MIL USHOR-2b Engine

Source: United States House of Representatives – Congresswoman Pramila Jayapal (7th District of Washington)

Source: United States House of Representatives – Congresswoman Pramila Jayapal (7th District of Washington)

WASHINGTON, D.C. — U.S. Representative Pramila Jayapal (WA-07), Ranking Member of the Subcommittee on Immigration, Integrity, Security, and Enforcement, released the following statement regarding the 2nd Circuit Court of Appeals’ 3-0 ruling that found the Trump Administration’s policy of detaining immigrants without bond to be illegal. 

“Trump has been detaining immigrants at an extremely high rate. While the daily numbers have fluctuated, in January 2026, the number of people in detention on a single day hit 70,000 for the first time. The number of deaths in detention has soared as a result of the inhumane conditions, with an unprecedented 47 deaths occurring in ICE custody since Trump came into office in January 2025. There have also been numerous reports of moldy food, inadequate amounts of water, medical neglect, and people packed in so tightly they can’t even lie down to sleep.  

“Today’s ruling by a three-judge panel, including one judge appointed by Trump, unanimously finds that this administration cannot hold immigrants indefinitely without a bond hearing, stating, ‘The government’s interpretation … would send a seismic shock through our immigration detention system and society, straining our already overcrowded detention infrastructure, incarcerating millions, separating families, and disrupting communities.’ 

“In implementing this mass detention policy across the country, the Administration has completely disregarded the Due Process clause of the U.S. Constitution, as well as decades of precedent regarding immigration enforcement. 

“Thus far, 420 District Court Judges have rejected the Trump Administration’s cruel detention policy with only 47 ruling in favor. While this case is likely to head to the Supreme Court, this unanimous Appeals Court ruling is an important marker in the journey for justice and the protection of due process for all individuals.” 

Jayapal led 62 Members of Congress earlier this year in calling out policy changes around bond hearings and demanding a change. She also leads the Dignity for Detained Immigrants Act, which aims to end mandatory detention and phase out the use of private, for-profit detention centers.

Issues: Immigration

Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman French Hill (AR-02)

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, Rep. French Hill (AR-02) voted to pass H.R. 7567, the Farm, Food, and National Security Act of 2026. The bill passed the House by a vote of 224-200 and includes Rep. Hill’s and Rep. Rick Crawford’s (AR-01) Farmer Assistance, Resilience, and Mental Health Evaluation Research Study (FARMERS) amendment, directing the United States Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Farm and Ranch Stress Assistance Network to study the availability and use of mental health services among farmers, ranchers, and agricultural professionals and report its findings to Congress.

Rep. Hill said, “Farmers and ranchers have faced several brutal years in a row. Rising input costs, stagnant or falling commodity prices, historic floods, and now drought have tested the resilience of family operations across Arkansas and the country. Congressional Republicans passed the Working Families Tax Cuts Act, and the Trump administration has stepped up with direct relief. The Farm, Food, and National Security Act of 2026 builds on that work to make sure our agriculture workers and farm families have the support they need.

“I am also proud that my amendment in support of farm families was included in this farm bill. Too many farmers and ranchers are struggling in silence, and we don’t have a clear picture of whether the mental health resources we have are actually getting to the people who need them. This amendment aims to change that. It gives us the data and recommendations needed to build smarter solutions and make sure no farmer or rancher has to face the hard times alone.”

Background

The Farm, Food, and National Security Act of 2026 supports producers, protects crop insurance, and provides the certainty farmers need to plan for the future. Key provisions include:

• Increases funding for the Market Access Program
• Strengthens broadband for rural communities
• Updates USDA loan limits for guaranteed and ownership loans, direct operating loans, and microloans
• Supports funding for Ag research and education initiatives

Rep. Hill’s FARMERS amendment helps address the mental health and suicide crisis that is impacting farmers and ranchers across rural America. Almost everyone living in rural America and our farming communities knows someone impacted by this public health crisis.

The amendment gives Congress the data we need to build smarter, more targeted solutions. It directs the USDA Farm and Ranch Stress Assistance Network, in coordination with its Regional Lead Institutions, to submit a report to Congress within one year of enactment, assessing:

• The prevalence of mental health conditions, including depression, anxiety, trauma-related disorders, and suicidal ideation, among farmers, ranchers, and agricultural professionals.
• The availability of care through traditional settings like counseling, psychotherapy, and support groups as well as innovative tele-mental health services in rural areas.
• Recommendations to improve access, reduce barriers, and strengthen the effectiveness of mental health care delivery for the agricultural community.

