MIL USHOR-2b Engine

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

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Representatives Gus Bilirakis (R-FL), Doris Matsui (D-CA), and Mike Thompson (D-CA), as well as U.S. Senators Amy Klobuchar (D-MN) and Roger Wicker (R-MS) introduced bipartisan, bicameral legislation to increase access to molecular diagnostic testing for rare cancer patients. The Finn Sawyer Access to Cancer Testing Act would ensure patients on Medicare, Medicaid, and the Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP) can receive testing at the time of first diagnosis, rather than only for recurrent or metastatic cancers. The legislation is named after Finn Sawyer, a three-year-old who passed away from a rare cancer called rhabdomyosarcoma in 2018.

“The targeted reforms in our bipartisan, bicameral bill will have a meaningful impact on accelerating the development of treatments for rare cancers and will remove bureaucratic hurdles that currently keep cancer patients from accessing diagnostic screening and effective treatments by qualified specialists,” said Congressman Bilirakis. “Every cancer patient deserves the best chance of survival, and we must create a streamlined regulatory system and payment model to realize this important goal. Our bipartisan legislation will provide hope to millions of patients and families battling cancer and will lead to improved patient outcomes.”

“At a time when health care coverage is under threat and essential programs like Medicaid face potentially massive cuts, ensuring access to essential services is more crucial than ever,” said Congresswoman Matsui. “For the thousands of Americans with rare cancers, accurate diagnosis is lifesaving. Molecular diagnostics play a key role in delivering targeted therapies swiftly, potentially improving outcomes for all cancer patients. That’s why I’m proud to co-author the Finn Sawyer Access to Cancer Testing Act.”

“Americans diagnosed with cancer should have access to the testing they need, when they need it,” said Rep. Thompson. I’m proud to co-sponsor the Finn Sawyer Access to Cancer Testing Act to ensure patients covered by Medicare, Medicaid, and CHIP can get molecular diagnostic testing right away following their diagnosis. Ensuring this testing is available early on will help doctors improve their treatment plans and save more lives.”

“95 percent of all forms of cancer are considered rare, but far too many patients with rare cancers lack access to accurate and timely molecular diagnostic and treatment options, meaning that hundreds of thousands of Americans can’t receive the effective care they need,” said Senator Klobuchar. “By ensuring patients with rare cancers enrolled in Medicare, Medicaid, or CHIP health coverage, can access molecular diagnostic testing at the time of their initial diagnosis, our bipartisan legislation will help patients receive more accurate diagnoses and personalized treatments much earlier in the course of the cancer, providing patients with a better shot at successful recovery.”

“In honor of Finn Sawyer, his loved ones, and families across the country, we are working to make early molecular testing available to cancer patients at the time of diagnosis,” said Senator Wicker. “This testing should be an option for as many patients as possible. It can improve quality of life, reduce health care costs, and – most importantly – save lives.”

Molecular diagnostic tests provide clinicians with comprehensive data about patients’ unique form of cancer. This data enables patients to use targeted therapies that may have a higher likelihood of success, especially for cancer patients for whom no standard of care exists. Using more precise diagnostic tests also enables patients to better match with relevant clinical trials, and potentially minimizes the unnecessary use of conventional chemotherapy and radiation that can have harmful side-effects. Technological advancements in molecular diagnostics have accelerated in recent years, but lack of insurance coverage and clinician awareness have led to underutilization of these diagnostic tests.

The Finn Sawyer Access to Cancer Testing Act would:

1. Mandate coverage for molecular diagnostic tests, including microarray analysis, DNA and RNA sequencing, whole-exome sequencing, and other next-generation screening methods, at the time of initial diagnosis for patients on Medicare, Medicaid and CHIP; and
2. Coordinate an education and awareness program on genetic testing. Currently, many health providers and the general public do not have a full understanding of the scope and benefits of molecular diagnostics and genomic testing. This bill will create an education and awareness program in coordination with the Department of Health and Human Services and the Director of the National Human Genome Research Institute to educate physicians and the general public on the use of genomic testing and the role of genetic counselors.

