MIL USHOR-2b Engine

Source: United States House of Representatives – Congresswoman Mary Gay Scanlon(PA-5)

Washington, D.C – Congresswoman Mary Gay Scanlon (PA-05) today joined Reps. Becca Balint (VT-AL) and Bonnie Watson Coleman (NJ-12) in introducing the Stop Comstock Act in response to clear Republican intent to misuse the antiquated and unconstitutional statute, the Comstock Act, to prohibit the mailing of medication abortion and other materials used in abortion procedures. The bill would repeal the portions of the Comstock Act that anti-choice extremists intend to misuse to enact a nationwide abortion ban. Senator Tina Smith (D-Minn) introduced the Senate companion bill. The House bill is cosponsored by 110 other House Democrats and 23 Senate Democrats.   

President Trump has bragged about his leadership in the overturning of Roe vs. Wade, even praising the “genius” of the Supreme Court following the decision. So far in his second term, Trump’s Justice Department has withdrawn from an important lawsuit against the State of Idaho to ensure that women in that state could obtain abortion care during a medical emergency. 

Today, a Louisiana woman charged with a felony for obtaining safe and effective medication abortion across state lines, pleaded not guilty. President Trump’s words and actions have empowered states to come after women who obtain FDA approved drugs from other states, a dangerous development in the fight for access for women no matter their zip code. 

“With the growing influence of Project 2025 in Trump’s Washington, DC, and the Supreme Court decision overturning Roe v. Wade, we have seen an explosion in lawsuits, legislation, and administrative advocacy designed to ban abortion nationwide,” said Rep. Scanlon. “Among other measures, this movement seeks to willfully misapply and weaponize the Comstock Act, a relic of the Victorian era. I’m proud to join my colleagues in the House and Senate in introducing the Stop Comstock Act as part of our ongoing work to protect Americans’ rights and freedom to choose medically safe reproductive health care, including medical abortion care.”

“Right wing strategists have been foaming at the mouth for years to abuse antiquated laws to take women back to the 1800s,” said Rep. Balint. “And now they have a president in the White House who has never stood for women’s rights. We must act to take away their tools to bypass Congress and enact a national abortion ban. It’s backwards, it’s dangerous and puts women and doctors at even further risk. I’m proud to stand alongside Senator Smith to introduce the Stop Comstock Act, which would take this outdated and unconstitutional law off the books.”

“We just witnessed a barrage of Trump nominees who evaded giving a straight answer on abortion pill access every time they were pressed during hearings. We’re seeing states pursuing criminal charges against doctors who prescribe medication abortion to women suffering under total abortion bans. We know that this fight is not over, that they are methodically moving through the plans laid out in Project 2025, and we need to be ready with every tool available when the Trump Administration inevitably turns its focus to the Comstock Act and tries to misuse a law passed 50 years before women had the right to vote to ban abortion nationwide. With Donald Trump in the White House, the threat to women’s reproductive health and freedom is more urgent than ever,” said Senator Smith. 

“Actions by the Supreme Court and state legislatures as well as the extreme rhetoric of Donald Trump and the GOP Congress have left the door open to future bans on medication abortion, even in states where reproductive healthcare is protected. It’s on Congress to shut that door,” said Rep. Watson Coleman. “Medication abortion is safe and effective. Repealing portions of the Comstock Act of 1873 will help keep these safe and widely used medications available across the country. I’m so proud to co-lead this bill with Rep. Balint, the culmination of decades of work dating back to the efforts of the late Senator Lautenberg of New Jersey. It’s high time the GOP majority abandoned their obsession with stripping away people’s freedom to make their own medical decisions. I strongly encourage Congress to take up and pass this bill.”

The Comstock laws are a set of 1800s laws to ban the mailing or shipping of every obscene, lewd, lascivious, indecent, article, matter, thing or device, with the goal of restricting abortion, contraceptives, sex toys, and even love letters. Federal appellate courts have consistently held that the law does not apply to lawful abortion care. Nonetheless, Republican strategists have been clear that they intend to misuse these antiquated and unconstitutional statutes to criminalize providers and impose a nationwide abortion ban.  

The Stop Comstock Act would repeal provisions of the Comstock laws in the U.S. Code that anti-abortion extremists want to willfully misapply in order to ban abortion nationwide without any congressional action. 

