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Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Hakeem Jeffries (8th District of New York)

Today, Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries, Whip Katherine Clark, Caucus Chair Pete Aguilar, Caucus Vice Chair Ted Lieu, Assistant Leader Joe Neguse and DCCC Chair Suzan DelBene released the following statement:

Brendan Carr, the so-called Chairman of the Federal Communications Commission, has engaged in the corrupt abuse of power. He has disgraced the office he holds by bullying ABC, the employer of Jimmy Kimmel, and forcing the company to bend the knee to the Trump administration. FCC Chair Brendan Carr should resign immediately. 

Donald Trump and the Republican Party’s war on the First Amendment is blatantly inconsistent with American values. Media companies, such as the one that suspended Mr. Kimmel, have a lot to explain. The censoring of artists and cancellation of shows is an act of cowardice. It may also be part of a corrupt pay-to-play scheme. House Democrats will make sure the American people learn the truth, even if that requires the relentless unleashing of congressional subpoena power. This will not be forgotten.

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Source: United States House of Representatives – Representative Gus Bilirakis (FL-12)

Washington, D.C. — Earlier this week, U.S. Representatives Gus Bilirakis (R-FL), Blake Moore (R-UT), Suzan DelBene (D-WA), Rudy Yakym (R-IN), Terri Sewell (D-AL), and Lori Trahan (D-MA) reintroduced the Ensuring Access to Critical Breakthrough Products Act, legislation aimed at improving access to cutting-edge medical technology for America’s seniors. The bill would require Medicare to provide coverage for medical devices approved under the FDA’s Breakthrough Devices Program, which is designed to accelerate the development and review of innovative technologies that offer more effective treatment or diagnosis for life-threatening or irreversibly debilitating conditions.  Currently, Medicare does not automatically cover these breakthrough medical technologies—even when they have been approved or cleared by the FDA and granted breakthrough designation. Under the traditional process, it can take more than six years for Medicare to determine coverage, delaying access to potentially life-saving treatments for millions of seniors.

“This legislation will help millions of seniors on Medicare by ensuring more timely access to the treatments they need,” said Congressman Bilirakis. “Florida is home to over 600 medical device companies that are working every day to develop innovative, effective products. I’ve heard directly from many of these companies about how outdated and unnecessarily long Medicare coverage delays pose a major barrier to bringing new devices to market.

Immediately upon its reintroduction, the legislation was reviewed and reported favorably by the House Ways and Means Committee.  

“This bill is about getting breakthrough medical technologies into the hands of patients faster. It’s about removing bureaucratic red tape and encouraging innovation—not stifling it. The government must streamline the coverage process for effective new devices that can improve health outcomes and save lives,” Bilirakis added. 

“There is no reason that Medicare patients should have to wait to access breakthrough medical devices already cleared by the FDA. This legislation ensures patients receive the most advanced treatments on the market as soon as possible,” Rep. Moore said. “Easing the pathway for Medicare approval has been a priority of recent administrations, and I am proud that my colleagues and I were able to work together to help open the door for enhanced access to medical innovations.”

“Too often, outdated policies stand between patients and the treatments they need,” Rep. DelBene said. “The Ensuring Patient Access to Critical Breakthrough Products Act will modernize Medicare coverage so that when the FDA approves a safe and effective device, seniors can benefit without unnecessary delays. This legislation strengthens access to care, supports American innovation, & helps ensure Medicare keeps pace with today’s medical advances.”

“When a medical device is proven safe and effective, patients shouldn’t have to wait years to access it,” Rep. Yakym said. “This bill ensures that seniors on Medicare can benefit from FDA-designated breakthrough devices right away, while creating a clear path for continued coverage. It’s about cutting red tape, speeding access, and giving hope to those facing serious illnesses. Seniors deserve timely access to the best treatments available, especially when no other options exist.”

“When the FDA determines a breakthrough medical device is safe and effective, patients shouldn’t have to wait years to benefit from it,” Rep. Trahan said. “Too often, seniors are left in limbo after FDA approval while Medicare coverage catches up. The Ensuring Patient Access to Critical Breakthrough Products Act fixes that gap – ensuring that the most innovative, lifesaving devices get to the people who need them most, when they need them most.”