The Finn Sawyer Access to Cancer Testing Act is endorsed by Cancer Support Community; Elevate Childhood Cancer Research and Advocacy Foundation; Mighty Millie Foundation; First Ascent Biomedical; Friends of TJ Foundation; Focus on Rhabdo; Hope Rises; Tough2gether Foundation; Maddie’s Promise; Sebastian Strong; Summer’s Way Foundation; Super Sam Foundation

The legislation is cosponsored in the U.S. House of Representatives by Reps. Raúl Grijalva (D-AZ), Don Bacon (R-NE), Debbie Wasserman Schultz (D-Fl), Greg Landsman (D-OH), Jim Himes (D-CT), Rashida Tlaib (D-MI), Terri Sewell (D-AL), and Don Davis (D-NC). 

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Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Bill Foster (11th District of Illinois)

 Washington, DC - Today, Congressman Bill Foster (D-IL) announced that Joe Jackson, the Executive Director of Hesed House, will be his guest for President Trump’s address to a Joint Session of Congress.

“I’m proud to have Joe Jackson as my guest for this year’s Joint Address,” said Congressman Foster. “Joe’s organization, Hesed House, is an invaluable resource for those experiencing homelessness in Aurora and the surrounding communities. Joe’s leadership in addressing and preventing homelessness is crucial, especially as the Trump Administration and Elon Musk attempt to unlawfully withhold funding from community organizations and slash federal programs that Illinoisans rely on. The housing crisis is not unique to any one community. I hope Joe’s presence serves as a powerful reminder of the urgent need to continue funding the services that support our most vulnerable, and to put a stop to Trump’s policies that are making housing even less affordable.”

“I’m honored to represent all of the staff, volunteers, and supporters who make Hesed House possible while joining Congressman Foster at this year’s Joint Address,” said Joe Jackson. “As the largest homeless shelter outside of the city of Chicago, the services we provide at Hesed House are essential to keeping thousands of families and individuals out of unsheltered homelessness. After two straight years of double-digit percentage increases in homelessness in America, it’s critical that the Trump Administration take immediate action to address our nation’s housing crisis and reinstate the federal funding that our organization, and so many other local groups, rely on.”

The Joint Address is on March 4, 2025. 

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Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Bill Foster (11th District of Illinois)

Washington, DC — Today, Congressman Bill Foster (D-IL) issued the following statement: 

“Every member of the Greatest Generation who gave their lives fighting for democracy and the freedom of mankind must be rolling in their graves over the behavior of the most disgraceful President and Vice President our country has ever seen.

“This is a President with no concept of right or wrong, only negotiating leverage. When we were supporting our allies in Europe against Hitler’s attacks, we weren’t focused on our negotiating leverage—we were focused on our duty to democracy.

“Although we have no treaty-level obligation to defend Ukraine, we have a special moral duty to assist Ukraine because of its decision to give up its nuclear weapons at the end of the Cold War, in return for international assurances of its territorial integrity. America must continue to stand on the side of democracy, and we must stand with Ukraine.” 

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Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Bill Foster (11th District of Illinois)

Washington, DC — Today, Congressman Bill Foster (D-IL) issued the following statement:

“Firing 168 National Science Foundation employees is a devastating loss of expertise and institutional knowledge, especially at an agency that contributes so much valuable research on everything from public health to our national defense,” said Foster. “In an era driven by rapid scientific advancement, this action, along with the numerous other attacks on science from the Trump Administration, will hinder innovation and threaten our nation’s global competitiveness.”

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Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Bill Foster (11th District of Illinois)

Washington, DC – Today, Congressman Bill Foster (D-IL) introduced the Well-Informed, Scientific, & Efficient (WISE) Government Act to better equip federal agencies with the scientific literature necessary to make well-informed policy decisions. This legislation would require the U.S. General Services Administration to work with the Library of Congress, agency libraries, and government information services to identify ways to make accessing scientific literature more efficient and to identify short and long-term solutions. 

