MIL USHOR-2b Engine

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

Today Congressman Chris Pappas (NH-01) and Congressman Mike Lawler (NY-17) introduced bipartisan legislation that would ensure grant funding from the Weatherization Assistance Program (WAP) and State Energy Program (SEP) are distributed without delay to state agencies and local partners that implement these cost-saving energy initiatives. The bill comes as the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) continues to delay the distribution of more than $400 million in grant funding from both WAP and SEP despite the rising cost of energy. Congressman Paul Tonko (NY-20) is a cosponsor of the legislation, and the Senate companion legislation is led by Senator Jeanne Shaheen (NH). 

“Energy prices are way too high right now, and Granite Staters are feeling the pinch. I’m working hard to find every way we can put money back in people’s pockets,” said Congressman Pappas. “The Investing in State Energy Act will speed up the delivery of cost-saving weatherization funding to help bring down energy costs and save families and states money. I will continue fighting to deliver federal dollars back to First District residents as quickly as possible to meet their needs and lower their energy bills.”

“We are grateful for the continued support and recognition of the important role the Weatherization program plays in the lives of New Hampshire residents. Our ability to respond to no heat emergencies is completely dependent on our funding and delays mean our community members go without heat during the winter months,” said Betsey Andrews Parker, CEO of Community Action Partnership of Strafford County. “This legislation will enable our agency to respond quickly to help the most vulnerable, at risk residents. Not only will homes be energy efficient, saving hundreds of dollars a year which can now be used for food, gas, and other essential items, but it also creates safe, stable housing.”

“Tri-County Community Action Program serves upwards of 9,000 households every year through our LiHEAP and Weatherization Programs. Legislation ensuring that funding for these vital programs is not delayed will provide much needed assurance to the households who depend on the assistance. We are so pleased with this bipartisan effort to ensure that vulnerable Granite Staters have what they need to help them in the coldest months of the year,” said Jeanne Robillard, CEO of Tri-County Community Action Partnership.

For nearly 50 years, WAP and SEP have provided technical and financial assistance to states, tribal governments, and U.S. territories to encourage the adoption of clean energy and energy efficiency practices and technologies. WAP enables income-eligible families, older adults, veterans, and individuals with disabilities to improve the energy efficiency of their homes, freeing up limited resources for other essentials like food and medicine. SEP provides cost-shared resources directly to the states for allocations by the governor-designated State Energy Office to support energy projects, such as energy emergency planning and response, private sector innovation in clean energy, and state-driven energy infrastructure modernization.

Specifically, the Investing in State Energy Act would direct the DOE to provide application guidance and publish expected WAP and SEP allocations to states within 60 days of enactment of appropriations for the programs and distribute funding to states and other recipients within 30 days of receiving a completed plan from the applicant. By requiring the publication of expected WAP and SEP awards, the Investing in State Energy Act will ensure states, tribes, and other entities have the information they need in order to effectively plan for expected funding. The ability to conduct such planning encourages local high-impact projects that serve families in need and allows states to continue to make good use of critical resources to meet their energy goals.

“New Yorkers deserve timely access to the resources Congress has already approved to help lower energy costs, improve efficiency, and make our communities more affordable. This legislation cuts through the red tape by setting clear deadlines to ensure funding gets out the door on time and supports the communities that need it most,” said Congressman Lawler.

“I’m proud to support the bipartisan Investing in State Energy Act, which will ensure the timely distribution of funding from the Department of Energy’s Weatherization Assistance Program and State Energy Program. As a former state energy official, I have seen firsthand how vital these programs are to ensuring that Americans across the nation can afford their energy bills. Unfortunately, President Trump’s DOE has regularly delayed and withheld critical funding from these programs, denying Americans access to resources that help state governments in their efforts to lower energy costs. With utility bills continuing to rise, it is more important than ever that these funds are made available as quickly as possible,” said Congressman Tonko.

The bill text is here.

The Investing in State Energy Act is endorsed by the National Association of State Energy Officials, the Building Performance Association, and the National Association for State Community Services Programs.

