MIL USHOR-2b Engine

Source: United States House of Representatives – Congresswoman Stacey E. Plaskett (USVI)

For Immediate Release                             Contact: Tionee Scotland
July 8, 2025                                                    202-808-6129

PRESS RELEASE

CONGRESSWOMAN PLASKETT EXPRESSES SOLIDARITY WITH TEXAS COMMUNITIES AFFECTED BY SEVERE FLOODING

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Congresswoman Stacey Plaskett (D-VI) issued the following statement regarding the severe flooding impacting communities across Texas:

“My heart goes out to the families and communities across Texas who are facing the devastating impacts of severe flooding. As someone who represents a territory that knows all too well the destructive power of extreme weather events, I stand in solidarity with our fellow Americans during this difficult time.

“The images and reports coming from Texas are heartbreaking – families displaced from their homes, businesses underwater, and communities struggling to recover. We must ensure that federal resources and support are made available quickly to help with immediate rescue and recovery efforts.

“No American community should face natural disasters alone, and we must come together to support our neighbors in Texas as they work to rebuild and recover. I extend my support and solidarity to my colleagues in the Texas delegation, especially those whose districts are impacted.

“I encourage anyone who can safely do so to support relief efforts through established disaster relief organizations. Our thoughts and prayers are with all those affected by this tragic flooding.

###

Source: United States House of Representatives – Representative Mike Kelly (R-PA)

WASHINGTON, D.C. — Today, U.S. Representatives Mike Kelly (R-PA), Raul Ruiz, M.D. (D-CA), Mariannette Miller-Meeks, M.D. (R-IA), and Gwen Moore (D-WI) introduced the Treat and Reduce Obesity Act (TROA), bipartisan legislation to combat the obesity crisis in the United States by providing regular screenings. 

The bill would also prevent diseases associated with obesity through expanded coverage of new health care specialists and chronic weight management medications for Medicare recipients.

“The Treat and Reduce Obesity Act takes a critical step toward improving patient costs and patient outcomes,” said Rep. Kelly. “This bipartisan legislation would allow seniors struggling with obesity to take a responsible, proactive approach to improve their health and live longer, more active lives. I look forward to working with the Trump administration and the team at CMS, including my friend Dr. Mehmet Oz, to make America healthy again!”

“Obesity is a complex, chronic disease and a growing public health crisis that costs our nation billions each year,” said Congressman Dr. Raul Ruiz. “As an emergency physician, I’ve treated countless patients suffering from diabetes, heart disease, and other serious complications linked to obesity. The bipartisan Treat and Reduce Obesity Act would give seniors struggling with obesity access to Medicare coverage for proven medications and behavioral therapies, empowering them to live healthier, longer lives.”

“As a physician and former director of the Iowa Department of Public Health, I have seen firsthand how obesity contributes to serious and preventable health conditions. The Treat and Reduce Obesity Act allows Medicare beneficiaries to access life-changing treatments, including behavioral therapy and FDA-approved medications. This bipartisan legislation improves health outcomes, lowers long-term costs, and helps Americans live longer and healthier lives,” said Dr. Miller-Meeks.

“Obesity poses a growing health risk to millions of Americans, especially older adults. TROA would support critical medical interventions that can help those struggling with obesity, improving the overall health and wellbeing of Medicare beneficiaries,” said Rep. Moore.

You can find the full bill text here.

Senator Bill Cassidy leads companion legislation in the U.S. Senate.

BACKGROUND

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, diseases associated with obesity such as heart disease, stroke, type II diabetes, and certain types of cancer are the leading causes of preventable death in the U.S. TROA would work to directly prevent these comorbidities.

The scientific understanding of obesity has evolved, recognizing it as a complex, chronic, and relapsing disease. Obesity is a public health crisis in the United States. The total economic and societal impact of obesity rose to $1.4 trillion in the United States in 2018, up from $976 billion in 2014.

A recent study found that Medicare beneficiaries with obesity and at least one other chronic illness could significantly reduce healthcare costs through weight management. Annual savings were estimated at up to 38% or nearly $10,000 in medical cost savings. Additionally, the USC Schaeffer Center found coverage of new obesity treatments could generate approximately $175 billion in cost offsets to Medicare in the first 10 years alone, increasing to $700 billion in 30 years. Coverage of medications to treat obesity will enhance human health and reduce federal healthcare costs by lowering the risks and prevalence of costly obesity-related chronic diseases.

The following organizations have endorsed TROA this Congress: Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics, American Academy of Pas, American Association of Clinical Endocrinologists, American College of Occupational and Environmental Medicine, American Diabetes Association, American Gastroenterological Association, American Medical Group Association, American Psychological Association, American Society for Metabolic & Bariatric Surgery, American Society for Nutrition, Association of Asian Pacific Community Health Organizations, Association of Diabetes Care and Education Specialists, Black Woman’s Health Imperative, Boehringer-Ingelheim, ConscienHealth, Currax, Diabetes Leadership Council, Diabetes Patient Advocacy Coalition, Eli Lilly and Company, Endocrine Society, Gerontological Society of America, Global Liver Institute, Healthcare Leadership Council, HealthyWomen, Intuitive Surgical, MedTech Coalition for Metabolic Health, National Alliance of Healthcare Purchaser Coalitions, National Consumers League, National Council on Aging, National Hispanic Medical Association, National Kidney Foundation, Novo Nordisk, Obesity Action Coalition, Obesity Medicine Association, Ro, Strategies to Overcome and Prevent (STOP) Obesity Alliance, The Obesity Society, Trust for America’s Health, WW Weight Watchers International, and YMCA of the USA.

