MIL USHOR-2b Engine

Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Jared Huffman Representing the 2nd District of California

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

Washington, DC —Today, Congressional Biofuels Caucus Co-chairs Mark Pocan (D-WI), Adrian Smith (R-NE), Angie Craig (D-MN), Ashley Hinson (R-IA), Julie Fedorchak (R-ND), and Nikki Budzinski (D-IL) released the following statements celebrating the launch of the caucus for the 119th Congress and welcoming new Co-chairs Hinson, Fedorchak, and Budzinski. 

“I am glad to join my colleagues in the Congressional Biofuels Caucus,” said Co-chair Pocan. “Corn growers in Wisconsin deserve to have an even playing field in the market dominated by the oil and gas industry. This Caucus will showcase how biofuels can help us reach our emissions reduction goals while investing in rural jobs and infrastructure.” 

“American biofuel producers have an untapped ability to power the future of liquid fuels, whether ethanol blends, biodiesel, or sustainable aviation fuel,” said Co-chair Smith. “Advancing sound policy can unlock billions of dollars in savings at the pump and hundreds of thousands of added jobs for the American people. I thank Co-chairs Craig and Pocan and congratulate Co-chairs Hinson, Fedorchak, and Budzinski for joining me to strengthen this bipartisan caucus and continue working to inform our colleagues in the House of the value of biofuels for American energy abundance.” 

“Increasing the production and availability of homegrown biofuels is a critical piece of the puzzle when it comes to the all-of-the-above energy policy we need to stay ahead,” said Co-chair Craig. “I’m proud to be relaunching the Biofuels Caucus alongside my bipartisan colleagues this Congress so we can continue our work to lower prices at the pump, create opportunities for local producers and strengthen our energy security.” 

“Biofuels are key to Iowa’s economy and key to American energy dominance,” said Co-chair Hinson. “Since coming to Congress, I have worked tirelessly to expand access to Iowa biofuels and support Iowa’s biofuels producers by fighting to secure permanent year-round E15, increase biofuels blending targets, and replace foreign energy with homegrown biofuels. I’m honored to co-lead the biofuels caucus and will continue working with President Trump and other caucus members to increase domestic energy production and support Iowa agriculture.” 

“Biofuels are a growing part of America’s energy strategy and another way North Dakota is helping fuel the world,” said Co-chair Fedorchak. “It’s an honor to serve as a co-chair of this bipartisan caucus to advance policies that will help expand domestic energy production, empower rural America, and deliver practical solutions for North Dakotans.” 

“I came to Congress to be a strong voice for the people of Central and Southern Illinois—especially our hardworking farmers. Few issues are more critical to their success than strengthening the biofuels industry and expanding market opportunities,” said Co-chair Budzinski. “That’s why promoting the use of homegrown, sustainable biofuels has been a central focus of my work in Congress, and I’m looking forward to continuing that commitment as co-chair of this bipartisan caucus.

The Congressional Biofuels Caucus advocates for policies which reflect the capacity of American biofuels producers to meet the demand for reliable and affordable liquid fuels while growing rural economies, high-paying jobs, and value-added markets for agricultural commodities. The caucus recognizes biofuels are key to American energy independence and responsible stewardship of our resources. 

Additional members of the caucus include: Reps. Dusty Johnson (R-SD), Darin LaHood (R-IL), Jim Baird (R-IN), Scott Peters (D-CA), Tom Emmer (R-MN), Andre Carson (D-IN), Ann Wagner (R-MO), Emanuel Cleaver (D-MO), James Comer (R-KY), Brett Guthrie (R-KY), Marcy Kaptur (D-OH), Suzanne Bonamici (D-OR), Sam Graves (R-MO), Don Bacon (R-NE), Mike Bost (R-IL), Pete Stauber (R-MN), Michelle Fischbach (R-MN), Randy Feenstra (R-IA), Marianette Miller Meeks (R-IA), Zach Nunn (R-IA), Mike Flood (R-NE), Eric Sorensen (D-IL), Brad Finstad (R-MN), Tracey Mann (R-KS), Derrick Van Orden (R-WI), Mark Alford (R-MO), Sharice Davids (D-KS), Kristen McDonald Rivet (D-MI), Brian Jack (R-GA), and Mark Messmer (R-IN). 