“The National Community Action Foundation, on behalf of the nation’s 1,000 Community Action Agencies, wholeheartedly endorses the Investing in State Energy Act of 2026. When enacted, it will help ensure that vital Weatherization funds, which are so important in our low-income communities, will be released in a timely manner. This legislation will also ensure that work can be completed without delay, a trained Weatherization workforce will be retained, and that thousands of low-income families will be able to stay in their homes and withstand the pressures from rising energy costs. We at the National Community Action Foundation look forward to working with the sponsors, Representatives Chris Pappas and Mike Lawler, to get this vital piece of legislation enacted into law,” said David Bradley, CEO of the National Community Action Foundation.

“The states appreciate the leadership of Rep. Pappas and Rep. Lawler in promoting this sensible bipartisan legislation.  When Congress acts to fund the State Energy Program and the Low-Income Weatherization Assistance Program, families, consumers, and businesses should not have to wait a year to have these funds dedicated for useful purposes helping Americans. This legislation will require the Department of Energy to speed the release of the funds,” said David Terry, President of the National Association of State Energy Officials.

“The Weatherization Assistance Program and State Energy Program are critical to energy affordability, reliability and security,” said Steve Skodak, CEO of the Building Performance Association. “BPA member contractors perform home upgrades for WAP projects across the country, lowering energy bills and improving home health, safety, and comfort. Ensuring the prompt delivery of these funds through the Investing in State Energy Act will benefit both low-income American households and the home performance contractors who serve them.”

Background:

Pappas is a fierce advocate for efforts that lower energy costs for Granite Staters and programs that help low-income families pay their bills. He also leads the bipartisan Heroes Home Energy Savings Act, which would reauthorize and increase funding for the Weatherization Assistance Program Enhancement and Innovation Grant to spur innovation in weatherization and provide active duty and reserve military families with grants to help lower their energy costs. Pappas is a cosponsor of the bipartisan Weatherization Enhancement and Readiness Act of 2025, which would reauthorize and improve WAP and guarantee the program can continue to provide weatherization services to tens of thousands of homes every year and save households hundreds on their energy costs. Last year he led the New Hampshire delegation in calling on the DOE to immediately release $9 million in funding for New Hampshire from WAP.

He has also previously introduced, cosponsored, or called for the passage of the following legislation: his bipartisan Energy Burden Tax Credit Act, his bipartisan Transmission Facilitation Program Reauthorization, his bipartisan Bolstering Northeast Home Heating Oil Reserve Act, the bipartisan Banning Oil Exports to Foreign Adversaries Act, and the Energy Independence and Affordability Act. He also helped launch the Congressional Lowering Utility Bills Caucus.

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

Today, Representatives Lori Trahan (MA-03), Rosa DeLauro (CT-01), Rick Larsen (WA-02), James Walkinshaw (VA-11), and Laura Gillen (NY-04) led the introduction of the Right to IVF Act of 2026. Introduced ahead of World IVF Day on July 25th, the sweeping legislative package that would make it easier to access in-vitro fertilization (IVF) and other assisted reproductive technology (ART) for the millions of hopeful parents who depend on it to build their family. This pro-family legislation would establish a nationwide right to access IVF, lower the costs of IVF treatment, expand IVF coverage for military families and require all employer-sponsored insurance programs to cover IVF.
“Like so many people in our country facing fertility challenges, my husband and I turned to IVF as our last hope to have kids. After years of appointments, injections, and setbacks, and thanks to our remarkable physicians, we have two beautiful daughters,” said Congresswoman Trahan. “No one should lose the chance to start or grow a family because of their zip code. The Right to IVF Act guarantees the right to family-creating fertility care in every state and puts it within reach for the millions of families who need it.”
“There are few experiences as hard as wanting to start a family and not being able to,” said Congresswoman DeLauro. “That is why I am fighting to ensure Americans have access to IVF treatments when they want to start one. I am proud to join my colleagues in introducing the Right to IVF Act – because building a family in the United States should never be difficult.”
“For many Americans, fertility treatments like IVF are essential to start families of their own,” said Congressman Larsen. “This comprehensive legislation will guarantee access and expand coverage for IVF and other fertility services. The legislation also includes my bill with Senator Murray, the Veteran Families Health Services Act, to ensure fertility treatments are included in servicemembers’ and veterans’ health benefits. I will keep working with my colleagues in the House and the Senate to make sure that women and men in uniform and working families do not have to sacrifice their dreams of having a family.”
“Deciding when and how to build a family is a deeply personal choice that belongs to families, not politicians,” said Congressman Walkinshaw, Co-Chair of the Federal Workforce Caucus. “For millions struggling with infertility, IVF offers hope and a path to parenthood. I’m especially proud the Right to IVF Act includes my legislation requiring IVF coverage through the Federal Employees Health Benefits Program, ensuring the federal government leads by example. I’m honored to join Senator Duckworth, Congresswoman Trahan, and this coalition to protect IVF nationwide and expand access for servicemembers, veterans, federal employees, and working families.”
“I am proud to help lead this critical bill ensuring millions of Americans can access IVF to build their families, no matter where they live,” said Congresswoman Gillen. “Families struggling to conceive go through indescribable heartbreak and stress. The last thing they should worry about is legal challenges to IVF delaying or outright halting procedures. Infertility is not a partisan issue. I will continue to work across the aisle in Congress to protect access to IVF and adjacent reproductive technologies that have helped countless individuals experience the joy of parenthood.”
After the Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade, fertility care has been threatened in states where sloppily written laws, including Republican abortion bans, have swept up standard medical practice. In some states, lawmakers and judges have moved to redefine legal personhood to include frozen, extrauterine embryos, turning standard IVF practice into potentially criminal activity. In 2024, IVF services were halted in Alabama after a state court ruled that embryos lost before implantation could trigger the state’s Wrongful Death of a Minor Act, effectively exposing IVF providers to wrongful death liability. Care only resumed after lawmakers rushed through an emergency fix to a mess of their own making.
The Right to IVF Act of 2026 is comprehensive, bicameral legislation that would establish an enforceable nationwide right to access and provide IVF and other fertility treatments and ensure every family can receive affordable insurance coverage of fertility care. Specifically, the bill:

Creates a statutory right for an individual to access, a provider to provide, and an insurer to cover assisted reproductive technology (ART), including IVF and intrauterine insemination (IUI), without prohibition, limitation, or interference.

Ensures coverage for ART, including IVF and IUI, for servicemembers, veterans, government employees, and people with employer-sponsored insurance, Medicaid, Medicare, and ACA plans.

“Every person deserves to build their family on their terms. For millions, including several Members of our caucus, that journey includes use of fertility care,” said Representative Diana DeGette (CO-01) and Representative Ayanna Pressley (MA-07), Co-Chairs of the Congressional Reproductive Freedom Caucus. “Across the country, extreme Republican legislators are doubling down on dangerous abortion bans, and the consequences only continue to grow. But these bans were never going to stop at abortion. The truth was put on display for all to see in Alabama: that they will not stop until they eliminate access to all reproductive health care, including birth control and IVF. The Reproductive Freedom Caucus is proud to support this critical bill and to stand with Representative Trahan in the fight to safeguard your right and access to the fertility care you need.”
A Senate companion bill was introduced by Senators Tammy Duckworth (D-IL), Patty Murray (D-WA), Cory Booker (D-NJ), and Chuck Schumer (D-NY).
“Almost two years after promising free IVF for all Americans if he were elected, Donald Trump has still failed to deliver,” said Senator Duckworth. “Trump and Republicans’ ‘support’ for IVF is nothing but lip service. They want us to have more babies, yet they’ll do nothing to actually help make it easier for the millions who struggle with infertility to start and grow their families. The Right to IVF Act would immediately make IVF treatment more affordable for millions of hopeful parents across the country. From middle class families, to our brave servicemembers and Veterans, to federal employees and more—every American deserves the right to access the treatment and tools they need to build the family of their dreams without burning through their savings. If Republicans really support IVF, then let’s get this done. No more delays.”
“Republicans are not pro-family and they won’t lift a finger to help families get IVF—the Texas Republican Party just recently made banning IVF a part of their official party platform,” said Senator Murray. “I have fought for a long time to make sure at least servicemembers and veterans , especially wounded warriors, can get the IVF care they need to build a family. But the reality is that we have a Republican Speaker of the House who believes an embryo should have the same rights as an adult woman with children who count on her. America’s pro-IVF majority should wake up to the fact that Trump could not care less about IVF—he broke that promise and he is happy to let Republicans attack IVF and all of our reproductive rights. Meanwhile, Democrats are standing with families and fighting to make sure can access and afford health care to build their families.”
“No one chooses infertility,” said Senator Booker. “It’s a medical condition that leaves too many families and individuals feeling alone long before they ever seek treatment. When people turn to IVF, they’re choosing hope. They’re choosing the chance to build the family they’ve always dreamed of. But that hope comes with a price tag that is simply out of reach for far too many. The medications, procedures, and cycles can cost tens of thousands of dollars. Families and individuals already carrying the emotional weight of infertility are then hit with financial barriers that no one should have to face trying to bring a child into this world. We have to change that. We have to remove those barriers and make IVF affordable and accessible to everyone who needs it. Because the ability to build a family should not be reserved for the wealthy or the lucky, it should be within reach for us all.”
“For millions of American families, IVF isn’t politics—it’s hope,” said Leader Schumer. “Donald Trump ran on a promise that he would make IVF free, and yet he has done nothing but attack women’s reproductive rights and undermine access to fertility care—another lie in his long list of broken promises to American families. Our Right to IVF Act is essential to putting a deeply personal health care decision back in the hands of American families. While Donald Trump and Republicans erect barriers between hopeful parents and IVF, Democrats will never stop fighting to protect access so that every family can build the future they dream of.”
