MIL USHOR-2b Engine

Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Michael McCaul (10th District of Texas)

WASHINGTON — Today, Congressmen McCaul (R-Texas), Morgan Luttrell (R-Texas), Lou Correa (D-Calif.), and Jack Bergman (R-Mich.) introduced the Initiating Biomedical Outcomes to Garner Advancements into Innovative Neuroplastogen Efficacy (IBOGAINE) Act. This legislation would codify President Donald J. Trump’s Executive Order No. 14401, which works to expand access to innovative, neuroplastogen treatments that could accelerate the healing process for veterans struggling with mental health and substance addictions.

“Our veterans and special operators have willingly put themselves in unimaginable danger to defend our freedoms,” said McCaul. “We have a profound moral obligation to help these heroes heal from their wounds, both seen and unseen. As his executive order made clear, President Trump deeply understands our duty to care for them and the potential of treatments like Ibogaine to provide lasting healing. I’m proud to champion this legislation to cement the president’s commitment to our veterans and look forward to our continued work in Congress to deliver for those who answered the call for us.”

“Last month, President Trump ushered in a new era of treatment options for our veterans with his executive order accelerating medical treatments for serious mental illness. Now we must codify it into law and ensure this progress is not lost,” said Luttrell. “Psychedelic therapy has helped me and countless other veterans, improving our lives for the better. As we fight to combat our veteran suicide crisis, this breakthrough must be available to the men and women who served our nation.”

“Our veterans put their lives on the line to defend our country, and far too many come home with invisible wounds. They deserve access to every effective resource available to help treat PTSD and support their recovery. Psychedelic-assisted therapy has shown promising results, but we need more research and funding in order for this treatment to become a reality,” said Correa. “Representative General Jack Bergman and I have been tirelessly advocating for this issue in Congress, and President Trump’s support has been a gamechanger for our effort. I am grateful to Rep. Morgan Luttrell for introducing legislation to cement Trump’s executive order into law so the progress made does not get lost when a new administration comes into office.”

“President Trump’s Executive Order sent a strong and long-overdue message to the federal bureaucracy: the days of slow-walking progress are over,” said Bergman. “Agencies now have clear direction from the top to move forward and deliver for our Veterans and families who have been waiting far too long. However, executive action alone is not enough. An Executive Order cannot rewrite federal law, and it can be reversed by a future administration. That’s why I’m proud to support this legislation that codifies these directives into law and ensures lasting change. Congress must continue to act to streamline FDA approvals, address outdated restrictions, and guarantee the VA fully implements these policies so Veterans have access to the treatment options they deserve as soon as they become available.”

Treatments like ibogaine for veterans are currently unavailable in the United States. According to a study published by Stanford University School of Medicine in 2024, participants who received ibogaine treatment experienced reductions of 88% in PTSD symptoms, 87% in depression symptoms, and 81% in anxiety symptoms after just one month.

Read the full bill here.



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Source: United States House of Representatives – Congresswoman Lori Trahan (D-MA-03)

Today, House Democratic Policy and Communications Committee (DPCC) Co-Chair Lori Trahan (MA-03) joined House Democratic Caucus Chair Pete Aguilar, Vice Chair Ted Lieu, DPCC Chair Debbie Dingell, and DPCC Co-Chairs Maxwell Frost and Lauren Underwood to mark one year of Donald Trump’s One Big, Ugly Bill.
“Instead of calling a single vote to bring prices down, Republican leaders have put a toothless resolution on the floor this week celebrating the one-year anniversary of their One Big, Ugly Bill,” said Congresswoman Trahan. “They’re taking a victory lap on the same bill that ripped health care away from millions of Americans and took food out of the mouths of hungry kids, all to pay for a tax cut that overwhelmingly benefited the wealthiest one percent of people in our country.”
Footage of Trahan’s remarks can be accessed HERE or by clicking the image below. A transcript of her remarks as delivered is embedded below. 

