MIL USHOR-2b Engine

Source: United States House of Representatives – Representative David Kustoff (TN-08)

WASHINGTON, D.C. — The House of Representatives unanimously passed, H.R. 1155, the Recovery of Stolen Checks Act, introduced by Reps. David Kustoff (R-TN), Nicole Malliotakis (R-NY), and Terri Sewell (D-AL). This bipartisan legislation would give victims of mail theft the option to receive their payment from the Department of Treasury electronically.
 
Click here to watch Congressman Kustoff remarks during debate or read them as prepared below:
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. 
 
And I do want to thank Chairman Jason Smith (R-MO) for his leadership on this issue and this important piece of legislation, as well as the leadership of Rep. Nicole Malliotakis (R-NY) and Terri Sewell (D-AL). 
 
Over the last several years, the number of government checks stolen from the mail has increased dramatically. 
 
If I could, I would like to share a few statistics: 

• Between 2019 and 2022 there was an 87% increase in theft from mailboxes, according to the U.S. Postal Inspection Service.
• According to the Financial Crimes Enforcement Network (FinCEN), reports of check fraud doubled from 2021 to 2022.
• FinCen’s most recent report on check fraud (published September 2024) found that between February to August 2023, the bureau received 15,417 individual reports about mail theft-related check fraud.

This has been an ongoing problem in my district in West Tennessee, as it has been throughout the country. It is well past time that we get mail theft in the United States under control.
 
That starts with giving federal law enforcement officers the tools and resources they need to detect, investigate, and prosecute the criminals behind these thefts.
 
We also have to ensure that victims of mail theft are taken care of, and that they can access timely relief.

That’s why this bill H.R. 1155, the Recovery of Stolen Checks Act, is so important.
 
Right now, it can take up to four months for the IRS to issue a replacement for a stolen check. That’s a long time. 
 
And due to the sheer frequency of mail theft that is happening right now, many taxpayers are having their replacement checks get stolen as well. 
 
This is truly unacceptable – and outdated IRS regulations are partially to blame.
 
Frankly, the IRS’s current process makes no sense.
 
It exacerbates check fraud, it creates more bureaucratic hurdles for U.S. taxpayers, and it ultimately makes it more difficult for Americans to access their hard-earned dollars.
 
For many American families, a delay in getting their tax refund has the potential to cause serious financial strain. 
 
The Recovery of Stolen Checks Act will give victims of mail theft the option to receive their replacement payment through direct deposit, instead of having to risk mailing another check.
 
This is a simple fix that will help expedite relief to affected taxpayers, keep government checks out of the hands of criminals, and ultimately make our government more efficient.
 
I urge my colleagues to support this bipartisan, commonsense piece of legislation which passed out of the Ways and Means Committee unanimously by a vote of 41 to 0.
 
 
The Recovery of Stolen Checks Act passed unanimously out of the House Committee on Ways and Means on February 12, 2025. Click here for the full text of the bill. 
 

###

Source: United States House of Representatives – Representative David Kustoff (TN-08)

WASHINGTON, D.C. — Today, the House of Representatives unanimously passed H.R. 517, the Filing Relief for Natural Disasters Act, that was introduced by Reps. David Kustoff (R-TN) and Judy Chu (D-CA). This bipartisan legislation will provide relief to taxpayers impacted by natural disasters and emergencies. 

Click here to watch Congressman Kustoff’s remarks on the floor of the House of Representatives. 
 
“When disaster strikes, victims should be focused on rebuilding, recovering, and caring for their loved ones. They should not have to worry about complying with bureaucratic red tape from the IRS,” said Congressman Kustoff. “I am proud to see the House of Representatives pass my bill, the Filing Relief for Natural Disasters Act. This commonsense legislation will make much needed changes to the tax code and ensure communities have the flexibility they need to start the recovery process.”

“A slow Washington bureaucracy should not stand in the way of recovery after a hurricane, tornado, or other natural disaster destroys a community. Victims of such catastrophes should be able to have their tax filing deadlines postponed regardless of whether the federal or state government declares a disaster first. I want to thank Representative Kustoff for putting forward a common-sense idea that helps the people of West Tennessee and all Americans hit by a natural disaster,” said Ways and Means Committee Chairman Jason Smith (R-MO). 
 
