MIL USHOR-2b Engine

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

Pappas has led the fight in Congress to permanently schedule all fentanyl-related substances as Schedule I drugs, securing several extensions of the temporary scheduling measure until permanent measures could be passed.

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

Today Congressman Chris Pappas, a small business owner, and Congresswoman Kelly Morrison, a member of the House Small Business Committee, introduced the Small Business Liberation Act in the House. This legislation, which was introduced in the Senate last month, would exempt the more than 34 million U.S. small businesses from President Trump’s catastrophically high tariffs enacted on April 2, 2025, which are effectively a national sales tax. Highlighting the urgent need for this legislation, Pappas and Morrison held a press conference with small businesses from across the country, including Mark Carpenter, founder of New Hampshire small business GenTent.

Small businesses across the country have been raising the alarm that the Trump administration’s chaotic, costly, and unpredictable tariff war will put them out of business in a matter of weeks or months if nothing is done. New Hampshire exports accounted for 7% of the state’s gross domestic product in 2023, the highest percentage of exports of any New England state, meaning that New Hampshire businesses are more vulnerable to retaliatory tariffs. 

Earlier this week Congressman Pappas met with GenTent owner Mark Carpenter at his small business of just 12 employees to hear about the impact of tariffs on his business. It’s estimated that because of tariffs the cost of a new part his business is producing will go up by 30%, costing the company another $100,000 just in tariffs.

“This administration’s reckless tariffs are effectively a national sales tax on businesses and families. I’ve heard directly from New Hampshire businesses about how deeply these tariffs will hurt their bottom lines. That’s why I’m pushing legislation that would rein in the President’s indiscriminate, wide-sweeping tariffs announced earlier this year,” said Congressman Chris Pappas. “The Small Business Liberation Act would exempt all small businesses from the tariffs announced by the Trump administration on Liberation Day. While the President and Republicans in Congress are turning their back on working families, I remain committed to continuing to fight to lower costs, support small businesses, and strengthen our economy.”

“Small businesses across the country have made clear: Trump’s tariffs are posing an existential threat to their business,” said Congresswoman Kelly Morrison. “Today, we’re introducing legislation to give them the immediate relief they need to survive. Article 1 of the Constitution gives Congress the authority to levy tariffs – and it’s time Congress reclaims its power and does its job. This bill has now been introduced in the House and the Senate – and we need the Republican majority to stand up for America’s 34 million small businesses and bring this to a vote immediately. Our small business owners don’t have the luxury of time – we need to act now.”

This legislation is endorsed by Small Business Majority and Main Street Alliance.

“Small Business Majority’s research found that 53% of small businesses are concerned about tariffs negatively impacting their business and 77% are concerned about having a negative impact on the U.S. economy as a whole. Small Business Majority’s research found that 53% of small businesses are concerned about tariffs negatively impacting their business and 77% are concerned about having a negative impact on the U.S. economy as a whole,” said John Arensmeyer, Founder and CEO of Small Business Majority. “These concerns aren’t theoretical – millions of small firms are struggling right now with increased costs, finding new sources of supplies and navigating the uncertainty of tariffs that are on one day and put on hold the next. Small businesses have nowhere else to turn for help but Congress, and they need lawmakers to step in and stop this paralyzing and destructive cycle before irreparable harm is done to our nation’s job creators.”

“Main Street Alliance members from across the US have been contacting our team about the real impact of tariffs on their businesses. 81.5% of respondents to our recent survey indicated that they will raise prices on consumers to offset the costs from tariffs. 31.5% of respondents indicated that they would lay off employees as a result of the tariffs. The continued unpredictability, self-dealing, and conflicting rationale for the trade war will hollow out Main Street and large Corporations will pick up the scraps. That’s why MSA strongly supports the Small Business Liberation Act. Let’s get it done,” said Richard Trent, Main Street Alliance Executive Director.

Watch the press conference here. 

Read the full text of the bill here.

Background:  

Pappas has loudly and strongly opposed President Trump’s sweeping tariffs on New Hampshire’s #1 trading partner, Canada, and U.S. allies. In April, Pappas joined colleagues to highlight the negative impact President Trump’s widespread tariffs will have on New Hampshire’s small business community and how they will raise costs for Granite Staters, calling on the administration to reverse course. Pappas has signed two discharge petitions to force a vote on legislation to overturn the Administration’s harmful tariffs on Mexico and Canada, the U.S.’s two biggest trading partners. He is also a cosponsor of the Prevent Tariffs Abuse Act, which amends the International Emergency Economic Powers Act to explicitly state that the authority granted to the President under the Act does not include the authority to impose duties, tariffs, or quotas on imports to the US.

Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Jason Crow (CO-06)

WASHINGTON — Congressman Jason Crow (D-CO-06) led his congressional colleagues in sending a letter to the Trump administration to recognize the 250th anniversary of the U.S. Army and raise serious questions about how much the President’s upcoming military parade will cost and impact readiness. The letter was signed by Crow, Rep. Seth Moulton (D-MA-06), and 18 other members.

“We fully support commemorating the Army’s founding. However, the size, scope, and execution of the upcoming 250th Birthday Parade in Washington, D.C., raise serious concerns, at a time when the Army faces severe budget constraints, and the Trump administration is supposedly focused on reducing unnecessary government spending,” the letter reads.

“Our nation owes a debt of gratitude to our troops who put on the uniform. The Army’s 250th birthday is an important milestone worthy of recognition, but President Trump is doing it wrong. We should not be pulling thousands of troops away from their training and their families so the President can boost his ego. Spending tens of millions of taxpayer dollars on Donald Trump’s vanity parade, at the same time this administration is firing veterans and cutting the VA, is wrong,” said Congressman Crow. 

Estimates say this parade will cost upwards of $45 million, and could require millions to repair the streets. Over 6,600 soldiers will be brought in from around the country to participate in this weekend’s event. Additionally, hundreds of ground equipment and aircraft will be moved from strategic positions around the country to D.C. for this event, potentially impacting military readiness. The president has long desired a personal military parade, and will come at the taxpayer expense while this administration claims it is prioritizing rooting out waste, fraud, and abuse.

A PDF of the letter can be found here, with full text appearing below: 

June 11, 2025

Dear Secretary Driscoll, 

We are excited to celebrate the upcoming 250th anniversary of the United States Army. Since its founding on June 14, 1775, the Army has served as a bedrock of American strength—defending liberty and responding to crises around the world. As Members of Congress, we join the nation in honoring this extraordinary legacy and the soldiers who uphold it. 

We fully support commemorating the Army’s founding. However, the size, scope, and execution of the upcoming 250th Birthday Parade in Washington, D.C., raise serious concerns, at a time when the Army faces severe budget constraints, and the Trump administration is supposedly focused on reducing unnecessary government spending. Given President Trump’s longstanding personal desire for a military parade, we have important questions about the pressure that may have been put on the Army to plan a far more militaristic parade with greater cost and operational impact than the Army would have independently chosen. 

We also have important questions regarding the cost, funding, operational justification, and the treatment of participating troops. Cutting costs at the margin by not serving soldiers hot meals, while sending dozens of unnecessary armored vehicles, does not prioritize the troops and is irresponsible stewardship of taxpayer dollars. A celebration of this magnitude must reflect our principles: respect for service, fiscal responsibility, and a clear-eyed view of readiness. 

To that end, we request your response to the following: 

Funding Sources  

• What is the total estimated cost of the parade?  
• What is the estimated cost for each unit participating? Please provide sources of funding for personnel transportation, lodging, meals, equipment transport, and other associated costs for each participating unit. 

Troop Accommodation  

• Why are soldiers being housed on cots in federal office buildings instead of standard military or contracted lodging? How much money does this save compared to housing them in hotels?
• Why are soldiers being provided MREs for breakfast and lunch, with only one hot dinner meal each day?  
• How much money is the Army saving by only having one hot meal per day as opposed to three? 

Readiness Impact  

• Are any of the participating units currently preparing for, or recently returned from, an operational deployment?  
• What measures are being taken to ensure that participation in this event does not disrupt training schedules, pre-deployment certification, or force availability? 

Use of Heavy Equipment  

• Who requested or ordered the inclusion of tanks and other heavy armored vehicles in the parade? When was this request made, and what were the details of the request?  
• What operational or ceremonial purpose does the participation of 24 of the same vehicle serve, as opposed to including just two or four of each vehicle type?  
• How much of the total cost of the parade is due to the requirements associated with including these armored vehicles? 

Infrastructure and Mitigation  

• What steps are being taken to predict and prevent potential damage to roads and other infrastructure in Washington, D.C.?  
• Has the Army assessed the cost of any potential damage, and who will bear those costs?  
• Will the Army conduct the repairs? If yes, how quickly do you expect to be able to do so? 

White House Involvement  

• Has the White House played any role in the planning or direction of this event? If so, please provide a detailed description of the extent and nature of that involvement. 

This anniversary should unite the country around the shared sacrifice and service of our military—not distract from the Army’s core mission or become a partisan spectacle. We ask that your office provide answers to the above questions and share any relevant planning materials, budget justifications, and interagency communications by June 26th, 2025. 