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

WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Representative Mark Pocan (WI-02) released the following statement after voting against House Republicans’ budget bill:

“While most Americans were asleep, House Republicans voted to rip healthcare away from 13.7 million people on Medicaid, cut $500 billion from Medicare, and take food away from hungry people—all to give a tax break to their billionaire buddies, like Donald Trump & Elon Musk. According to the non-partisan Congressional Budget Office, this will add trillions to the national debt, shutter hospitals, and leave farmers out to dry.”

“From forcing debate and procedural votes in the dark of night, the entire process has been an attempt to keep this from the public. Even Republican leadership told their members not to hold town halls, they know just how unpopular this bill is with the American public. It must not be allowed to become law and must be stopped by the Senate.”

Additional background information:

• CBO confirmed the Republican bill would take from the poorest Americans to hand even more tax breaks to the wealthiest.
• CBO also found the bill could trigger over $500 billion in automatic cuts to Medicare, under the Statutory Pay-As-You-Go (PAYGO) law—cuts that many Republicans would be happy to see happen behind closed doors.
• District-level information on the consequences of the Republican budget bill is available here.

Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Brad Sherman (D-CA)

SHERMAN OAKS, CALIFORNIA – Last night, Congressman Brad Sherman (CA-32)hosted more than 5,000 constituentsin a liveTelephone Town Hall just before casting his vote against President Donald Trump’s “Big Bill” — a massive Republican budget plan loaded with tax breaks for the ultra-wealthy and deep cuts to vital healthcare and nutrition assistance programs for American families. 

“The energy during last night’s Town Hall meeting made it clear: people are alert, informed, and demanding leadership that’s willing to stand up to this administration’s outrageous corruption and brazen abuses of power,” said Congressman Sherman.

Congressman Sherman used the Town Hall to brief constituents on his efforts to push back against what he called “a coordinated assault on working families, democracy, and ethics” tied to Trump’s policy comeback and personal profiteering.

At the start of the event, Congressman Sherman broke down the contents of the Republican budget reconciliation bill, which slashes Medicaid funding, repeals key climate initiatives, and includes major tax breaks for the wealthy. He explained why he would be voting no right after the Town Hall: “This big, ugly bill epitomizes the true nature of Trump’s entire policy agenda — one that favors billionaires over everyday Americans.”

The Congressman also addressed recent corruption schemes surrounding Trump’s business dealings:

-The Qatari government’s offering Trump a luxury jet while lobbying his allies in Washington;

-China’s state-affiliated entities purchasing large stakes in a Trump-branded cryptocurrency initiative, raising red flags about foreign influence and national security;

-A $2 million investment from Abu Dhabi into Trump’s so-called “stablecoin” crypto venture, which Sherman characterized as “yet another pay-to-play scheme cloaked in blockchain buzzwords.”

“These aren’t isolated incidents — they form a pattern of transactional politics and foreign entanglements that put personal gain over public duty in a way that’s dangerously unprecedented,” Sherman told constituents.

He also laid out broader Democratic efforts to resist Trump’s broader agenda, including fighting attempts to roll back voting rights, immigrant protections, safeguards for consumers and more. 

Constituents brought forward their own concerns, ranging from the future of reproductive rights, the health of our economy amid Trump’s tariffs, to the safeguarding of our democracy in the face of rising extremism — areas where Sherman said Congress must act with urgency and resolve.

Shortly before heading to the Capitol to cast his vote against Trump’s massive and extremist budget bill, the Congressman concluded the Town Hall meeting by encouraging constituents to stay engaged and continue raising their voices against the on-going assault on our democratic norms.

During the Town Hall, Sherman requested input from residents by asking a series of survey questions about their thoughts and concerns.

The results of the survey questions are as follows:

1. Do you approve of President Trump’s performance as President so far?

• Approve: 7%
• Disapprove: 90%
• Unsure: 2%

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2. Should your Member of Congress vote for legislation that they think is good for the country, or should they vote NO on everything that Republican Speaker Johnson is willing to propose and Trump is willing to sign?

• Obstruction & Resistance: Vote NO on all of Speaker Johnson and President Trump’s legislation: 38%
• Negotiate with Republicans but only vote for a bill Democrats think is good: 55%
• Vote with Republicans: 3%
• Unsure: 4%

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3. Should I vote for the Republican reconciliation bill that provides a tax cut of $82,000 to those who make over $1 million per year, takes away healthcare from 14 million Americans, and increases the U.S. debt by over $5 trillion?