Background:  In 2016, the 21st Century Cures Act created a new pathway for “breakthrough” medical devices to receive expedited Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approval. To be eligible for the Breakthrough Devices Program, the device must utilize novel technology to treat a condition that has no other approved alternatives or the device’s technology provides a significant benefit above existing therapies.  Receiving Medicare coverage following an FDA breakthrough designation remains a barrier. Innovators often call the lag time between FDA clearance and Medicare coverage the “valley of death,” as devices wait up to five years for Medicare coverage.  In January 2021, the Trump Administration finalized the Medicare Coverage of Innovative Technology (MCIT) rule, which created a pathway for breakthrough devices to receive automatic Medicare coverage in a transitional period while awaiting the determination for permanent coverage. In November 2021, days before MCIT was set to take effect, the Biden Administration repealed the rule, citing “operational challenges.” Nearly three years later in August 2024, the Biden Administration released a replacement rule with additional barriers and burdens.  The Ensuring Patient Access to Critical Breakthrough Products Act provides a clear pathway for four years of transitional Medicare coverage of breakthrough devices upon the manufacturer’s application and requires CMS to make a permanent coverage determination by the end of the temporary period. This expedited coverage pathway will encourage more innovative medical devices to come to market and provide quicker access to treatments for Medicare patients.

Source: United States House of Representatives – Representative Paul Tonko (Capital Region New York)

RAVENA, NY — Congressman Paul D. Tonko announced today that the Village of Ravena has been awarded $959,752 in federal grant funding from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to rehabilitate and replace outdated infrastructure in the Village’s aging drinking water system. Tonko secured funding for this project as part of the Fiscal Year 2024 Community Project Funding (CPF) process.

“Children and families here in our Capital Region and beyond deserve access to clean, safe drinking water,” Congressman Tonko said. “But for too long, our hidden yet critical water infrastructure has been left unaddressed — and our communities have paid the price with lasting impacts on their health and well-being. That’s why I fought so hard to secure this funding and ensure that residents of Ravena have the peace of mind that comes with having safe, reliable water to drink. With this award, the Village of Ravena will be able to bring its drinking water system up to modern standards — delivering public health benefits to the community for generations to come.”

“I cannot express how much this generous grant will help us to improve our infrastructure and production and delivery of good, clean drinking water for the thousands of residents across the three different communities that we serve,” said Bill Misuraca, Mayor of the Village of Ravena. “All of our community members will greatly benefit from this project. Working with Congressman Tonko’s office has been a pleasure and we hope to continue this teamwork into the future, to ensure our communities continue to benefit from constructive collaborations such as this!”

The Village of Ravena’s drinking water system dates back to the 1890s, with some original components still in service. Despite multiple capital improvement projects undertaken in recent years, some areas of the system are still showing signs of deterioration and nearing the end of their useful life. In order to ensure the system’s continued functionality, this funding will help address deficiencies at the Moxley Street Pump Station, two finished water storage tanks, and throughout the distribution system.

This effort is one of over 1,000 congressionally directed water infrastructure projects for which Congress appropriated funding in FY 2024, totaling over $1.4 billion in critically needed resources to support water system improvements across the nation. This funding also draws on resources from the Drinking Water State Revolving Fund (DWSRF), for which Congressman Tonko has worked tirelessly to secure full funding through standalone legislation and through the general appropriations process. The DWSRF, a federal financial assistance program to help states ensure safe drinking water for their communities, has provided tens of billions of dollars to improve local water systems since its establishment in 1996.

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Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Adrian Smith (R-NE)

Washington, D.C. – Today Representative Adrian Smith (R-NE) released the following statement after the Office of the United States Trade Representative (USTR), as directed by Congress, announced the beginning of a 45-day public comment period in advance of the 2026 Joint Review of the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA). 

“As we near the six-year review of USMCA, it is important for Nebraskans to share their perspectives on the agreement’s successes and potential improvements.  When negotiated in 2018, USMCA set a new standard for market access, science-driven standards, and effective enforcement. Feedback from the American people is an essential component to strengthen our shared economic security and ensure the full benefits of the agreement are realized by producers and consumers.” 

The deadline for submitting comments is November 3, 2025. USTR also invites the public to express interest in participating in a public hearing on this topic. To submit a comment or request to participate in the hearing, click here. 