Trump’s One Big, Ugly Bill made the single largest cut to Americans’ healthcare in history, totaling more than $1 trillion slashed from Medicaid. Coupled with another $187 billion in cuts to federal food assistance programs, the bill has had devastating impacts already. In the first twelve months since it was enacted:

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Congresswoman Lori Trahan
Remarks as Delivered
House Democratic Caucus Press Conference on One-Year Anniversary of Trump’s One Big, Ugly Bill
June 30, 2026
Thank you, Lauren, and thank you to Chairman Aguilar and Vice Chair Lieu for hosting us this morning.
This weekend, America turns 250 years old. Whether families are filling up their tanks to hit the road or firing up the grill at home, they’re bracing for what it is going to cost them. 
Because a year and a half into Donald Trump’s presidency, life has only gotten harder for the vast majority of Americans. Gas prices are up. Grocery prices are up. Prescription drug prices have skyrocketed. And the cost of health care keeps climbing. 
So as folks prepare for their Fourth of July weekend, what are Republicans in Congress doing to help the people that we represent? 
Are they putting a bill on the floor to make it easier to travel and see their family? No. 
What about legislation to make it a little more affordable to host a barbecue? Not a chance. 
How about something to give parents the peace of mind that they can afford a doctor’s visit when their kids get sick or injured? We all know the answer to that question. 
Instead of calling a single vote to bring prices down, Republican leaders have put a toothless resolution on the floor this week celebrating the one-year anniversary of their One Big, Ugly Bill. They’re taking a victory lap on the same bill that ripped health care away from millions of Americans and took food out of the mouths of hungry kids, all to pay for a tax cut that overwhelmingly benefited the wealthiest one percent of people in our country. 
So when you fill up your tank or stop by the grocery store this weekend, and you’re wondering how the heck you’re going to afford that bill, just know that Republicans in Washington are throwing themselves a party and hardworking Americans, not invited.
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Source: United States House of Representatives – Representative Hank Johnson (GA-04)

Washington, D.C. (June 30, 2026)— Today, Rep. Hank Johnson, Ranking Member of the Subcommittee on Courts, Intellectual Property, Artificial Intelligence, and the Internet, delivered opening remarks at a subcommittee hearing on how to address piracy, copyright theft, and privacy challenges in the age of artificial intelligence, when creators are increasingly being exploited as AI companies use their work without consent or compensation.

Below are Ranking Member Johnson’s remarks, as prepared for delivery, at today’s hearing.

 

WATCH Ranking Member Johnson’s opening statement.

Ranking Member Hank Johnson

Subcommittee on Courts, Intellectual Property, Artificial Intelligence, and the Internet

Hearing on “A Midlife Crisis? IP and the Internet After 40”

June 30, 2026

When the modern internet was born in January of 1983, many considered it just another Department of Defense project for the military. But thanks to taxpayer funding, the United States was able to partner with research universities and eventually private companies to harness this innovation for use by the general public. Over its first 10 years, the internet evolved from an application to compete with the Soviets to a place to conduct business, to where we communicate with others, and even to a medium for artistic expression.

Today, it’s hard for many of us to imagine a world without new recipes at our fingertips, instant news updates, or pictures of our friends and family on our social media newsfeeds. Good or bad is no longer the question—the Internet is inescapable in modern society. This is quickly becoming the same with generative artificial intelligence, which has been adopted by businesses and consumers alike in just a few short years. Even with widespread adoption of transformative technology, it is imperative that we continue to protect rightsholders when technology is used to steal intellectual property, defraud consumers, and increase inequality. 

Products available online from a trusted website can seem identical to those at brick-and-mortar stores, but instead are produced with harmful chemicals or contain dangerous malware. These nearly identical knockoffs can damage your favorite brand’s reputation and harm their ability to stay in business. Websites that miraculously have Project Hail Mary streaming for free really are too good to be true. And that product with Tom Hanks in the commercial may not have actually been endorsed by Tom Hanks, just a replica created with AI. 

