MIL USHOR-2b Engine

Source: United States House of Representatives – Congresswoman Aumua Amata (Western Samoa)

Washington, D.C. – Congresswoman Uifa’atali Amata is welcoming House passage of the Senate-passed Department of Homeland Security funding bill, because it ends the 75-day partial government shutdown, and sends the bill with bipartisan support to President Trump’s desk to be signed into law, which ensures the next payday for thousands of DHS employees. 

The bill finishes the last of the fiscal year 2026 funding bills, months after final passage of the other 11 appropriations efforts. The longstanding disagreements over the last funding bill centered on immigration policy and funding for border security. The final bill leaves out the funds related to immigration enforcement, which has current funding from prior legislation, but fully funds the rest of the Department’s extensive responsibilities: U.S. Coast Guard, Transportation Security Administration (TSA), Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), U.S. Secret Service, and Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security (CISA). 

“It was extremely important to appropriate funds for Homeland Security, and I’m pleased to see this standoff is over, paychecks are secured, and all normal services can be restored,” said Congresswoman Aumua Amata. “These vital services have been under strain. The Coast Guard, FEMA, and TSA needed regular funding, and the hardworking public servants in these jobs deserve dependable paychecks.”

Amata concluded, “The Appropriations Committee has been releasing the first looks at the slate of 2027 funding bills, and Congress needed to clear the decks and be able to give the next round of appropriations the focus it deserves.” 

###

Source: United States House of Representatives – Congresswoman Dina Titus (1st District of Nevada)

Rep. Dina Titus Introduces Resolution to Ban Representatives and their Staff from Participating in Prediction Markets

Source: United States House of Representatives – Congresswoman Linda Sanchez (38th District of CA)

WASHINGTON – Congresswoman Linda T. Sánchez (D-Calif.) today introduced the PFAS Cleanup Act, a bill that would require manufacturers of PFAS chemicals to help fund the cleanup of contamination from these forever chemicals in our nation’s water supply.

The bill would establish a 45 percent tax on the manufacturing of PFAS, with the revenue used to fund a tax credit of up to 25 percent for public and private water agencies to remove PFAS contamination from their water supplies.

“PFAS contamination is a serious public health issue affecting communities throughout Southern California and across the country,” said Congresswoman Sánchez. “The companies that manufacture these chemicals should help pay to clean them up. My bill ensures that the cost of addressing this public health problem does not fall entirely on taxpayers and the water agencies.”

PFAS contamination is a growing public health crisis. These chemicals have been linked to cancer, child developmental issues, fertility problems, and other serious health concerns.

In California, PFAS have been detected in water systems serving nearly 26 million people, according to a recent report by the Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC). The problem disproportionally impacts disadvantaged communities, where up to 9 million people are exposed to forever chemicals in their water. 

However, that number is expected to rise, as California expands monitoring of drinking water sources for PFAS near landfills, airports, oil and gas facilities, and other potential contamination sites.

The PFAS Cleanup Act has been endorsed by the NRDC, the Environmental Working Group and the Waterkeepers Alliance.

###

Source: United States House of Representatives – Congresswoman Linda Sanchez (38th District of CA)

WASHINGTON – Congresswoman Linda T. Sánchez (D-Calif.) today released the following statement after House Republican leadership agreed to pass the bipartisan Senate bill to fund all Department of Homeland Security agencies except Customs and Border Protection and Immigration and Customs Enforcement:

“Speaker Johnson held DHS employees’ paychecks hostage for more than a month to satisfy the unreasonable demands of far-right Republicans. It was wrong, and it did not have to happen.

“A bipartisan agreement to fund every DHS agency except ICE and CBP has been on the table since before the Easter recess. It passed the Senate unanimously and would have passed the House weeks ago if Republican leadership had simply allowed a vote.

“I’m glad that Coast Guard, TSA, FEMA and other critical employees will get paid. But Republicans now want to reward ICE and CBP with another $140 billion through reconciliation. I will continue to fight to block their funding until the abuses we are seeing in our communities come to an end.”