• Yes, vote for the Republican bill: 4%
• No / Hell No, don’t vote for the Republican bill: 91%
• Unsure: 4%

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Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Rick Allen (R-GA-12)

Today, Congressman Rick W. Allen (GA-12) led a bipartisan, bicameral group of his colleagues from Georgia in sending a letter to United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) Secretary Brooke Rollins seeking a swift solution in expanding access to India’s market for U.S. pecan producers.

Joining Congressman Allen in sending the letter are Representatives Sanford Bishop (GA-02), Buddy Carter (GA-01), Lucy McBath (GA-06), Austin Scott (GA-08), Rich McCormick (GA-07), and David Scott (GA-13), as well as Senators Raphael Warnock (D-GA) and Jon Ossoff (D-GA).

In the letter, the Members write: “As you may know, India is a significant foreign market for U.S. pecans. In 2022, the United States exported more than $1.3 million of pecans to India, and USDA’s Foreign Agricultural Service projects that pecan exports to India could now reach up to $5 million annually. This is a result of successful efforts in advocating for India to cut its tariff on U.S. pecan exports by 70 percent, which opened a market of more than one billion consumers to premium U.S.-grown pecans.

The Members continue: “While U.S. pecan exporters are now successfully exporting shelled pecans to India, the product purchasers in India have requested the U.S. to export in-shell pecans, which enables the pecans to travel in a more shelf-stable state and allows buyers to finish processing upon arrival in India. However, shipments of U.S. in-shell pecans cannot be completed due to the lack of appropriate plant quarantine code (PQ code) for import into India.

The Members conclude: “In 2024, the U.S. pecan industry submitted documents to USDA’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) to begin the process of obtaining a PQ code, and we write to request assistance from USDA in expediting the process…”

To read the full letter to Secretary Rollins, click here.

Source: United States House of Representatives – Congresswoman Chellie Pingree (1st District of Maine)

In a letter to the Commerce Department leadership, Maine’s Congressional delegation last night urged the Trump Administration to reverse its decision to freeze nearly $35 million of federal funds designed to close the digital divide between rural and urban communities in the state. 

“As one of the most rural states in the nation, Maine is especially affected by this decision, which will have an outsized impact on Maine families, small businesses, and communities. The programs created by the grants would ensure access across Maine to the necessary technology and skills to participate in the digital economy,” the delegation wrote in a letter to Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick and Acting Administrator Adam Cassady.

The funding, part of the Digital Equity Act program, was approved by Congress through the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law in 2021. Maine was set to receive $35 million through the program for digital skills training, workforce development and expanded telehealth and educational services through libraries, educational institutions and community organizations.

President Trump announced earlier this month via social media that he was “ending” the program, even as Maine awaited the vast majority of its approved funds. 

Terminating these funds will increase the difficulties for individuals and families to use the internet to improve their lives and fully participate in an increasingly digital world,” the delegation wrote. “We urge the Department of Commerce to reverse this decision immediately and restore funding for this vital program.”

The full text of the letter can be found below. 

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Wednesday, May 21, 2025 

Dear Secretary Lutnick and Acting Administrator Cassady:

We write to share our opposition to the recent announcement to terminate Digital Equity Act grant programs. As one of the most rural states in the nation, Maine is especially affected by this decision, which will have an outsized impact on Maine families, small businesses, and communities. The programs created by the grants would ensure access across Maine to the necessary technology and skills to participate in the digital economy.

Passed by Congress and signed into law under the bipartisan Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act of 2021, the grants provide a one-time infusion of $2.75 billion to close the digital divide between rural and urban communities, support telemedicine and education programs, strengthen connections between loved ones, and allow people to participate in the digital world regardless of their ZIP Code. This funding is essential in our state, where more than half of older residents, small businesses, veterans, low-income households, tribal communities, and students are in rural areas.

This funding would serve more than 40,000 Mainers throughout the state who continue to face significant challenges in securing and maintaining internet connectivity. With the administration’s termination announcement, Maine expects to lose the majority of the $35 million it had been awarded to support digital skills and cybersecurity training, expand workforce development, and increase the capacity of the state’s libraries and other community organizations to provide telehealth and educational services.

The funding is a smart investment that provides safe internet access for rural Mainers. Terminating these funds will increase the difficulties for individuals and families to use the internet to improve their lives and fully participate in an increasingly digital world. We urge the Department of Commerce to reverse this decision immediately and restore funding for this vital program.

We appreciate your attention to this important matter.

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Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Doug LaMalfa 1st District of California

Washington, D.C.—Congressman Doug LaMalfa (R-Richvale) released the following statement after the House passed the budget reconciliation package.

