Bergman: SBA Disaster Loan Centers Remain Open

Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Jack Bergman (MI-1)

Rep. Jack Bergman reminds constituents that SBA Disaster Loan Outreach Centers are still open in Emmet and Cheboygan Counties.

Homeowners, renters, businesses, and non-profit organizations affected by the ice storm in Cheboygan, Charlevoix, Emmet, Mackinac, Montmorency, Otsego and Presque Isle Counties may apply for a low-interest disaster loan for their uncompensated physical damages.

Small businesses and non-profits with economic losses from the disaster may also apply for Economic Injury Disaster Loans for working capital.

Learn more and apply online at www.sba.gov/disaster. Call 800-659-2955 for more information.

SBA has set up temporary Disaster Loan Outreach Centers (DLOCs) with customer service representatives to answer questions and help individuals with the loan application process.

Please take advantage of one-on-one help tailored to your situation while it is available. You can use ANY center. You DO NOT have to use the center in your county.

Center Locations:

Cheboygan County DLOC

Indian River Chamber of Commerce
3435 S. Straits Highway Indian River, MI 49749
Hours: Weekdays, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturdays, 10 a.m.-2 p.m.
Closed: Sundays and Friday, July 4
Permanently closing: Thursday, July 10 at 4 p.m.

Emmet County DLOC
Little Traverse Township
8288 S. Pleasantview Rd. Harbor Springs, MI 49740
Hours: Weekdays, 8 a.m.-5 p.m. Saturdays, 10 a.m.-2 p.m.
Closed: Sunday and Friday, July 4
Permanently closing: Saturday, July 12 at 2 p.m.

Congresswoman Torres Fights to Protect Californians from Harmful Republican Cuts in the Big Ugly Bill By Introducing Key Amendments

Source: United States House of Representatives – Congresswoman Norma Torres (35th District of California)

July 02, 2025

Washington, D.C. – Today, Congresswoman Norma Torres introduced critical amendments to the House Republican-led reconciliation package to protect Americans from the bill’s most harmful provisions and ensure policies that would serve working families.

Trump and Republicans have loaded this package with measures that gut healthcare, nutrition assistance, and state tax relief programs—stripping essential support from millions of working families, seniors, and children across the country. In response, Congresswoman Torres introduced several amendments that would  protect California’s most vulnerable.

“The American people are not bargaining chips for partisan politics,” said Congresswoman Torres. “This Republican mega-bill is nothing short of a targeted attack on working families, healthcare access, and basic nutrition programs. I fought to include amendments that defend Californians, especially those in the Inland Empire, from these reckless cuts.”

The Amendments Congresswoman Torres is introducing include: 

  • Amendment  #1 – Removes the harmful provisions that (1) cut the Medicaid program, known as Medi-Cal in California, and (2) change the Affordable Care Act, protecting health care and lowering health insurance costs for tens of millions of Americans.

  • Amendment #2 – Removes the harmful provisions that cut SNAP benefits, known as CalFresh in California, that tens of millions of Americans rely on to put food on the table.

  • Amendment #3 – Eliminates the $10,000 cap on State and Local Tax (SALT) Deductions that unfairly penalizes Californians, removing the  cap on August 1, 2025.

  • Amendment #4 – Protects states from politically motivated federal funding cuts.

  • Amendment #5 – This amendment prohibits FEMA from canceling grants that have already been awarded, except in cases of fraud or noncompliance, and requires reporting to Congress if a cancellation occurs.

  • Amendment  #6 – This amendment prohibits ICE agents from using chemical irritants against Members of Congress and imposes criminal penalties for violations.

  • Amendment #7 – This amendment requires ICE agents to visibly display badges and present official identification during enforcement actions to prevent impersonation and ensure public accountability.

  • Amendment #8 – Prohibits the use of federal funds to deport non-citizen U.S. military veterans unless they have had access to legal counsel and a fair hearing before an immigration judge. It also requires the Department of Homeland Security to report to Congress within 180 days on the number of such veterans in removal proceedings, their case outcomes, and whether they had legal representation.

“These amendments aren’t just policy—they’re personal,” Torres continued. “They reflect the lives and needs of the people I represent. I’ll continue fighting to make sure Congress protects—not punishes—the American people.”