“To be able to make well-informed policy decisions, it’s essential that federal agencies are equipped with the most up-to-date information, especially scientific literature,” said Congressman Foster. “It’s unacceptable that employees at federal agencies have a harder time accessing scientific literature than employees at most large universities. This must change if we are serious about growing our economy and promoting innovation. The WISE Government Act will help employees at agencies such as the Department of Defense, EPA, State Department, NASA and others access the latest scientific data in an efficient manner.”

A copy of the legislation is available here.

The WISE Government Act is cosponsored by Congressman Mark Takano (D-CA), Congressman Mike Quigley (D-IL), and Congresswoman Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-DC).

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Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Bill Foster (11th District of Illinois)

Washington, DC – Today, Rep. Bill Foster (IL-11) announced the introduction of H.Res.100, a resolution with Reps. John Garamendi (CA-08) and Don Beyer (VA-08), co-chairs of the Nuclear Weapons and Arms Control Working Group, condemning the Russian Federation’s suspension of its participation in the New START Treaty and supporting the value of international arms control agreements. Senator Ed Markey (D-MA) is leading a companion resolution in the Senate.

The New START Treaty will expire on February 4, 2026. It is the last major remaining bilateral nuclear arms control agreement and has provided valuable insight into Russia’s nuclear arsenal, including placing verifiable limits on all Russian deployed intercontinental-range nuclear weapons. Members of the Nuclear Weapons and Arms Control Working Group are deeply concerned about the fraying of the arms control regime as exemplified by the purported suspension of the New START Treaty, Russia’s use of escalatory nuclear rhetoric in service of its war of aggression against Ukraine, and the build-up of China and Iran’s nuclear programs.

The bicameral resolution:

• Condemns the Russian Federation’s escalatory nuclear rhetoric and veiled threats on the potential use of nuclear weapons to further its invasion of Ukraine.
• Condemns the Russian Federation’s purported suspension of the New START Treaty.
• Calls for the Russian Federation to promptly return to full implementation of New START, including on-site inspections, provision of treaty-mandated notifications and data, and resumption of Bilateral Consultative Commission meetings.
• Calls on the Trump Administration to continue to engage the People’s Republic of China in further bilateral talks on nuclear risk reduction and arms control, and to pursue new multilateral arms control efforts.
• Calls on the Trump Administration to continue to pursue nuclear arms control and risk reduction dialogue with the Russian Federation to maintain strategic stability, ensure the conflict in Ukraine does not escalate to nuclear use, and avoid an unrestrained nuclear arms race. 

“As a physicist, preventing the proliferation of nuclear weapons has always been one of my top priorities,” said Representative Foster. “Russia’s suspension of the New START Treaty and Putin’s rhetoric about the potential use of nuclear weapons in Ukraine should have the entire international community on high alert and should serve as the impetus for us to pursue substantive nuclear arms control dialogue. American leadership is desperately needed to prevent escalation and avoid an unrestrained nuclear arms race.”

“The Trump administration has an historic opportunity to initiate high-level talks for a new pact and prevent a dangerous and costly nuclear arms race,” said Senator Markey. “I urge President Trump to work with Russia to replace New START and to talk with China about arms control. We are just one year away from losing New START and with it, all legal limits on Russian nuclear forces. There is no time to wait.” 

“For far too long, nuclear weapons have threated our country. Our leadership has long recognized that arms control is the most effective way to ensure American security. In today’s environment, it’s more important than ever that we begin to treat arms control with the same dedication we give our nuclear modernization and begin a constructive dialogue for a New START Treaty. We must strive for a more peaceful future, one without the existential threat of nuclear weapons,” said Representative Garamendi.