Thank you for your leadership, and for your continued commitment to the men and women of the United States Army. 

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Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Joe Neguse (D-Co 2)

Washington, D.C. — Congressman Joe Neguse and Senator Michael Bennet issued the following statement after the U.S. Senate Committee on Energy and Natural Resources issued newly released budget reconciliation text. The bill now seeks to sell off between 2 and 3 million acres of land under the jurisdiction of the Bureau of Land Management and the Forest Service—greenlighting the sale of public lands in Colorado, Alaska, Arizona, California, Idaho, Nevada, New Mexico, Oregon, Utah, Washington, and Wyoming.

“Colorado, like so many Western states, is proud to be home to millions of acres of treasured public lands—places people from across the country and around the world flock to for outdoor recreation and to experience the natural beauty of the outdoors. Auctioning off these lands to pay for President Trump’s radical agenda, including the prioritization of tax cuts for billionaires and big corporations, is an affront to our core values. We must continue to stand in firm opposition to any provisions that would put a for sale sign on our nation’s treasured public lands.” 

Neguse and Bennet have long partnered on efforts to protect Colorado’s public lands, including through their championing of the CORE Act–a bill that would codify protections for 420,000 acres of the state’s public land, establish new wilderness areas, and safeguard existing outdoor recreation opportunities to boost the economy for future generations.

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Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Joe Neguse (D-Co 2)

Washington, D.C. — Congressman Neguse issued the following statement regarding developments in the Middle East: 

“I continue to closely monitor the situation and developments in the Middle East, and join fellow Americans in praying for the people of Israel. Earlier this week, the United Nations’ nuclear watchdog — the International Atomic Energy Agency — declared Iran in breach of its non-proliferation obligations. A nuclear Iran would pose an undeniable threat to Israel, the United States and our allies, and Israel, like all nations, has the undeniable right to defend itself against any imminent threat. I urge the President and his administration to ensure that U.S. civilians, personnel and forces stationed across the region are protected, and will continue to support efforts to bring stability and peace to the region.”

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Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Joe Neguse (D-Co 2)

Washington, D.C. — As the once-so-called “fire season” stretches into a yearlong struggle for communities across the nation, Colorado Congressman Joe Neguse is launching a new effort to improve wildfire prevention, mitigation, and management. He is introducing a package of policy proposals initially derived from a 2024 report issued by the USDA’s Wildland Fire Mitigation and Management Commission, which was created as part of the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law and tasked with outlining a holistic approach to addressing the rising threat of wildfires.

Neguse, who co-chairs the Bipartisan Wildfire Caucus, has teamed up with a bipartisan, bicameral group of federal representatives to reintroduce the Cross-Boundary Wildfire Solutions Act, the Wildfire Coordination Act, and the Wildfire Risk Evaluation Act. All three bills are championed by Arizona Senator Ruben Gallego in the United States Senate and co-led by Congressman Josh Harder (CA-10) in the House of Representatives. In addition, the Cross-Boundary Wildfire Solutions Act is co-led by Congresswoman Young Kim (CA-39) and cosponsored by Congressman Jay Obernolte (CA-23). 

“During my time in Congress, Colorado has experienced four of the five largest wildfires in our state’s history—meaning that my communities, along with the state and local agencies on the frontlines, have seen firsthand the increasing strain as these fires grow more frequent and severe. I’m proud to introduce legislation, rooted in the nonpartisan work of the Wildland Fire Mitigation and Management Commission, that invests in wildfire science and strengthens the long-term resilience of our communities to reduce the threat of future disasters,” said Congressman Neguse. 

“As Arizona’s wildfire seasons get longer and wildfire landscapes evolve, it is vital we have the research and coordination tools to ensure effective mitigation and management,” said Senator Gallego. “These bills will improve the working relationship between federal agencies and with their state, local, and tribal counterparts. Wildfires don’t care about jurisdictional boundaries, and these bills reflect that.”

“We’re in the middle of a yearslong megafire crisis and we can’t afford any more delays in tackling this threat,” said Congressman Harder. “Wildfires don’t care about your political party when they’re burning your house down, and neither should our solutions. America’s top firefighters and wildfire experts came together to tell us what they need to tackle the wildfire crisis, and this bipartisan package of bills is in direct response to their ideas. Our families and our communities are counting on us to get this done. 

“Last fall, my district witnessed the devastating Airport Fire, which started in Trabuco Canyon and burned through 23,000 acres in Orange and Riverside counties. As wildfires grow in frequency and intensity, our mitigation tools must keep pace,” said Congresswoman Kim. “Effective wildfire prevention requires seamless coordination, which is why we must ensure federal, state, and local first responders can share information as effectively as possible. This bipartisan bill will help identify barriers and unlock opportunities to ensure communities like mine can better prevent and respond to these disasters.”