Background:
Currently, the U.S. Department of Treasury has the authority to postpone tax filing deadlines to taxpayers affected by federally-declared disasters. However, this does not extend to state-level emergencies. The Filing Relief for Natural Disasters Act would authorize the Treasury, in consultation with FEMA, to extend relief to impacted taxpayers as soon as the governor of a state declares a disaster or state of emergency. This legislation would also expand the current mandatory extension following a federally-declared disaster declaration from 60 to 120 days.

The Filing Relief for Natural Disasters Act unanimously passed out of the House Committee on Ways and Means on February 26, 2025. Click here to read the full text of the bill.
 

###

Source: United States House of Representatives – Representative David Kustoff (TN-08)

WASHINGTON, D.C. — Congressman Kustoff recently penned an op-ed for the Washington Examiner titled, “Swatting: A frightening hoax demanding serious attention.” In the op-ed, Congressman Kustoff highlights his bill that will impose strict penalties for swatting.

“As a former United States Attorney, I have seen firsthand the chaos swatting creates, the danger it presents to everyone involved, and the fear it instills in families and communities,” said Congressman Kustoff. “That is why I introduced the Preserving Safe Communities by Ending Swatting Act of 2025 in the House of Representatives. This bipartisan legislation would impose strict penalties for swatting, including up to 20 years in federal prison if someone is seriously hurt as a result of a swatting attack.”

Click here for the full op-ed or read below:
In an era where technology connects us like never before, it is both shocking and disheartening that this same connectivity is being weaponized to create chaos and fear in communities across the nation with the advent of swatting. 

The Department of Homeland Security defines swatting as “making malicious hoax calls to emergency services to falsely report an ongoing emergency such as a violent crime or explosive device at a certain location.” The intent is to prompt a large-scale response from law enforcement. This dangerous trend has escalated into a national crisis, warranting immediate attention from policymakers, law enforcement, and the public.

Swatting incidents have surged in recent years, with schools being a primary target. According to reports, the 2022-2023 school year saw a staggering 546% increase in false active shooter calls compared to just four years prior. These hoaxes disrupt educational activities, sow panic, and place students and staff in potentially life-threatening situations. In 2023, at least 723 swatting hoaxes targeted K-12 schools, with 210 incidents occurring in just one month.

Meanwhile, businesses and political officials on both sides of the aisle are also increasingly targeted. High-profile executives and organizations across industries have faced swatting attacks, causing significant operational disruptions and emotional distress.

One of my constituents was asleep when their phone rang loudly just after 1:00 AM. It was the local police asking them to step outside. When my friend opened the door, they saw police officers and SWAT team members surrounding the house.

The police explained that someone had called a suicide hotline, claiming to be inside the house. The caller reported wearing a bulletproof vest and said they had three children tied up in their rooms. They also claimed that their spouse had a bomb strapped to them and threatened to harm everyone unless the police arrived immediately.

Thankfully, authorities quickly determined that the call was a hoax.

The consequences of swatting extend far beyond temporary panic. These incidents strain law enforcement resources, diverting attention from genuine emergencies. Financially, the costs of a single swatting event can range from $10,000 to $25,000, encompassing police deployment, property repairs, and follow-up investigations. More importantly, the emotional toll on victims — students, employees, and families — is immeasurable. In worst-case scenarios, swatting has resulted in tragic loss of life, as split-second decisions in high-pressure situations can lead to fatal mistakes.

As a former United States Attorney, I have seen firsthand the chaos swatting creates, the danger it presents to everyone involved, and the fear it instills in families and communities. 

That is why I introduced the Preserving Safe Communities by Ending Swatting Act of 2025 in the House of Representatives. This bipartisan legislation would impose strict penalties for swatting, including up to 20 years in federal prison if someone is seriously hurt as a result of a swatting attack. 

Right now, our ability to deter and crack down on swatting is not working. Implementing strict penalties will send a clear message that intentionally deceiving law enforcement will not be tolerated. Swatting endangers lives, wastes critical emergency resources, and undermines public safety. We have an urgent need for robust legal recourse to crack down on swatting. 

The Preserving Safe Communities by Ending Swatting Act represents a critical step toward holding perpetrators accountable and deterring future incidents. We can no longer afford to let this dangerous trend go unchecked. Swatting affects everyone, including our children. I call on my colleagues in Congress to support this critical legislation. The time for action is now.