The legislation introduced today was cosponsored by 119 House members and 46 Senators. A copy of the bill can be accessed HERE.
The Right to IVF Act is supported by the American Society for Reproductive Medicine (ASRM), RESOLVE: The National Infertility and Family Building Association, Center for Reproductive Rights (CRR), Planned Parenthood Federation of America (PPFA), National Women’s Law Center (NWLC), American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG) and GLBTQ Legal Advocates and Defenders (GLAD).
“The American Society for Reproductive Medicine (ASRM) welcomes the bicameral reintroduction of the Right to IVF Act, which would achieve accessible and affordable fertility care for all Americans,” said ASRM Chief Advocacy and Policy Officer Sean Tipton. “This visionary and comprehensive effort would protect patients’ ability to build their families through safe, evidence-based treatments like in vitro fertilization (IVF). By safeguarding access to assisted reproductive technology (ART), preserving the physician-patient relationship, and expanding coverage for the individuals and families who need it most, this legislation reflects the standard of care that all patients deserve.”
“No one should have to wonder whether they’ll be able to access the care they need to build their family,” said Danielle Melfi, CEO of RESOLVE: The National Infertility and Family Building Association. “By safeguarding the right to IVF and expanding insurance coverage for veterans, federal employees, and the individuals and families who need it most, this legislation reflects a comprehensive commitment to helping more people build the families they dream of. RESOLVE applauds Senator Duckworth and the bill’s sponsors for continuing to put patients and families first.”
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Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Joaquin Castro (20th District of Texas)

Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Ken Calvert (CA-42)

Congressman Ken Calvert (CA-41) introduced the National Security Interstate Pipeline Act, H.R. 9838, a bill that would authorize the expedited approval of interstate oil and natural gas pipelines that are critical to the national security of the United States. Representatives Vince Fong (CA-20), James Gallagher (CA-1), Darrell Issa (CA-48), Nathaniel Moran (TX-1), Jefferson Shreve (IN-6), Dale Strong (AL-5), and David Valadao (CA-22) are original cosponsors of the bill. 

“Radical energy policies put in place in Democrat-led states, like California, continue to hurt working families as well as threaten our national security,” said Rep. Calvert. “The National Security Interstate Pipeline Act will ensure California and other states can be connected to energy-producing regions and keep oil and gas flowing to the critical national security facilities that depend on them. We cannot let radical Democrats threaten our national and economic security by cutting off oil and gas through regulatory roadblocks.” 

Background: 

The National Security Interstate Pipeline Act would allow the President to designate an interstate pipeline project as critical to the national security of the United States and necessary to ensure energy supply for military installations, the defense industrial base, or critical infrastructure resilience. Designated pipeline projects would be under the exclusive authority of the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) for the purposes of authorizing siting, construction, expansion, or operation. Projects would be considered in an expedited time frame, with FERC decisions required within 180 days of an application. Designated projects would be preempted from state and local permitting or other requirements that would stop or delay the project. Any judicial claims arising under the act would be required to be filed in the United States Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit.

In 2025, oil production in California reached a record low. The 257,000 barrels produced per day were less than a quarter of what it was in 1985. As a result, California is increasingly dependent on foreign sources of oil from the Middle East, South America, and Canada. 