Details on the bills are included below:

The Cross-Boundary Wildfire Solutions Act provides recommendations for improving the effectiveness and efficiency of wildfire mitigation across land ownership boundaries by identifying gaps and opportunities in current federal rules and regulations and supporting increased collaboration.

The Wildfire Coordination Act establishes an advisory board composed of members from various federal, State, local, Tribal, and non-federal partners that will be responsible for coordinating federal wildfire research, translating it into practical applications, and developing future research.

The Wildfire Risk Evaluation Act requires a comprehensive review of the wildfire landscape in the United States every four years, outlining the changes in environments, assessing wildfire management challenges, and evaluating the intersection of wildfires and public health. This federal review will help inform the development of long-term strategies to enhance wildfire preparedness and response and strengthen interagency coordination. 

This effort is supported by 20 local and national entities and organizations, including Grand Fire Protection District No. 1, Summit County, Summit Fire and EMS Fire Protection District, Red, White, and Blue Fire Protection District, Summit County Wildfire Council, Grand County Wildfire Council, Routt County Wildfire Council, Eagle County Wildfire Collaborative, Denver Water, Grassroots Wildland Firefighters, National Federation of Federal Employees, Alliance for Wildfire Resilience, American Property Casualty Insurance Association, Federation of American Scientists, International Association of Fire Chiefs, Megafire Action, National Association of State Foresters, Rural Voices for Conservation Coalition, and Tall Timbers. The Cross-Boundary Wildfire Solutions Act and the Wildfire Risk Evaluation Act are endorsed by The Nature Conservancy.  

Quotes from endorsers can be found HERE. 

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Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Joe Neguse (D-Co 2)

Washington, D.C. — Colorado Congressman Joe Neguse issued the following statement in response to the federalization and deployment of National Guard troops to Los Angeles County: 

“The federalization and deployment of the National Guard — and the deployment of marines — in Los Angeles County, over the objections of the Governor of California and local officials, is deeply reckless and misguided. As the Governor has made clear, the President’s actions are a brazen abuse of power and clearly run the dangerous risk of escalating and inflaming the situation, not resolving it. All violence and lawlessness must be condemned, and those engaged in criminal activity must be held accountable. The President must reverse course — immediately — to prevent further inflammation and erosion in public trust, and his Republican supporters in Congress must join us in rejecting the Administration’s repeated instances of executive overreach and cruel immigration policies, separating families and targeting Dreamers.”

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Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Robert Aderholt (AL-04)

Washington, D.C. – Congressman Robert Aderholt (AL-04) today announced that the U.S. Department of Transportation, through the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), has awarded a grant of $468,426 to the City of Oneonta and Blount County to support critical infrastructure improvements at Robbins Field (FAA identifier: 20A).

The funding, allocated under the Fiscal Year 2025 Airport Improvement Program (AIP), will be used to construct a new 500-foot taxi lane at Robbins Field. This development will provide improved airfield access to a non-exclusive T-hangar area, enabling the airport to meet current federal standards and expand its capacity for general aviation services.

“Robbins Field plays an important role in the economic vitality of Oneonta, Blount County, and the greater region,” said Congressman Aderholt. “This investment in aviation infrastructure will improve safety, support local operations, and ensure the airport remains a vital asset for the community.”

The project will help enhance the operational efficiency of the airport and support future growth by creating the infrastructure necessary for additional hangar space. It reflects ongoing federal, state, and local collaboration to ensure rural and regional airports continue to serve as important transportation and economic hubs.

The grant was issued through the FAA’s FY 2025 Airport Improvement Program, which provides funding for the planning and development of public-use airports that are part of the National Plan of Integrated Airport Systems (NPIAS).

Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Bruce Westerman (AR-04)

Whether you’re camping or floating along the Buffalo National River, fishing for bass on Lake Ouachita, or hiking rugged trails for scenic views at Hawksbill Crag, the state of Arkansas, and the Fourth District, is a haven for all who enjoy spending their free time outdoors. The Natural State boasts some of the most unique, historic, and scenic outdoor opportunities in the country. As an avid outdoorsman, it is a great honor to represent a portion of this state in Congress and advocate for commonsense, conservative legislation that promotes our state’s natural beauty – conserving it for generations to come.

