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

 

Washington, D.C. – Congresswoman Uifa’atali Amata is honoring all who serve for this Armed Forces Day (Saturday) and highlighting Military Appreciation Month.

“On this Armed Forces Day, we think of our great Toa o Samoa serving the cause of peace and freedom, using their time and energy in the protection of others,” said Congresswoman Amata. “I find our people absolutely everywhere I go, serving honorably and making us proud. I meet up with our people in uniform when I’m on international congressional trips, in the Middle East, right here at home in the Army Reserve, and the many of our own I see each time I visit the U.S. east coast military installations like I did early this year.”

“To each of you, we say thank you, and we are so proud of you!” continued Aumua Amata. “You are in our thoughts, and we know you are deeply missed at home. May the Lord bless and keep you in his care, as many Scriptures promise.”

“It is God who arms me with strength, and makes my way perfect.” Psalm 18:32 (NKJV) 

Armed Forces Day is the third Saturday of May, specifically honoring those currently serving, positioned at the center of Military Appreciation Month in May, which then ends with the important observance of Memorial Day. 

Armed Forces Day has been a tradition since its creation under President Harry Truman and each year closes out Armed Forces Week.

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Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Jared Golden (ME-02)

WASHINGTON — Congressman Jared Golden (ME-02) today announced the release of $1.6 million in previously frozen funds for airport terminal upgrades previously awarded to the Auburn-Lewiston Municipal Airport. 

“This project will support the growth and success of Androscoggin County,” Golden said. “The release of these funds will allow for the construction of the new hangar and related upgrades to proceed as planned — improving the airport experience for those who already use it and paving the way for passenger air service in the future. I’m proud to have worked with the Airport’s leadership and the administration to get these funds flowing.”

The funds were originally secured by Golden as part of the FY2023 Appropriations Process. The Airport sought to draw down the approved funds in January and reached out to Golden two months later when the funds were still not made available. Golden’s office contacted the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) on the Airport’s behalf, and learned the grants were frozen pending review for compliance with executive orders. 

The lack of funding meant the airport was at risk of missing a critical mid-May contractor payment deadline, jeopardizing the project’s future. Over several months, Golden’s office worked with Airport Director Jonathan LaBonté to stress the importance of the project and the looming deadline to the FAA and secure the funds’ release.

On Thursday, the FAA announced the funds would be released. 

“As we position the Auburn-Lewiston Municipal Airport to be the preferred general aviation airport in southern and western Maine, we’ve quickly run out of space for the pilots wishing to base their aircraft here,” LaBonté said. “With the support of Congressman Golden, additional federal investment will be paired with local and state dollars to construct a 10-unit T-hangar to welcome even more aviators here. In the last two years, we’ve grown to host a flight school, three aircraft maintenance businesses and dozens more aircraft, in addition to our role hosting a base for LifeFlight of Maine. This new federal investment continues that momentum.”

Opened in 1935, the Auburn-Lewiston Airport has been a hub for corporate, charter, cargo and recreational aviators for nearly a century.

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Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Jared Golden (ME-02)

WASHINGTON — Congressman Jared Golden (ME-02) has signed a discharge petition that, if successful, would force an up-or-down vote in the House to protect Medicaid and food assistance from budget cuts in the reconciliation process. 

“While they debate the specifics, there’s no question the GOP plans to cut Medicaid by hundreds of billions of dollars,” Golden said. “Hundreds of thousands of my constituents use Medicaid for health care, while roughly one in six households use SNAP to help put food on the table. I oppose efforts to take their coverage away or make it harder to afford groceries.”

A discharge petition allows members of the House to force an up-or-down vote on a piece of legislation if a majority of members of Congress sign on. The underlying bill in this discharge petition, the Hands Off Medicaid and SNAP Act of 2025, would prohibit Congress from using the reconciliation process to cut benefits or remove individuals from Medicaid and SNAP.

The budget reconciliation instructions approved by the House and Senate require the House Energy and Commerce Committee to cut $880 billion in spending — a target that will be impossible to reach without hundreds of billions in Medicaid cuts, according to the nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office (CBO).