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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) joined Congresswoman Jen Kiggans (VA-02) to introduce the Military Housing Performance Insight Act. This bipartisan bill would help make Congressional reports publicly available regarding the Military Housing Privatization Initiative, a series of reforms and authorities granted to the Defense Department to privatize military family housing located on military installations.

“Our military families deserve safe, good-quality housing. When deplorable conditions are brought to our attention, Congress must hold those who provide this housing accountable. I introduced this bill so that reports that track the conditions of military family housing are public. Transparency builds public trust in our efforts to address shortcomings and ensures we do our best for those who sacrifice and serve our country,” said Congressman Bishop. “I am proud to lead this bill with Congresswoman Kiggans which helps fulfill the mission of the Congressional Military Family Caucus we lead.”

“Military families are the backbone of our national defense, and they deserve the very best when it comes to their housing and quality of life,” said Congresswoman Kiggans. “This bipartisan bill strengthens transparency and ensures families have confidence in the homes they live in. I’m grateful to partner with Congressman Bishop on this effort to support the men and women who serve our country and their loved ones.”

Congressional reports on the Military Housing Privatization Initiative provide metrics such as:

• An assessment of the conditions of all on-post family housing projects, including the age of housing units, any backlogs of maintenance, and housing modernization timelines.
• An assessment of customer satisfaction at each project location, including the results of no-notice inspections and resident surveys conducted.
• A summary of data relating to the presence of lead-based paint in housing units.
• Information regarding the financial health of each MHPI project.
• An assessment of utility costs for housing units compared to utility costs in the surrounding areas.

This bill also adds new reporting requirements, including an overview of data used and collected by the services about the quality of their Military Housing Privatization Initiative projects, an assessment of how the services are using that data to inform housing decisions, and any limitations of existing data.

The full text of the legislation can be found here.

Congressman Bishop and Congresswoman Kiggans are co-chairs of the bipartisan Congressional Military Family Caucus.

They hosted the 2025 Military Family Summit, a forum that brought together service members, their families, veterans, military family and veteran serving organizations, as well as Defense Department and Veterans Affairs Department officials.

The annual summit highlights challenges that military families face and is intended to inspire policy solutions, as well as legislation that can help improve their quality of life, such as the Military Housing Performance Insight Act. This year’s event was held on August 27 at the National Infantry Museum and Soldier Center in Columbus, Georgia.

You can learn more about the Congressional Military Family Caucus at https://bishop.house.gov/CongressionalMilitaryFamilyCaucus.

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Source: United States House of Representatives – Representative James E (Jim) Clyburn (6th District of South Carolina)

Friends—

You may have seen an email from the Social Security Administration (SSA) claiming that Trump’s new tax and spending bill eliminates federal income taxes on Social Security benefits for most seniors.

Here are the facts: The bill Republicans recently passed and Trump signed into law does not eliminate taxes on Social Security benefits. Instead, it introduces a temporary, income-based standard deduction for people over 65—regardless of income type.

But more than half of Social Security recipients—low-income retirees, disabled workers, survivors—already pay no federal income tax on their benefits and thus will not benefit from this new deduction.

Additionally, this policy will accelerate the depletion of the Social Security Trust Fund, putting Social Security even further at risk of insolvency for everyone.

But put aside the misleading information.

More importantly, overall, policies in this bill are going to hurt everyday Americans and families.

Just take health care, for instance.

Trump’s bill makes the largest ever cut to Medicaid, and over 17 million people will lose their health care coverage in the coming years, including nearly 300,000 South Carolinians.

Millions more who receive coverage through the Affordable Care Act will see their premiums increase by hundreds.

In addition to health care cuts, this bill cuts some or all SNAP benefits for 22.5 million families, including nearly 300,000 families in South Carolina alone.

And on top of all this, Trump’s bill gives so many tax breaks to the wealthy that it adds an estimated $3.4 trillion to the debt and $700 billion in interest costs over a decade. This will hike interest costs on mortgages and car loans.

Study after study shows that this bill hurts the working class while making the wealthy even richer.

Households making less than $55,000 a year will see their incomes decrease as a result of this legislation. Meanwhile, the richest 1% of Americans will see nearly a trillion dollars in tax cuts, with an average tax break of $309,000.

The right can claim they are lowering costs for everyday Americans all they want.