“This bill is the course correction we desperately needed. For years, taxpayers have been footing the bill for wasteful programs, unchecked spending, and handouts to people gaming the system,” said Rep. LaMalfa. “It delivers a significant tax cut, providing relief for working families and much needed reforms to government spending. It starts the process of eliminating fraud in programs like Medicaid and SNAP. It also includes major wins for folks in the West, allocating $2 billion to expand water storage, and much needed funding for the Secure Rural Schools program. It’s a big win across the board, and I’m happy to see the House pass this crucial piece of legislation.”

Background:

• Tax Relief for Working Americans: Delivers significant tax cuts, cutting tax bills by about 15% for Americans earning $30,000–$80,000. No tax on tips or overtime.
• Medicaid and SNAP Reform: Ends benefits for 1.4 million illegal immigrants and restores work requirements for able-bodied adults receiving assistance.
• Support for Farmers: Strengthens crop insurance and conservation tools without adding red tape.
• Water Storage Expansion: Includes $2 billion to upgrade and expand Bureau of Reclamation surface water storage, helping the West store more water in wet years.
• Secure Rural Schools: Provides a 3-year reauthorization of SRS to support education in rural areas with large amounts of federal land.
• Energy and Resource Development: Repeals Green New Deal-style handouts and boosts American oil, gas, and mineral production.
• Border Security and Immigration Enforcement: Fully funds Trump’s border wall, ramps up deportations, and hires thousands of new ICE and Border Patrol agents.

Congressman Doug LaMalfa is Chairman of the Congressional Western Caucus and a lifelong farmer representing California’s First Congressional District, including Butte, Colusa, Glenn, Lassen, Modoc, Shasta, Siskiyou, Sutter, Tehama and Yuba Counties.

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Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Scott Peters (52nd District of California)

Washington, D.C. – Today, Representative Scott Peters (CA-50) voted against the Republican plan to cut healthcare for millions of vulnerable patients under Medicaid and the Affordable Care Act to pay for tax cuts for wealthy individuals and corporations that don’t need them. The Republican plan would kick 13.7 million people off of their healthcare, according to an analysis by the independent Congressional Budget Office. And the non-partisan Committee for a Responsible Federal Budget has found that the bill could add $37 trillion to the national debt over the next 30 years. After the House voted 215-214 to advance the legislation, Rep. Peters released the following statement:  

“Not only is the Republican tax plan fiscally irresponsible, it is also unnecessarily cruel. Our country borrows $2 trillion every year just to keep the lights on. That number will only grow and add to our colossal debt under this tax plan. But Republicans aren’t trying to reduce the debt, they are kicking people off their healthcare to lower taxes for the highest earners. If we allowed marginal taxes for people making more than $609,000 to go from 37 to 39.6 percent, where it was in 2017, we could generate up to $402 billion in revenue over 10 years. Those people would pay a bit more in taxes, and we could avoid kicking millions of people off their healthcare. 

“Irresponsible borrowing like this is why Moody’s, for the first time ever, downgraded our credit rating, why the stock market is falling, why the bond markets are going haywire, and why consumers are worried they won’t be able to keep up with rising prices. It is time to have an honest and tough bipartisan conversation about how we reduce the debt. While today’s vote was disappointing, I will continue to fight this debt-financed plan as it moves through the Senate.” 

Read about Rep. Peters’ opposition to the tax plan in the Energy and Commerce Committee here.  

Read about Rep. Peters’ opposition to the tax plan in the Budget Committee here.  

CA-50 Medicaid Facts: 

• 156,100 people in the district rely on Medicaid for health coverage—that’s 20 percent of all district residents. 
  • 34,700 children in the district are covered by Medicaid. 
  • 17,700 seniors in the district are covered by Medicaid. 
  • 64,900 adults in the district have Medicaid coverage through Medicaid expansion—that includes pregnant women who are able to access prenatal care sooner because of Medicaid expansion, parents, caretakers, veterans, people with substance use disorder and mental health treatment needs, and people with chronic conditions and disabilities. 
• At least five hospitals in the district had negative operating margins in 2022. These hospitals would be especially hard-hit by cuts to Medicaid. For example: 
  • Scripps Mercy Hospital had a negative 25.3 percent operating margin—and nearly 22 percent of its revenue came from Medicaid. 
  • Sharp Coronado Hospital had a negative 3.5 percent operating margin—and over 36 percent of its revenue came from Medicaid. 
  • University of California San Diego Medical Center had a negative 2.4 percent operating margin—and nearly 19 percent of its revenue came from Medicaid. 
• There are 54 health center delivery sites in the district that serve 529,944 patients. 
• Those health centers and patients rely on Medicaid—statewide, 69 percent of health center patients rely on Medicaid for coverage. 
• Health centers will not be able to stay open and provide the same care that they do today, with more uninsured and underinsured patients. They are already operating on thin margins—in 2023, nationally, nearly half of health centers had negative operating margins. 
• Medicaid cuts put health centers at risk, including: 
  • Family Health Centers of San Diego 
  • Neighborhood Healthcare 
  • North County Health Project 
  • San Diego American Indian Health Centers 
  • St. Vincent De Paul Village 