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Speaker Johnson: One Big Beautiful Bill is the “Most Conservative Legislation We’ve Ever Worked On”

Source: United States House of Representatives – Representative Mike Johnson (LA-04)

WASHINGTON — Tonight, Speaker Johnson joined Sean Hannity on Fox News’ Hannity to discuss how House Republicans are preparing to pass the One Big Beautiful Bill and deliver President Trump’s full agenda to the American people.

“85 to 90% of this bill is the House generated product. The Senate made some modifications to it. They made it more conservative in some places and moderated it a little bit in others,” Speaker Johnson said. “But I’ll tell you what, as the President said so well today, this is no longer just a House bill, it’s not a Senate bill, it’s the bill of the hardworking American people.”

Watch the full interview here

On Republicans nearing the finish line for One Big Beautiful Bill:

85 to 90% of this bill is the House generated product. The Senate made some modifications to it. They made it more conservative in some places and moderated it a little bit in others. But I’ll tell you what, as the President said so well today, this is no longer just a House bill, it’s not a Senate bill, it’s the bill of the hardworking American people. And we are going to deliver it, as you said, Sean, by July 4th. It is so critically important. Remember, we got a clear mandate from the people in November to do this. President Trump ran on a clear set of priorities and promises, and we did as well. And this is the vehicle to deliver it. We’re almost there at that finish line.

We’re at the one-yard line in this game that’s been played over a year, really. We worked on this for about 14 months to get us to this point. We’re going to run it right up the middle and score for the American people. And I tell you what, everybody is going to benefit from this bill Sean. As you noted all those features, it’s the most conservative piece of legislation we’ve ever worked on. You need to mention at the same time that even though while we’re having historic tax cuts, we also have historic savings. We’re going to save $1.6 trillion for the American people. We’re going to cut down the size and scope of government, make it more efficient, make it work better for the people. They demand and deserve that, and the Republicans are delivering. 

On the commonsense and popular work requirements provision:

But when you’re talking about Medicaid, we need to make sure the program is sustained for the people it’s intended for. That’s, you know, the elderly, the disabled, young pregnant mothers, down on the luck, for example. So that’s what we do by reinstituting work requirements. If you’re a young able-bodied man, you should be helping to pull the wagon, not riding it. And so we have this very popular provision that says if you’re going to receive Medicaid, you got to show that you’re working or at least looking for a job or volunteering in your community for 20 hours a week. It should be much more, but that is a minimal requirement that will reduce a lot of the abuse of the program and shore it up for the people that need it the most. We’re very proud of that. And by the way, the American people love it. It’s a commonsense provision.

On One Big Beautiful Bill adding “jet fuel” to the US economy:

Remember the first two years of the Trump administration. After the first two years, we brought about the greatest economy in the history of the world, it wasn’t even close, prior to COVID. Everybody was doing better. Literally every demographic in the country and every region of the country, because we had a combination of reduced taxes and reduced regulations. We’re going to do that again, this time and with this bill on steroids. It really will be jet fuel to the economy and everyone will benefit. 

We’re estimating the average American will have an additional $10,000 take home pay because of this. You will have no taxes on your tips and on your overtime. Seniors will get a reduction in taxes, because of a credit they’ll have, those on social security. There’s something in this bill, literally, as the President said today, for everyone. It is great policy and is going to help the economy, help the American people, and fulfill the promises of the America First agenda. 

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Huffman Statement on Senate Passage of the Big, Ugly Bill

Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Jared Huffman Representing the 2nd District of California

July 01, 2025

Washington, D.C. – Today, Natural Resources Committee Ranking Member Jared Huffman (D-Calif.) released the following statement after the Senate passed President Trump’s Big, Ugly Bill:

“The Senate just jammed through a scorched-earth reconciliation bill so toxic that it is worse than the House version if you can believe it. It takes away healthcare from millions of Americans, rips food assistance from kids and seniors, and guts the very safeguards that protect our clean air and water — all to reward the same fossil fuel CEOs Trump asked for a billion-dollar campaign check. It props up the dirty energy of the past, suffocates clean energy, and sticks American families with higher costs, dirtier air and water, and growing floods, fires, and climate disasters.
 
