Beyer Opposes Appropriations Minibus

Congressman Don Beyer (D-VA) today issued the following statement on his votes in the U.S. House against both pieces of the FY26 appropriations “minibus,” including the Department of Homeland Security Appropriations Act and the Consolidated Appropriations Act:

“The Department of Homeland Security under Donald Trump and Kristi Noem is a lawless, corrupt organization that is bringing violence and mayhem to peaceful American communities. ICE, CBP, and other DHS entities are pursuing a mission to sow division and fear that is inflicting unimaginable cruelty on law-abiding immigrants and even U.S. citizens, sadly exemplified by the murder of Renee Good. They are engaging in deeply unlawful conduct, including breaking into homes without proper warrants, refusing to comply with court rulings, and blocking Congress from conducting meaningful oversight. DHS is fundamentally broken and completely out of control, and I certainly will not vote to fund their systematic violations of the Constitution.

“The other appropriations bills contained in the minibus have good elements, particularly in the provisions funding health research and aviation safety. But the Trump Administration is already threatening to withhold appropriated funding from numerous states Trump lost in 2024, including Virginia, after this legislation passes. I cannot support a funding deal that is premised on bad faith and punishing Virginians for exercising their right to vote. The absence of clear language barring further federal purges will also put my constituents’ jobs at risk. This bill will, I fear, lead to renewed illegal and unconstitutional acts by Trump and Russ Vought that do extensive harm to Virginia.

“I also cannot support passing a defense funding bill without sufficient guardrails under a president who is making overt threats to invade numerous countries and who is increasingly untethered from our national interests and security. The massive cuts of billions from the IRS further imperil our nation’s fiscal outlook, while making life even easier for wealthy tax cheats. And after promising a vote on restoring funding for the Corporation For Public Broadcasting, which hundreds of constituents contacted me to support, Republicans simply refused to honor their agreement. The bad elements in this bill outweigh the good ones, and that is why I voted no.”


BILIRAKIS BILL TO ANCHOR EASTERN MEDITARRANEAN IN US FOREIGN POLICY ADVANCES

WASHINGTON: The Eastern Mediterranean Gateway Act, led by Congressman Gus Bilirakis (FL-12), and Congressman Brad Schneider (IL-10) and joined by Reps. Nicole Malliotakis (NY-11), Dina Titus (NV-1) and Chris Pappas (NH-1), passed the House Foreign Affairs Committee. The bipartisan legislation aims to bolster the Eastern Mediterranean’s role as a strategic link between India, the Middle East, and Europe.

“Supporting a U.S.–India–Middle East–Europe Economic Corridor (IMEC) is vital to enhancing energy security, economic integration, and regional cooperation,” said Rep. Bilirakis. “I am pleased this legislation has passed out of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, advancing a strategic initiative that will diversify energy routes, strengthen global supply chains, and promote efficient trade and investment. IMEC also provides a transparent and sustainable alternative to China’s Belt and Road Initiative, reinforcing U.S. partnerships and regional stability.”

“The Eastern Mediterranean is emerging as a central hub for energy and infrastructure connecting Europe, the Middle East, and India,” said Rep. Schneider. “This bipartisan bill ensures U.S. diplomacy keeps pace with that transformation, strengthening our partnerships with Greece, Cyprus, Israel, and Egypt and supporting efforts like the U.S.-India-Middle East-Europe Economic Corridor (IMEC) that deepen regional integration. Thank you to Foreign Affairs Chair Mast and Ranking Member Meeks for allowing consideration of this legislation and to my colleagues on the Foreign Affairs Committee for their broad support. I’m hopeful the full House will soon have an opportunity to advance this bill that will shore up global energy supply chains and bolster defense cooperation in the Eastern Mediterranean.”

“I am pleased to see our bipartisan Eastern Mediterranean Gateway Act advance out of the House Foreign Affairs Committee,” said Rep. Malliotakis. "This legislation reinforces America’s partnerships with Greece, Cyprus, Israel, and Egypt, strengthening cooperation on energy security, economic connectivity, and long-term strategic coordination in the Eastern Mediterranean.”