“Now more than ever, it is absolutely critical that we redouble our commitment to nuclear nonproliferation,” said Representative Beyer. “The New START treaty is our last major nuclear arms control agreement, and with rising instability overseas the ingredients are there for a runaway nuclear arms race that endangers us all.  This resolution demonstrates broad bicameral support for a renewal of New START and further arms control talks with other nuclear arms states that will help avert the potential global catastrophe that is a nuclear exchange.”

A copy of the resolution is available here.

House cosponsors include Representatives Ro Khanna (CA-17), Jim McGovern (MA-02), Jerry Nadler (NY-12), Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-DC), Mike Quigley (IL-05), Rashida Tlaib (MI-12), and Juan Vargas (CA-52), Gregory Meeks (NY-05), Sylvia Garcia (TX-29), Sean Casten (IL-06), and Dina Titus (NV-01). 

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Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Ron Estes (R-Kansas)

WASHINGTON- Today, Rep. Ron Estes (R-Kansas) released a statement following the abysmal September jobs report. The latest jobs report was released with only 194,000 jobs were added – falling well short of the 500,000 jobs economist expected. The September jobs report is the worst the administration has seen so far. 

“The latest jobs report shows Democrats weren’t just optimistic when they sold the American Rescue Plan – they weren’t honest and their agenda simply doesn’t work,” said. Rep. Estes. “The trillions they spent along party lines have stalled out the recovery and caused real inflation: we’re now 944,000 jobs short of what was promised, and inflation is on track to hit a 40 year high. And yet, Democrats still think it’s a good idea to raise taxes and spend trillions more on new socialist programs. Democrats’ dishonest policies have been a disaster for the American economy.”

During the month of September, the labor force participation rate fell to 61.6%, and participation rates decreased for the following demographics: Women, Black Men, Black Women, Hispanic Women, those with only a high school education, and those with some college. The following sectors experience major job loss in the month of September: hospitals lost 8,000 jobs, nursing and residential care facilities lost 38,000 jobs, healthcare lost 18,000 jobs, local government education lost 144,000 jobs and state government education lost 17,000 jobs.

Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Ron Estes (R-Kansas)

WASHINGTON – Yesterday Rep. Ron Estes (R- Kansas) introduced H.R. 5480, Protecting Religious Exemptions from Vaccine Mandates Act, to protect individuals with deeply held religious beliefs from President Biden’s vaccine mandates. Along with his own legislation, Rep. Estes is also an original cosponsor on legislation introduced by Rep. Diana Harshbarger (R-Tennessee) that prohibits the federal government from requiring COVID-19 vaccines.

“I am proud to introduce legislation that protects individuals and their religious freedoms against overreaching federal mandates,” said Rep. Estes. “Biden’s shortsighted mandates are an attack on individual liberties and will escalate into a shortage of critical health care, law enforcement, education and other workers as employees are either terminated, resign or choose to retire. This legislation is not about the validity of the vaccine, but rather addressing gross government overreach and ways to prevent it in the future.”

In addition to these pieces of legislation, Rep. Estes joined a letter to President Biden urging for the suspension of his mandates. You can read the letter here.

Background:

On Sept. 9, 2021, President Biden announced that he would be imposing overreaching national COVID-19 vaccine mandates through the U.S. Department of Labor’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OHSA). These mandates require an estimated 4 million federal employees and contractors to be fully vaccinated along with mandating employers with over 100 employees to require full vaccination.

Under the legislation proposed by Rep. Estes, The Religious Freedom Restoration Act of 1993 would extend to apply to rules issued by the Secretary of Labor. This would bar the Department of Labor from issuing an emergency temporary standard that requires an employer to ensure that employees receive a vaccine.  

Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Ron Estes (R-Kansas)

Rep. Ron Estes Honors the Life of Fr. Emil Joseph Kapaun

Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Ron Estes (R-Kansas)

Rep. Ron Estes Votes Against Debt Limit Suspension