MIL USHOR-2b Engine

Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Mark Pocan (2nd District of Wisconsin)

WASHINGTON D.C. – Today, U.S. Representatives Mark Pocan (WI-02) and Robin Kelly (IL-02), along with Senators Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY) and Jeff Merkley (D-OR), led a bicameral letter with 97 of their colleagues to President Trump urging him to maintain CDC’s Division of HIV Prevention. If the Division is shuttered, the United States can expect to see thousands of new cases of HIV, billions of dollars of government spending on lifetime HIV-related healthcare, and unnecessary deaths nationwide from this preventable condition. In his first Administration, President Trump declared an ambitious and commendable goal of ending the HIV epidemic in the United States, and over the last eight years, the US has reduced HIV incidence.

“On February 5, 2019, you declared a commendable and ambitious goal of ending the HIV epidemic (EHE) in the United States,” the Members wrote. “One of the pillars of your initiative, as shown on CDC’s website, is prevention. It is imperative that you uphold this commitment. As CDC has currently identified, we must prevent new HIV transmissions through proven interventions, including pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP), if we are to achieve a 90 percent reduction in new infections by 2030.”

“Prevention provides a large return on investment for the federal government – adjusted for inflation, a lifetime of medical costs for a person with HIV can be over $500,000,” the Members continued. “Losing the CDC’s Division of HIV Prevention would be an enormous loss to HIV providers.”

“As Members who serve the public, it is our duty to not only protect Americans from avoidable disease and early death, but to also avoid unnecessarily spending billions in taxpayer dollars down the line when HIV rates eventually skyrocket due to this potential action,” the Members concluded. “Just last week, Congress passed a Continuing Resolution, which continues funding levels from Fiscal Year 2024, that appropriated funding to CDC for carrying out HIV/AIDS programs. Accordingly, we expect CDC will continue to carry out those programs.”

A full copy of the letter can be found here.

The list of signers includes: Representatives Mark Pocan (WI-02), Robin Kelly (IL-02) and Senators Kirsten Gillibrand (NY), Jeff Merkley (OR)

Senators Tammy Baldwin (WI), Richard Blumenthal (CT), Cory Booker (NJ), Chris Coons (DE), Tammy Duckworth (IL), Dick Durbin (IL), Ben Ray Lujan (NM), Chuck Schumer (NY), Raphael Warnock (GA), Ron Wyden (OR)

Representatives Alma Adams (NC-12), Yassamin Ansari (AZ-03), Becca Balint (VT-At Large), Nanette Barragan (CA-44), Suzanne Bonamici (OR-01), Julia Brownley (CA-26), Salud Carbajal (CA-24), Troy Carter (LA-02), Sean Casten (IL-06), Sheila Cherfilus-McCormick (FL-20), Yvette Clarke (NY-09), Emanuel Cleaver (MO-05), Gerry Connolly (VA-11), Jim Costa (CA-21), Angie Craig (MN-02), Jasmine Crockett (TX-30), Jason Crow (CO-06), Danny Davis (IL-07), Madeleine Dean (PA-04), Diana DeGette (CO-01), Maxine Dexter (OR-03), Debbie Dingell (MI-06), Lloyd Doggett (TX-37), Adriano Espaillat (NY-13), Shomari Figures (AL-02), Lizzie Fletcher (TX-07), Bill Foster (IL-11), Lois Frankel (FL-22), Laura Friedman (CA-30), John Garamendi (CA-08), Jesus “Chuy” Garcia (IL-04), Robert Garcia (CA-42), Dan Goldman (NY-10), Jimmy Gomez (CA-34), Josh Gottheimer (NJ-05), Chrissy Houlahan (PA-06), Val Hoyle (OR-04), Pramila Jayapal (WA-07), Hank Johnson (GA-04), William Keating (MA-09), Ro Khanna (CA-17), Raja Krishnamoorthi (IL-08), Greg Landsman (OH-01), George Latimer (NY-16), Stephen Lynch (MA-08), Seth Magaziner (RI-02), Doris Matsui (CA-07), Jennifer McClellan (VA-04), Betty McCollum (MN-04), Jim McGovern (MA-02), LaMonica McIver (NJ-10), Grace Meng (NY-06), Gwen Moore (WI-04), Seth Moulton (MA-06), Kevin Mullin (CA-15), Jerrold Nadler (NY-10), Eleanor Holmes Norton (DC-At Large), Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (NY-14), Scott Peters (CA-50), Brittany Pettersen (CO-07), Mike Quigley (IL-05), Delia Ramirez (IL-03), Raul Ruiz (CA-25), Andrea Salinas (OR-06), Janice Schakowsky (IL-09), Brad Schneider (IL-10), Bobby Scott (VA-03), Terri Sewell (AL-07), Lateefah Simon (CA-12), Eric Sorensen (IL-17), Darren Soto (FL-09), Greg Stanton (AZ-04), Shri Thanedar (MI-13), Bennie Thompson (MS-02), Dina Titus (NV-01), Rashida Tlaib (MI-12), Jill Tokuda (HI-02), Paul Tonko (NY-20), Ritchie Torres (NY-15), Lauren Underwood (IL-14), Juan Vargas (CA-52), Gabe Vasquez (NM-02), Nydia Velazquez (NY-07), Debbie Wasserman Schultz (FL-25), Bonnie Watson Coleman (NJ-12), Nikema Williams (GA-05), Frederica Wilson (FL-24)