The bill reinforces U.S. support for the India–Middle East–Europe Economic Corridor (IMEC) and regional initiatives including the 3+1 dialogue with Greece, Israel, and Cyprus and the East Mediterranean Gas Forum. It calls for:

Elevating the Eastern Mediterranean in U.S. foreign policy;

Institutionalizing strategic dialogues with IMEC and regional partners;

Supporting cross-border infrastructure projects and energy interconnectors;

Studying the expansion of U.S.–Israel innovation programs to the broader region;

Evaluating multilateral models like Cyprus’s CYCLOPS center for regional coordination.

The legislation builds on bipartisan support for deeper regional integration, grounded in shared interests in energy security, economic connectivity, and long-term strategic coordination.


Bilirakis Touts Policy and Appropriations Wins in House Spending Package

January 22, 2026

Washington, DC – Congressman Gus Bilirakis today highlighted major policy and funding achievements he helped secure in the FY2026 Appropriations package passed by the House this week. The package includes eight health care policy measures he co-authored and $5.5 million for local projects he sponsored.

Key Bilirakis Authored Policy Wins to Help Seniors and Kids with Cancer:

Senior Savings Protection Act – Co-authored by Bilirakis, this legislation reauthorizes programs under the Medicare Improvements for Patients and Providers Act (MIPPA), extending $30 million in federal funding through December 31, 2027. MIPPA grants help low-income Medicare beneficiaries access counseling, education, and enrollment assistance. “For years, MIPPA programs have been a lifeline for seniors, people with disabilities, and caregivers-helping them save money, access medications, and get the care they deserve,” said Bilirakis.

PREVENT Diabetes Act – Expands the Medicare Diabetes Prevention Program (MDPP) by allowing virtual suppliers to participate, increasing access for rural and homebound patients. “An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure. By expanding education and telehealth options, seniors can avoid costly complications and improve their quality of life,” said Bilirakis.

Cutting Copays Act – Eliminates copays for generic medications under Medicare Part D’s Low Income Subsidy Program, lowering costs for vulnerable seniors. “Seniors should never have to choose between buying groceries and their medications,” Bilirakis noted.

Special Diabetes Program Reauthorization Act – Provides $200 million for FY2026 to continue research into Type 1 diabetes, supporting breakthroughs like automated insulin-dosing systems and therapies that reverse vision loss. “Research holds the promise of better treatments and, ultimately, a cure,” said Bilirakis who is co-Chair of the Congressional Diabetes Caucus.

Mikaela Naylon Give Kids A Chance Act – Accelerates pediatric cancer treatments and rare disease therapies by combining key programs to spur drug development and improve outcomes. “This bipartisan measure gives children battling cancer and rare diseases a real chance at life,” said Bilirakis.

Enhanced Funding for Community Health Centers – $4.6 billion included in FY2026, with $1.2 billion allocated for the first quarter, ensuring stability and expanded access to care nationwide.

Pharmacy Benefit Manager (PBM) Reforms – PBMs often obscure pricing and drive up medication costs. Bilirakis championed reforms to increase transparency, ensure fair pricing, and lower out-of-pocket costs for patients.

Delay of Medicare Lab Cuts – Scheduled reductions in Medicare lab services would have limited seniors’ access to essential diagnostics. Bilirakis successfully advocated to delay these cuts, ensuring continued access while providing time to develop sustainable solutions.

Local Funding Wins:

Bilirakis also secured another $5.5 million in federal grant funding for local projects:

$4 million for housing for low-income seniors in Pasco County

$1 million for a Hernando County Economic Development Hub

$500,000 for infrastructure at Moffitt’s Speros campus

These funds add to previously approved appropriations, bringing his total FY26 impact to $20,840,000 in critical projects throughout Pasco, Hernando and Citrus counties.

“From protecting seniors and patients to supporting families and local communities, this package delivers meaningful results,” said Bilirakis. “I am proud to fight for policies and projects that make a tangible difference in people’s lives.”


Congressman Bishop Opposes Homeland Security Funding Bill, Calls for Transparency, Accountability, & Protections for U.S. Citizens

WASHINGTON – Today, Congressman Sanford D. Bishop, Jr. (GA-02) opposed the Department of Homeland Security Appropriations Act. The Trump Administration claimed that its deportation policy would focus on violent felons who are in the United States illegally. However, Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) has aggressively swept up American citizens and law-abiding immigrant families.

“Activities by ICE over the past few months on streets in communities across the country cry out for guardrails and accountability,” said Congressman Bishop. “Democrats have tried to negotiate in good faith with Republican leaders to include judicial warrant requirements, a prohibition on the detention and deportation of American citizens, the use of excessive force restriction, enhanced training, body camera mandate, and a mask ban. These are commonsense measures that would hold ICE to the same conduct we expect of every other law enforcement agency in the United States. Without them, I could not support this funding bill.”