But the facts are the facts: Trump and Republicans’ “Big Ugly Bill” betrays the American people.

Sincerely,

Jim

Source: United States House of Representatives – Representative James E (Jim) Clyburn (6th District of South Carolina)

Back in February, Attorney General Pam Bondi stated on Fox News that the “client list” was sitting on her desk and being reviewed, and that it was a direct order from President Trump.

But earlier this month, Trump’s Department of Justice said that no client list existed, walking back Bondi’s statements.

Yes, that’s right: Pam Bondi was directed by Trump to review the Epstein files. Now Trump’s Department of Justice says they don’t exist.

Last week, the Wall Street Journal reported that the DOJ briefed Trump that his name was among many high-profile figures listed in the Epstein files.

However, President Trump now claims that the DOJ never informed him—and further alleges that his name was planted in the files, even while admitting he and Epstein clashed about one of the victims who had worked at Mar-a-Lago.

The American people deserve to know the truth about Jeffrey Epstein and his inner circle.

Last week, House Democrats forced votes to subpoena the DOJ for the release of the Epstein Files—which may explain the crimes of convicted child sex trafficker Jeffrey Epstein and identify his accomplices.

But House Republicans voted to effectively block a debate on whether or not the Department of Justice should release the files. Republican House Speaker Mike Johnson then canceled votes and sent Congress home early.

No one in the government should be trying to keep the facts on these child predators hidden. Congress must pursue the truth.

Sincerely,

Jim

Source: United States House of Representatives – Representative James E (Jim) Clyburn (6th District of South Carolina)

Friends—

The Congressional Budget Office (CBO)—the nonpartisan entity that has scored legislation in Congress for both parties for decades—just released a new analysis detailing the impacts of Trump’s “Big Beautiful Bill,” which he signed into law on July 4.

The report concluded: “In general, resources will decrease for households toward the bottom of the income distribution, whereas resources will increase for households in the middle and toward the top.”

Yep, that’s right.

Trump’s bill will make the poor poorer and the rich richer.

But it’s not just the CBO saying this.

Study after study shows that Trump’s bill makes everyday Americans worse off while giving massive tax breaks to the wealthy.

The Institute of Taxation and Economic Policy estimates that in 2026, South Carolina’s wealthiest 1%—those making over $782,500 a year—will receive an average tax cut of $68,260, while the lowest-income residents, earning under $23,200, will face an average tax increase of $30, in addition to steep cuts to Medicaid and SNAP.

And if stealing from the poor and giving to the rich isn’t bad enough, Trump’s bill will add $3.4 trillion to the debt over 10 years and cost taxpayers $700 billion in additional interest payments on that debt over the next decade.

That means not only more interest on the national debt, but also higher interest rates for car loans and mortgages.

Trump’s claimed you’ll get a historic tax cut from this bill. He’s claimed this bill will “fuel prosperity” for all.

But my fellow South Carolinians, the facts are the facts: This law makes America’s poor poorer, rich richer, and saddles everyone— even our children and grandchildren—with insurmountable debt and a higher cost of living.

Trump’s policies have done nothing but push the American dream further out of reach.

The Republican Party once claimed to be the party of “fiscal responsibility.”

This bill is nothing but fiscal irresponsibility, and we are all going to pay the price—especially Americans who have already been left behind.

All of my Democratic colleagues and I in Congress voted against this cruel bill, and we will do everything in our power to repeal its harmful policies.

Sincerely,

Jim

Source: United States House of Representatives – Representative James E (Jim) Clyburn (6th District of South Carolina)

Source: United States House of Representatives – Representative Mike Quigley (IL-05)

U.S. Congressman Mike Quigley (IL-05) joined Congressman Sean Casten 9il-06) and all Democratic members of the Illinois Congressional delegation in a letter to Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Administrator Lee Zeldin in support of EPA’s Endangerment Finding, which is foundational to EPA regulation of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions.

“We are writing to express our deep concern over the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s (US EPA) proposal to eliminate the Endangerment Finding and what that will mean for the health and safety of our constituents in Illinois,” the lawmakers wrote. “While coastal hurricanes and western wildfires may draw more national attention, climate change is increasing the number and severity of extreme weather events in the Midwest as well. In 2024 alone, Illinois experienced twelve extreme weather events which caused $1 billion or more in damages in Illinois and neighboring states, with a toll of at least 129 lives.”