###

Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Danny K Davis (7th District of Illinois)

The bipartisan bills would increase access to legal services for foster youth and assist expectant and parenting foster youth with intensive case management, high-quality home visiting, and resource coordination.

Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Dan Newhouse (4th District of Washington)

Headline: Newhouse Votes to Advance Agriculture Appropriations Bill

For Immediate Release: April 29, 2026
Contact: Juan Ayala, (202) 713-7750
 

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, Rep. Dan Newhouse (WA-04) released the following statement upon Committee passage of the Fiscal Year 2027 Agriculture, Rural Development, Food and Drug Administration, and Related Agencies Appropriations Bill. 

“House Republicans’ commitment to supporting the agriculture industry has never been stronger,” said Rep. Newhouse.

Rep. Newhouse continued, “This legislation funds programs utilized by the specialty crop industry in Central Washington, supports trade promotion programs, increases funding for vital research programs at USDA, and keeps the Secretary of Agriculture as a member of CFIUS to prevent our adversaries from purchasing American farm ground. Also included are my Community Project Funding requests for Othello Community Hospital in Adams County and the McKay Healthcare and Rehabilitation Center in Grant County. Together, with my colleagues on the House Appropriations Committee, we have worked to address the needs of our farmers, ranchers, and producers while getting our fiscal house in order.”

The Agriculture, Rural Development, Food and Drug Administration, and Related Agencies Appropriations Bill provides a total discretionary allocation of $26.27 billion, which is $380 billion (1.4%) below the Fiscal Year 2026 enacted level. The bill prioritizes agencies and programs that protect our nation’s food and drug supply; support America’s farmers, ranchers, and rural communities; and ensure low-income Americans have access to nutrition programs.

Below are projects in Washington’s Fourth Congressional District Rep. Newhouse secured funding for in this legislation. 

McKay Healthcare and Rehabilitation Center

Amount Requested: $2,104,604

Description: Phase 1 of Grant County Public Hospital District McKay Healthcare’s senior living expansion will add 16 assisted living units and 16 memory care units, along with a community wellness center featuring meeting spaces, a salon, art classroom, fitness area, and landscaped outdoor spaces. This first-of-its-kind continuing care retirement community (CCRC) in Central Washington allows seniors to age-in-place safely, transitioning from independent living

to assisted living or memory care, and ultimately to skilled nursing if needed. This project addresses a critical gap in rural senior healthcare services in Grant County by expanding access to assisted living and memory care. Currently, comparable services are limited in the region, forcing many families to travel long distances to obtain care. The project will allow seniors to remain in their communities while receiving appropriate care, improve continuity with local healthcare providers.

Othello Community Hospital

Amount: $1,863,900

Description: The Rural Labor and Delivery Capacity Expansion Project will increase the capacity of Othello Community Hospital to provide top-rate care for our families here locally where more than 400 babies are delivered annually. The project includes features that improve access to care, health and wellness outcomes, and hospital infrastructure. This project integrates critical technology directly into the labor and delivery suites. There will be dedicated triage beds, vital monitors, NICU systems, newborn warming stations, and diagnostic imaging machines for the obstetric unit. To address access, the project will also provide a new ambulance so that families do not have to worry about how they will get to the hospital when events – like precipitous labor – occur without planning. This project will dramatically expand the family birth care to meet the growing need for services at Othello Community Hospital, a rural hospital with a high volume of labor and delivery.

###

Source: United States House of Representatives – Representative Suzanne Bonamici (1st District Oregon)

WASHINGTON, DC – Today, Congresswomen Rosa DeLauro, Suzanne Bonamici, and Adelita Grijalva introduced the Championing Honest and Responsible Transparency in Education Reform (CHARTER) Act, legislation that would amend the Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA) and the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) to ensure funds made available under these Acts are not awarded to charter schools that enter into contracts with a for-profit entity for operating, overseeing, or managing the charter school.