The USDA is explicitly allowed to work with the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS), the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, states, and NIFA Land-Grant University Extension Services.

Beyond the Farm Bill: How Republicans Have Delivered for Farmers Since the Start of the 119th Congress:

Working Families Tax Cuts

• Invested over $59 billion over the next decade in the farm safety net, including major updates to Agriculture Risk Coverage and Price Loss Coverage programs to address persistent inflation and rising production costs.
• Expanded benefits for beginning farmers and ranchers and made crop insurance more affordable.
• Increases reference prices by 10-20% for commodities to address persistent inflation and rising production costs.
• Raised the estate tax exemption to $15 million per individual ($30 million for married couples) to protect illiquid family farms.
• Made the qualified business income deduction permanent.

Trump Administration Actions to Help Farmers and Ranchers

• Provided over $12 billion through the Farmer Bridge Assistance Program, more than $16 billion in supplemental disaster relief, and over $700 million in Emergency Livestock Relief for ranchers.
• Signed an Executive Order targeting price fixing, anti-competitive behavior, and foreign influence in the seed, fertilizer, and farm equipment markets.
• Opened new markets abroad, including $1 billion in corn purchases from South Korea, $172 million in soybeans from Bangladesh, and agreements with Japan and China to purchase Arkansas crops like rice and soybeans.

Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Andy Harris (MD-01)

WASHINGTON, D.C. — Today, Congressman Andy Harris, M.D. (MD-01) announced new recreational fishing management measures issued by NOAA Fisheries for summer flounder, scup, and black sea bass for the 2026 and 2027 fishing seasons.

NOAA finalized the rule on April 29, 2026, with an effective date of April 30, 2026. The agency also implemented a new Recreational Measures Setting process on April 28, 2026, which will guide how recreational fishing limits are set moving forward.

For 2026 and 2027, NOAA approved the following measures:

• Scup will remain at current recreational harvest levels.
• Summer flounder will continue to be managed through conservation equivalency, allowing Maryland to set state-specific size, season, and possession limits.
• Black sea bass will also be managed through conservation equivalency, with a 20 percent increase in allowable harvest across participating states.

Maryland-specific limits and seasons will be set by state fisheries managers.

NOAA is accepting public comment on the new process through May 28, 2026, and on the 2026 and 2027 recreational measures through May 15, 2026.

Statement from Congressman Harris:

“I’m grateful to Assistant Administrator Piñeiro Soler and his entire team at NOAA Fisheries for, following my office’s engagement, working to quickly remedy the delay in releasing updated recreational measures for the 2026 season. These new measures will provide much-needed economic certainty to the recreational fishing industry in Ocean City and across the Mid-Atlantic region. Make no mistake, I will always fiercely advocate for Maryland’s treasured fishing community.”

Statement from Sonny Gwin, President of the Worcester County Watermen’s Association:

“We would like to thank Congressman Andy Harris for his quick response to this issue. This will be a great relief economically for the recreational sector and a chance to go fishing when stocks are abundantly high.”

The full text of the letter can be viewed here.
NOAA’s announcement can be viewed here.

For media inquiries, please contact Michella Carter at Michella.Carter@mail.house.gov

Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Emanuel Cleaver II (5th District Missouri)

(Washington, D.C.) – Today, U.S. Representative Emanuel Cleaver, II (D-MO) released the following statement after voting against the Farm Bill, which was passed by the House of Representatives without traditional broad bipartisan support.

“Historically, the Farm Bill has been broadly bipartisan legislation that marries food and farm priorities to the benefit of Americans in every community across the country. Regretfully, after making the largest cut to SNAP in history and slashing food assistance for 40 million Americans, my colleagues across the aisle drafted a partisan Farm Bill that locks those cuts into place as grocery prices soar and families go hungry.

“Meanwhile, despite farm bankruptcies continuing to skyrocket due to the president’s reckless tariffs and disastrous war driving up prices, today’s Farm Bill fails to provide any additional aid that was promised to family farmers who need it most.

“While I am proud I was able to improve the bill by includingmy legislation to lower utility costs by establishing a program that would provide $50 million per year to plant millions of trees in communities nationwide, I do not believe the final bill meets this moment.

