MIL USHOR-2b Engine

Source: {United States House of Representatives – Congressman Bobby Scott (3rd District of Virginia)

Headline: Warner, Kaine, and Scott Applaud $16 Million in Funding for Portsmouth Agricultural Export Facility

WASHINGTON – U.S. Sens. Mark R. Warner and Tim Kaine (both D-VA) and U.S. Representative Bobby Scott (VA -03), today celebrated more than $16 million in Department of Transportation funding for the Portsmouth Port and Industrial Commission’s agricultural export facility to add storage silos, advanced conveyance systems, and improved rail access. 

“The Portsmouth agricultural export facility is vital to both regional and international supply chains, providing critical storage and handling capacity to export whole grain and feed from U.S. farms overseas,” said the lawmakers. “This funding will allow the facility to expand operations, meet growing export demand, provide cost effective access to global markets, and further cement the global competitiveness of Virginia agriculture and American farmers.”

This funding was awarded through the Department of Transportation’s Port Infrastructure Development Program, a competitive discretionary grant program administered by the Maritime Administration. This project is a collaboration between the Portsmouth Port and Industrial Commission and The DeLong Co., Inc. Last year, Sen. Warner wrote a letter to Secretary of Transportation Sean Duffy in support of the Portsmouth Port and Industrial Commission’s grant application.

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Source: United States House of Representatives – Representative Judy Chu (CA2-27)

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, Rep. Judy Chu (CA-28), Chair Emerita of the Congressional Asian Pacific American Caucus (CAPAC), introduced the Language Access Board Act of 2026 with Rep. Grace Meng (NY-06), Chair of CAPAC, and Rep. Juan Vargas (CA-52). This bill would establish an independent board of community leaders and federal agency officials to research, develop, implement, and enforce language access standards across the federal government. Senator Padilla will be leading the Senate companion. 

In 2025, President Trump declared English the official language of the United States by signing Executive Order (EO) 14224, revoking a 25-year-old mandate, renewed under Republican and Democratic administrations, that required federal agencies and recipients of federal funding to provide critical language access services to individuals with limited English proficiency (LEP). The Trump Administration’s Department of Justice also issued guidance minimizing multilingual services and redirecting resources towards English-language education and assimilation. 

This decision is already making it harder for the 25.7 million individuals with LEP in the United States to access basic services. In 2025, HUD announced its going “English-only”, the IRS began considering rollbacks to multilingual taxpayer services, the SBA removed non-English webpages from its website, and LEP.gov was removed. 

The Language Access Board Act of 2026 will help ensure that all Americans have access to the services and resources their tax dollars pay for, without barriers based on English proficiency. The bill would:

• Establish an independent Board of community experts and federal agency officials to enforce language access guidance and regulations across federal agencies and departments.
• Require the Board to establish, maintain, and provide technical assistance and training on language access standards for public-facing resources and materials for federally conducted programs.
• Ensure individual complaints related to federal agencies’ or departments’ failure to adhere to language access requirements are processed and investigated.
• Conduct a study on existing language access laws and best practices that help individuals with limited English proficiency access federal resources and programs.

“Being able to access federal services, regardless of the language you speak, is a civil right,” said Rep. Judy Chu, Chair Emerita of CAPAC. “Millions of Americans, especially in our immigrant communities, depend on translation support to apply for a loan, enroll in Medicare, or even access disaster relief resources. Trump’s English-only policies are a direct attack on immigrant families and an attempt to shut people out of the very services their tax dollars fund. I am proud to lead the Language Access Board Act to fight back against these hateful policies, ensure impacted communities have a seat at the table, and guarantee that language access protections are enforced.”

“Every American should be able to access federal services and programs in a language they can understand. Yet President Trump is determined to make life harder for millions of immigrants by declaring English as the official language of the United States and rolling back multilingual resources,” said Rep. Grace Meng, Chair of CAPAC. “CAPAC will not stand for this. The Language Access Board Act of 2026 will help combat these discriminatory policies and protect translation services for individuals with limited English proficiency, including millions of Asian Americans, Native Hawaiians, and Pacific Islanders.”

“For decades, federal language access services have helped millions of people file taxes, get emergency alerts, apply for loans, and access health care. Trump’s decision to designate English as our country’s official language and attempt to scrap these critical services is absolutely wrong,” said Rep. Juan Vargas. “No one should be locked out of federal programs because of the language they speak. This legislation is critical to keeping in place the services our communities rely on, without barriers based on English proficiency.”

“This Administration’s effort to illegally and unilaterally declare English the national language of the United States is fundamentally un-American and will disenfranchise tens of millions of hardworking citizens and immigrants with limited English proficiency,” said Senator Padilla. “Access to critical government programs and services must never be dependent on your ability to speak a language. The Language Access Board Act would ensure language accessibility standards across federal agencies and federally administered programs to serve all Americans.”

