MIL USHOR-2b Engine

Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Robert Aderholt (AL-04)

WASHINGTON, D.C. — Congressman Robert Aderholt (AL-04), Co-Chair of the Congressional Adoption Caucus and Chairman of the House VAT (Values Action Team), today announced a key milestone in ongoing efforts to support adoptive families: the inclusion of Adoption Tax Credit refundability in the House Ways and Means Committee’s reconciliation framework, known as the “One Big Beautiful Bill.”

“One of our top priorities in reconciliation this year was providing families with a refundable Adoption Tax Credit,” said Congressman Aderholt. “I’m pleased to report that the Committee has included this much-needed provision in the draft package—a refundable amount of up to $5,000 for adoption expenses, indexed for inflation.”

In March of 2025, the Congressman led the letter to House and Ways & Means Committee leadership urging inclusion of a refundable adoption credit in reconciliation.

“For too long, the nonrefundable nature of the credit has limited its reach, particularly for working- and middle-class families who may not owe enough in taxes to use the full amount,” Aderholt continued. “Refundability means more children can be welcomed into permanent homes, and more families can say yes to adoption without being held back by financial constraints. I’m proud to see Republicans put families first in this year’s Budget Reconciliation.”

As an original co-sponsor of H.R.2833 – Adoption Tax Credit Refundability Act of 2025, Congressman Aderholt has consistently led bipartisan efforts to make adoption more accessible.

“As Adoption Caucus Chairman and a longtime advocate for children and families, this is personal,” Aderholt said. “Making adoption more affordable is both morally right and fiscally responsible. Every child who moves from foster care into a forever home saves taxpayer dollars and gains a stable, loving environment.”

Group Support: National Right to Life; Concerned Women for America; Ethics & Religious Liberty Commission; March for Life Action; Susan B. Anthony Pro-Life America; Students for Life Action; U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops’ Committee on Laity, Marriage, Family Life and Youth; Americans United for Life; Lifeline Children’s Services

Though the bill has not yet passed, Congressman Aderholt remains committed to ensuring the refundability language remains intact as the reconciliation process moves forward.

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Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Tom McClintock Representing the 4th District of California

House Budget Committee Holds Hearing on Budget Legislation

Washington, D.C. – Member of the House Budget Committee Rep. Tom McClintock (CA-05) today delivered remarks in committee on the budget reconciliation bill.  Rep. McClintock’s remarks:

President Trump’s Big, Beautiful Bill
Remarks by Congressman Tom McClintock
House Budget Committee
May 16, 2025

Mr. Chairman:

I share the disappointment expressed by some of our Republican colleagues that there is so much more reform that could have been and should have been made in this reconciliation bill.

But as Benjamin Franklin reminded the Constitutional Convention, when you assemble a group of people to benefit from their collective wisdom, you will also get their collective folly.  He asked them, from such an Assembly can perfection be expected?  He noted that the principal difference between the Catholic and Anglican Church was that the Catholic Church was infallible, and the Anglican Church was never wrong.  But, he reminded them, as sure as we may be of our own perfection, we must all doubt a little of our infallibility if we can ever come together for the common good.

And the common good is clearly served by this bill, with all its imperfections and disappointments.   The only economic indicator that matters is how people answer this question next year: “Are you better off today than you were two years ago.”  This bill provides much of the tax and regulatory relief that is needed to revive the American economy.  But it must be put in place now if it is to have time to work.  By this time next year, Americans could be enjoying one of the most explosive periods of growth in our history.    Only those who remember what it was like to wake up in Reagan’s Morning in America know how exciting and joyful that feels.  

Are we to sacrifice all of that in the quixotic quest for perfection?  This is not the end of the fiscal reforms necessary to restore our nation’s solvency, but rather the first step.  

The day after this bill becomes law, we’ll begin work on the 2026 budget act and the next reconciliation bill that will offer the next step toward enacting additional spending reforms.  But if we falter in taking this first step, we can’t get to the next one.  We’ll spend the summer squabbling and fuming to the delight of the Democrats and the despair of our fellow Americans.  If we succeed, we can then build on that success in the months ahead, adding additional spending reforms — a task that will be made easier by a prosperous and expanding economy and an electorate that can taste that success in their own lives and fortunes.