“As currently drafted, today’s legislation fails farmers and families alike. I believe Congress can do better, and it is my hope that the Senate will work together to craft a truly bipartisan and comprehensive Farm Bill that provides meaningful relief to Americans who desperately need it. When that occurs, I look forward to supporting the final package.”

###

 

Emanuel Cleaver, II is the U.S. Representative for Missouri’s Fifth Congressional District, which includes Kansas City, Independence, Lee’s Summit, Raytown, Grandview, Sugar Creek, Greenwood, Blue Springs, North Kansas City, Gladstone, and Claycomo. He is a member of the exclusive House Financial Services Committee and Ranking Member of the House Subcommittee on Housing and Insurance.

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

Rep. Kelly’s bipartisan bill to help farmers added as amendment, passes the House

Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Morgan Griffith (R-VA)

The U.S. House of Representatives voted favorably on H.R. 7567 – the Farm, Food, and National Security Act. The legislation will be sent to the U.S. Senate for further consideration.

Following passage of the bill, U.S. Congressman Morgan Griffith (R-VA), who voted for the bill, issued the following statement:

“Agriculture is fundamental to Virginia’s Ninth District. Our farmers plant crops, raise livestock and tend to the agricultural needs of our communities.

“I believe the Farm, Food, and National Security Act will help support Ninth District farmers, ranchers and rural communities. This bill will stimulate the farm economy, generate business growth and create opportunity for Ninth District farmers.”

BACKGROUND

The Farm, Food, and National Security Act allows institutions like Virginia Tech to be eligible to receive federal funding through various research grant opportunities. 

Among other things, the farm bill creates a pilot program for custom slaughter establishments. Small meat-processing facilities will be able to sell their meat inside the Commonwealth of Virginia as long as their product has a label that says the product is not inspected by the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA).

Meat processing and rendering grants are available to support resilient local food systems, analyze businesses opportunities and improve local and regional meat or poultry processing and rendering. 

Additionally, the promotion of 21^st century technologies will help farmers modernize their operations to make them more efficient.

Also, the farm bill prioritizes financial support to domestic specialty crops. Vineyards in Virginia’s Ninth District can take advantage of this benefit.

Groups that support this bill include the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association, the Virginia Cattlemen’s Association, the Virginia Agribusiness Council, the Virginia Farm Bureau Federation and the Virginia Pork Council.

In a February op-ed, Congressman Griffith wrote about the importance of policies that tend to the health care needs of rural communities, including American farmers.

###

Source: United States House of Representatives – Representative Paul Tonko (Capital Region New York)

Tonko Calls Out Farm Bill that Leaves Families and Farmers High and Dry

Tonko votes NO on Republican bill that rubberstamps Trump tariffs & cements massive cuts to food assistance

Source: United States House of Representatives – Congresswoman Joyce Beatty (3rd District of Ohio)

WASHINGTON, D.C.– Today, Congresswoman Joyce Beatty released the following statement regarding today’s vote on the Farm, Food, and National Security Act, also known as the “Farm bill.”

“Today, I voted against H.R. 7567 — the Farm, Food, and National Security Act of 2026.”
 

“Since the start of Trump’s trade war, families are paying $310 more for groceries, farm income is down $25 billion, and farm bankruptcies have increased 46%. The evidence is clear: Americans are facing an aggressive affordability crisis, because of Republican policies.  Instead of working with Democrats to make life more affordable, Republicans have prioritized cutting food assistance, protecting corporate profits over health, and stripping funding to underserved communities.”
 

“This harmful legislation codifies the devastating $187 billion cut to SNAP from the One Big Ugly Bill that passed last summer. It makes this Republican-driven attack on working families permanent, and takes away food assistance for 40 million Americans, including 16 million children, 8 million seniors, 1.2 million veterans, and 4 million people with disabilities. Many states may even be forced to stop providing SNAP entirely. At its core, this is cruel, merciless policy that will have dire consequences. I refuse to support a bill that attacks the most vulnerable among us —it’s unforgivable.”
 

“This legislation would also weaken public health protections, jeopardizing the health and wellbeing of farmworkers and everyday Americans. It prioritizes big pesticide companies by shielding the largest manufacturers from liability if their products cause users serious health problems – even cancer. It also weakens environmental safety reviews meant to protect the health of working people. No company should be free from accountability for causing harm to its users.”
 