Some of these may seem harmless at first glance. But they matter to me and my constituents. Film and TV spending in Georgia, the Hollywood of the South, hit $4.4 billion in 2022, with 412 productions. But increased costs have devastated our film and TV market. Spending was down to $2.3 billion in the last fiscal year, with just 245 productions. Our writers and actors need jobs to keep creating, and market changes have made that all the more difficult to achieve. Across creative industries, innovators from writers and software developers to musicians and painters, are watching their works used to train AI models for free while the barrier to entry gets higher and higher. 

If Congress’s role today is to play armchair psychologist to the internet’s midlife crisis, it is imperative we view harms to creators as the symptom of a more pernicious disease. The question we should be asking ourselves is: Are the innovations before us serving the American people? Or do they exclusively benefit a small handful of the wealthiest, most powerful corporations and individuals in human history?

Georgia’s 11-million-plus residents have a median household income of just under 82-thousand-dollars. Mark Zuckerberg is worth 220 billion dollars as of December 2025. Groceries in Georgia were found to be the 11th highest in the country earlier this month. Elon Musk just became the world’s first trillionaire. Homes in 79 percent of Georgia counties are considered unaffordable for the average worker. Jeff Bezos just spent an estimated nearly 50 million dollars on his wedding. 

Americans are clearly facing an affordability crisis. The price of everyday consumer devices such as your laptops and computers have climbed an estimated 15 to 25 percent. Data centers are driving up utility costs, straining the grid, and degrading the quality of the everyday appliances families depend on, like our air conditioning and heating systems. Senior citizens are having to choose between paying their utility bills and their prescriptions.

Technological innovations, while miraculous, are no help if everyone can’t enjoy the benefits. We can do this by meaningfully deploying technology in a way that uplifts us all. This means acknowledging creators as a key part of the ecosystem that is building AI and compensating them as such. This means enacting protections for American workers, building responsibly, and deploying equitably. 

I look forward to hearing from the witnesses how we can better protect America’s artists, innovators, and the creative fields. I thank Chairman Issa for holding this important hearing, and I yield back the balance of my time. 

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

WASHINGTON – U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Ranking Member of the Senate Judiciary Committee; U.S. Senator Alex Padilla (D-CA), Ranking Member of the Senate Judiciary Committee Subcommittee on Border Security and Immigration; U.S. Representative Jamie Raskin (D-MD-08), Ranking Member of the House Judiciary Committee; and U.S. Representative Pramila Jayapal (D-WA-07), Ranking Member of the House Judiciary Committee Subcommittee on Immigration Integrity, Security, and Enforcement, led Congressional Democrats in pressing the Trump Administration on recent concerning changes to the green card application process.

In a letter to United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) Director Joseph Edlow, the lawmakers cite a recent USCIS memorandum requiring noncitizens seeking a green card to apply abroad, as well as for the first time to establish their presence in the United States as “in the national interest.”

The lawmakers wrote: “We write to object to your new policy memorandum regarding adjustment of status. Adjustment of status is the statutory process by which immigrants may apply for lawful permanent residence, often called a ‘green card,’ from within the United States. On May 21, 2026, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) issued a policy memorandum (PM-602-0199) with guidance claiming that adjustment of status is an ‘extraordinary form of relief.’ Without any basis in the law and in a departure from decades of precedent, this guidance creates a policy preference for consular processing abroad over adjustment of status in the United States, requiring applicants to meet new, undefined discretionary criteria to be processed domestically. We urge you to reverse this new policy and restore adjudications of adjustment of status applications in a manner consistent with the law, longstanding practice, and congressional intent.”