In 2024, California refineries relied on foreign sources for 63% of the oil they used – an all-time high. Oil produced in California made up only 23% of what was used by refineries – an all-time low. California’s petroleum refining capacity has been reduced by 30% in the past five years due to the closure of refineries.

California currently has no interstate pipelines connecting it to the broader U.S. oil supply infrastructure. 

California ranks first in jet fuel demand among all states. 

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

July 23, 2026

Washington D.C. — Congressional Freethought Caucus Co-Chairs Rep. Jared Huffman (CA-02) and Rep. Jamie Raskin (MD-08) alongside fellow CFC members, national secular leaders and advocates joined together in a Capitol Hill reception room Tuesday evening for the third annual Congressional Reason Reception.

The reception celebrated the Congressional Freethought Caucus, reason, constitutional democracy and the growing visibility of nonreligious Americans in public life. The Freedom From Religion Foundation, American Humanist Association and the Secular Coalition for America hosted an evening filled with wit and humor, with leaders of the secular movement and keynote speaker Mary L. Trump.

Reps. Huffman, Raskin and others applaud during Tuesday’s event

“Our country was founded on freedom of religion and church-state separation. No wannabe king or theocratic sycophant hellbent on controlling people through religious extremism will change that,” said Freethought Caucus Co-Chair Rep. Huffman. “Folks from all walks of faith — or none at all — came together to celebrate something far more American: a government run by reason, freedom of conscience and the Constitution. That’s what the Reason Reception is all about. No matter how hard Christian nationalists fight to overturn democracy and force their extremism on the American people, we will be here defending church-state separation and our fundamental rights.”

“Every year, some of the most reasonable people I know assemble to highlight the essential role that reason plays in protecting democracy, liberty, progress and justice for all,” said Freethought Caucus Co-Chair Rep. Jamie Raskin. “The Congressional Reason Reception celebrates and revives the spirit of Tom Paine and Ben Franklin and our Enlightenment Constitution, which cast off centuries of religious fanaticism and dogma, Holy Crusades, witch trials, Inquisitions and theocratic rule to usher in a new era of self-government, reason and democracy. Congratulations to our honorees, Katherine Stewart and Alison Gill, who are doing fine work to champion reason and common sense in our own time.”

“All you need to do is read the Declaration of Independence to understand that our Founders did not want and did not intend for this to be a religious country,” said Rep. Suzanne Bonamici. “And now, when you look at what is happening with this administration and with Republican MAGA colleagues, they want this to be a white Christian nation. It is not — and we will not let that happen. With your voices here and across the country, we will stop that from happening. We want the next generation to know that this is a country where you are free to believe in religion or free to not believe in religion.”

“When I first came into Congress eight years ago, someone told me that religion is what politicians talk about when they don’t want to talk about ethics,” said Rep. Sean Casten. “And there is a deep truth there. I think the inverse of that is equally true, that if you talk about ethics, people think you’re talking about their religion. And I think there’s a power there. There’s an ability there. What I think you challenge us to do, and what we have to challenge ourselves to do, is to speak about ethics and morality in a way that doesn’t fall back on those religious texts.”

“Trump has learned that to say ‘God’ or ‘gun’ gets you votes,” said Rep. Steve Cohen. “And as I said in committee today, he is totally irreligious and doesn’t have any idea of Matthew. Being in legislatures and congresses has taught me a lot about religion because so many people use it. … Trump knows nothing about it. He is so obviously areligious. He really should be here with us, the other heathens. But he uses God to get votes, which is a corruption of God. And all about Christian nationalism is a corruption of Christian.”

Mary Trump, the keynote speaker, remarks: “We’ve been on a very dark path for a very long time. So we need to do a better job of explaining to people why allowing religion and government to become intertwined is fatal to the American experiment on the one hand and detrimental to the pursuit of our freedoms on the other. We have the benefit, those of us in this room, of reason, of perspective. A lot of people who have made the choices they’ve made and voted the way they have voted don’t have those luxuries. So we, from the benefit of where we stand, need to extend these people grace because that way I truly believe we can make common cause with people who in the grand scheme of things have suffered as much from their choices as others have. And I think that’s the way forward.”

“The National Prayer Breakfast tells everyone who isn’t the right kind of Christian that they don’t quite count as Americans. We reject that,” said Annie Laurie Gaylor, co-president of the Freedom From Religion Foundation. “This country belongs to all of us, believers and nonbelievers alike, and no one needs to bow their head to belong here.”