In its landmark 2007 decision in Massachusetts v. EPA, the Supreme Court ruled that GHGs are air pollutants subject to regulation under the Clean Air Act. The Court further held that the Clean Air Act requires EPA to curb pollutants that it determines endanger public health and welfare by contributing to climate change.

In 2009, EPA conducted a thorough examination of the scientific evidence and found that GHGs endanger the public health and welfare of Americans, basing this finding on the overwhelming scientific consensus reached by decades of peer-reviewed research. The 2009 rule also included the determination that GHG emissions from motor vehicles “contribute” to the dangerous buildup of climate pollution in the atmosphere. The two findings – endangerment and contribution – provided the legal mandate for the EPA to issue GHG emission standards for vehicles in 2010 under the Clean Air Act.

In July 2025, Administrator Zeldin released the agency’s proposal to rescind the 2009 Endangerment Finding, which would end EPA’s ability to regulate GHG emissions.

In addition to Reps. Quigley and Casten, the letter was signed by U.S. Senators Dick Durbin and Tammy Duckworth and Representatives Nikki Budzinski, Danny Davis, Bill Foster, Jesús “Chuy” García, Jonathan Jackson, Robin Kelly, Raja Krishnamoorthi, Delia Ramirez, Jan Schakowsky, Brad Schneider, Eric Sorensen, and Lauren Underwood.

Text of the letter can be found below. A copy of the letter can be found here.

Dear Administrator Zeldin:

We are writing to express our deep concern over the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s (US EPA) proposal to eliminate the Endangerment Finding and what that will mean for the health and safety of our constituents in Illinois.

The Endangerment Finding, promulgated in 2009 under the Clean Air Act, requires the US EPA to protect people from the pollution that causes climate change and its impacts. This administration’s denial of the overwhelming scientific consensus, reached through decades of peer-reviewed research, does not change the facts: pollution from fossil fuels is trapping more of the sun’s energy in the atmosphere, heating our planet, increasing the frequency and intensity of extreme weather disasters, and thereby endangering every American – especially the most vulnerable among us.

While coastal hurricanes and western wildfires may draw more national attention, climate change is increasing the number and severity of extreme weather events in the Midwest as well. In 2024 alone, Illinois experienced twelve extreme weather events which caused $1 billion or more in damages in Illinois and neighboring states, with a toll of at least 129 lives.

Climate change is increasing the number and severity of extreme heat events, with the Chicago area far exceeding the average number of 90-degree days this year. Extreme heat is the number-one weather-related killer, a fact we well know after the 1995 heat wave, which caused 500 deaths in Chicago alone and hundreds more across the Midwest. As we learned then, extreme heat disproportionately harms vulnerable individuals, including children, the elderly, low-income households, those with pre-existing medical conditions, outdoor workers, and communities of color.

Climate change is making Illinois wetter, contributing to extreme rainfall and dangerous flooding. This summer, in both July and August, Chicago and other parts of Illinois experienced flash flooding, which damaged infrastructure, including roads and houses.

Changing temperatures and weather patterns impact agriculture, which is so vital to Illinois’ economy. Heat, water stress, and extreme weather events are greatly damaging to crops; changing temperatures can have negative impacts on weed and pest distribution; and changing precipitation patterns and higher temperatures can have negative impacts on soil health.

Finally, climate change has negative impacts on Lake Michigan, among our most precious natural resources. Warmer temperatures, less ice cover, and extreme weather events are damaging the lake ecosystem, making algal blooms more likely, and worsening erosion, beach loss, and shoreline damage.

Rescinding the Endangerment Finding is part of the administration’s politically-driven scheme to undermine clean car and truck programs and roll back standards for global warming pollution from power plants, oil and gas operations, and more. It means giving polluters a free pass to pollute at the expense of families across the country. It means our constituents will face more climate chaos and, especially in communities already overburdened by pollution, greater health risks and higher medical costs. It even means that our constituents will pay more for energy, given the cheaper clean energy alternatives to fossil fuels that are currently available

We urge you to maintain the Endangerment Finding and, in general, do your job of protecting the health and welfare of Illinoisans and Americans all across the country.

Sincerely,