The lawmakers continued: “PM-602-0199 states that adjustment of status ‘is a matter of discretion and administrative grace not designed to supersede the regular consular processing of immigrant visas.’ This is simply incorrect. There is no statutory preference for consular processing, and legislative history shows that Congress has long maintained a strong preference in favor of allowing eligible noncitizens to adjust status in the United States. Adjustment of status was first introduced into law over 70 years ago, in the Immigration and Nationality Act of 1952. The practice was introduced and later expanded in recognition of the significant number of eligible individuals seeking green cards who resided in the United States. In the limited circumstances in which Congress intended to restrict adjustment of status, statutory text has been amended to prevent certain classes of noncitizens from using the process. When individuals are in the United States and eligible for adjustment of status, legislative history shows that Congress has a strong preference that such individuals have an opportunity to adjust their status while remaining in the U.S.”

The lawmakers concluded, before making a series of information requests: “By directing adjudicators to treat adjustment of status as an ‘extraordinary form of relief’ and by creating a policy preference for consular processing, the memorandum undermines the very purposes Congress sought to advance when enacting and amending section 245 of the INA. Congress established adjustment of status as a cornerstone of the modern immigration system to promote family unity, administrative efficiency, and economic stability. Any effort to dismantle that statutory framework through internal agency policy is unacceptable.”

For a PDF of the letter to USCIS Director Edlow, click here.

In addition to Durbin and Padilla, the letter is signed by Angela Alsobrooks (D-MD), Michael Bennet (D-CO), Lisa Blunt Rochester (D-DE), Cory Booker (D-NJ), Chris Coons (D-DE), Catherine Cortez Masto (D-NV), Tammy Duckworth (D-IL), John Fetterman (D-PA), Ruben Gallego (D-AZ), Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY), Mazie Hirono (D-HI), Tim Kaine (D-VA), Mark Kelly (D-AZ), Angus King (I-ME), Amy Klobuchar (D-MN), Jeff Merkley (D-OR), Patty Murray (D-WA), Jack Reed (D-RI), Jacky Rosen (D-NV), Bernie Sanders (I-VT), Brian Schatz (D-HI), Adam Schiff (D-CA), Tina Smith (D-MN), Chris Van Hollen (D-MD), Raphael Warnock (D-GA), Peter Welch (D-VT), Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI), Ron Wyden (D-OR)

In addition to Raskin and Jayapal, the letter is signed by U.S. Representatives Jake Auchincloss (D-MA-04), Yassamin Ansari (D-AZ-03), Becca Balint (D-VT-AL), Nanette Barragán (D-CA-44), Joyce Beatty (D-OH-03), Donald Beyer (D-VA-08), Nikki Budzinski (D-IL-13), Suzanne Bonamici (D-OR-01), André Carson (D-IN-07), Greg Casar (D-TX-35), Joaquin Castro (D-TX-20), Salud Carbajal (D-CA-24), Judy Chu (D-CA-28), Gilbert Ray Cisneros Jr. (D-CA-31), Yvette Clarke (D-NY-09), Steve Cohen (D-TN-09), J. Luis Correa (D-CA-46), Joe Courtney (D-CT-02), Jasmine Crockett (D-TX-30), James Walkinshaw (D-VA-11), Mark DeSaulnier (D-CA-10), Diana DeGette (D-CO-01), April McClain Delaney (D-MD-06), Maxine Dexter (D-OR-03), Debbie Dingell (D-MI-06), Adriano Espaillat (D-NY-13), Veronica Escobar (D-TX-16), Lizzie Fletcher (D-TX-07), Maxwell Frost (D-FL-10), John Garamendi (D-CA-08), Sylvia Garcia (D-TX-29), Robert Garcia (D-CA-42), Jesús “Chuy” Garcia (D-IL-04), Jimmy Gomez (D-CA-34), Adelita Grijalva (D-AZ-07), Chrissy Houlahan (D-PA-06), Val Hoyle (D-OR-04), Hank Johnson (D-GA-04), Julie Johnson (D-TX-32), Sydney Kamlager-Dove (D-CA-37), Timothy Kennedy (D-NY-26), Ro Khanna (D-CA-17), Raja Krishnamoorthi (D-IL-08), Summer Lee (D-PA-12), Zoe Lofgren (D-CA-18), Stephen Lynch (D-MA-08), Doris Matsui (D-CA-07), Betty McCollum (D-MN-04), Christian Menefee (D-TX-09), Grace Meng (D-NY-06), Analilia Mejia (D-CA-39), Dave Min (D-CA-47), Kweisi Mfume (D-MD-07), Seth Moulton (D-MA-06), Jerrold Nadler (D-NY-12), Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-DC-AL), Nancy Pelosi (D-CA-11), Brittany Pettersen (D-CO-07), Chellie Pingree (D-ME-01), Mark Pocan (D-WI-02), Nellie Pou (D-NJ-09), Mike Quigley (D-IL-05), Delia Ramirez (D-IL-03), Deborah Ross (D-NC-02), Andrea Salinas (D-OR-06), Jan Schakowsky (D-IL-09), Hillary Scholten (D-MI-03), Mary Gay Scanlon (D-PA-05), Brad Sherman (D-CA-32), Lateefah Simon (D-CA-12), Adam Smith (D-WA-09), Suhas Subramanyam (D-VA-10), Melanie Stansbury (D-NM-01), Greg Stanton (D-AZ-04), Mark Takano (D-CA-39), Bennie Thompson (D-MS-02), Derek Tran (D-CA-45), Ritchie Torres (D-NY-15), Juan Vargas (D-CA-52), Marc Veasey (D-TX-33), Nydia Velázquez (D-NY-07), and Frederica Wilson (D-FL-24).