“This bill is yet another example of Republicans abandoning marginalized communities as it makes harmful changes to the 2501 Program – the only USDA program specifically focused on supporting minority farmers by ensuring they have access to all USDA services.”  
 

“Despite my opposition to the broader Farm Bill, I am pleased that the Heirs’ Agricultural Resources, Viability, Education, and Succession Transfer (HARVEST) Act — legislation I led with Congressman Shomari Figures — was included in the final package.”
 

“The HARVEST Act directs the Secretary of Agriculture to study how historically Black land-grant universities can better educate and assist the next generation of farmers on inheriting and transferring agricultural land and assets. Over the last century,  Black Americans have lost approximately 90 percent of their farmland — dropping from roughly 19 million to 3 million acres. The USDA has called heirs property ‘the leading cause of Black involuntary land loss,’ and without clear title, families cannot qualify for federal aid programs, compounding the disadvantages Black farmers already face.”
 

“Though, broadly, this Farm bill package causes irreparable harm to Americans, I am proud to have led the HARVEST Act, which pushes Congress to finally address the root causes of heirs property, bringing us one step closer to mending the systemic gap barring Black farmers and agriculturalists from the success they deserve.”
 

“I will continue to advocate for Black farmers and marginalized communities to advance food and agricultural equity.”

###

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

WASHINGTON, D.C. — Today, Representative Sharice Davids voted to pass the Farm Bill, emphasizing the need to provide certainty for Kansas farmers and address rising costs for families after years of delayed action in Congress.

“Kansas farmers and families have been hit over and over again this past year — from unstable markets to rising input costs and the ripple effects of reckless tariffs,” said Davids. “What they need most right now is stability, not uncertainty. This bipartisan Farm Bill moves us toward more predictability for producers, lower costs for everyone, and a system that actually works for the people feeding and fueling this country. We still have work to do to ensure no family goes hungry, but this is a step toward giving farmers and families the certainty they deserve.”

Today’s Farm Bill:

• Supports farmers’ bottom line: Expands access to farm loans, strengthens crop research, and invests in rural development
• Cuts red tape and boosts innovation: Increases federal support for precision agriculture tools and modern farming practices
• Protects food security: Adds cybersecurity safeguards for the agriculture and food supply chain
• Grows rural economies: Supports new markets for American-grown renewable fuels
• Lowers grocery prices: Strengthens the agricultural supply chain so farmers can produce food more efficiently, helping bring down grocery costs

Davids-Led Provisions:

• Supports Kansas wheat farmers: Requires USDA study on winter wheat as a cover crop to reduce regulatory confusion and improve soil health
• Fixes Tribal parity gap:  Ensures Tribes can access USDA agricultural credit and support programs under the same terms as states

Last year’s partisan budget, which Davids voted against, took food off Kansans’ tables by cutting the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) to pay for tax breaks for billionaires. In Kansas’ Third District alone, 8,000 households could lose access to food assistance, and up to 27,000 grocery stores nationwide could close due to lost revenue. These cuts are also reducing farm income by more than $30 billion and threatening good-paying jobs. Davids supported an amendment to today’s Farm Bill that would reverse these reckless cuts, but it was not accepted by the Republican majority.

Davids previously went on a Farm Bill listening tour, where she visited a poultry and livestock operation in Anderson County, a co-op in Franklin County, a goat farm in Miami County, an organic vegetable farm in Johnson County, and an educational community farm in Wyandotte County. Davids also toured a Garnett-based renewable ethanol producer, participated in FFA activities at Spring Hill High School, served a school lunch at Black Bob Elementary in Olathe, spoke with industry leaders on financial support programs for farmers, toured a dairy farm in Garnett, and more.

Kansas families and farmers are feeling the impact of President Trump’s trade policies. The Budget Lab at Yale estimates the average American household will pay about $2,400 more per year due to tariffs. Davids raised these concerns during a U.S. House Agriculture Committee hearing on trade disruptions — concerns echoed by Kansas Farm Bureau President Joe Newland.

Last year, Davids also wrote to the President noting that while short-term support may be necessary, Kansas producers consistently prefer “trade, not aid.” Following continued pressure on farm economies, the President later announced a relief package for farmers affected by tariff-related economic hardship.