As Lincoln once told Congress, “It is not can any of us IMAGINE better – but can we all DO better?”   He said, we can’t escape history, for we will either nobly save or meanly lose the last best hope of mankind. He said, “We must disenthrall ourselves – and then we will save our country.”

Let’s do that today.

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Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Tom McClintock Representing the 4th District of California

Washington, D.C.  – Today, Congressman Tom McClintock (CA-05) released the following statement on H. Res 166:

“I am pleased to announce that H.  Res. 166 supporting a democratic, secular, and nonnuclear Republic of Iran has crossed an important threshold.  A majority of the entire House of Representatives has now joined to co-sponsor this resolution, comprised of 136 Republicans and 83 Democrats.

“This truly bi-partisan and broad-based House majority endorses the general principles propounded by Iranian democracy groups, most notably the ten-point plan proposed the National Council of Resistance of Iran.  It calls for the universal right to vote; free elections; a market economy; separation of religion and state;  gender, religious, and ethnic equality; a foreign policy based on peaceful coexistence; peace in the Middle East; and a nonnuclear Republic of Iran.  It also condemns the Iranian regime’s terrorism, regional proxy war and internal oppression.

“Over 4,000 parliamentarians worldwide, “the majority of 33 national legislative assemblies, over 130 former world leaders and 80 Nobel laureates have endorsed these principles and I am gratified that a majority of the entire House has stepped forward to support this resolution.”

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Source: United States House of Representatives – Congresswoman Doris Matsui (D-CA)

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, Congresswoman Doris Matsui (CA-07), delivered the following opening remarks at the Energy and Commerce Committee markup of Republicans’ budget reconciliation bill that would cut hundreds of billions of dollars from Medicaid and take health care away from millions of Americans. 

A video of her remarks is available HERE. 

Thank you, Mr. Chairman.  

  

This committee wields immense power when it comes to reconciliation – and in the past we’ve used that power to deliver real results.   

  

We expanded health care through the Affordable Care Act. We rescued the economy during COVID. We lowered drug costs. We made bold investments in clean energy and climate action through the Inflation Reduction Act. 

  

Tangible. Positive. Impact.  

  

But that’s not what we’re doing today.  

  

Today, my Republican colleagues are trying to ram through a bill that would slash hundreds of billions of dollars from Medicaid.  

  

Let’s be honest about what is happening. No matter what Republicans say, there is no if about it – benefits will be cut.  

  

And I’ve seen this playbook before.  

  

Fifteen years ago – in this room – we debated and passed the Affordable Care Act.  

  

I’ll never forget the passionate advocates who filled this room then – and how Republicans looked them in the eyes and voted against a bill that would provide them lifesaving health care.  

  

Then I watched as Republicans tried again and again to repeal the ACA. And I fought back every time. And I will fight back just as hard today. 

  

Because Republicans can choose to callously ignore the facts – but the impact in each of our communities is real and plain to see.  

  

Cuts to Medicaid mean denying care to the most vulnerable among us: seniors in nursing homes, cancer patients, people with disabilities, and kids. 

  

Kids like Sam. 

  

Sam is 13 years old. He has Down syndrome, autism, and a severe speech disorder. And thanks to Medicaid—Sam is living a safe, supported, and dignified life. 

  

Medicaid covers his in-home supportive services so Sam can live at home with his family—not in an institution. It provides Sam with services to help him build toward greater independence.  

  

Sam’s mom said it best: “Disability rights are human rights. Medicaid is what allows Sam to live a life of dignity, with his rights intact.” 

  

If this bill passes, those rights will be rolled back. The support that helps millions of families like Sam’s will be ripped away. 

 

Today, we will hear Republicans try to defend their bill. They’ll tell us their cruel policies exempt kids like Sam, and pretend that they’re reinvesting in services to support him. 

But that’s simply not true. 