“For-profit companies are disguising themselves as schools, trading in taxpayer funds for boosted profits at the expense of our children’s learning,” said Congresswoman DeLauro. “For-profits, unlike non-profit organizations, are responsible for maximizing profit for their owners and investors, and that creates tension between what is best for students and what is best for profiteers. The CHARTER Act would reaffirm federal law and ensure that for-profit education management organizations can no longer exploit loopholes that have given them access to funding intended for non-profit entities. Education empowers the American Dream, and every child deserves access to a quality education that puts them first— not profits for owners and investors.”

“Profit should never be a driving force in public education, and charter schools should not be exploited to siphon federal funding into for-profit schemes,” said Congresswoman Suzanne Bonamici. “I’m grateful to be leading this initiative with Rep. DeLauro to keep student funding in public schools where it belongs.” 

“For too long, for-profit companies in Arizona and across the country have exploited loopholes to cash in on our public education system — putting profits ahead of students and operating with little accountability,” said Congresswoman Adelita Grijalva. “That’s unacceptable. Every dollar meant for our kids should be going into classrooms, teachers, and resources — not into corporate pockets. I’m grateful to join Congresswoman DeLauro in introducing the CHARTER Act so that we can make clear that our children are not a business model to be profited off of.”

In 2006, the United States Court of Appeals Ninth Circuit Court in Arizona State Board v. United States Department of Education found that the terms ‘‘elementary school’’ and ‘‘secondary school’’ in the Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA) of 1965 and the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) were limited to nonprofit entities, holding that for-profit charter schools were ineligible for Federal funds under the ESEA and the IDEA. In response to the decision, many for-profit charter schools reorganized as for-profit operators of nonprofit organizations, enabling them to continue to receive federal funds under the ESEA and the IDEA. Using this loophole, charter schools run by for-profit education management organizations (EMOs) or other charter school “operators” receive federal funds only to have their schools run by low-quality, for-profit companies determined to extract taxpayer dollars with no little to no public transparency.

Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Earl L Buddy Carter (GA-01)

Headline: Carter brings home wins for Georgia in House-passed Farm Bill

WASHINGTON, DC – Rep. Earl L. “Buddy” Carter (R-GA) today celebrated House passage of the Farm, Food, and National Security Act of 2026, the Farm Bill, which includes hard-fought wins and recognitions for Georgia farmers.

Included in this bill are Rep. Carter’s request for a study on the Hurricane Insurance Protection – Wind Index (HIP-WI) program, inspired by his bill, the Farmers’ AID Relief Act, and the renaming of the U.S. National Poultry Research Center in Athens, Georgia, after the late President of the Georgia Poultry Federation, Francis “Abit” Massey.

“Georgia’s agricultural industry is the backbone of our economy and way of life. Representing the number one state in which to do business, where agribusiness is our top industry, I strongly support the Farm Bill. I proudly championed two provisions in this legislation, including a HIP-WI study to ensure the program properly protects farmers financially during disasters and the honoring of the late Abit Massey, a remarkable Georgia poultry giant, whose legacy should never be forgotten, said Rep. Carter. “American farmers feed and clothe our nation and the world, and they deserve policies that support their success.”

“The HIP-WI Program failed many Georgia farmers who were unfairly denied financial relief after the devastating impacts of Hurricane Helene. I am proud that the 2026 Farm Bill includes language from our Farmers’ AID Relief Act to conduct a much-needed study on the HIP-WI Program to ensure it reflects real-world storm paths and protects farmers affected by damage,” said Rep. Rick Allen (R-GA).

“I am pleased that, today, the U.S. House voted to designate the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s National Poultry Research Center in Athens, Georgia, as the Abit Massey Poultry Research Center and to require a hurricane insurance protection-wind index report based on the Farmers’ AID Relief Act through the Farm, Food, and National Security Act of 2026,” said Rep. Sanford Bishop (D-GA). “This larger farm bill was made better because of these two bipartisan bills which honor a giant in Georgia Agriculture and help protect our ag producers when destructive storms hit. I am proud to have led both efforts with Congressman Buddy Carter.”

“The Farm Bill is critical legislation for America’s farmers, ranchers, rural Americans, and Georgians. In the legislation are major wins for our state, including text honoring the late Abit Massey, text honoring the late former Chairman of the House Committee on Agriculture and longtime Representative for Georgia, David Scott, and the creation of a study on how the USDA can improve data collection for HIP-WI calculations,” said Rep. Austin Scott (R-GA), Vice Chairman of the House Committee on Agriculture.