On Wednesday, the CBO found that the several proposals for cutting Medicaid would result in millions of Americans losing health coverage. Cuts to Medicaid would hurt families in the 2nd Congressional District. Medicaid provides health coverage to 236,000 people in CD2 — more than one-third of the population — according to KFF.

The Medicaid cuts are part of the GOP’s plan to slash health care to pay for tax cuts for the wealthy while adding more than $ 7 trillion in new debt over the next decade. 

Congressman Golden voted against the GOP’s reconciliation plan in February and again in April, and has been critical of efforts to undermine working families and the fiscal stability of the nation to extend tax cuts for the wealthy. 

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Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Jared Golden (ME-02)

WASHINGTON — In an early morning vote today, Congressman Jared Golden (ME-02) opposed the House Natural Resources Committee’s (HNRC) portion of the GOP’s reconciliation budget. 

The final package proposes $1 billion in federal spending cuts, including cuts targeting several programs that support Maine’s marine resources economy, coastal communities and Acadia National Park. The committee advanced the package in a 26-17 vote. 

“Maine’s way of life and economy are inextricably tied to our lands and waters. When I joined this committee this year, I pledged to advocate for Maine’s natural resources and to use my position to champion investment and stewardship to support our state,” Golden said. “This proposal would undermine investments in our marine resources and Acadia National Park. I could not, in good conscience, support it.” 

The package proposes $100 million in cuts for Inflation Reduction Act funding for the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA). Affected funding streams support fisheries, marine and coastal habitats, and stock assessments. They have supported projects in Maine including fish passage restoration for Atlantic salmon and other migratory species; rebuilding salt marshes to reduce roadway flooding hazards in communities Downeast; and an initiative to recover, recycle and refabricate marine debris material in the Gulf of Maine, such as ghost lobster traps and derelict aquaculture gear.

“I have gone toe to toe with NOAA to oppose regulatory proposals that could harm Maine’s fishing communities, and to demand regulators give Maine lobstermen and fishermen a seat at the table,” Golden said. “But the funding streams targeted for cuts in this bill support worthy conservation, restoration, and infrastructure efforts that have helped protect Maine’s natural resources and make our communities more resilient. There’s no reason to put them on the chopping block.”

The package advanced out of committee also would slash $279 million from the National Park Service, threatening funding streams that have supported resiliency, habitat restoration and jobs at Acadia National Park.

House and Senate Republicans sent reconciliation instructions to all House Committees on April 10. Those instructions required the Natural Resources Committee to cut funding by $1 billion — part of the GOP’s plan to slash health care and cut taxes for the wealthy while adding more than $ 7 trillion in new debt over the next decade. 

Congressman Golden voted against the GOP’s reckless reconciliation plan in February and again in April, and has been critical of efforts to undermine working families and the fiscal stability of the nation while padding giveaways to the wealthy. 

“There’s a better way forward: Congress could target tax cuts to working families, paid for by allowing the expiration of tax cuts for the very wealthy,” Golden said in April. “We don’t need to take away anyone’s health care or pass trillions in new deficit spending to pass a budget that puts the middle class first.”

Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Jim Costa Representing 16th District of California