“Republicans tried to push through the biggest public lands sell-off in modern history — and got rejected so badly they had to yank it. But make no mistake: this bill still guts protections, opens millions of acres to drilling, mining and logging, and rewrites the rules into a pay-to-play scheme for Trump’s billionaire donors. And this just adds to what the Trump administration is already doing to sell out our public lands to polluters and developers. 
 
“This isn’t a beautiful bill; it’s a Big Betrayal. It slashes hundreds of thousands of good-paying jobs. It kneecaps investments that are finally flowing to rural towns, Tribal Nations, and working-class communities. And it would drive up costs across the board — electricity, healthcare, food — forcing families to pay more just so fossil fuel CEOs and already wealthy corporations can rake in record profits. No wonder nearly two-thirds of Americans oppose it. 
 
“Now it heads back to the House, where Republicans better be ready to explain why they’re ripping up healthcare and food assistance, selling out public lands, gutting clean air and water safeguards, and driving up energy bills, all so billionaires and Big Oil CEOs can get richer.”

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Huffman, Pallone, Castor, Padilla, Booker, Reed Lead Charge to Block Trump’s Dangerous Offshore Drilling Plan

Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Jared Huffman Representing the 2nd District of California

June 16, 2025

Washington, D.C. – Today, U.S. House Natural Resources Committee Ranking Member Jared Huffman (D-Calif.), U.S. House Energy and Commerce Ranking Member Frank Pallone (D-N.J.), Rep. Kathy Castor (D-Fla.), Senator Alex Padilla (D-Calif.), Senator Cory Booker (D-N.J.), and Senator Jack Reed (D-R.I.) along with 40 Democratic Colleagues in the House and Senate submitted formal comments to the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM), opposing any new or expanded offshore oil and gas leasing in the Trump administration’s proposed updates to the Outer Continental Shelf (OCS) oil and gas leasing program. 

In their letter to Interior Secretary Doug Burgum, the lawmakers warned that more offshore drilling would threaten our national security, coastal communities, marine life, and local economies – all while handing more giveaways to an industry already sitting on millions of acres of unused leases. They urged the agency to exclude any new leasing in the final program. 

“New or expanded oil and gas leasing poses risks to the health and livelihoods of our constituents, jeopardizes our tourism, fishing, and recreational economies, and threatens the marine life that inhabits our coastlines” the members wrote. “New, unnecessary lease sales will lock in decades more of pollution and climate impacts from an industry that already holds more than 2,000 offshore leases covering more than 12 million acres of federal water, of which only 469 leases are currently producing oil and gas. The United States is already the number one producer of oil and gas in the world. There is no need for increased leasing, especially when oil and gas companies continue to impose environmental and climate consequences, public health risks, and billions of dollars in cleanup costs on the American people.”

Members also reminded the Secretary of the long-standing legal restrictions that prevent the administration from offering lease sales in protected areas. 

“We remind the agency that it cannot offer sales in areas permanently protected under Section 12(a) of OCSLA, including areas off the Atlantic coast, the Pacific off the coast of California, Oregon, and Washington, the Eastern Gulf of Mexico, and portions of the Artic Ocean, including the Beaufort Sea and Chukchi Sea planning areas. In 2017, during his first term, President Trump attempted to reverse President Obama’s Arctic and Atlantic withdrawals, but Judge Sharon Gleason for the District Court of Alaska determined that Section 12(a) does not give the president authority to revoke prior withdrawals. President Trump does not have the authority to reverse the Obama and Biden withdrawals, and his Executive Order of January 2025, which attempts to do so, is unlawful.”

During his first term, the Trump administration proposed 47 lease sales over five years, covering nearly every U.S. coastline. Fortunately, this program was never finalized due to litigation and strong bipartisan opposition. But now, with the Biden administration’s leasing plan under review and Secretary Burgum signaling that protections may be on the chopping block, lawmakers are raising the alarm once again.

At a budget hearing last week, Secretary Burgum refused to commit to protecting Florida’s Gulf Coast from new oil and gas leasing, saying only that “the administration may be considering opportunities.” This region has long been protected by both bipartisan legislation and administrative withdrawals – protections that are now under threat. 

Read the full letter here. 