Issues: Immigration

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

WASHINGTON, D.C. — U.S. Representative Pramila Jayapal (WA-07), a Member of the House Judiciary Committee, released the following statement denouncing the Supreme Court’s ruling in Trump v. Slaughter, which gives the President greater control to politicize agency decisions.

“For nearly a century, it has been settled law that Congress has the constitutional authority to create agencies whose commissioners can only be removed by the President ‘for cause.’ Under this bipartisan, independent structure, agencies like the Federal Trade Commission and Securities and Exchange Commission have played important roles in our government as guardians of American consumers, workers, and investors. They have held powerful corporations accountable for wrongdoing and forced dangerous products off the market. Today’s decision prevents these agencies from continuing to carry out their statutory missions free from the President’s whims.” 

“Agency decisions should be based on nonpartisan expertise and technical knowledge, but President Trump would rather make these decisions based on pure politics and personal gain. That’s one of the reasons why I have introduced the EXPERTS Act (H.R. 6145), which would ensure that all federal agencies — independent or not—are transparent, accountable, and responsive to the needs of everyday Americans.  We must pass this legislation to restore trust in our executive branch.”

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

Virginia Governor Abigail Spanberger announced a $40 million investment from Rural King to establish a new distribution plant in Henry County, Virginia. According to a press release, this investment will support 150 new jobs. Following news of this announcement, U.S. Congressman Morgan Griffith (R-VA) issued the following statement:

“Henry County continues to gain traction by attracting company investments. Not only will Rural King continue serving Henry County, but the creation of a new distribution facility shows that the groundswell for opportunity in the region is real. 

“This $40 million investment reinforces a message for companies domestic and foreign: Virginia’s Ninth District has the workforce, skills and space to support successful enterprises.

“I will continue to fight in DC to deliver a more competitive climate for businesses, which in turn supports local job creation and generates growth for rural economies.”

BACKGROUND

Congressman Griffith celebrated recent investments in Henry County, including nearly $19 million by Fukoku Korea and $65 million by Nathan Trotter. 