Source: United States House of Representatives – Representative Jesús Chuy García (IL-04)

CHICAGO — Today, Congressman Jesús “Chuy” García (IL-04) appeared before the Chicago City Council’s Committee on Workforce Development to deliver testimony against the Trump administration’s attempt to illegally shut down Job Corps programs nationwide—including Paul Simon Job Corps Center, located in his district and serving youth across the Chicagoland region. 

The Paul Simon Job Corps Center provides critical career and technical education to youth ages 16 to 24, offering training in high-demand industries including carpentry, pharmacy tech, protective services, and many more. Many students come from underserved communities.

“I fully support the continued federal, state, and local funding for the Paul Simon Job Corps Center and all Job Corps programs,” said Congressman García. “We must do everything in our power to protect these vital programs nationwide. They make the difference between putting food on the table, a stable home, and living with uncertainty. Simply put, these job opportunities are a lifeline.”

“Whether it’s the Bricklayers, Carpenters, or Teamsters—my union brothers and sisters also know we need a strong workforce and we’ve all got to do our part,” said the Congressman. “Our youth deserve an opportunity. And our community demands it. And all of us—public servants, workforce partners, and community members—must come together to defend these life-changing programs. 

“If we are serious about being a competitive global leader, we need a diverse workforce, and that starts with investing in our youth,” added Congressman García. 

Congressman García, a champion of youth workforce development, recently joined 198  colleagues in sending a bipartisan letter to Labor Secretary Lori Chavez-DeRemer demanding the administration follow the law and continue funding Job Corps as already authorized and funded by Congress. He also submitted a letter to members of the Committee expressing his strong support for Job Corps. The letter can be found here.  

A video of the Congressman’s testimony can be found here, starting at 45:40. 

Background
On May 25, 2025, the U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) abruptly announced the suspension of operations at all contractor-operated Job Corps centers nationwide. The shutdown–scheduled for June 30–would have impacted 99 programs. 

The DOL cited “serious incident reports” and cost concerns, referencing an “in-depth fiscal analysis,” relying on outdated COVID-era figures, while ignoring current need and demand.

The National Job Corps Association sued to block closures. A U.S. district judge in Manhattan ruled in favor of the Association, finding that the abrupt shuttering of the 60-year-old Job Corps program without authorization from Congress was likely illegal. The judge issued a preliminary injunction preventing DOL from ending the program pending the outcome of the lawsuit. It is unclear how the recent Supreme Court case Trump v. Casa, Inc., which banned nationwide injunctions, will impact this case. 

# # #

Source: United States House of Representatives – Representative Jesús Chuy García (IL-04)

WASHINGTON, D.C. — Congressman Jesús “Chuy” García (IL-04) issued the following statement after voting against H.R.1, the “One Big, Ugly Bill”:

“I cannot support a bill that strips health care from working families while writing checks to billionaires and ICE.

“Trump’s ‘Big, Ugly Bill’ includes the largest Medicaid cuts in American history, leaving 17 million people with no health care. In my district, 278,000 people are enrolled in Medicaid, and thousands will lose their coverage under this bill. It raises costs, eliminates care, and punishes everyday families. 

“It jeopardizes nutrition benefits for more than 40 million people, taking food off the table for children, seniors, veterans, and people with disabilities.

“If that was not enough, this bill will pour $100 billion into ICE, building it into the largest police force in the country—even bigger than the FBI—and with more detention capacity than the entire federal prison system. All to supercharge Trump and Stephen Miller’s deportation agenda, which means more raids, more kidnappings, more people taken from the streets with no regard for due process, and more families separated. 

“My vote is for working families—not for billionaires, not for fear, and not for cruelty.”

# # #

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

CHERRY HILL, NJ —Today, Congressman Donald Norcross (D-NJ) was joined by Camden City and County leaders to deliver $500,000 in Community Project Funding to the Camden County Historical Society. The funding Congressman Norcross secured was the catalyst for the additional funding raised for the project, totaling $4 million, and will be used to turn the Benjamin Cooper Tavern into the American Revolution Museum of Southern New Jersey. The new museum aims to be open in time for the United States Semiquincentennial, which will be celebrated on July 4, 2026, marking 250 years since the signing of the Declaration of Independence.

“I fought to deliver $500,000 in federal funding to restore the Benjamin Cooper Tavern and turn it into a historical site that will help future generations learn more about our nation’s history,” said Congressman Donald Norcross. “Opening in time for the Semiquincentennial, this museum will honor the values we fought for during the Revolutionary War of democracy, freedom, and justice. Learning from history is essential to protecting the ideals that shaped our nation.” 