Wasserman Schultz Leads Florida Democrats in Condemnation of Everglades ICE Facility

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

“We are seriously concerned about the future treatment of immigrants at this facility. It is also important that we uplift grave concerns over the environmental and tribal impacts of your decision.”

Washington, DC – Today, U.S. Representative Debbie Wasserman Schultz (FL-25) announced she led U.S. House of Representatives Florida Democratic Members to demand Governor Ron DeSantis abandon plans to build an ICE detention facility on sacred tribal land in the Everglades.

“We strongly and unequivocally oppose the construction of a temporary immigration detention facility at the Dade-Collier Training and Transition Airport site dubbed sarcastically as ‘Alligator Alcatraz’ in the heart of the Everglades,” said the Members. “We are seriously concerned about the future treatment of immigrants at this facility. It is also important that we uplift grave concerns over the environmental and tribal impacts of your decision.”

Other signers include Reps. Darren Soto (FL-09), Lois Frankel (FL-27), Sheila Cherfilus-McCormick (FL-21) Frederica Wilson (FL-24), Kathy Castor (FL-14), and Maxwell Frost (FL-10).

The full letter can be found here.

Gosar Introduces Legislation Delisting the Mexican Wolf from the Endangered Species Act

Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Paul A Gosar DDS (AZ-04)

Washington, D.C. — Congressman Paul A. Gosar, D.D.S. (AZ-09), issued the following statement after introducing H.R. 4255, the Enhancing Safety for Animals (ESA) Act, legislation delisting the Mexican wolf from the Endangered Species Act and delinking its populations in the United States and Mexico:

“Since being reintroduced to the wild in Arizona, Mexican wolves have preyed on cattle, livestock, and even family pets, causing significant financial losses and economic hardship on family-run ranches.

The Mexican wolf has lingered on the Endangered Species list for nearly 40 years. During that time, there have been numerous accounts of livestock killings and even declines in some big game herds since these wolves were first listed. Much of this can be attributed to failed management by the United States Fish and Wildlife Services (USFWS) as the uncontrolled and unmanaged wolf populations have been allowed to roam free. In fact, nearly 90% of the wolf’s original habitat falls within the border of Mexico.  Significant attacks by wolves on cattle, elk, moose, and sheep have occurred and have negatively impacted hunters and ranchers throughout Arizona.

To make matters worse, the USFWS considers recovery within the borders of Mexico in its management goals. American ranchers are being punished for Mexico’s failure to manage its own animal populations effectively.  Immediate delinking is needed to ensure American ranchers are put first.  

Unfortunately, lawsuits filed by extremist environmental groups have prevented the Mexican wolf from being delisted nationally, even though the Mexican wolf was released into Arizona and New Mexico as part of an experimental program. 

The Mexican wolf population has grown steadily since being reintroduced to the wild.  In the U.S., the Mexican wolf population now exceeds the original federal recovery goals for wolves in the wild, with hundreds more in captivity for breeding.  Now a stable population, the wolf is no longer in danger of extinction and should be delisted from the Endangered Species Act,” stated Congressman Gosar.

“The Mexican wolf is destroying the livelihood of western ranchers by slaughtering their cattle. Because of its status as an endangered species–a falsehood perpetuated by the Biden Administration and environmental groups–ranchers cannot protect their herds from these predators,” added Congressman Andy Biggs (AZ-05). “I’m thankful that Rep. Gosar is leading the effort to allow Arizona ranchers to protect their cattle without fear of repercussions from the federal government. Cattle are a vital part of Arizona’s economy, and Congress must ensure that ranchers are able to protect their herds from dangerous predators.”

“Now is the time to recognize the catastrophic impact that bad federal policy has on local communities.  For too long, ranchers in states near our southern border have shouldered the burden of managing this species with limited tools and little support from the federal government who has imposed all manners of burdens. Ranchers and rural communities face daily challenges such as livestock predation and threats to community safety due to overpopulated wolf packs. We commend Congressman Gosar for introducing the Enhancing Safety for Animals Act and working to bring some relief to these communities,” said Kaitlynn Glover, Executive Director, Public Lands Council. 