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

Text of Letter (PDF)

WASHINGTON – Today, during Pride Month, Congresswoman Ayanna Pressley (MA-07) sent a letter to Secretary of State Marco Rubio urging the Trump administration to take urgent action to defend LGBTQIA+ individuals across the globe—including in countries that are violating international human rights protections for LGBTQIA+ individuals, putting at risk the safety of civilians and U.S. citizens working, living, and traveling abroad.

“Every person deserves to show up as their true, authentic selves here in the United States and in countries across the globe—and that includes our LGBTQIA+ community members,” said Representative Ayanna Pressley (MA-07). “However, we are witnessing a deeply concerning rise in human rights violations and criminalization of LGBTQIA+ individuals in other countries, endangering the lives of their civilians and U.S. citizens. It is incumbent upon the United States to protect our LGBTQIA+ siblings at home and abroad not only for our national security but for the safety and freedom of LGBTQIA+ people everywhere.”

In her letter, Rep. Pressley calls on the Trump administration to resume the United States’ role as a global leader in protecting the human rights of all individuals, including LGBTQIA+ people, at home and abroad.

Congresswoman Pressley’s letter calls on Secretary Rubio to respond by July 15^th to the following requests and questions:

• Provide a public statement reaffirming U.S. commitment to protecting the human rights of LGBTQI+ individuals.
• Restore the inclusion of LGBTQI+ analysis in each annual State Department report.
• How does the State Department plan to ensure U.S. citizens and employees are protected in their travels abroad?
• Is the State Department aware of any cases of U.S. citizens being harmed, executed, criminalized, or detained in connection to anti-LGBTQI+ laws?
• How is the State Department planning to proactively educate LGBTQI+ Americans about the risks of traveling to these countries? What guidance exists and is shared proactively for Americans who are detained, criminalized, or facing persecution under these laws?

Text of the letter can be accessed here.

Congresswoman Pressley is a champion for LGBTQIA+ individuals, protecting and uplifting the rights of LGBTQIA+ community members and pushing for policy that ensure all people have the freedom to show up authentically.

• In May 2024, despite Republicans’ attacks, Rep. Pressley, alongside Senators Markey and Warren, celebrated the final passage of $850,000 in federal community project funding they secured for The Pryde, an affordable housing development for LGBTQ+ seniors in Hyde Park.
• In November 2023, Rep. Pressley delivered a floor speech in which she slammed House Republicans for advancing a housing appropriations bill that excluded critical funding for The Pryde and affirmed her support for the project and the LGBTQ+ community writ large. In 2022, Rep. Pressley delivered remarks at the groundbreaking ceremony for The Pryde in Hyde Park.
• In June 2023, a coalition of LGBTQ+ grassroots organizations expressed support for H.J.Res. 25, a bicameral joint resolution led in the House by Rep. Pressley, to affirm the ratification of the Equal Rights Amendment and enshrine gender equality in the U.S. Constitution.
• In March 2023, Rep. Pressley, alongside Rep. Newman, applauded the House passage of their amendment to the Violence Against Women Act (VAWA) that would establish the first-ever grant program dedicated to supporting LGBTQ+ survivors of domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, and stalking—including trans women of color. The amendment was included in the Violence Against Women Reauthorization Act of 2021.
• In January 2023, Rep. Pressley led lawmakers in unveiling a bicameral, joint resolution to affirm the ratification of the Equal Rights Amendment (ERA) and take a critical step toward enshrining gender equality in the United States Constitution.
• In July 2022, Rep. Pressley applauded the House Financial Services committee passage of the Credit Reporting Accuracy After a Legal Name Change Act, legislation to make our credit reporting system more inclusive and address credit issues and discrimination faced by trans and nonbinary people who legally change their names. 
• In March 2021, Rep. Pressley re-introduced the People’s Justice Guarantee, which includes calls for humane treatment and gender-affirming care for LGBTQ+ people involved in the criminal legal system.
• In May 2019, Rep. Pressley delivered remarks on the House floor in support of H.R. 5, the Equality Act, which provides non-discrimination protections to LGBTQ Americans. In Massachusetts.
• In 2019, Rep. Pressley consistently called out HUD Secretary Ben Carson for his attacks on transgender Americans.