Asian Americans have among the highest language access needs of any racial group, with 32 percent having LEP. Twelve percent of Native Hawaiians and Pacific Islanders also have significant language access needs, and nearly 40 percent of Spanish-language speakers report speaking English “less than very well,” according to the most recent U.S. Census. 

This bill builds upon Congressmember Chu’s longstanding commitment to ensuring language accessibility, beginning with her work as a City Councilmember fighting against an ugly “English-only” movement in her hometown of Monterey Park. In 2025, Rep. Chu led more than 50 House Democrats in multiple oversight letters to the Administration opposing the implementation of EO 14224. Earlier this month, Reps. Chu, Meng, Espaillat, and Sen. Padilla introduced a resolution recognizing April as “National Language Access Month”, to bring attention to the millions of individuals in the U.S. with LEP and the importance of language access services.

The bill is also cosponsored by Reps. Dan Goldman, Frederica Wilson, Eleanor Holmes Norton, Ted Lieu, Rashida Tlaib, Al Green, Darren Soto, Tim Kennedy, and Lou Correa.

The Language Access Board Act of 2026 is endorsed by the National Council of Asian Pacific Americans (NCAPA); National Immigration Law Center (NILC); UnidosUS; National Asian Pacific American Bar Association (NAPABA); National CAPACD; Association of Asian Pacific Community Health Organizations (AAPCHO); Asian Americans Advancing Justice – AAJC; OCA-Asian Pacific American Advocates; NAKASEC TX; Empowering Pacific Islander Communities (EPIC); Missouri Asian American Youth Foundation; Colorado Interpreters and Translators; Jeenius,inc; Many Languages One Voice; South Asian Public Health Association (SAPHA); AREAA; Hmong National Development, Inc; Hmong American Partnership; Thai Community Development Center (Thai CDC); Chinatown Service Center; Pacific Asian Counseling Services; National Asian American Pacific Islander Mental Health Association (NAAPIMHA); Ethnic Communities Opioid Response Network – Missouri (ECORN-MO); Learning Lab for Resiliency; Coalition for Sign Language Equity in Technology (CoSET S.A.F.E AI); Deaf Equality; Asian & Pacific Islander American Health Forum; Californians Together; Spring Institute for Intercultural Learning; MasterWord Services, Inc.; Japanese American Citizens League; Association of Language Companies; Kathleen Diamond & Co; ChineseinUS; The Sikh Coalition; American Association of Interpreters and Translators in Education (AAITE); Certification Commission for Healthcare Interpreters; and Simplify Language.

“AANHPI communities often face substantial obstacles to obtaining meaningful language access. Our community is diverse, spanning across 50 ethnicities with more than 100 languages and dialects, and language access services should reflect that. When language access services fall short, individuals and families are unable to obtain vital services. Ensuring culturally appropriate resources in people’s primary languages is necessary for meaningful participation in key programs. We applaud Representative Chu’s introduction of the Language Access Board Act to establish an independent board that will lean on the experience and expertise of community leaders to inform and determine critical language access guidance and regulations.” said Jo Ann Paanio, Policy Director, National Council of Asian Pacific Americans (NCAPA).

Priya Purandare, Executive Director of NAPABA said, “The National Asian Pacific American Bar Association (NAPABA) is grateful for the leadership of Rep. Judy Chu, Rep. Grace Meng, Rep. Juan Vargas, and the sponsors of the Language Access Board Act of 2026.  This bill, along with the Language Access for All Act of 2026, are important steps to ensuring that every federal agency meet the needs of individuals with limited English proficiency.  Language access is particularly important for the Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander (AANHPI) community, where most are immigrants. Nearly 32% of the community is limited English proficient and speaks over 100 different languages. NAPABA has long championed linguistic access for AANHPI communities in the legal system. We look forward to working with the bill’s sponsors and stakeholders to ensure that every individual can access critical, federally funded services.”

Click here to see the full bill text. 

Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Danny K Davis (7th District of Illinois)

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
April 30, 2026

Statement from Congressman Danny K. Davis on U.S. Supreme Court Decision Undermining Voting Rights

Washington, DC — Congressman Danny K. Davis issued the following statement in response to the U.S. Supreme Court’s recent decision impacting voter protections and congressional redistricting:

“The Supreme Court’s decision issued today is a serious blow to the principle that every American—regardless of race, background, or zip code—deserves equal protection under the law when it comes to voting rights.

This ruling threatens to further erode critical safeguards that protect voters, particularly Black communities and other minority groups, and opens the door to unfair congressional redistricting that dilutes the voices of the many in favor of the few.

At a time when our nation should be strengthening access to the ballot, this decision moves us backward. It deepens divisions, undermines confidence in our democratic institutions, and risks making hard-won civil rights protections meaningless.