The 10(J) experimental population listing of the Mexican wolf is one of the clearest examples in the country of ESA abuse by the environmental community and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. The federal protections have been misused by activists to control landscapes and land managers, and their rhetoric often contradicts established science. The rapid increase in wolf populations, coupled with these federal protections, has restricted management options for producers, leading to an increase in cattle losses that negatively impact their profitability. I would like to thank Congressman Gosar for introducing the Enhancing Safety for Animals Act that acknowledges the abuse of the ESA with the Mexican wolf listing and seeks to provide relief to U.S. cattle producers,” stated National Cattlemen’s Beef Association Senior Vice President of Government Affairs, Ethan Lane.

“We applaud Representative Gosar for his leadership on efforts to delist the Mexican wolf,” said John Boelts, President of the Arizona Farm Bureau. “For years, our members have dealt with the devastating effects of the reintroduction of this apex predator. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service recently reported that the Mexican wolf population in the U.S. has surpassed 280. It’s time to delist the species and provide relief to Arizona’s ranchers and rural communities who have dealt with years of negative impacts and complex regulations. State governments should now be given the opportunity to manage the wolf population directly.”

Original Cosponsors

Representatives Biggs (AZ), Boebert, Crane, Hageman, Hamadeh, Hurd, LaMalfa, Stauber, Tiffany, Zinke

Outside Group Supporters:

American Farm Bureau Federation, American Lands Council, Arizona Farm Bureau, Arizona Cattle Growers’ Association, Blue River Cowbelles, Catron County Commission, Coalition of Arizona/New Mexico Counties, Cochise-Graham Cattle Growers’ Association, Eastern Arizona Counties Organization, Graham County Chamber of Commerce, Greenlee County Board of Supervisors, Greenlee County Cattle Growers’ Association, National Cattlemen’s Beef Association, New Mexico Cattle Growers’ Association, New Mexico Farm and Livestock Bureau, New Mexico Federal Lands Council, Protect Agriculture Now, Public Lands Council, R-CALF USA, Southeaster Arizona Sportsmen Club

PRESS RELEASE: Rep. Barragán Blasts Senate Passage of Trump’s Big Ugly Bill

Source: United States House of Representatives – Representative Nanette Diaz Barragán (CA-44)

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
July 1, 2025

Contact: Jin.Choi@mail.house.gov

Rep. Barragán Blasts Senate Passage of Trump’s Big Ugly Bill

Washington, D.C. — Today, Senate Republicans advanced Donald Trump’s Big Ugly Bill — a budget reconciliation package that includes the largest Medicaid cuts in American history, strips health care from nearly 17 million Americans, slashes food assistance for children, seniors, and veterans, andadds $3.9 trillion to the national debtto fund more tax breaks for billionaires.

To secure the votes, some Republican Senators carved out last-minute deals for themselves to ensure their states and industries escaped the worst of the cuts, while millions of other Americans are left to bear the brunt.

Congresswoman Nanette Barragán (CA-44) issued the following statement following Senate passage of the bill:

“The Senate took the largest health care cuts in history and made them even worse. The Senate’s version of Trump’s Big Ugly Bill would take health care away from nearly 17 million Americans, including nearly 2 million Californians, and raise health care costs for more than 20 million people who rely on the Affordable Care Act marketplace. 

It slashes $1.1 trillion from Medicaid and the ACA, and still finds a way to give millionaires an average annual tax cut of $90,000.

“This bill is a direct attack on working families. Kids will go hungry. Seniors will lose care. Hospitals in vulnerable communities will reduce services or close their doors. And all of that devastation will pay for $4.5 trillion in tax cuts for billionaires and corporations.

“Senate Republicans made sure their own states were shielded from the worst, carving out protections for their hospitals and industries, while throwing the rest of the country under the bus. That’s not leadership. That’s a backroom deal at the expense of people’s lives.

“Democrats are united against this bill. I urge my colleagues on the other side of the aisle to think hard about the people they represent and whether they’re willing to trade their constituents’ health and food security for tax breaks for billionaires.”

The nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office estimates the bill will add at least $3.9 trillion to the national debt, a staggering cost that makes clear this isn’t about fiscal responsibility. 

The bill now returns to the House of Representatives. Congresswoman Barragán voted NO on the original version and will vote NO again.