“Though I support the mission and purpose of the Department of Homeland Security and ICE – which already received nearly $200 billion and $75 billion, respectively last summer – today’s bill lacked the protections we need to ensure the public’s trust and safety,” added Congressman Bishop.

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Congressman Bishop Protects Health Care, Job training, Education, National Security, Housing, & Community Development Programs in FY 2026 Funding Bill

WASHINGTON – Congressman Sanford D. Bishop, Jr. (GA-02), a senior member of the U.S. House Appropriations Committee, supported the passage of H.R. 7148, a bipartisan bill which provides Fiscal Year (FY) 2026 funding for several federal departments, agencies and programs. As the final bill was negotiated, he helped block harmful policy provisions and funding cuts which would have decimated much needed investments in medical research into cures or treatments for cancer, diabetes, and Alzheimer’s disease; public health at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in Atlanta; childcare access for working Georgia families; highway and transit improvements; and affordable housing.

Congressman Bishop also was instrumental in the bipartisan effort to restore funding for the Job Corps program, which is one of the few national programs that specifically targets the 16 to 24-year-old population that is neither working or in school and provides a direct pathway into employment, including construction and manufacturing industries, apprenticeships, higher education, or the military.

Last year, President Trump sought to eliminate the program in its entirety and close nearly 100 Job Corps campuses across the country, including the Turner Job Corps Center in Albany, Georgia. The final legislation, however, includes $1.8 billion for the Job Corps program, which is the same funding level as FY 2025 and $800 million more than the FY 2026 Republican House bill. The measure also includes statutory language to restrict the arbitrary closure of Job Corps campuses.

Congressman Bishop also secured more than $6 million for projects in both rural and urban communities in Middle and Southwest Georgia that will create jobs, make housing more affordable, revitalize neighborhoods, and provide clean water.

“The funding that I have secured for Georgia’s Second Congressional District will strengthen our communities and improve the quality of life for my constituents,” said Congressman Bishop. “I am especially pleased that Democrats and Republicans were able to come together in a bipartisan fashion to reverse many of the harmful cuts proposed by the Trump Administration. These funding bills should have been finalized last September. I am hopeful that, this year, Congress will put partisanship aside to enact policies that will reduce the high cost of healthcare, housing, groceries, utilities, and other everyday expenses hard-working families are facing.”

Last year, President Trump and House Republicans proposed eliminating the following programs. Congressman Bishop as well as Democrats on the House and Senate Appropriations Committee successfully fought to restore them in H.R. 7148:

Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA) Adult Job Training and Youth Job Training, which are designed to help job seekers access employment, education, training, and support services to succeed in the labor market and to match employers with employees. WIOA Adult Job Training is funded at $876 million and WIOA Youth Job Training is funded at $948 million.

Senior Community Service Employment Program (SCSEP), which helps older Americans get back into or remain active in the workforce. SCSEP is funded at $395 million.

Healthy Start, which is a program in over 100 communities throughout the United States to reduce infant and maternal mortality. Healthy Start is funded at $145 million.

Supporting Effective Instruction State Grants, which are federal funds distributed by the U.S. Department of Education to states to improve teacher, principal, and leader quality, ultimately boosting student achievement, especially for low-income and minority students. The program is funded at $2.2 billion.

Community Development Block Grants (CDBG), which provides annual funding to states, cities, and counties for community development, focusing on low- to moderate-income individuals by supporting housing, public services, infrastructure, and economic development to create viable communities. CDBG is funded at $3.3 billion.

HOME Investment Partnerships, which provides grants to state and local governments to create affordable housing for low-income households. The program is funded at $1.25 billion.

Lead Hazard Reduction Grant Program, which helps communities reduce lead and other housing related health hazards in homes built before 1978. The program is funded at $156 million.

Some of the funding highlights in the bill include:

$400 million increase for the National Institutes of Health (NIH) to develop cures and treatments for diseases.

$170 million increase for Child Care and Head Start, helping provide American families access to early childhood education and childcare.

$66.7 billion for rental assistance, which reverses President Trump’s efforts to slash funding for these programs by 50%.

$366 million increase for the Homeless Assistance Grant program to combat homelessness.