 

###

Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Steve Cohen (TN-09)

Prohibits Secret Service from spending federal dollars for lodging or meals at a facility owned or controlled by a president

Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Steve Cohen (TN-09)

WASHINGTON – Congressman Steve Cohen (TN-9), a senior member of the Judiciary Committee and its Subcommittee on the Constitution and Limited Government, today discussed President Trump’s efforts to upend the judicial system at a hearing entitled “Judicial Overreach and Constitutional Limits on the Federal Courts.” Trump’s efforts include extorting law firms, damaging independent agencies, and proposing to end national injunctive relief, and impeaching judges who make rulings with which he disagrees.

Congressman Cohen made the following statement:

“The judicial branch in our country plays a critical role in checks and balances, which the Constitution mandates. Our president doesn’t understand that or respect it. In my opinion he is, accordingly, the one doing the ‘overreach,’ not the judiciary…He can’t with an executive order – a press release on nice stationery – overrule the Constitution. Nor can he declare a third term for himself, which he’ll probably do eventually…

“He’s also gone after lawyers and law firms and it’s no mystery why he did it…If lawyers are afraid to bring actions against the administration or the president, then the courts won’t be able to do anything…I’m a member of the bar. I respect the bar and I understand its importance to the American jurisprudence system…”

See his entire statement and questions to hearing witnesses here.

Witnesses at today’s hearing were:

• Kate Shaw, Professor of Law, University of Pennsylvania Carey Law School;
• Newt Gingrich, former Georgia Congressman (1979-1999) and former Speaker of the House (1995-1999);
• Paul J. Larkin, Senior Legal Research Fellow, The Heritage Foundation; and
• Cindy Romero, former resident of Aurora, Colorado

# # #

Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Steve Cohen (TN-09)

Urgent request for the EPA to identify operations in Tennessee’s 9th Congressional District

Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Steve Cohen (TN-09)

WASHINGTON – Congressman Steve Cohen (TN-9) today announced that St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital will receive a grant of $465,506 from the National Cancer Institute to study epigenetic reprogramming of T cell exhaustion to enhance tumor immunotherapy.

Congressman Cohen made the following statement:

“I am pleased to see this investment in cancer research at our premiere children’s medical center, but I remain concerned with the Trump Administration’s apparent decision to abandon much of the federal support for life-saving medical research. I commend St. Jude researchers for their outstanding work and hope it will continue to be robustly underwritten by our National Institutes of Health.”

# # #

Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Steve Cohen (TN-09)

Has not received substantive response six weeks after questions to Secretary Noem on who is being detained, and why

Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Michael McCaul (10th District of Texas)

WASHINGTON – Today, U.S. Congressman Michael McCaul (R-Texas) — chairman emeritus and current vice chair of the House Homeland Security Committee — released the following statement on the Trump administration’s arrest of a top MS-13 gang leader.

“Over the past four years, our nation saw a resurgence of violent gangs like MS-13, as President Biden’s weak and irresponsible immigration policies enabled aggravated criminals to roam freely in our communities. The swift apprehension of this dangerous MS-13 leader demonstrates, yet again, that President Trump’s border security policies are both effective and essential in keeping dangerous criminals off our streets. Americans can breathe a sigh of relief, knowing his administration will stop at nothing to make our communities safe again.”

Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Michael McCaul (10th District of Texas)

WASHINGTON – Today, U.S. Congressman Michael McCaul (R-Texas) — chairman emeritus of the House Committee on Foreign Affairs — released the following statement in response to the Trump administration’s announcement of new export control measures aimed at restricting critical technologies from reaching Chinese military-linked companies.

“The administration’s new export controls are a critical step toward strengthening national security — putting a stop to the Chinese Communist Party’s continued exploitation and abuse of American technology to fuel its military buildup and surveillance state,” said Rep. McCaul. “While the CCP may try to steal our technology, that doesn’t mean we should be selling it to them. While chairman, I repeatedly urged the Biden administration to take this threat seriously, and I’m incredibly grateful President Trump and his team are demonstrating the boldness needed to keep sensitive U.S. technologies out of the CCP’s hands.”

Background:

Chairman Emeritus McCaul has long warned of the CCP’s strategy to co-opt dual-use technologies for military and intelligence purposes. Today’s announcement marks a significant advancement in securing U.S. supply chains and safeguarding American innovation.

###