Endorsing organizations include: AIDS Institute, AIDS United, American Academy of HIV Medicine, amfAR, AVAC, Fast-Track Cities Institute, Heptatitis B Foundation, Hep B United, HIV+Hepatitis Policy Institute, HIV Medicine Association, Human Rights Campaign, International Association of Providers of AIDS Care, NASTAD, NMAC, Positive Women’s Network – USA, PrEP4All, SAGE, Treatment Action Group, Vivent Health, Equality California, Silver State Equality, AIDS Foundation Chicago

Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Mark Pocan (2nd District of Wisconsin)

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, U.S. Representative Mark Pocan (WI-02) released the following statement after he voted against the Partisan Republican government funding bill: 

“Today’s vote was not even Congress doing the bare minimum. The House Republican Caucus has ceded all of their constitutional authority to Donald Trump and his unelected billionaire side kick, Elon Musk. This bill gives Trump and Musk a blank check to continue gutting congressionally appropriated funds and dismantling essential government services – removing all guard rails on where American taxpayers’ money goes. This bill also underfunds veterans’ healthcare, cuts housing assistance, slashes medical research, and does nothing to lower the cost of living for Americans. I hope the Senate rejects this bill and forces Congressional Republicans to the negotiating table to pass appropriations bills that include congressional directives to ensure funds are spent as Congress intends.”

The Republican funding bill cuts critical programs, while increasing funds for the Department of Defense (DoD) and immigration enforcement.

• Veterans: Fails to provide nearly $23 billion in advance funding for the VA’s Toxic Exposures Fund created by the PACT Act. 
• Medical Research: Cuts over $1 billion from medical research, including NIH by $280 million and medical research funded by DoD by $860 million. This includes research for Alzheimer’s, autism, childhood cancer, breast cancer, Parkinson’s, and traumatic brain injury.
• Farmer Programs: Cuts $30 million from conservation programs that help farmers improve their operations and protect the local environment.
• Food Assistance: Underfunds the Emergency Food Assistance Program (TEFAP) by $20 million at a time of rising food costs, and would leave 25,000 seniors unable to participate in the Commodity Supplemental Food Program.
• Housing: Cuts rent subsidies for low-income and working Americans by more than $700 million, threatening evictions for 32,000 households

A fact sheet on how the Republican continuing resolution is hurting hardworking Americans is here.

A fact sheet detailing how this continuing resolution gives a blank check to Elon Musk and President Trump is here.

Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Mark Pocan (2nd District of Wisconsin)

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Yesterday, U.S. Representative Mark Pocan (WI-02) announced that he will host a town hall in Belmont, Wisconsin on Saturday, March 8, at 11:00 am. Today, he formally invited Congressman Derrick Van Orden (WI-03) who represents the district immediately to the west of Lafayette County. Pocan invited constituents from both his district and the 3rd to hear their concerns about what is happening in Washington. 

“I just wanted to invite Derrick Van Orden to participate in this town hall, given he only lives an hour away and it’s just on the border of his district. From what I understand, he may have never had an open public town hall. It might just be that he doesn’t know how to have one, so I thought it’d be the right thing to do and welcome him to participate in mine to see what one looks like given that many of his constituents may already be there.”