This week solemnly marks the fifteenth anniversary of the catastrophic flood which struck the Albert Pike campgrounds on the Little Missouri River in remote Montgomery County, Arkansas on June 11, 2010. Twenty people lost their lives in this tragedy – children, parents, grandparents, siblings, and friends, all looking to enjoy some time away in the outdoors. Each of these individuals who lost their lives in this tragic flooding incident are still remembered today, and they will certainly never be forgotten.

Many native Arkansans will tell you that an honored pastime is enjoying the overnight campgrounds at the Albert Pike Recreation Area. Social media pages were even created to memorialize the joy camping at these sites have brought to generations of Arkansans as well as citizens from other states enjoying our beautiful Arkansas federal lands – encouraging members to post about stories or pictures from memorable experiences. This community of support is why, when the U.S. Forest Service suspended overnight camping following the flooding, limiting the use of the recreation area to daytime use, many Arkansans expressed their dismay at the news that their overnight camping experiences would be put on hold.

Following the closures, scores of tourists and locals urged legislators at the local, state, and federal levels to reopen the campgrounds. It became clear that federal action was needed to restore access and provide opportunities for locals and tourists to enjoy this beloved area once again. That’s why it was an honor to introduce the EXPLORE Act, a bipartisan piece of legislation aiming to improve outdoor recreation opportunities and access to public lands across the country – including the Albert Pike Recreation Area. 

Within the EXPLORE Act, there were several measures directly impacting the Albert Pike Recreation Area such as safely reopening any existing campsites located outside of the 100-year flood plain, which is the land area with a 1% chance of flooding annually. In addition to these openings, the bill instructs the finding of fifty-four areas that could be suitable for overnight camping and establishing at least twenty-seven brand new overnight camping locations outside of the designated 100-year flood plain, with access to electricity and water, all to ensure the rehabilitation necessary to make publicly accessible areas available year-round.

As we head into the summer months, there is no doubt Arkansans will be taking advantage of the Natural State’s abundant outdoor recreation opportunities. Serving friends and family across the Fourth District is the honor of a lifetime, and I will undoubtedly continue to work to expand access to outdoor recreation from hiking and biking trails, to camping, and boating – connecting Arkansans deeper to the land they love so dearly.

Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Tom McClintock Representing the 4th District of California

WASHINGTON – Rep. Tom McClintock (R-CA) introduced the Open America’s Waters Act today to deregulate America’s coastal trade and alleviate the energy crisis by repealing the outdated Jones Act.  U.S. Senator Mike Lee (R-UT) introduced a companion bill in the U.S. Senate.

“The Jones Act is outdated in a global economy.  It enriches a very small special interest at the expense of every consumer in America,” said Rep. McClintock. “Repealing this restrictive and counterproductive law is vital for the new golden age that President Trump has envisioned.” 

“Outdated regulations from the Jones Act have deepened the energy crisis and heightened prices for Americans on goods from our own country,” said Senator Mike Lee. “American producers have been forced into dangerous workarounds like importing their energy resources from Russia. The Open America’s Waters Act will cut this 105-year-old red tape to alleviate the energy crisis, bring prices down for Americans, and protect our national security from adversarial nations.”

Background:

The Open America’s Waters Act would repeal the Jones Act, an outdated and particularly demanding regulation on America’s coastal trade. The Jones Act requires all goods transported by water between U.S. ports to be carried on a vessel that was constructed and registered in the U.S., and is both owned and primarily crewed by U.S. citizens. 

While these requirements were originally touted in 1920 as necessary for America’s national security, they have actually endangered it by severely limiting access to critical energy sources and incentivizing American companies to contract with adversarial nations in their efforts to comply with its stipulations. Additionally, the elevated costs associated with compliance result in higher prices for Americans on goods produced in their own country.

Attempts to comply with the Jones Act have forced American producers to choose expensive and even politically risky transportation options. For example, cattle ranchers in Hawaii have opted for expensive planes rather than boats to transport cattle to the mainland. Puerto Rico imports jet fuel from Venezuela – benefitting the human rights-violating Maduro regime – rather than nearby Gulf Coast refineries. And because there are no compliant specialty carriers capable of transporting LNG or propane gas, Massachusetts and Puerto Rico have had to import LNG from adversarial Russia.

The Open America’s Waters Act would repeal the outdated Jones Act regulations to cut red tape for American producers, improve national security by disincentivizing contracts with adversarial nations, and bring down prices for American consumers.

The Open America’s Waters Act would:

•    Repeal the 105-year-old Jones Act regulations requiring all goods transported by water between U.S. ports to be carried on a vessel: (1) Constructed in the U.S., (2) Registered in the U.S., (3) Owned by U.S. Citizens, and (4) Primarily crewed by U.S. citizens.

The House legislation is H.R. 3940.

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