This bill cuts around $800 billion dollars from our health care safety net. It rips massive holes in states’ budgets – that are near impossible to fill. It sets devious paperwork traps to force families like Sam’s to jump through hoops to keep coverage.

The math is clear. $800 billion dollars gouged out of our health system means $800 billion dollars less care to go around. 

With this bill Republicans are choosing to rip away health care and abandon the American people. All to pay for temporary tax cuts for the wealthy, and to keep fueling corporate greed that’s making life harder for everyday Americans. 

 

I’m here to fight for those Americans. And I’ll be here as long as it takes.  

I yield back.  

                                               

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Source: United States House of Representatives – Congresswoman Doris Matsui (D-CA)

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, Congresswoman Doris Matsui (CA-07), Ranking Member of the House Energy and Commerce Subcommittee on Communications and Technology, released the following statement in response to President Trump’s announcement that he would immediately end Digital Equity Act grant funding. 

“President Trump is once again launching an illegal, unilateral attack on the most underserved Americans — this time by trying to block Congressionally directed funding meant to invest in communities and build a better future,” said Congresswoman Matsui. “Broadband access and digital literacy are far from luxuries. They decide who gets to participate and succeed in today’s economy. Digital Equity Act grants are a crucial tool to make sure that once Americans have access to the internet, they are able to make full use of it. From our children’s performance in school to our ability to find work, the digital divide has far reaching consequences for American families. Especially in our rural areas, millions of Americans continue to lack access to the resources and skills they need to capitalize on an increasingly digital world. That’s why I have worked my entire career to make sure equity is a central pillar of our long-term solutions. President Trump may be willing to jeopardize Americans’ future — but I will continue to fight back against his reckless attacks.”

The Digital Equity Act, included as part of the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, provides $2.75 billion to establish three grant programs that promote digital equity and inclusion. In October of last year, California was awarded $70 million from the program to implement its Digital Equity Plan.

                                               

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

CHICAGO – U.S. Rep. Robin Kelly (IL-02) condemned the Trump Administration for permitting the sale of forced reset triggers, which enable semi-automatic weapons to fire rapidly like machine guns.

The U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) settled a lawsuit with the National Association for Gun Rights, which challenged a rule by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF) to ban forced reset triggers. 

“President Donald Trump just put people’s lives at risk in exchange for the gun lobby’s support. This is not about the Second Amendment – this is about a dangerous device that can do irreparable harm to communities. Anyone can buy or 3D print a forced reset trigger without a background check and without question as to why someone needs a gun with the same firing capacity as a machine gun. Machine guns have been illegal since 1934, and it’s time our laws catch up to the 21st Century to ban devices that cause the same damage, pain and grief.”

Rep. Kelly has dedicated her career in public service to ending gun violence. Most recently, she led a letter to President Trump demanding he reinstate funds to community violence intervention organizations.

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

Rep. Kelly offered amendments to codify Medicaid postpartum coverage, remove red tape

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

House Republicans push $880 billion cut to Medicaid through Energy and Commerce Committee

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

WASHINGTON – Today, U.S. Rep. Robin Kelly (IL-02) released the following statement after Hamas released American-Israeli hostage Edan Alexander:

“Edan Alexander is returning home after more than 19 months in brutal captivity by Hamas. I’m thinking of Edan and his family as they begin to recover and heal from unimaginable pain.

“I urge for the continued release of all hostages, including the remains of four Americans to provide families with closure. We must secure a lasting peace in Gaza for Palestinians, Israelis and the Middle East region.”

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

WASHINGTON – U.S. Rep. Robin Kelly (IL-02) released the following statement thanking U.S. Rep. Jan Schakowksy (IL-09) on her years of public service:

“For over 25 years, Congresswoman Jan Schakowsky has been a powerful advocate for her constituents and the people of Illinois. I’m incredibly grateful for her partnership in the Illinois Delegation and the Energy and Commerce Committee as we’ve fought together for access to high-quality healthcare.

“Congresswoman Schakowsky’s legacy, including her leadership in passing the Affordable Care Act, will continue to improve American lives. I wish her and her family all the best in a well-earned retirement.”