The town hall will be at: 

    Village of Belmont Community Building
    222 S Mound Ave 
    Belmont, WI 53510

Members of the media are also invited to attend. 

Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Mark Pocan (2nd District of Wisconsin)

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, U.S. Representative Mark Pocan (WI-02) announced that he will host a town hall in Belmont, Wisconsin on Saturday, March 8, at 11:00 am.  The town hall will be held less than 10 miles from the border of Wisconsin’s 3rd Congressional District. Pocan has invited constituents from both his district and the 3rd to hear from a Member of Congress. 

“With everything at stake in Washington, Members of Congress must hold town halls more than ever to hear from their constituents. I welcome the opportunity to hear from mine, even those who disagree with me. It’s important for elected officials to hear from everyone.” 

“Last week, the House Republican majority voted on a new budget that would enable one of the largest transfers of wealth from the middle class and those aspiring to be in the middle class to pay for a $4.5 trillion tax cut for the wealthiest Americans, like Elon Musk, Jeff Bezos, and Donald Trump.” 

“I’m hosting this town hall close to the 3rd district because as I understand it, the current Representative has not held an open town hall in more than two years. This legislation is too consequential to ignore one’s constituents, and I welcome 3rd Congressional District constituents to hear the truth about how this legislation will impact them.”

The town hall will be at: 

    Village of Belmont Community Building
    222 S Mound Ave 
    Belmont, WI 53510

Members of the media are also invited to attend. 

Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Mark Pocan (2nd District of Wisconsin)

Fisher, a farmer on Medicaid in Western Wisconsin, has seen more than $30k of Federal Grants Frozen from Trump’s & Musk’s DOGE Cuts

Source: United States House of Representatives – Representative Gerry Connolly (D-Va)

Today, Rep. Gerald E. Connolly, Ranking Member of the Committee on Oversight and Government Reform, Rep. Adam Smith, Ranking Member of the Committee on Armed Services, Rep. Gregory W. Meeks, Ranking Member of the Committee on Foreign Affairs, and Rep. Jim Himes, Ranking Member of the Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence sent a letter to President Trump’s National Security team demanding answers to questions stemming from a report in The Atlantic that asserts the team texted sensitive and potentially classified information, including plans for the United States’ military action against Houthi targets on March 15th two hours before the operation, over an unclassified messaging app.  

In the letter to Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth, Secretary of State Marco Rubio, Director of National Security Tulsi Gabbard, and National Security Advisor Mike Waltz, the Ranking Members wrote:  “We are deeply troubled by the report in The Atlantic that you and other Trump Administration officials conferred about highly sensitive national security matters, including ‘precise information about weapons packages, targets, and timing’ concerning pending military actions against the Houthis, via the open-source Signal messaging service. We are especially concerned that the reported deliberations may have constituted a security breach… . These actions could have compromised the operational security of, and by implication the safety of the service members involved in, the related military activities.” 

The Ranking Members called for answers to multiple questions, including whether the information from the March 15th action was disclosed as reported and, if so, by whom. The Members asked whether any information shared could have compromised the operational security or capabilities of the U.S. armed forces or those of a U.S. ally or partner. The Members further asked what measures have been taken to ensure any disclosures are preserved, in accordance with federal law, and what steps have been taken to ensure such a breach “will not occur again.” 

Click here to read the letter to Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth, Secretary of State Marco Rubio, Director of National Security Tulsi Gabbard, and National Security Advisor Mike Waltz.

Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Randy Weber (14th District of Texas)

Washington, D.C. – Today, U.S. Rep. Randy Weber (TX-14) and Sen. Ted Cruz (R-TX) introduced the Officer John Barnes Act, a critical piece of legislation aimed at ensuring timely support for our nation’s law enforcement officers and their families. Named in honor of Officer John Barnes, who demonstrated exceptional bravery during the Santa Fe, Texas shooting tragedy, this bill seeks to address the delays faced by officers and their families in receiving benefits from the Public Safety Officers’ Benefits (PSOB) Program.

The PSOB Program provides crucial support, including death and education benefits to survivors of fallen law enforcement officers, firefighters, and other first responders, as well as disability benefits to officers catastrophically injured in the line of duty. However, despite applying for these benefits, Officer Barnes and his family have experienced an excruciating wait for a determination from the Department of Justice (DOJ) since the 2018 shooting.