“The Benjamin Cooper Tavern is one of Camden City’s most significant historic sites, so it is imperative that we preserve it for generations to come,” said Commissioner Jeffrey Nash. “This project will keep an important piece of regional history alive and will allow residents and visitors to learn more about the history that surrounds them on a daily basis. We are thrilled to see this project move forward and cannot wait to visit the museum once it is completed.”  

“The Benjamin Cooper Tavern built in 1734 is Camden’s most historic surviving building and played a significant role during the American Revolutionary War during the British occupation of Philadelphia in 1777–1778. Recognized for its national importance, the site is listed on both the Congressional List of Revolutionary War Battlefields and the New Jersey Register of Historic Places,” said Executive Director of the Camden County Historical Society, Jack O’Byrne. “In preparation for America’s 250th anniversary in 2026, the building is being restored and will open as the American Revolution Museum of Southern New Jersey. We applaud Congressman Norcross for his early and enthusiastic support for the project which will bring an important new historical, educational, and cultural attraction to the region for visitors to enjoy for decades to come.” 

The American Revolution Museum of Southern New Jersey will have museum exhibits, a community room for events, and provide public facilities for those using the 33-mile Camden County Circuit Trail. The museum will feature exhibits on the Battle of Gloucester, as well as displays on the impact African Americans, Latino Americans, and Native Americans had on the American Revolution. 

### 

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

Wasserman Schultz, DeLauro Slam Trump Plan to Cut 30,000 Veterans Affairs Employees

Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Mark Pocan (2nd District of Wisconsin)

MADISON, WI – Today, U.S. Representative Mark Pocan (WI-02) released the following statement fact-checking Rep. Derrick Van Orden (WI-03) after a weekend of nonsense tweets, eight in total, claiming credit for earmarking Wisconsin’s hospitals $1 billion.

“It’s rich that Rep. Van Orden is claiming credit for $1 billion coming to Wisconsin hospitals. I didn’t realize he was serving in the State Legislature and Congress simultaneously. It was a bipartisan majority in the State Assembly and the State Senate, as well as Governor Evers, that helped Wisconsin secure $1 billion by finally expanding the provider tax rate from one of the lowest in the country to the highest level possible. The State Legislature voted to expand Medicaid’s reimbursements to the states before Derrick, Congressional Republicans, and Trump could force through their devastating reconciliation bill that will cut $1 trillion from healthcare nationwide and could shutter rural hospitals across the state.”

“I applaud both Governor Evers and the State Legislature for working together to get this done and help our rural hospitals.”

“It’s clear that Derrick doesn’t understand the bill or legislative procedure when he claimed that he also helped secure an additional $500 million for rural hospitals. This provision came from a Senate amendment he had nothing to do with and was only included because Republicans felt pressure to put a band-aid over the bullet wound they are inflicting on rural hospitals by this bill. Moreover, there is no guarantee that Wisconsin will receive any or all of these funds, as award amounts have yet to be determined.”

“You can’t create a problem and then claim credit for someone else’s help in making it slightly less horrific. He and his Republican colleagues are the reason this legislative fix was so necessary in the first place. The legislature’s actions will help lessen some of the impact, but certainly not all of the bill.”

Background:

Medicaid provider taxes are state-imposed taxes on healthcare providers, like hospitals. Wisconsin utilizes provider taxes to help fund its Medicaid program. The federal government matches that provider tax rate, which again helps fund the state Medicaid program.

The One Big Beautiful Bill Act (OBBB) freezes certain provider tax rates, singling out Wisconsin and a few other states that had very low rates compared to the rest of the country. In response, the state rushed to increase that tax rate to ensure that they could be grandfathered into the reconciliation bill at the maximum level, thus enabling the state to receive approximately $1 billion in additional federal funding.

Even with this fix, this legislation is still estimated to cause over 275,000 Wisconsinites to lose their healthcare.

Additional Van Orden Tweets Claiming Credit:

---

---

---

---

---

---

Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Mark Pocan (2nd District of Wisconsin)

WASHINGTON D.C. – Today, U.S. Representative Mark Pocan (WI-02) released the following statement after he voted against President Trump and Congressional Republicans’ scheme to rip healthcare away from 17 million Americans and take food away from millions of hungry people, all to pay for $4.5 trillion in tax cuts that overwhelmingly benefit millionaires and billionaires, which passed the House.

“Today, Congressional Republicans put their billionaire donors ahead of their constituents. And now, millions of Americans across the country will suffer just so the richest Americans can get even richer. The numbers don’t lie: this cruel legislation will rip healthcare away from 17 million people, threaten food assistance for millions of Americans, increase household energy costs, and add trillions to the national debt, all to give a massive tax break to the wealthy. In Wisconsin alone, this bill could terminate the healthcare of over 270,000 people, reduce or eliminate food assistance for at least 49,000 Wisconsinites, threaten to close rural hospitals, and cause as many as one in four nursing homes to shut down. There’s a reason why this bill is polling badly. Congressional Republicans are having a hard time convincing everyday people that it will help them, because it won’t.”

###

Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Joaquin Castro (20th District of Texas)

---

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