I stand in strong disagreement with this ruling and join the NAACP, the American Civil Liberties Union, and civil rights advocates across the country in calling for immediate action. Congress must act to restore and strengthen voting rights protections and ensure that every voice is heard and every vote counts.

Our democracy depends on it.”

Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman David G Valadao (CA-21)

  WASHINGTON – Today, Congressman David Valadao (CA-22) released the following statement upon passage of the bipartisan Farm, Food, and National Security Act of 2026, also known as the Farm Bill, out of the U.S. House of Representatives.

“As the sole dairy farmer in Congress and a new member of the House Committee on Agriculture, I was proud to vote in favor of the Farm Bill,” said Congressman Valadao. “This bipartisan bill delivers real wins for the Central Valley, including addressing rising production costs and expanding technical assistance for dairy producers, while also improving crop insurance and disaster assistance for our specialty crop growers. It also invests in rural infrastructure and wildfire prevention to better protect our communities and natural resources. I’m looking forward to working with my colleagues in the Senate to get this bill across the finish line to provide the certainty our farmers, ranchers, and producers are counting on.”

Key wins for the Central Valley include:

• Directing the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) to examine rising dairy production costs and identify ways to better incorporate those costs into price coverage and insurance formulas, ensuring support reflects current economic realities for dairy producers.
• Increasing Dairy Business Innovation Initiative (DBII) funding for California to ensure the state receives equitable resources compared to other regions. This funding supports technical assistance, marketing, and business development for dairy farmers.
• Expanding Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) Dairy Nutrition Incentives to include yogurt and a broader selection of cheese, improving access to nutritious dairy options for families.
• Expanding eligibility for specialty crops under the Tree Assistance Program (TAP), helping growers replant and rehabilitate trees impacted by natural disasters. 
• Prioritizing efforts to combat Citrus Greening by strengthening coordination and research at USDA and the Agricultural Research Service (ARS). 
• Expanding crop insurance access for specialty crop growers by directing USDA’s Risk Management Agency to work more closely with producers to improve coverage options. 
• Reauthorizing USDA Rural Development water infrastructure programs that support clean drinking water, wastewater systems, solid waste disposal, and stormwater management in rural communities. 
• Directing the U.S. Forest Service to partner with large landowners on wildfire prevention efforts to better protect communities and natural resources.

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Source: United States House of Representatives – Congresswoman Aumua Amata (Western Samoa)

Washington, D.C. – Congresswoman Uifa’atali Amata is welcoming House passage of the Senate-passed Department of Homeland Security funding bill, because it ends the 75-day partial government shutdown, and sends the bill with bipartisan support to President Trump’s desk to be signed into law, which ensures the next payday for thousands of DHS employees. 

The bill finishes the last of the fiscal year 2026 funding bills, months after final passage of the other 11 appropriations efforts. The longstanding disagreements over the last funding bill centered on immigration policy and funding for border security. The final bill leaves out the funds related to immigration enforcement, which has current funding from prior legislation, but fully funds the rest of the Department’s extensive responsibilities: U.S. Coast Guard, Transportation Security Administration (TSA), Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), U.S. Secret Service, and Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security (CISA). 

“It was extremely important to appropriate funds for Homeland Security, and I’m pleased to see this standoff is over, paychecks are secured, and all normal services can be restored,” said Congresswoman Aumua Amata. “These vital services have been under strain. The Coast Guard, FEMA, and TSA needed regular funding, and the hardworking public servants in these jobs deserve dependable paychecks.”

Amata concluded, “The Appropriations Committee has been releasing the first looks at the slate of 2027 funding bills, and Congress needed to clear the decks and be able to give the next round of appropriations the focus it deserves.” 

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Source: United States House of Representatives – Congresswoman Dina Titus (1st District of Nevada)

Rep. Dina Titus Introduces Resolution to Ban Representatives and their Staff from Participating in Prediction Markets

Source: United States House of Representatives – Congresswoman Linda Sanchez (38th District of CA)

WASHINGTON – Congresswoman Linda T. Sánchez (D-Calif.) today introduced the PFAS Cleanup Act, a bill that would require manufacturers of PFAS chemicals to help fund the cleanup of contamination from these forever chemicals in our nation’s water supply.

The bill would establish a 45 percent tax on the manufacturing of PFAS, with the revenue used to fund a tax credit of up to 25 percent for public and private water agencies to remove PFAS contamination from their water supplies.

“PFAS contamination is a serious public health issue affecting communities throughout Southern California and across the country,” said Congresswoman Sánchez. “The companies that manufacture these chemicals should help pay to clean them up. My bill ensures that the cost of addressing this public health problem does not fall entirely on taxpayers and the water agencies.”

PFAS contamination is a growing public health crisis. These chemicals have been linked to cancer, child developmental issues, fertility problems, and other serious health concerns.