$1.6 billion for the Federal Aviation Administration to hire more than 2,500 air traffic controllers and bolster aviation safety.

$1.7 billion increase for medical research funded by the United States Department of Defense.

Fully funds the 3.8% pay raise for military personnel.

The specific funding which Congressman Bishop secured for Georgia’s Second Congressional District includes:

$1,700,000 to the City of Americus for the Downtown Americus Streetscape Project, which aims to revitalize the community by enhancing the aesthetic appeal and functionality of the central business district. The funding will implement vital improvements such as upgraded sidewalks for accessibility, additional lighting for safety, and green spaces.

$1,129,036 to the City of Albany for neighborhood revitalization to restore historic homes and build new affordable workforce housing surrounding Phoebe Putney hospital to increase housing accessibility, promote social equity, stimulate economic growth, and attract the workforce to the medical and downtown community.

$1,000,000 to Macon County to construct a community building to house a gymnasium and athletic facility that will also serve as a county-wide disaster relief shelter

$1,000,000 to the City of Whigham to build a municipal wastewater treatment plant to serve residents and businesses.

$1,000,000 to Crawford County for the construction of a Youth Center, which will include a gymnasium and space to support a variety of recreational and extracurricular activities.

$302,000 to the City of Plains for the renovation of the exteriors of the public buildings for a one-mile stretch of SR-280, including paving and lighting of the parking lot for the recently constructed multipurpose community center.

Following House passage today by a 341 to 88 vote, the legislation moves to the United States Senate for its consideration.

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Scott Statement on FY26 Consolidated Appropriations Act

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Congressman Robert C. “Bobby” Scott (VA-03) issued the following statement after voting in favor of H.R. 7148, the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2026, which funds the Departments of Defense, Labor, Health and Human Services, Education, Transportation, and Housing and Urban Development.

“I voted in favor of this Consolidated Appropriations Act because it rejects the President’s extreme cuts proposed in his FY26 budget. I commend Ranking Member DeLauro for advancing core Democratic priorities in the bill, including investments in public health, affordable housing and childcare, and safe transit infrastructure, and many others. Democrats were also successful in eliminating dozens of extreme, partisan poison pill policy provisions pushed by Congressional Republicans and President Trump. These provisions would have prohibited access to reproductive healthcare services, eliminated gun violence prevention research, allowed junk health insurance plans, harmed Americans struggling to repay their student loans, cut funding for infrastructure projects in states that did not support President Trump in 2024, and repealed critical worker protections against wage theft.

“The Department of Defense Division of the bill fully funds the 3.8 percent pay raise for our servicemembers. And for shipbuilders in Hampton Roads, the bill provides a total of $27 billion for shipbuilding, including funding for the advance procurement of CVN-82, the Virginia and Columbia-class submarine programs, and the midlife refueling and overhaul of the USS Harry S. Truman (CVN-75). This funding will ensure that our region’s shipbuilding and ship repair industrial base remains busy in support of our Navy.

“The bill also increases funding for the Readiness and Environmental Protection Integration Program, or REPI. REPI has been a critical program towards protecting environmentally sensitive areas around Hampton Roads' military installations and increasing our region's resilience to sea level rise. As a co-chair of the Chesapeake Bay Watershed Task Force, I worked with my colleagues to make sure it received adequate funding, and I am proud that this bill includes $220 million for REPI.

“I am also proud that the bill includes $8.7 million in funding for community projects across Hampton Roads that will expand broadband, enhance community-oriented resources, assist the unhoused, improve local infrastructure, and support local workforce development.”

Community Project Funding requested by Congressman Scott included in the FY26 Consolidated Appropriations Act:

City of Newport News, Peninsula Digital Infrastructure Expansion Initiative, $2,000,000;

City of Newport News, Safe Haven Empowerment Center Facility Improvements, $2,000,000;

City of Hampton, Hampton Therapeutic Recreation Center Accessibility and Expansion Project, $850,000;

City of Norfolk, Homeless Housing Center Improvements, $850,000;

City of Chesapeake, Schooner Trail Park, $500,000;

Hampton Roads Transit, Paratransit Fleet Expansion, $850,000;

Virginia Peninsula Community College, Wellness & Workforce Center, $500,000;

City of Chesapeake, Myer’s Road Sidewalk Expansion, $1,150,000.