“Thomas Paine called it ‘the cause of America’: the conviction that free minds, working together through reason, could govern themselves better than any king or church ever had,” said Fish Stark, Executive Director of the American Humanist Association. “Last night’s room, packed with members of Congress and humanists from across the country, was proof that cause is still alive. Now we take it to statehouses, school boards, and every corner of this country, and build the nation Paine imagined: one where reason and compassion govern together, and empathy is not a matter of faith, but of conscience.”

Steven Emmert, executive director, The Secular Coalition for America, said, “This reception is called the Congressional Reason Reception and I think that’s fitting not because reason belongs to secular Americans alone, but because reason belongs in public service.”

The Congressional Reason Reception coincides with the growing strength of the Congressional Freethought Caucus, which now counts 37 members, and reflects a secular movement that continues to gain ground on Capitol Hill.

The evening also recognized recipients of the Age of Reason Award and Common Sense Award for their contributions to advancing secular government and freedom of conscience.

“I don’t need to tell you that 250 years after Thomas Paine helped launch the American Revolution, our democracy is in crisis,” said Katherine Stewart, recipient of the Age of Reason Award. “This is no time for the summer soldier and the sunshine patriot. This is the time to fight like hell for our country and our founding ideals of equality, pluralism, reason, justice, and the rule of law.”

“We need courts that are fair, unbiased, and that will uphold the Constitution, and enforce our rights and protect our democracy — not ignore it to salute their political or Christian Nationalist agenda,” said Alison Gill, recipient of the Common Sense Award. “And the Congressional Freethought Caucus plays an especially important role in showing the harms caused by this Christian nationalist agenda and pushing back against it. So I truly want to thank you all for this award, and I hope that together we will keep making progress to reform the courts and restore our democracy.”

Organizers said the growing attendance at the annual reception and the expanding Congressional Freethought Caucus reflect increasing recognition that Americans of every faith and none deserve equal representation in public life.

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

Source: United States House of Representatives – Representative John R Carter (R-TX-31)

Congressman John Carter (TX-31) successfully included an amendment strengthening oversight of medical chaperone protections at military medical facilities in the FY2027 National Defense Authorization Act, which passed the House Wednesday evening.

Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Ted Lieu (33 District of California)

Source: United States House of Representatives – Congresswoman Robin Kelly IL

WASHINGTON, D.C. — Today, U.S. Representative Robin Kelly (IL-02) announced key staff promotions within her congressional office, naming Brandon DiFulvio as Chief of Staff and Kevin Kiser as Communications Director.

Brandon DiFulvio steps into the role of Chief of Staff following the departure of longtime Chief of Staff Matt McMurray, who served in Congresswoman Kelly’s office since her first day in office. Brandon, previously her Legislative Director, has been an integral part of Rep. Kelly’s team for over eight years, rising through the office after starting his career as a congressional intern.

“I am excited and honored to be promoted to Chief of Staff for Congresswoman Kelly,” said DiFulvio. “Since joining her office as an intern more than eight years ago, I have seen firsthand her unwavering commitment to the people of Illinois’ Second Congressional District. I am grateful for her trust and look forward to helping her continue to deliver results for the district.”

Joining DiFulvio in senior leadership, Kevin Kiser has been promoted to Communications Director. Kevin has served on Congresswoman Kelly’s team handling digital communications and outreach, helping amplify her legislative priorities and public advocacy across Illinois and nationally.

“I am honored to take on the role of Communications Director for Congresswoman Kelly,” said Kiser. “Congresswoman Kelly has spent her career fighting for our families and expanding opportunities, and I’m proud to help communicate that work to the people of Illinois’ Second District.”

“I am thrilled to announce Brandon DiFulvio as my new Chief of Staff and Kevin Kiser as Communications Director,” said Congresswoman Robin Kelly. “Brandon has grown with my office over the last eight years, and his dedication to my constituents is unmatched. Kevin has been an integral part of the team and I know he will bring the same commitment as Communications Director, elevating our message and strengthening how we connect with our community. Together, we will continue delivering results for my constituents.”

Source: United States House of Representatives – Representative Don Beyer (D-VA)

Following repeated efforts by the Trump administration to block Members of Congress from conducting oversight of federal agencies, U.S. Representatives Don Beyer (D-VA) and Jahana Hayes (D-CT) introduced the Congressional Oversight and Agency Access Act to ensure Members of Congress and accompanying staff can access federal buildings to carry out their constitutional oversight responsibilities without unnecessary obstruction or delay.