La Congresista Barragán Critica la Aprobación de Trump’s Big Ugly Bill en el Senado

Washington, D.C. — Hoy, los republicanos del Senado avanzaron Trump’s Big Ugly Bill — un paquete que incluye los recortes más grandes a Medicaid en la historia de Estados Unidos, elimina la cobertura médica para casi 17 millones de personas, reduce la asistencia alimentaria para niños, adultos mayores y veteranos, y agrega $3.9 billones de dólares a la deuda nacional para financiar más recortes de impuestos para los multimillonarios.

Para asegurar los votos, los republicanos del Senado negociaron acuerdos de último minuto, como excluir a estados con altas tasas de error como Alaska y Florida de los nuevos requisitos de reparto de costos del programa SNAP. Estas excepciones garantizaron que ciertos estados e industrias evitaran los peores recortes, mientras que millones de estadounidenses cargarán con las consecuencias.

La Congresista Nanette Barragán (CA-44) emitió la siguiente declaración tras la aprobación en el Senado:

“El Senado tomó los recortes más grandes al sistema de salud en la historia y los empeoró aún más. La versión del Senado del ‘Gran y Horrible’ proyecto de Trump eliminaría la cobertura médica para casi 17 millones de estadounidenses — incluyendo a casi 2 millones de Californianos — y aumentaría los costos de salud para más de 20 millones de personas que dependen del mercado de la Ley de Cuidado de Salud a Bajo Precio (ACA). Este proyecto recorta $1.1 billones de dólares a Medicaid y a la ACA, y aún así encuentra la manera de darle a los millonarios un recorte promedio de impuestos de $90,000 dólares al año.

“Este proyecto de ley es un ataque directo a las familias trabajadoras. Niños pasarán hambre. Personas mayores perderán atención médica. Hospitales en comunidades vulnerables reducirán servicios o cerrarán sus puertas. Y toda esa devastación financiará $4.5 billones de dólares en recortes de impuestos para multimillonarios y grandes corporaciones.”

“Los republicanos del Senado se aseguraron de proteger a sus propios estados de lo peor, negociando protecciones para sus hospitales e industrias, mientras abandonan al resto del país. Eso no es liderazgo. Es un trato turbio a puerta cerrada a costa de vidas humanas.”

“Los demócratas estamos unidos en contra de este legislación. Espero que mis colegas del otro lado del pasillo a reflexionen sobre a quién representan y si están dispuestos a intercambiar la salud y la seguridad alimentaria de sus constituyentes por recortes de impuestos para los multimillonarios.”

La Oficina de Presupuesto del Congreso, una entidad no partidista, estima que el proyecto de ley agregará al menos $3.9 billones de dólares a la deuda nacional — un costo asombroso que deja claro que esto no se trata de responsabilidad fiscal.

El proyecto ahora regresa a la Cámara de Representantes. La Congresista Barragán votó NO a la versión original y volverá a votar NO.

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Tonko: Republicans Betrayed Working Americans in Favor of Billionaire Donors

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

ALBANY, NY — At the Albany-Rensselaer Train Station before heading back to Washington, Congressman Paul D. Tonko blasted Republicans in the Senate for advancing President Trump’s budget, the so-called “Big, Beautiful Bill” that exacts the largest cut to health care and food assistance in American history, all to bring massive tax breaks to the wealthiest 0.1 percent. Tonko now heads to DC, where he will vote ‘NO’ on this budget.
To view Tonko’s opening remarks at today’s press availability, click HERE.

“On each and every page of this disgrace of a budget, the GOP’s utter distain for lower- and middle-income Americans could not be clearer.

 

“Ripping away healthcare from millions of working families with cuts to Medicaid and Medicare is bad enough. Taking food out of the mouths of veterans, mothers, and children with cuts to SNAP and food assistance is bad enough. Forcing hundreds of rural hospitals to close their doors is bad enough. Killing countless jobs and raising utility bills by halting clean energy investments is bad enough.

 

“But to do it all to fund a tax break for the wealthiest corporations and billionaire donors is despicable.

 

“What’s more, Republicans had to cut last-minute backroom deals in an attempt to squeeze this bill forward. The reality is Republicans rammed through this a disgrace of a bill, knowing the pain it would cause Americans, all to meet some arbitrary deadline set by President and would-be king Donald Trump.