Additionally, in H.R. 7147, the FY26 Department of Homeland Security Appropriations Act, Congressman Scott secured $1,145,144 for the City of Portsmouth’s Gust Lane Flood Mitigation project.

In addition to this funding and what he secured in the earlier Minibus Appropriations Act, Congressman Scott delivered a total of $13.887 million in Community Project Funding for Virginia’s Third Congressional District in Fiscal Year 2026.

As Ranking Member of the Committee on Education and Workforce, Congressman Scott issued the following statement on the Labor, Health and Human Services, Education and Related Agencies Division of H.R. 7148:

“I applaud Ranking Member DeLauro and Vice Chair Murray for their work to secure funding for many of our shared priorities in the Labor, Health and Human Services, Education and Related Agencies (Labor-H) funding bill. Moreover, this bill is a strong rebuke of the Trump Administration’s proposed Fiscal Year 2026 budget which would have slashed funding for several agencies, including the Department of Education (ED), the Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP), and the Bureau of International Labor Affairs (ILAB).

“In particular, I support the provisions to rein in the Trump Administration’s attempts to dismantle ED by curbing illegal interagency agreements. However, these provisions are only effective if Congress asserts its Article I authority and holds this Administration accountable for breaking the law.

“Notably, this bill includes much of the work undertaken by the Education and Workforce Committee to curb opaque Pharmacy Benefit Managers’ (PBM) practices. Specifically, this language will require transparency in PBM services that have driven up health care costs for workers and their families.

“While I would want to see more funding for critical programs, including an increase in the maximum Pell Grant and increased enforcement capacity to protect workers and their health coverage, I am relieved this did not codify Trump’s requested elimination of programs that Congress created to help students, workers, and families. While far from perfect, the bill is dramatically better than the original funding request proposed by the Trump Administration.”

For more information and to access factsheets on the FY26 Consolidated Appropriations Act, please click the links below:

Extreme Republican Policy Riders Eliminated

Topline Factsheet on the Consolidated Appropriations Act

Factsheet on the Labor, Health and Human Services, and Education Division

Factsheet on the Defense Division

Factsheet on the Transportation and Housing and Urban Development Division

Factsheet on the Health Care Division

Section-by-Section of the Health Care Division

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Scott Statement on Opposition to the FY 2026 Department of Homeland Security Appropriations Act

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Congressman Robert C. “Bobby” Scott (VA-03) issued the following statement on his opposition to H.R. 7147, the Department of Homeland Security Appropriations Act for Fiscal Year 2026:

“Americans have witnessed deeply troubling abuses of authority by Immigration and Customs Enforcement. ICE agents have arrested and detained American citizens and legal permanent residents, pulling people from their cars, homes and workplaces without warrants or probable cause.

“The appropriate congressional response should be to hold oversight hearings to force administration officials to explain their actions in public until they are held accountable for their behavior. Regrettably, neither the Committees on Homeland Security, Armed Services, Oversight and Government Reform, nor the Judiciary has held a single hearing on these abuses or the killing of Renee Good, an American citizen, by an ICE agent. According to public reports, the administration is not conducting any investigation of that ICE agent, but they are investigating Ms. Good’s widow. Instead of welcoming a transparent independent investigation, the Trump Administration has obstructed Minnesota officials from opening their own inquiry and the Secretary of Homeland Security prematurely labeled Ms. Good a ‘domestic terrorist’ without any investigation or apparent evidence.

“In the absence of any hearings or investigations by the administration, Democrats are left with only the appropriations process to address oversight of these unprecedented abuses of power. Accordingly, I will oppose the funding bill for the Department of Homeland Security until such time as these abuses cease.”

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Scott Supports War Powers Resolution to direct the removal of U.S. Armed Forces from Venezuela that have not been authorized by Congress

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Congressman Robert C. “Bobby” Scott (VA-03) issued the following statement after voting in favor of H.Con.Res. 68, a War Powers Resolution directing the removal of United States Armed Forces from Venezuela that have not been authorized by Congress.

“It is incumbent on Congress to reassert its Article I constitutional war powers as the President has unilaterally attacked Venezuela, captured its president, and used deeply concerning rhetoric toward our NATO allies, including over who should control Greenland.

“As I stated last month when the House voted on two earlier War Powers Resolutions, the conduct of a foreign leader, however reprehensible, does not give any president the authority to disregard the Constitution or bypass Congress absent a clear and imminent threat to the United States. Our failure to act sets a dangerous precedent, weakens the legislative branch as a coequal branch of government, and grants this and future presidents unchecked power.