The bill is endorsed by the American Civil Liberties Union, Planned Parenthood Federation of America, National Women’s Law Center Action Fund, Reproductive Freedom for All, Indivisible, Catholics for Choice, Take Back the Court Action Fund, National Council of Jewish Women, Healthcare Across Borders and UltraViolet Action have endorsed the Stop Comstock Act. 

“Abortion opponents have made clear that they’ll stop at nothing to ban abortion nationwide. They want to control people’s bodies, lives, and futures, and they’re willing to misuse the Comstock Act to try to ban abortion entirely, even though most Americans support reproductive freedom. Abortion opponents want to misapply the law even though the courts, Congress, and the Department of Justice have repeatedly rejected their extreme arguments. Planned Parenthood Action Fund will continue to raise the alarm about efforts to ban abortion and restrict sexual and reproductive health care,” said Alexis McGill Johnson, president and CEO, Planned Parenthood Action Fund.

“The Comstock Act has long been considered obsolete. It’s a harmful, misogynist, Victorian-era relic with no place in today’s world. But anti-abortion extremists are now trying to weaponize the Act to criminalize abortion and enforce offensive, antiquated notions of morality and gender roles. This effort goes against a century of judicial and Congressional interpretation and the will of the majority of people in this nation who support access to abortion care. We applaud Senator Smith and the bill’s other cosponsors for reintroducing legislation that refuses to enforce offensive, antiquated notions of morality and gender roles,” said Katie O’Connor, Senior Director of Federal Abortion Policy at the National Women’s Law Center Action Fund.

“The FFRF Action Fund is grateful to Sen. Tina Smith and Rep. Becca Balint, a proud member of the Congressional Freethought Caucus, for reintroducing the Stop Comstock Act. The Comstock Act is a dangerous, antiquated law that anti-abortion extremists are eager to weaponize as a key tool of Project 2025 to impose a religious agenda on all Americans. We must repeal this archaic statute to protect reproductive freedom — including access to contraception — and uphold our nation’s secular principles,” said Annie Laurie Gaylor, FFRF Action Fund president.

“The radical right-wing effort to weaponize the Comstock Act and further restrict access to abortion and birth control medication must be stopped. As long as Congress keeps Comstock on the books, right-wing extremists will have a powerful tool to control our lives. We urge the House of Representatives to vote to repeal this archaic law before it can be used to undermine our access to health care,” said Nicole Regalado, Vice President of Campaigns for UltraViolet Action. 

“Right wing extremists have been fighting for decades to ban abortion nationwide. Now they have the power to carry out their agenda–without a single vote in Congress–by weaponizing the antiquated Comstock Act, which would be used to prohibit the distribution of contraception, medication abortion, medical instruments, and more,” said Jodi L. Jacobson, Founder and Executive Director of Healthcare Across Borders. “Project 2025 made clear their plans to use Comstock not only to ban abortion, but to criminalize other forms of essential care, including contraception, IVF, gender-affirming care, and HIV and AIDS prevention and treatment. Congresswoman Becca Balint, the original author of the House bill to repeal the Comstock Act, is now reintroducing that bill for this Congress. It is absolutely critical to repeal Comstock to protect reproductive rights and public health writ large. We call on every Democratic House member to cosponsor this bill.”

Find a summary of the bill here. 

Find the bill text here. 

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Source: United States House of Representatives – Congresswoman Mary Gay Scanlon(PA-5)

Washington, D.C. — Congresswoman Mary Gay Scanlon (PA-05) today joined a group of House Democrats on a letter to Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Secretary Kristi Noem and Attorney General Pam Bondi demanding more information on reports that federal prisons are being used to detain immigrants during civil immigration proceedings. The letter was led by Representative Pramila Jayapal (WA-07), Ranking Member of the Immigration Integrity, Security, and Enforcement Subcommittee.

“The detention of noncitizens in criminal prison facilities contradicts the civil nature of immigration law, risks further criminalizing immigration enforcement, and diverts critical resources away from the intended purpose of the federal prison system,” the members wrote.

According to U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), immigration detention “is non-punitive.” It is not intended for punishment but rather to ensure that individuals comply with immigration proceedings. Recent reports indicate that ICE is detaining individuals in multiple Bureau of Prisons (BOP) facilities under disturbing conditions that are unfit for any person, regardless of whether it is for civil or criminal purposes, including in one that was slated for closure due to widespread sexual abuse.

This letter requests detailed information on the scope of this practice, including which facilities are being used, the criteria for selecting these facilities, the conditions of detention, reports of mistreatment or abuse, and whether detained individuals are subject to the same restrictions as those convicted of federal crimes.