The Officer John Barnes Act seeks to address these issues head-on by requiring the DOJ to expedite the processing of claims and establish a clear timeline for benefit determination. By addressing the program’s inefficiencies, this legislation will help ensure that the families of our nation’s fallen and injured officers receive the timely support they deserve.

“In America, we back the blue—no ifs, ands, or buts. Our law enforcement officers risk their lives every single day to protect our communities, and when they are injured or fall in the line of duty, they and their families deserve answers, not years of bureaucratic nonsense,” said Rep. Weber. “It is downright disrespectful that officers like John Barnes waited for over seven years just to get a simple answer from the federal government. This isn’t just inefficiency; it’s a disgrace. The Officer John Barnes Act is about holding the system accountable and ensuring our law enforcement heroes get the timely support they’ve earned without being buried under mountains of red tape.”

“Across the country, our nation’s law enforcement officers selflessly serve as the front line of defense for our communities. Every single day, they put their lives on the line for their fellow Americans, and in times of crisis these heroes deserve to access the benefits they have earned without red tape getting in the way,” said Sen. Cruz. “We owe it to our law enforcement officers, like Officers Barnes who has waited for far too long, to eliminate these bureaucratic barriers hindering their access to benefits. I am proud to reintroduce the Officer John Barnes Act to ensure our men and women in blue receive the prompt support they deserve.”

Under the provisions of the Officer John Barnes Act, the DOJ would be mandated to issue a determination on benefit claims within 270 days of receipt, providing much-needed clarity and support to officers and their families during times of crisis.

Read the bill here.

The legislation is cosponsored by U.S. Representatives: Brian Babin (TX-36), Dan Crenshaw (TX-2), Troy Nehls (TX-22), and Brandon Gill (TX-26)

Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Randy Weber (14th District of Texas)

Washington, D.C. – Today, U.S. Rep. Randy Weber (TX-14) announced that he will continue to serve on the House Energy and Commerce (E&C)  and the Science, Space, and Technology (SST) Committees. Additionally, he has been named Chairman of the SST Energy Subcommittee and the Vice Chairman of the E&C Energy Subcommittee, where the committee focuses on advancing policies to secure America’s energy future and foster innovation. Rep. Weber was also named the Vice Chair of the House Energy Action Team (HEAT) under the Republican Study Committee, where he’ll champion energy policies that empower domestic producers, leverage an all-of-the-above energy strategy, and restore America’s energy dominance on the global stage.

“It’s an honor to continue to serve as a member on the influential Energy and Commerce Committee and to support the growth of our space exploration and energy distribution efforts—both are critical to the future of Southeast Texas,” said Rep. Weber. “My Gulf Coast district is an energy powerhouse with seven ports, seven of America’s largest petroleum refineries, three LNG plants, and 60% of the nation’s Strategic Petroleum Reserve. Texas’ 14th Congressional District will provide a crucial voice as I take on these roles. Our mission is clear: to reverse the damaging policies left behind by the Biden administration and rebuild what has been broken for Southeast Texas and our nation.”

“I am excited to name Congressman Randy Weber as the Vice Chairman of the House Committee on Energy and Commerce Subcommittee on Energy. Congressman Weber is a friend, a trusted colleague, and a strong conservative who is dedicated to serving our nation and protecting our values,” said Energy and Commerce Chairman Brett Guthrie (KY-2). “As Vice Chairman, Congressman Weber will help to strengthen our domestic energy production while addressing the high costs of gas and electricity that have impacted families over the past four years. I look forward to working together on behalf of the American people.”

“I am thrilled to have fellow Texan Rep. Randy Weber as the Vice-Chair of the House Energy Action Team,” said RSC Chairman August Pfluger (TX-11), who led the Task Force in the 118th Congress. “Randy’s proven track record of fighting for American energy dominance makes him an invaluable addition to the HEAT team. I look forward to working with him in the 119th Congress.”  

“Congressman Weber’s energy expertise and values could not be more critical to the success of the SST Committee,” said Chairman Brian Babin (TX-36). “He’s a great friend, fellow Southeast Texan, and staunch ally in the fight to ensure America leads from the front. I’m looking forward to working alongside him this Congress.”