“All Members should be troubled that the Trump Administration has still failed to identify a clear legal basis for its military strikes in the Caribbean, the Eastern Pacific, and Venezuela, or for the capture of a foreign head of state. Even more concerning, the administration’s justification has continually shifted. At first, it claimed this was about drug interdiction, despite evidence that such military actions are among the least effective and most costly approaches. Now, it appears the real motive may be access to Venezuela’s oil reserves.

“The American people expect Congress to demand answers, confront these abuses, and uphold the Constitution by reasserting its war powers.”

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Bonamici Announces Town Hall Meetings in January and During State of the Union

WASHINGTON, DC [1/21/26] – Today Congresswoman Suzanne Bonamici (OR-01) announced the details for two upcoming town hall meetings.

The first town hall meeting will be held at Forest Grove High School on January 28 at 6 p.m. The second town hall meeting will be held virtually by phone during the State of the Union, which is expected to take place at 6 p.m. on Feb. 24.

“This is a critical time for Oregonians to come together and discuss how federal policies are affecting their lives,” said Congresswoman Suzanne Bonamici. “The Trump administration’s aggressive tactics and policies are making life more expensive, unpredictable, and dangerous for people across the state. These town hall meetings will be opportunities for Oregonians to come together during these challenging times to express their concerns and share their ideas.”

Members of Bonamici’s staff will be at the Forest Grove town hall meeting to assist anyone who is experiencing problems with federal agencies, including the VA, Social Security Administration, immigration, and IRS.

Town Hall Meeting at Forest Grove High School

Wednesday, January 28 – 6 p.m.

Forest Grove High School – Auditorium

1401 Nichols Ln, Forest Grove

Telephone Town Hall Meeting During the State of the Union

Expected February 24 at 6 p.m.

Click here to sign up to receive a call

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BOST SECURES $7 MILLION FOR SOUTHERN ILLINOIS INFRASTRUCTURE AND EMERGENCY RESPONSE PROJECTS

WASHINGTON, D.C. — Representative Mike Bost (IL-12) applauded House approval today of a transportation, health, and security funding package that provides a 3.8% pay raise for members of the military, invests in education and healthcare, and strengthens roads and infrastructure. The package includes $7 million Bost worked to secure for local infrastructure improvements in Clay, Crawford, Jackson, Jasper, and Washington counties.

“This legislation will make a big difference for hardworking Americans, with a pay hike for our troops, investment in rural hospitals, support for students, and $200 million to expand access to safe truck parking – a priority I’ve fought for years to accomplish. I’m proud to say that, on top of all these important victories, we were able to secure funding to improve our roadways, restore critical infrastructure, and strengthen emergency response in Southern Illinois. These are real results that people will see and feel.”


Boyle Statement on Trump Administration Removing Slavery Exhibits at Independence National Historical Park

PHILADELPHIA, PA — Today, Congressman Brendan F. Boyle (PA-02) released the following statement after the Trump administration directed the removal of exhibits at Independence National Historical Park, located in Boyle’s district, that reference the brutality of slavery:

“This is absolutely unacceptable. I am proud of our country and the ideals on which it was founded, and telling the full truth about our history, both the good and the bad, is essential to preserving those ideals.

With the National Park Service facing budget cuts as our nation prepares for its 250th anniversary, this administration should be strengthening these historic sites, not censoring them to erase the past.

Philadelphia and the entire country deserve an honest accounting of our history, and this effort to hide it is wrong.”

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Bresnahan Votes to Fully Fund Government and Bring Home $11.4 Million to NEPA

WASHINGTON, DC: Today, U.S. Representative Rob Bresnahan, Jr. (PA-08) voted in favor of H.R. 7147, the Department of Homeland Security Appropriations Act, 2026 and H.R. 7148, the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2026. H.R. 7147 passed the House by a vote of 220-207, and H.R. 7148, which includes three of the 12 appropriations bills for Fiscal Year 2026, passed the House by a vote of 341-88.

“At the heart of today’s legislation are the people that keep our country and communities moving,” said Rep. Bresnahan.“Whether it is increased funding to hire 2,500 new air traffic controllers, pay raises for our servicemen and women, financial support for FEMA and disaster relief, funding for maternal, child, rural, and mental health initiatives, or support for Job Corps and other apprenticeship programs, these investments are going directly to the people. I will always support legislation that puts our people and district first.”