The letter was also signed by Yassamin Ansari (AZ-03), Nanette Barragán (CA-44), André Carson (IN-07), Greg Casar (TX-35), Judy Chu (CA-28), Yvette Clarke (NY-09), Jasmine Crockett (TX-30), Jesús “Chuy” García (IL-04), Sylvia Garcia (TX-29), Raúl M. Grijalva (AZ-07), Henry C. “Hank” Johnson, Jr. (GA-04), Sydney Kamlager-Dove (CA-37), Summer Lee (PA-12), Zoe Lofgren (CA-18),  James P. McGovern (MA-02), Jerrold Nadler (NY-12), Eleanor Holmes Norton (DC-AL), Ilhan Omar (MN-05), Ayanna Pressley (MA-07), Deborah Ross (NC-02), Adam Smith (WA-09), Melanie Stansbury (NM-01), Jill Tokuda (HI-02), Paul Tonko (NY-20), and Nydia M. Velázquez (NY-07).

The full text of the letter can be read here.

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Source: United States House of Representatives – Congresswoman Mary Gay Scanlon(PA-5)

Washington, D.C. – Congresswoman Mary Gay Scanlon (PA-05) today announced that her guest for President Trump’s Address to Congress on Tuesday, March 4, 2025 will be Jay “Smitty” Smith, a United States Navy veteran who was recently terminated from the IRS’s Taxpayer Advocate Service (TAS) when the Trump administration began laying off IRS workers last month, right at the start of tax season. 

“After taking office on January 20, Donald Trump handed the keys to our federal government to Elon Musk and unleashed a wave of chaos, upending people’s lives and livelihoods and disrupting critical government services which Americans depend upon,” said Rep. Scanlon. “As Trump comes to address a Joint Session of Congress, we expect him to cloak his radical plans in populist platitudes, as he pushes corporate giveaways and tax cuts for billionaires, while decimating Medicaid, Medicare, SNAP, and critical programs that American families count on. We have already seen the negative impact of Trump funding freezes and illegal firings on VA services, including its crisis hotline, and on veterans who make up a disproportionate share of the federal workforce. While Trump and Republicans back Elon Musk and their billionaire buddies, I will always have the backs of constituents and dedicated public servants like Jay ‘Smitty’ Smith, who represent the very best of our country.”

The Taxpayer Advocate Service (TAS) is an independent organization within the IRS that works to ensure every taxpayer is treated fairly and understands their rights. TAS employees provide free assistance to taxpayers — helping to resolve issues with the IRS tied to financial hardship and problems resulting from the agency’s processes, systems, or procedures. TAS also makes recommendations regarding systemic changes at the IRS or in federal tax laws that could reduce challenges for American taxpayers. 

In his role at TAS, Smitty advocated for taxpayers with extenuating circumstances that impacted their tax liabilities, ability to pay, or ability to resolve complaints. He also worked to improve language access within TAS in order to provide taxpayer services to those with limited English proficiency. In addition, Smitty coordinated community outreach events — often in partnership with congressional offices, Low-Income Tax Clinics, and other community stakeholders — where TAS staff provided real-time personalized assistance to taxpayers in need.

“Leaders aren’t defined by titles; those who lead are defined by the real-life tools they use like mentorship and team building,” said Jay “Smitty” Smith. “Leaders understand that their teams are in fact their professional family, and when there is no sense of unity, there is no team.”

Smitty served for decades in the Navy, expanding his responsibilities throughout his military career. He began as a Radioman, then served as an Information Systems Technician, and went on to be part of various teams in Combat Systems and Damage Control. After retiring from the Navy, Smitty continued to support the U.S. military as an Integrated Logistics Support Technician for Noblis, MSD (formerly McKean Defense). While working full-time as a contractor, Smitty earned a Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration and his Master of Business Administration (MBA), before joining the Taxpayer Advocate Service. Smitty was employed at the TAS office in Philadelphia from April 2024 until February 20, 2025. 

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Source: United States House of Representatives – Representative Dusty Johnson (R-S.D.)

Washington, D.C. – U.S. Representative Dusty Johnson (R-S.D.) commended U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Secretary Purdue who stated, in response to committee questioning by Johnson, that USDA was considering new Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) labeling standards for beef.

Currently, beef that is not raised or slaughtered in the United States can still be labeled “Product of the USA.” At this week’s hearing before the House Agriculture Committee, Secretary Purdue said USDA is exploring a new “Slaughtered and Processed in the USA” label. Beef products processed and packaged outside of the United States would not be eligible for the new label.