The Congressional Oversight and Agency Access Act would establish clear statutory protections for congressional oversight by:

• Guaranteeing Members of Congress and accompanying congressional staff immediate access to federal buildings, including contractor-owned and operated facilities, during normal business hours for official oersight activities.

• Requiring agencies to provide Members and accompanying staff access to facilities outside of regular business hours within 24 hours after such a request is made.

• Preventing agencies from using declared national or public health emergencies as a pretext to deny congressional oversight when buildings remain operational.

• Establishing procedures for access to secure areas while respecting applicable security clearance requirements.

• Prohibiting agencies from altering facilities or conditions to conceal information or otherwise limit meaningful congressional oversight.

“I have personally been denied access to USAID, the U.S. Institute of Peace, a public meeting at the Department of the Interior, and repeatedly delayed in conducting oversight at ICE facilities. All of these were clear examples of the Trump administration’s deliberate and repeated efforts to deny, delay, or obstruct Congressional oversight of the executive branch,” said Rep. Beyer. “That is not how our Constitution works. Congress has an obligation to oversee the agencies it funds and the laws it passes, and no administration should be able to obstruct that oversight because it finds it inconvenient or politically uncomfortable. Our bill makes clear that obstruction is not an option and ensures that no administration can shut Congress out again.”

“The American people are demanding more transparency in government, yet at every turn this Administration has blocked information or provided insufficient details on its actions,” Rep. Hayes said. “Congressional oversight is essential to our democracy. This legislation is a commonsense solution to ensure Congress can uphold our constitutional duty regardless of who is in the White House.”

Congress has a constitutional responsibility to conduct oversight of the executive branch, and that responsibility depends on Members of Congress having timely access to the agencies and facilities they are charged with overseeing. Yet the Trump administration has repeatedly denied or delayed that access, undermining Congress’ ability to fulfill one of its most fundamental constitutional duties. Congressman Don Beyer has personally encountered this pattern of obstruction and has been denied access to several federal facilities, including:

• Congressman Beyer and additional Members of Congress were denied access to the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) headquarters on Monday, February 3, 2025.

• Congressman Beyer was denied access to the U.S. Institute of Peace (USIP) headquarters on Monday, March 17, 2025.

• Following the Department of Homeland Security’s implementation of policy requiring a seven-day notice for congressional oversight visits to U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) facilities, Congressman Beyer was forced to wait a week before he could visit the Farmville Detention Center on August 8, 2025. The seven-day notice requirement has since been blocked in federal court.

• After a month of attempting to gain access to the ICE Washington Field Office in Chantilly, VA following serious reports of unsafe conditions and severe overcrowding, Congressman Beyer and additional Members of Congress representing Virginia were finally able to access the facility on Friday, September 26, 2025.

• Congressman Beyer and congressional staff were denied access to the Department of the Interior headquarters during a public meeting of the Endangered Species Act Committee, or the “God Squad,” on Monday, March 31, 2026.

U.S. Representatives Yassmin Ansari (D-AZ), Bonnie Watson Coleman (D-NJ), John Garamendi (D-CA), Seth Moulton (D-MA), Mark Takano (D-CA), Paul Tonko (D-NY) and Congresswoman Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-DC) are original co-sponsors of the Congressional Oversight and Agency Access Act.

This legislation is also supported by organizations including the Project on Government Oversight (POGO) and Public Citizen.

“Congress cannot fulfill its constitutional oversight responsibilities if Members of Congress are denied access to the very agencies they are charged with overseeing. The Congressional Oversight and Agency Access Act reaffirms Congress’s authority to conduct meaningful oversight and helps ensure transparency and accountability across the executive branch,” said the Project on Government Oversight (POGO).

Full text of the Congressional Oversight and Agency Access Act is available here.

(Congressman Don Beyer and additional Members of Congress are denied access to the USAID headquarters on Monday, February 3, 2025. Photo by Office of Congressman Don Beyer.)

(Congressman Don Beyer and wife Megan Beyer are denied access to the U.S. Institute of Peace headquarters on Monday, March 17, 2025. Photo by Stefani Reynolds/Bloomberg.)