In California, PFAS have been detected in water systems serving nearly 26 million people, according to a recent report by the Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC). The problem disproportionally impacts disadvantaged communities, where up to 9 million people are exposed to forever chemicals in their water. 

However, that number is expected to rise, as California expands monitoring of drinking water sources for PFAS near landfills, airports, oil and gas facilities, and other potential contamination sites.

The PFAS Cleanup Act has been endorsed by the NRDC, the Environmental Working Group and the Waterkeepers Alliance.

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Source: United States House of Representatives – Congresswoman Linda Sanchez (38th District of CA)

WASHINGTON – Congresswoman Linda T. Sánchez (D-Calif.) today released the following statement after House Republican leadership agreed to pass the bipartisan Senate bill to fund all Department of Homeland Security agencies except Customs and Border Protection and Immigration and Customs Enforcement:

“Speaker Johnson held DHS employees’ paychecks hostage for more than a month to satisfy the unreasonable demands of far-right Republicans. It was wrong, and it did not have to happen.

“A bipartisan agreement to fund every DHS agency except ICE and CBP has been on the table since before the Easter recess. It passed the Senate unanimously and would have passed the House weeks ago if Republican leadership had simply allowed a vote.

“I’m glad that Coast Guard, TSA, FEMA and other critical employees will get paid. But Republicans now want to reward ICE and CBP with another $140 billion through reconciliation. I will continue to fight to block their funding until the abuses we are seeing in our communities come to an end.”

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Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Danny K Davis (7th District of Illinois)

The bipartisan bills would increase access to legal services for foster youth and assist expectant and parenting foster youth with intensive case management, high-quality home visiting, and resource coordination.

Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Dan Newhouse (4th District of Washington)

Headline: Newhouse Votes to Advance Agriculture Appropriations Bill

For Immediate Release: April 29, 2026
Contact: Juan Ayala, (202) 713-7750
 

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, Rep. Dan Newhouse (WA-04) released the following statement upon Committee passage of the Fiscal Year 2027 Agriculture, Rural Development, Food and Drug Administration, and Related Agencies Appropriations Bill. 

“House Republicans’ commitment to supporting the agriculture industry has never been stronger,” said Rep. Newhouse.

Rep. Newhouse continued, “This legislation funds programs utilized by the specialty crop industry in Central Washington, supports trade promotion programs, increases funding for vital research programs at USDA, and keeps the Secretary of Agriculture as a member of CFIUS to prevent our adversaries from purchasing American farm ground. Also included are my Community Project Funding requests for Othello Community Hospital in Adams County and the McKay Healthcare and Rehabilitation Center in Grant County. Together, with my colleagues on the House Appropriations Committee, we have worked to address the needs of our farmers, ranchers, and producers while getting our fiscal house in order.”

The Agriculture, Rural Development, Food and Drug Administration, and Related Agencies Appropriations Bill provides a total discretionary allocation of $26.27 billion, which is $380 billion (1.4%) below the Fiscal Year 2026 enacted level. The bill prioritizes agencies and programs that protect our nation’s food and drug supply; support America’s farmers, ranchers, and rural communities; and ensure low-income Americans have access to nutrition programs.

Below are projects in Washington’s Fourth Congressional District Rep. Newhouse secured funding for in this legislation. 

McKay Healthcare and Rehabilitation Center

Amount Requested: $2,104,604

Description: Phase 1 of Grant County Public Hospital District McKay Healthcare’s senior living expansion will add 16 assisted living units and 16 memory care units, along with a community wellness center featuring meeting spaces, a salon, art classroom, fitness area, and landscaped outdoor spaces. This first-of-its-kind continuing care retirement community (CCRC) in Central Washington allows seniors to age-in-place safely, transitioning from independent living

to assisted living or memory care, and ultimately to skilled nursing if needed. This project addresses a critical gap in rural senior healthcare services in Grant County by expanding access to assisted living and memory care. Currently, comparable services are limited in the region, forcing many families to travel long distances to obtain care. The project will allow seniors to remain in their communities while receiving appropriate care, improve continuity with local healthcare providers.

Othello Community Hospital

Amount: $1,863,900

Description: The Rural Labor and Delivery Capacity Expansion Project will increase the capacity of Othello Community Hospital to provide top-rate care for our families here locally where more than 400 babies are delivered annually. The project includes features that improve access to care, health and wellness outcomes, and hospital infrastructure. This project integrates critical technology directly into the labor and delivery suites. There will be dedicated triage beds, vital monitors, NICU systems, newborn warming stations, and diagnostic imaging machines for the obstetric unit. To address access, the project will also provide a new ambulance so that families do not have to worry about how they will get to the hospital when events – like precipitous labor – occur without planning. This project will dramatically expand the family birth care to meet the growing need for services at Othello Community Hospital, a rural hospital with a high volume of labor and delivery.

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