“Our current labeling standards aren’t honest with consumers, and Americans deserve better,” said Johnson. “The approach described by Secretary Purdue this week is a much fairer and more accurate way to label beef. I look forward to following USDA’s efforts toward greater transparency.”

Source: United States House of Representatives – Representative Dusty Johnson (R-S.D.)

Washington, D.C. – U.S. Representative Dusty Johnson (R-S.D.) released the following statement after the U.S. House of Representatives approved $7.8 billion in emergency supplemental appropriations to assist the response to COVID-19, also known as the Coronavirus:

“The U.S. must continue to act swiftly to combat the Coronavirus,” said Johnson. “America needs a vaccine and treatments, and our clinics need test kits. This emergency funding will allow the U.S. continue to prepare expediently. I’m thankful Congress put politics aside to deal with this public health crisis.”

Source: United States House of Representatives – Representative Dusty Johnson (R-S.D.)

Disclaimer: The information below reflects CDC guidlines from March 2020. Visit CDC.gov for updated guidelines.

Washington, D.C. – U.S. Representative Dusty Johnson (R-S.D.) today issued a public service announcement video following a congressional briefing from Vice President Pence on COVID-19, also known as the Coronavirus.

Click here to watch the full video.

Johnson’s remarks below (as prepared for delivery):

“In the last few weeks we have all heard a lot about the Coronavirus and the United States response to that illness.

“Let’s remember the vast majority of cases have been in Asia and China specifically.

“We have seen some cases in the United States, but the Center for Disease Control (CDC) has been clear there’s no reason to panic.

“For imstance, if you’re healthy there would be no reason to wear a medical mask like this.

“In fact, we want to save valuable medical supplies like this for people who are sick.

“According to the CDC, there are four things that you can do to keep yourself healthy in the coming weeks and months, and I want to share them with you.

“First off, avoid close contact with people who are sick. Sometimes just taking one step back can make all the difference.

“Secondly, cover your cough or sneeze into your elbow pit that’s very safe. Now if you’re going to do that into a tissue immediately throw that tissue away.

“Thirdly, clean and disinfect frequently touched objects and surface areas, like so.

“Finally, you want to wash your hands often with soap and water especially after using the restroom, but hopefully that was a given.

“Twenty seconds is generally recommended – you can do that by just singing the Happy Birthday song to yourself softly.

“To stay informed, visit the CDC’s coronavirus page – that’s the best place to go.

“Just type CDC and Coronavirus into your browser. That’s going to give you the most accurate and up-to-date information.

“Stay healthy everybody and thanks for listening.

Source: United States House of Representatives – Representative Dusty Johnson (R-S.D.)

Washington, D.C. – U.S. Representative Dusty Johnson (R-S.D.) today urged the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) to address safety concerns following the USDA decision to lift a ban on Brazilian beef into the U.S. The U.S. suspended imports in 2017 following several public health concerns.

“Consumers purchase beef without reservation. That confidence is vital to sustain domestic beef demand,” said Johnson. “While we must honor trade agreements based on sound-science, I feel compelled to question Brazil’s ability to maintain the food safety standards equivalent to USDA FSIS that ensure consumer confidence at the meat case.”

Full text of the letter below:

The Honorable Mindy M. Brashears

Deputy Under Secretary for Food Safety

U.S. Department of Agriculture

1400 Independence Avenue SW

Washington, DC 20250

Dear Deputy Under Secretary Brashears:

As you know, South Dakota ranchers pride themselves on their product and the consumer confidence in the safety of beef in the meat case. Further, cattlemen in South Dakota know they produce a high-quality beef product that can compete in any foreign or domestic market. However, consumers must be confident that any fresh beef purchased in the U.S. is safe to eat. As such, producers welcomed Secretary Perdue’s June 22, 2017, announcement that U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Food Safety Inspection Service (FSIS) would be halting imports of fresh beef from Brazil to the U.S.

In the announcement, USDA noted that although 100% of the imported beef from Brazil was inspected, their rejection rate was substantially higher than the rest of the world. In the same announcement, USDA also cited public health concerns, sanitary conditions, and animal health issues as problematic factors that influenced USDA’s decision to halt Brazilian beef imports. Consumers purchase beef without reservation. That confidence is vital to sustain domestic beef demand.