WASHINGTON – U.S. Representatives Jim Costa (CA-21) and Jen Kiggans (VA-02) introduced H.R. 3333 – Magnifying Opportunities to Recruit and Educate (MORE) Nurses Act, bipartisan legislation aimed at addressing the growing nursing shortage nationwide. “The nursing shortage is not just a workforce crisis—it’s a public health emergency,” said Congressman Costa. “In the San Joaquin Valley and across the country, patients are waiting longer for care, and hospitals are operating beyond capacity. My legislation directs the federal government to step up with real solutions to train, recruit, and retain the nurses our communities desperately need.” “As a nurse practitioner, I know the vital role nurses play in communities across the country and have seen firsthand how the ongoing nursing shortage negatively impacts patients,” said Congresswoman Kiggans. “America’s nurses work from sun-up to sundown to provide lifesaving care, and we must do our part to provide them the training they need, prevent burnout in their workforce, and encourage more men and women to take up the profession. The MORE Nurses Act is a critical step to identify the root causes of our nation’s nursing shortage and deliver lasting solutions to support and rebuild our nursing workforce. I am proud to join Congressman Costa in introducing this bipartisan legislation to support our healthcare heroes.” BACKGROUNDThe United States is facing a critical shortfall in nurses, with the Bureau of Labor Statistics projecting a need for more than 275,000 additional nurses by 2030. California is among the hardest-hit states, and the shortage is even more severe in the San Joaquin Valley, where some communities have the lowest nurse-to-patient ratios in the state. A 2024 study by UCSF-Fresno found that the Valley would need to double its number of registered nurses to meet national benchmarks. The MORE Nurses Act will ensure the federal government is employing all the tools at its disposal to bolster the nursing workforce. This legislation directs the National Advisory Council on Nurse Education and Practice to take a comprehensive look at the crisis by:

Evaluating trends in the nursing workforce and the capacity of nursing schools to train future professionals.
Identifying barriers contributing to the shortage, particularly in rural and underserved regions.
Reviewing federal programs that support nursing education and promote diversity in the profession; and
Recommending concrete policy solutions to strengthen and expand the nursing pipeline.

The Council’s findings and policy recommendations will be delivered to Congress within one year and made available online to ensure public transparency and engagement from healthcare and education stakeholders.

Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Jim Costa Representing 16th District of California

WASHINGTON – During National Police Week, Congressman Jim Costa (CA-21) presented a special congressional recognition to Fresno Police Sergeant George Imirian in Washington D.C. This honor was given to commend Sergeant Imirian’s outstanding service and to celebrate his recent recognition as a recipient of the prestigious Top Cop Award by the National Association of Police Organizations (NAPO).In addition to receiving the Top Cop Award, Sgt. Imirian was selected as the Citizen’s Choice Award recipient, NAPO’s highest honor, chosen from hundreds of nominations across the country. This special award is reserved for the officer whose story of bravery, resilience, and service resonates most with the American people. ABOUT SGT. GEORGE IMIRIANOn October 26, 2024, Sgt. Imirian’s life and career took a harrowing turn. While responding to a call involving a homicide suspect, he was ambushed and shot multiple times in the line of duty. Despite the critical injuries he sustained, Sgt. Imirian survived and made a remarkable return to the force.  Today, Sgt. Imirian is back on full duty, continuing to serve the Fresno community with the same dedication, professionalism, and pride that defined his service before the attack.

Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Jim Costa Representing 16th District of California

WASHINTGON – Representatives Jim Costa (CA-21) and Adam Schiff (D-CA) co-led California members of the California Congressional Delegation in calling on the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) and the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) to reverse their disastrous plan to close nine USDA offices in California, including Bakersfield and Madera.  In a letter to U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Brooke Rollins and Acting Administrator of the General Services Administration (GSA) Stephen Ehikian, the lawmakers urged a reversal of the plan, stressing that office closures in Bakersfield, Blythe, Los Angeles, Madera, Mt. Shasta, Oxnard, Salinas, Woodland, and Yreka will place an additional burden on farmers already navigating market uncertainty from rapidly changing tariffs and other cuts to USDA staffing and funding. Their letter also highlights the downstream impact these closures will have on economies in rural communities across California, which rely on USDA for services ranging from small business loans to wildfire management.  “California is the nation’s largest agricultural state. In 2023 alone, California’s farms received $59.4 billion in cash receipts for their output. Closure of these offices would severely hamper USDA’s ability to support farmers imperative to California’s agricultural success.” the lawmakers wrote.  “These terminations come at a time when farmers are already navigating an uncertain agricultural economy due to USDA funding freezes and cancellations as well as the impact of tariffs. USDA field offices play a vital role in providing services to agricultural communities across the state, providing loans, grants, and technical assistance. These offices provide farmers with a place to meet face-to-face with USDA staff to discuss services and programs they rely on. Closing these vital centers will make it more difficult for farmers to access the essential resources farmers must be able to rely on,” the lawmakers continued.    The letter was led by Senator Adam Schiff (D-CA), and Representatives Jim Costa (CA-21), Salud Carbajal (CA-24), and Adam Gray (CA-13). The letter was also signed by Representatives Jared Huffman (CA-02), Sydney Kamlager-Dove (CA-37), Zoe Lofgren (CA-18), and Jimmy Panetta (CA-19).  Read the full text of the letter HERE.

Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Jim Costa Representing 16th District of California

WASHINGTON – Congressman Jim Costa (CA-21) released the following statement after the House Agriculture Committee held its full committee markup of the Republicans’ partisan reconciliation bill, which directs over $300 billion in cuts to the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), also known as “Cal-Fresh” in California.  “House Republicans just pushed a budget blueprint that guts SNAP and weakens America’s safety net that millions of Americans rely on. Food is a national security issue, and we must treat it as such. These cuts are real, and they hurt families in the San Joaquin Valley and across the country,” said Congressman Costa.“SNAP doesn’t just feed families; it supports the farmers and producers who grow our food. Instead of working together, Republicans shut House Democrats out and ignored the needs of the people we represent. Democrats remain committed to governing responsibly, and that starts with returning to the table to deliver a bipartisan Farm Bill.” BACKGROUNDIn California’s 21st Congressional District, home to some of the most productive farmland in the world, nearly 30% of households rely on SNAP benefits to put food on the table. If these proposed cuts are enacted, more than 131,000 people in Costa’s district, many of them children and seniors, will be directly impacted.

Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Jim Costa Representing 16th District of California

WASHINGTON – During National Police Week, Congressman Jim Costa (CA-21) is pushing a bipartisan bill to support local law enforcement by backing the Invest to Protect Act, legislation that would deliver critical resources to small and midsize police departments across the country. “During National Police Week, we honor the service and sacrifice of the brave men and women in uniform who put their lives on the line every day to protect our neighborhoods,” said Costa. “The Invest to Protect Act is about making sure they have the tools, training, and support they need to do their jobs safely and effectively, especially in rural and underserved areas.” BACKGROUNDRoughly 94% of police departments in the United States employ fewer than 100 sworn officers, often operating with limited budgets and outdated equipment. The Invest to Protect Act, led by Rep. Josh Gottheimer (NJ-05), would establish a targeted federal grant program to help departments with less than 175 law enforcement officers fund de-escalation and safety training, mental health support, recruitment and retention efforts, victim-centered response programs, and modern safety equipment. Costa is an original cosponsor of the bill.  This bill would directly benefit departments throughout the San Joaquin Valley, including those serving Dinuba, Exeter, Farmersville, Fowler, Kingsburg, Orange Cove, Parlier, Reedley, Sanger, Selma, Visalia, and Woodlake. Neighboring communities such as Atwater, Chowchilla, Dos Palos, Gustine, Livingston, Los Banos, Madera, and Merced would also stand to gain.

Source: United States House of Representatives – Representative Zoe Lofgren (D-San Jose)

WASHINGTON, DC – U.S. Representatives Zoe Lofgren (D-CA-18), Dan Newhouse (R-WA-04), Mike Simpson (R-ID-02), Jim Costa (D-CA-21), David Valadao (R-CA-22), and Adam Gray (D-CA-13) reintroduced the Farm Workforce Modernization Act, H.R. 3227, which creates a workforce solution for America’s agriculture industry, one of the most critical sectors of the national economy.

The bill, which passed the House of Representatives with strong bipartisan support in the 116^th and 117^th Congresses, and introduced in the 118^th Congress, updates the H-2A agricultural guest worker program and is a compromise solution that provides needed stability for farms and farmworkers. 

“The men and women who work America’s farms feed the nation. However, in the past few years, we’ve seen labor shortages contribute to high food prices,” said Rep. Zoe Lofgren. “As economic chaos and confusion continues, it is essential we provide stability to this critical workforce. The Farm Workforce Modernization Act would do so, which will protect the future of our farms and our food supply. It is well-past time we get this bipartisan legislation twice passed by the House of Representatives to the President’s desk.”