Representative Peters is the co-author of the Fiscal Commission Act, legislation to create a bicameral and open-door commission to tackle our nation’s long-term debt, help us avoid automatic and across-the-board cuts to Social Security and Medicare, and secure a more prosperous future for our children. 

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Source: United States House of Representatives – Congresswoman Diana DeGette (First District of Colorado)

WASHINGTON, D.C. — Today, Congresswoman Diana DeGette (CO-01) released the following statement after House Republicans passed a bill that would kick millions of Americans off their health care and impose a massive cut in nutritional assistance, all to pay for their billionaire tax cuts.

“After shady back-room deals, hearings in the dark of night, bullying from the president, and hyper partisanship, House Republicans have forced through Trump’s ‘One, Big Bogus Bill’ that will kick over 13 million Americans off their health care to pay for tax cuts for billionaires. They are kicking hard-working Americans to the side so they can pad the pockets of people like Elon Musk.

“This bill was hastily put together following hidden negotiations, overnight markups, and the last-minute release of bill text so the American people couldn’t learn what is in the bill.

“This bill will take health care away from seniors, children, disabled Americans, and veterans, including 26,760 Denverites. It takes food stamps and nutrition assistance away from millions of families. It defunds Planned Parenthood and takes away basic health care coverage for over 1 million Americans. This monstrosity of a bill is so skewed towards the wealthiest Americans that more than 66% of the benefits would go to the top 20 percent of households by income, and people making less than $51,000 a year will actually see their taxes go up.

“This bill makes life harder for the American people while enriching the top earners in our country. I voted against this terrible legislation, and I will continue to fight against this extreme and cruel agenda.” 

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Source: United States House of Representatives – Congresswoman Frederica S Wilson (24th District of Florida)

Congresswoman Frederica Wilson issued the following statement regarding the House Budget Proposal H.R. 1, to which she voted ‘no’:

“This bill will kick millions off their healthcare, kick millions off their food assistance programs, raise the costs of student loans, all just to give tax breaks to billionaires. Nearly 14 million Americans will lose their healthcare, and more than 18 million children may have their school meals taken away thanks to this bill. This is the largest cut to health care in our nation’s history, the largest cut to SNAP in our nation’s history, and the largest tax cut for billionaires in our nation’s history.  The budget puts more than 4.3 million Pell Grant recipients at risk by requiring students to take at least 15 credit hours per semester to receive full funding—potentially cutting or reducing Pell Grants for nearly two-thirds of all recipients. It also replaces student loan income-driven repayment plans with a single plan repayment that could raise student loan payments by nearly $200 monthly. This bill includes a 5% tax on remittances sent by non-U.S. citizens, including those on H-1B or H-2A visas and green card holders. This would affect many families in South Florida, such as Cubans, Haitians, and many others who send money to their families, many of whom still live under political turmoil.   At a time when prices are at an all-time high, these cuts to healthcare and food assistance and changes to student loans threaten to deepen financial hardship for millions. Put it simply: people will die, folks will go hungry, students will pay the price, and millions of children, seniors, veterans, people with disabilities, and working families are on the hook for these devastating cuts.”

In Florida, approximately 1,442,564 will lose health care insurance from the Affordable Care Act or Medicaid.

In Florida, approximately 574,000 people are at risk of losing some or all SNAP benefits.

In Florida, approximately 99,118 students are at risk of losing all Pell Grant Funding and 216,176 students are at risk of reduced Pell Grant funding.

In Congresswoman Frederica Wilson’s District, approximately 71,000 people are estimated to lose health insurance coverage by 2034 and approximately 36,000 people are at risk of losing some or all SNAP benefits.

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