Rep. Weber will serve on the following subcommittees:

• Chairman of the Energy Subcommittee on the Science, Space, and Technology Committee
• Vice Chair of the Energy Subcommittee on the Energy and Commerce Committee
• Environment on the Energy and Commerce Committee
• Oversight & Investigations on the Energy and Commerce Committee

Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Randy Weber (14th District of Texas)

Washington, D.C. – Today, U.S. Reps. Randy Weber (TX-14) and August Pfluger (TX-11) introduced the Securing Every Vector, Enhancing Networks (SEVEN) Act, a bill designed to strengthen America’s defenses against cyber threats targeting the Signaling System 7 (SS7) telecommunications protocol. The legislation aims to address these vulnerabilities by coordinating efforts across the government and creating a task force of cybersecurity experts to develop solutions.

“For far too long, foreign adversaries have exploited critical weaknesses in the SS7 telecommunication protocol to track, spy on, and steal from Americans,” said Rep. Weber. “This cannot stand. The SEVEN Act delivers a decisive path forward to shut these vulnerabilities down and ensure our communications systems are secure—all without disrupting our networks. This is about protecting our citizens and safeguarding our national security, and we must act now.”

“Our adversaries around the globe are exploiting vulnerabilities in the digital backbone of our telecommunications infrastructure to spy on everyday Americans,” said Rep. Pfluger. “The SEVEN Act will ensure the safety of U.S. networks by establishing a dedicated task force to address this issue head-on. We must act swiftly to protect our national security.”

Read the bill here. 

Background: 

SS7 is a global telecommunication protocol that facilitates call routing, billing, and messaging. It is a crucial backbone of modern communication systems but has significant vulnerabilities. Hackers with access to a SS7-specific license (known as a “Global Title”) can exploit SS7 to intercept calls, read messages, and track locations. In June, Reps. Weber and Pfluger sent a letter to the Federal Communications Commission and the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA).  This letter was prompted by a CISA employee’s claim that unauthorized attempts to access user location data through SS7 and related protocols have occurred in the U.S. By addressing these vulnerabilities, the SEVEN Act seeks to protect Americans’ communications and bolster national security.

Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Randy Weber (14th District of Texas)

Washington, D.C. – Today, the U.S. House of Representatives passed the Water Resources Development Act (WRDA) of 2024, a bipartisan measure to improve the nation’s water infrastructure. This legislation includes critical projects advocated by U.S. Rep. Randy Weber to bolster ports, improve waterways, and drive economic growth in Texas’ 14th District. The 2024 WRDA features high-priority authorizations for TX-14 that will enhance the region’s infrastructure, promote economic development, and improve the safety and functionality of vital waterways.

Projects included in WRDA 2024 for Southeast Texas:

Galveston Harbor Channel Extension – This project authorizes modifications to the Galveston Harbor Channel, including further deepening and extending the Federal channel and Turning Basin 2. These upgrades will enable fully loaded vessels to safely navigate to Texas International Terminals, while the expanded Turning Basin will accommodate the new Oasis Class cruise ships at the Royal Caribbean terminal. The new terminal is expected to generate 800 jobs and $1.4 billion in local economic activity annually.

Sabine-Neches Waterway Widening Feasibility Study– Authorization was secured for the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) to expedite the review and coordination of the feasibility study for widening the Sabine-Neches Waterway. This critical navigation improvement project will address constraints impacting the safety and efficiency of maritime traffic in one of the nation’s busiest waterways.

Galveston Bay Ship Channel Feasibility Study – A feasibility study was authorized to evaluate improvements to ship channels and barge lanes in the Galveston Bay area, including the Galveston Bay entrance, Houston, Galveston Harbor, and Texas City ship channels. These enhancements are vital to maintaining the region’s role as a cornerstone of America’s energy security, supply chain, and economic development.

Cedar Port Deep-Water Navigation Study – The legislation authorizes USACE to expedite a feasibility study for developing a new deep-water federal navigation channel between the Houston Ship Channel and the Cedar Port terminal facilities. This project aims to reduce vessel congestion and increase operational capacity to support growing container volumes, benefiting industries throughout the Gulf Coast.

“Southeast Texas is home to seven ports—more than any other district in the nation—and vital waterways that power both our local and national economies,” said Rep. Weber. “Our region plays a critical role on the global stage, and these investments are key to sustaining its leadership in energy, commerce, and job creation while improving the safety and efficiency of our waterways. I was proud to advocate for these projects in WRDA and will continue working to ensure they become a reality.”