“The workforce crisis has come to a boiling point for farmers across the country. Reintroducing the Farm Workforce Modernization Act sends a clear message to farmers that we are working hard to find solutions that ease the burdens brought on by the current state of the H-2A program. This legislation is necessary to lay the groundwork for continued negotiations, and I am committed to working closely with my colleagues to enact long-term, durable reforms to our agriculture guest worker programs. This issue has been, and remains, my top priority and unified Republican government is an opportunity to deliver for our farmers and ranchers,” said Rep. Dan Newhouse.

Background

The bill was negotiated over eight months in 2019 with input from farmers, agricultural stakeholders, labor organizations, and farmworker advocates. In December 2019, it became the first agriculture labor reform legislation to pass the House of Representatives since 1986. Since its passage, a bipartisan coalition of Members has continually been working to move the bill through the legislative process. 

Why? Because farmers and ranchers across the United States are in desperate need of a high-quality, reliable workforce, farmworkers need a stable future, and the current H-2A guestworker program needs meaningful, bipartisan reform.

The bill:

• Reforms the H-2A program to provide more flexibility for employers, while ensuring critical protections for workers.
• Establishes a program for agricultural workers in the United States to choose to earn legal status through continued agricultural employment and contribution to the U.S. agricultural economy.
• Focuses on modifications to make the program more responsive and user-friendly for employers and provides access to the program for industries with year-round labor needs.

Support

“Across America, farm workers are still going to work everyday to put food on our tables,” said UFW President Teresa Romero. “Yet even as they feed our nation, too many farm workers are living in fear and uncertainty. The farm workers who feed America have earned the right to call America home. This bipartisan, common sense legislation will create an opportunity for these workers to step out of the shadows and become full members of the society they feed.” 

With the reintroduction of the Farm Workforce Modernization Act, we thank Representatives Lofgren and Newhouse for their continued leadership on this important issue. During this legislative process, we implore Congress to provide much-needed updates to this bill to provide both immediate relief and long-lasting solutions for American agriculture. As always, we stand ready to engage with our elected officials on both sides of the aisle and in both houses of congress to develop legislation that can be signed into law,” said Western Growers’ CEO Dave Puglia. 

“The workforce crisis is the most important issue facing agriculture in our country,” said Rep. Mike Simpson. “Supporting American agriculture means providing a stable, reliable, and legal workforce, and this legislative solution addresses one of the most pressing concerns our farmers and ranchers face. Now that we finally have an administration taking the border crisis seriously, Congress must address this issue and enact necessary reforms. It is well past time we solve this problem. I look forward to working with my colleagues and getting this critical legislation across the finish line to President Trump’s desk for his signature.”

“American agriculture depends on a reliable workforce and nowhere is that more true than in California’s San Joaquin Valley, where farmworkers are the backbone of our economy. This legislation is a common-sense, bipartisan solution that provides stability for our farmers and dignity for the workers who feed America. If President Trump is serious about fixing our broken immigration system, he should work with us to get this bill across the finish line,” said Rep. Jim Costa. 

“Central Valley farmers are the backbone of our nation’s agricultural industry, but they continue to face serious challenges finding and retaining a reliable workforce,” said Rep. David Valadao. “The current H-2A program doesn’t meet the labor needs of many producers, but the Farm Workforce Modernization Act is a positive step to addressing our agriculture workforce needs and securing our food supply chain. Food security is national security, and I look forward to continuing to work with my colleagues on both sides of the aisle to find long-term solutions that support our farmers and strengthen our food supply chain.”

“Farm workers and the larger agricultural community are the backbone of the Central Valley’s economy,” said Rep. Adam Gray. “Labor shortages on our farms could lead to higher food prices across the country and the Valley cannot afford to be shorthanded. This commonsense bipartisan bill would stabilize our vital workforce and make sure Valley farmers can continue to feed families across the country.”

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