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Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Sanford D Bishop Jr (GA-02)

WASHINGTON – Today, Congressman Sanford D. Bishop, Jr. (GA-02) announced that the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation is awarding $20 million for projects that will restore and protect longleaf pine forests in Georgia.

“Longleaf pine forests are part of Georgia’s natural heritage, and restoring them means healthier working lands, stronger wildlife habitat, cleaner water, and a more resilient rural economy for the families who live and work here,” said Congressman Bishop. “Georgia’s forest industry supports more than 140,000 jobs and contributes billions of dollars to the state’s economy, so investments like these are not just about conservation, they are also about protecting livelihoods, communities, and a way of life. This funding will help landowners, farmers, and foresters voluntarily care for their land while keeping it productive for generations to come.”

The grants are part of the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation’s 2026 Longleaf Landscape Stewardship Fund, a public-private partnership supported by the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Natural Resources Conservation Service, the U.S. Forest Service, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, and private partners. The grants will fund 25 projects covering Georgia and surrounding states. These projects are expected to establish more than 30,000 acres of new longleaf pine and improve another 350,000 acres through prescribed burning, private landowner assistance, wildlife habitat improvements, seedling production, and at-risk species recovery. In Georgia, this work is especially important as communities continue recovering from Hurricane Helene, which damaged forestland across the state and increased the need for replanting, forest health treatments, and responsible fuel-load reduction to help protect landowners, forestry businesses, and nearby communities.

The longleaf pine ecosystem is one of the most biologically diverse forest systems in North America. The Natural Resources Conservation Service has designated the Longleaf Pine Range as one of the country’s Critical Conservation Areas because of degraded plant conditions, inadequate habitat, and water quality degradation. Restoring and maintaining these forests can help Georgia communities by protecting water resources, improving wildlife habitat, supporting outdoor recreation, strengthening working forest markets, and making forests more resilient after major storms.

The Trump Administration’s recent Forest Service budget requests have proposed eliminating funding for the State, Private, and Tribal Forestry account, which helps states, tribes, communities, and private landowners sustain forests and grasslands, protect communities from wildland fire, and restore fire-adapted ecosystems. These programs support the kind of technical assistance, forest health work, landowner outreach, prescribed fire support, wildfire planning, and rural fire capacity that are needed after major storms such as Hurricane Helene. Cutting them would make it harder for landowners and rural communities to replant damaged forestland, reduce wildfire risks, protect forestry businesses, and carry out the same locally led conservation work supported by these grants.

As Ranking Member of the House Appropriations Subcommittee on Agriculture, Congressman Bishop has long championed the conservation, forestry, and working lands programs that help farmers and rural communities care for their land while keeping it productive. He will continue working to protect the federal investments and partnerships that support Georgia landowners, strengthen rural economies, conserve wildlife habitat, and preserve working forests for future generations.

More information about the Longleaf Landscape Stewardship Fund and the 2026 grant slate is available through the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation.

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Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Chris Pappas (D-NH)

Today Congressman Chris Pappas (NH-01) and Congressman Zach Nunn (IA-03) introduced new bipartisan legislation to require members of Congress to file financial disclosures while receiving a taxpayer-funded pension and strip pensions from former members who cash in as lobbyists after leaving office.

“Public service should never lead to self-service,” said Congressman Pappas. “But if it does, as is too often the case for former members of Congress, it’s unacceptable that taxpayers remain on the hook to pay out their pensions while they cash in lobbying for massive corporate interests or even for foreign governments like China, Russia, and Saudi Arabia. Our bipartisan legislation would close the revolving door and provide transparency to the public, and I urge my colleagues to join us in supporting these reforms.”

