing a safety net for the poor, pregnant women, children, and individuals with disabilities. The reforms we’ve made will help ensure that Medicaid remains focused on its core mission and continues to serve those who truly need it most. Not for able bodied people who just don’t want to work.”

Having now cleared both chambers, the bill awaits the President’s signature and is expected to be signed into law in the coming days.

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