While we must honor trade agreements based on sound-science, I feel compelled to question Brazil’s ability to maintain the food safety standards equivalent to USDA FSIS that ensure consumer confidence at the meat case. Additionally, I am concerned about the long-term enforcement and oversight of their processes. I respectfully request answers to the following questions about the decision to lift the Brazilian beef ban:

• As you know, industry views foreign fresh beef as a risk to accidental introduction of bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE), as well as Foot and Mouth Disease (FMD). How did FSIS coordinate with the Animal Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) to consider the health of the domestic cattle industry with respect to this decision?
• Following USDA FSIS’s on-site audit of the US-Brazil equivalency agreement, what commitments has Brazil made to improve its food safety inspection protocols and how will USDA FSIS conduct rigorous oversight of Brazil’s beef exports?
• Does USDA FSIS plan to inspect 100% of Brazil’s beef imports? If so, for how long?
• If Brazil fails to uphold its commitments to maintain food safety, what mechanisms, if any, does USDA FSIS possess to quickly halt imports to ensure consumer safety in the U.S.?

I appreciate your commitment to providing U.S. consumers the safest and most abundant food supply in the world and appreciate your attention to this important matter.

Sincerely,

Source: United States House of Representatives – Congresswoman Sharice Davids (KS-3)

Today, Representative Sharice Davids joined Representatives Raja Krishnamoorthi (IL-08) and Abigail Spanberger (VA-07) in calling on President Biden to help reopen recently idled oil refineries. This would increase refinery capacity temporarily and lower the cost of gas without sacrificing long-term clean energy production goals. In addition to pushing this immediate action, Davids hasrepeatedlyurged the President and Congressional leadership to move forward on long-term energy and inflation solutions, including fixing our supply chains, making more goods in America, and investing in our clean energy economy.

According to the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE), domestic refining capacity is down to 17.9 million barrels per day, almost as low as it was in 2010. At the same time, global refining capacity has declined by 3 million barrels per day, even as demand has returned to pre-pandemic levels. This shortage of oil refining capacity is the result of an unprecedented wave of refinery closures as demand for fuel plummeted during the COVID-19 pandemic—but many refineries could come back online quickly with the right assistance.

Davids and her colleagues urged the President to take action in a new resolution, stating: “in order to ensure sufficient refining capacity to reduce fuel prices and prevent fuel shortages in the near term, the President should use authorities granted him by the Defense Production Act of 1950 to provide targeted technical and financial assistance to restart certain idled refineries for a limited time.” The resolution’s focus on a short-term increase in capacity is to address the current price spike facing consumers while also avoiding long-term impacts on the climate, noting that “restarting idled American oil refineries for a limited time could reduce gas prices and cool inflationary pressures without endangering our climate goals.”

The full text of the resolution is available here.

Davids has been focused on lowering costs for Kansans, including gas prices:

• Last week, she successfully pushed the IRS to increase a tax break for small business owners and self-employed folks who rely on a vehicle for their business. Watch on KMBC.
• She voted to crack down on price gouging by oil and gas companies, who have made record profits this year, despite rising gas prices.
• She introduced legislation to suspend the federal gas tax through the end of the year, saving Kansans 18 cents per gallon at a time when gas prices are reaching new highs. Watch her video on the bill, which includes guardrails to make sure savings are passed on to consumers.
• After voting for bipartisan sanctions against Russian oil, she called on President Biden to take immediate action to protect American consumers from uncertainty and rising prices, including by temporarily suspending the federal gas tax.
• Following Davids’ calls to take action on rising gas prices last fall, President Biden released 50 million barrels of oil from the Strategic Petroleum Reserve. He has now authorized the largest release in history: 1 million barrels a day for six months.
• Davids remains committed to long-term energy and inflation solutions, releasing an inflation action plan last week with the New Democrat Coalition that’s been called Congress’s “best inflation plan yet.”

Source: United States House of Representatives – Congresswoman Sharice Davids (KS-3)

Davids continues her work to lower costs for Kansans, even while working from home

Source: United States House of Representatives – Congresswoman Sharice Davids (KS-3)

Representative Sharice Davids released the following statement after the House Natural Resources Committee advanced her bipartisan bill, H.R. 5444 the Truth and Healing Commission on Indian Boarding School Policies Act, through markup:

“I would not be here today if not for the resilience of my ancestors and those who came before me—including my grandparents, who are survivors of federal Indian Boarding Schools. I am glad that my colleagues recognize the importance of investigating what happened to our relatives and working towards a brighter path for the next seven generations. I will continue working across the aisle to gather bipartisan support for this important legislation.”