Background:

The HIP-WI program is a wind-based insurance option managed by the USDA designed to protect farmers impacted by hurricanes. However, Hurricane Helene exposed the program’s vulnerability to inaccuracies, leaving farmers who experienced significant crop losses without protection. This bill would authorize a study to examine the loss of crop insurance coverage caused by a weather station outage, assess contingency plans, and report on the feasibility of obtaining data from land-grant colleges and universities or other third-party sources to support HIP-WI and Georgia farmers.

The bill also includes a provision to rename the U.S. National Poultry Research Center in Athens, Georgia, after the late Francis “Abit” Massey, who passed away in June 2024 at the age of 96. Mr. Massey served as President of the Georgia Poultry Federation for 48 years and was recognized statewide for his leadership and instrumental role in establishing Georgia as a leading poultry producer, which has grown into a multi-billion-dollar industry.

###

Source: United States House of Representatives – Congresswoman Aumua Amata (Western Samoa)

Washington, D.C. – Congresswoman Uifa’atali Amata is congratulating American Samoa’s national competitor in the Poetry Out Loud student program, held in the nation’s capital this week. Mr. Johnson Ailima, a senior at Fa’asao Marist High School, American Samoa’s Poetry Out Loud champion, represented the territory in Washington, D.C., and had a full slate of related activities in the Capitol.

Johnson Ailia with chaperones at Congresswoman Amata’s office

“Congratulations to Johnson Ailima for doing a great job first with his win in American Samoa, then representing our islands in the nationwide competition in D.C.,” said Congresswoman Aumua Amata. “I know you’ve had a wonderful time in the nation’s capital, and I appreciate your willingness to work hard on this project and through your example be part of motivating our students in upcoming years. Thank you to Poetry Out Loud’s program for offering both fun and learning experiences to students every year. Congratulations to the faculty and students at Fa’asao Marist High School as well for this representation. Thank you especially to Chaperone Faletua Ms. Imeleta Lilo, Mr. Tasi Sunia and Mr. Douglas Tauese, from the American Samoa Council Arts, Culture, & Humanities.”

Through this innovative program, high school students from across the country come together in one competitive dynamic poetry recitation, designed to improve public speaking skills, build confidence, and teach literary history. 

In recognition of America’s 250th anniversary this year, the 2025-2026 Poetry Out Loud program focused on poems to celebrate the rich tapestry of American history and culture. In keeping with that theme, Johnson Ailima recited two rounds of poetry including “Susan B. Anthony” and “On Liberty and Slavery.” Beginning in 2005, the program has encouraged poetry recitation by more than 4.5 million high school student participants.

Poetry Out Loud is an initiative of the National Endowment for the Arts in partnership with states, territories, and jurisdictions and their respective arts agencies. Managed by Mid Atlantic Arts, Poetry Out Loud also provides free educational materials to teachers and organizers, including an online poetry anthology providing a published collection.

Poetry Out Loud participants have reported increased confidence for group discussions and more likelihood of joining volunteering efforts. The program goals include being a positive influence on school cultures, providing avenues for self-expression, and enhancing participant schools’ reputations.

###

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

The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) has awarded Virginia Tech, based in Blacksburg, Virginia, a $112,256 grant. The funding supports allergy and infectious disease research. U.S. Congressman Morgan Griffith (R-VA) issued the following statement:

“The National Institutes of Health provides Career Transition Awards to dedicated clinical investigators.

“This HHS grant for more than $112,000 helps Virginia Tech advance its clinical investigations related to allergy and infectious disease research.”

BACKGROUND

According to the National Institutes of Health, Career Transition Award grants facilitate the establishment of a record of independent research by the investigator in order to sustain or promote a successful research career. 

The HHS office responsible for this grant is the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases.

As a member of the House Committee on Energy and Commerce, Congressman Griffith serves as the Chairman of the Health Subcommittee. 

###