 

“I remind my Republicans colleagues that they do not work for President Trump, they are beholden to the American people. The people have shared how much they hate this bill. To ignore their calls is complete abdication of duty. I urge any member who cares about the lives and livelihoods of their district and millions of Americans to join Democrats in the House in opposing this cruel budget.”

 

Pressley, DeGette File Amendment to Big, Ugly Bill to Protect and Expand Reproductive Healthcare

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

Amendment Would Strip Republican Provisions Defunding Planned Parenthood and Essential Care, and Replace It with Bill to Repeal Hyde Amendment

Amendment Text (PDF)

WASHINGTON – Today, Congresswoman Ayanna Pressley (MA-07) and Congresswoman Diana DeGette (CO-01), Co-Chairs of the Reproductive Freedom Caucus, filed an amendment to Republicans’ Big, Ugly Bill to protect and expand reproductive healthcare.

The amendment would strip the bill’s language prohibiting Medicaid reimbursements to Planned Parenthood and other essential reproductive healthcare providers, and replace it with the text of the EACH Act, bold legislation to repeal the Hyde Amendment and lift unjust abortion coverage restrictions for those who depend on Medicaid and other government-sponsored plans.

“Trump and Republicans are doing everything they can to attack Planned Parenthood and other essential healthcare providers as part of their extremist march toward a nationwide abortion ban—and their Big, Ugly Bill is just the latest example of that,” said Congresswomen Pressley and DeGette, Co-Chairs of the Reproductive Freedom Caucus. “While we fight to stop this bill in its tracks, our amendment would protect Planned Parenthood while helping ensure everyone in America can get the reproductive healthcare they need, regardless of income, insurance, or zip code.”

Full text of the amendment is available here.

Congresswoman Pressley has been an outspoken critic of this harmful legislation since its inception.

  • Rep. Pressley issued a statement condemning the Senate’s passage of the Big, Ugly Bill and vowing to continue fighting it using every tool available.
  • Ahead of the third anniversary if the Dobbs decision, Rep. Pressley and her colleagues stood in solidarity with Planned Parenthood and condemned the proposed cuts to reproductive healthcare under Republicans’ Big, Ugly Bill.
  • Rep. Pressley and author Darrick Hamilton authored a Washington Post op-ed in which they discussed the regressive, ineffective “Trump Accounts” provision of Republicans’ reconciliation bill and urged Congress to instead embrace Baby Bonds to advance economic justice.
  • Rep. Pressley rallied with advocates from Caring Across Generations, Care Can’t Wait, and partner organizations to protest Trump’s and Republicans’ Big Ugly Bill that proposes disastrous cuts to Medicaid, SNAP, and other essential programs and would leave communities sicker, poorer, and more vulnerable.
  • Ahead of the House’s vote on the bill, Rep. Pressley delivered an impassioned speech on the House floor in which she made a direct appeal to her Republican colleagues to oppose this cruel and harmful bill.
  • Rep. Pressley delivered a floor speech in which she slammed the bill’s proposed Medicaid cuts, which would decimate reproductive healthcare in America and worsen maternal health outcomes.
  • Rep. Pressley co-hosted a press conference with Color of Change to oppose the Republicans’ cruel and harmful budget reconciliation package, which would gut critical programs like Medicaid and SNAP.
  • Rep. Pressley rallied with caregivers, advocates, and fellow lawmakers at a 24-hour vigil to protect Medicaid from Republicans’ cruel budget cuts that would devastate communities across this country.
  • In the House Oversight Committee’s markup of the Republican reconciliation bill, Rep. Pressley demanded Republicans answer to the families who would go hungry by way of this reconciliation bill – and she was met with silence.
  • In the House Financial Services Committee’s markup of the Republican reconciliation bill, Rep. Pressley condemned the bill’s proposed cuts to Medicaid and shared the story of Mary Marinelli, a 70-year-old hospice nurse from a Republican district in Michigan whose family depends on Medicaid to care for their autistic son.
  • In an impassioned speech on the House floor, Rep. Pressley slammed Republicans’ cruel and callous budget resolution that would slash Medicaid and other critical government services to pay for trillions of dollars in tax giveaways for Donald Trump’s billionaire donors.

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