“Public service should never become a stepping stone for personal profit,” said Congressman Nunn. “First in the Iowa Statehouse and now in Congress, I’ve worked to ban stock trading and close the revolving door, because Iowans deserve representatives who treat public service like a public trust, not a chance to cash in on insider information or a cushy lobbying job after they leave office. This bipartisan bill builds on that effort to hold Washington accountable to Iowa.”

Former Senators must wait two years after the end of their service and former Representatives must wait one year after the end of their service before pursuing lobbying activities. However, nothing prevents a member from lobbying while also collecting their taxpayer-funded pension. 

Pappas and Nunn’s new, bipartisan No Cashing In Act would:

• Require former members of Congress to file a financial disclosure for the 10 years following being a member or for all years that they receive a pension, whichever is longer,

• Reduce any former member of Congress’s pension by the amount of any income earned from working for a substantial lobbying entity, defined as an entity employing three or more lobbyists or spending more than $10,000 on lobbying in a given calendar year.

The full text of the bill can be found here.

Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Chris Pappas (D-NH)

Congressman Chris Pappas (NH-01) and U.S. Senator Maggie Hassan (D-NH) yesterday toured a middle-class family housing development in Manchester and hosted a conversation with community housing leaders about the bipartisan 21st Century ROAD to Housing Act. The major legislative package, which Congressman Pappas and Senator Hassan pushed, would help lower the cost of housing by banning Wall Street hedge funds and private equity firms from buying up single-family homes, providing funding and cutting red tape to help build more homes for the middle-class, and making it easier for veterans to buy homes.

The House and Senate recently passed the bill with overwhelming bipartisan support. However, last week, President Trump announced that he would not sign it unless Congress first passed the SAVE Act, legislation that would make it harder for eligible Americans to vote. Yesterday, House Speaker Mike Johnson sent the bill to the White House. President Trump has 10 days to sign the bill, veto it, or let it become law without his signature.  

“Housing is central to the foundation of our families, to our small businesses’ ability to recruit and retain talent, and to our communities’ ability to grow and thrive. Right now across New Hampshire housing costs are too high, supply is too low, and there are too many barriers to building,” said Congressman Pappas. “This major housing legislation takes real steps to bring down prices, streamline construction, and stop Wall Street from jacking up housing prices, but the President refuses to sign it into law. This meeting with housing advocates and community members reaffirmed what I have been hearing from Granite Staters: this bill would make meaningful progress that is urgently needed and we’ve got to keep pushing forward.” 

“The number one issue that I hear about from Granite Staters is the soaring cost of housing. The 21st Century ROAD to Housing Act will stop Wall Street from buying up single family homes, streamline regulations that make it harder to build housing, and support the construction of new housing. Congress passed this bill with massive bipartisan support, and President Trump’s sudden refusal to sign it is wrong, but unsurprising. President Trump is completely disconnected from the real struggles of American families, saying he wants to keep housing prices high, that he doesn’t think about people’s financial situations, and that he loves inflation,” said Senator Hassan. “My understanding is that the Speaker has now sent this bill to President Trump’s desk, and it’s my sincere hope that President Trump will at least allow this bill to become law without his signature. It’s what hard-working Granite Staters both need and deserve.”

Congressman Pappas and Senator Hassan meeting with housing advocates

Pappas has worked to ensure Granite State communities have the resources they need to increase affordable housing stock and tackle the housing crisis. Last year he helped introduce the bipartisan Affordable Housing Credit Improvement Act to support affordable housing financing and development by expanding and strengthening the Low-Income Housing Tax Credit. He also co-leads the Supporting Projects to Unleash Residential (SPUR) Housing Act to lower the cost of building new housing developments through a grant program to offset state and local impact fees. 

Senator Hassan has worked to address affordability and availability of housing in New Hampshire, including by pushing to successfully restore a tax cut for middle-class homebuyers with mortgage insurance and expand the Low-Income Housing Tax Credit to help increase access to housing that families can more easily afford.