Rep. Bresnahan successfully secured $11,432,000 for five projects located throughout Northeastern Pennsylvania, marking a significant federal investment in the region’s future. These funds will support local priorities, strengthen community infrastructure, and deliver tangible benefits to residents in our communities.

The projects are as follows:

$3,000,000 for the Wayne & Pike County Career and Technical Center

$2,432,000 for the Monroe County Goose Pond Dam Project

$2,000,000 for the SR 6 Over Wallenpaupack Creek Bridge

$1,500,000 for Veterans Permanent Supportive Housing

$2,500,000 for the Route 309/Mundy Street Crossroads Improvement Project

“Community Project Funding is about making sure our tax dollars come back home to Northeastern Pennsylvania,” continued Rep. Bresnahan. “These investments support real, locally driven projects, from infrastructure and housing to workforce development, that our communities have identified as priorities. I’m proud to deliver funding that strengthens our region, creates jobs, and improves quality of life right here in NEPA.”

Defense Appropriations Act, 2026:

Providing a 3.8% pay raise for all service members.

Providing a 1% civilian employee pay increase.

Providing $1.1 billion for counter-drug programs.

$6.4 billion for procurement of critical munitions, including an additional $2.1 billion for increased quantities to execute multi-year procurement ramp.

Homeland Security Appropriations Act, 2026:

Providing $513 million to sustain 22,000 Border Patrol agents.

Provides $32 billion for the Federal Emergency Management Agency, an increase of $4.7 billion from FY25 enacted to reinforce preparedness, response, and recovery capabilities across the country.

$26.4 billion for the Disaster Relief Fund to support response and recovery efforts following major disasters and emergencies.

$3.8 billion for grant programs and education, trainings, and exercises for local and state firefighters, first responders, and emergency managers throughout American communities.

Labor, Health and Human Services, Education, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 2026:

Supports the implementation of Executive Order 14278 “Preparing Americans for High-Paying Skilled Trade Jobs of the Future” by providing $285 million to support the Trump Administration’s goal of surpassing one million new active apprentices.

Provides $55 million for job training throughout rural America.

Provides $418 million for rural health, including increased funding for America’s rural hospitals, specifically targeting facilities at risk of imminent closure and increasing rural residency opportunities.

Maintains $1.9 billion to support community health centers that provide affordable, accessible, and high-quality health care in underserved communities.

Provides $1.2 billion to support maternal and child health, including children with special health care needs.

Provides $49 billion for the National Institutes of Health to ensure America maintains its edge in basic biomedical research for cures to cancer, Alzheimer’s disease, diabetes, rare diseases, and chronic diseases impacting Americans.

Provides a $20 million increase for the Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program.

Provides $12.4 billion Head Start to support school readiness of children from low-income families.

Provides a $50 million increase for the Social Security Administration to support frontline services to America’s seniors and other beneficiaries through field office visits, calls, and online services.

Transportation, Housing and Urban Development, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 2026:

Increasing funding for the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) by $1.588 billion, a top Trump Administration priority, which will keep our skies safe and help build a world-class air traffic control system.

Providing the FAA with resources to hire 2,500 new air traffic controllers.

Investing $64.323 billion in highway infrastructure.

Directing $4.577 billion to airport infrastructure.

$63.396 billion in highway trust fund programs.

$14.642 billion in highway trust fund transit programs.

$3.3 billion for the Community Development Block Grant Program.

$145 million for the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB).

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Buchanan Votes To Fund Critical Government Priorities, Secures Major Health Care Wins

“Americans Deserve Certainty That Their Government Will Work Across Party Lines and Branches of Government to Deliver Real Results.”

Legislation Includes Two Buchanan Bills to Advance Patient-first Health Care

WASHINGTON — Today, Congressman Vern Buchanan, Vice Chairman of the House Ways and Means Committee and Chairman of the Health Subcommittee, voted in favor of the Consolidated Appropriations Act (H.R. 7148), a bipartisan package to fund critical government priorities by strengthening national security, increasing troop pay, supporting American families and modernizing health care while protecting taxpayer dollars.

This package includes two Buchanan health care bills that extend telehealth from home reforms and continues the successful Hospital-at-Home program.

“Americans deserve certainty that their government will work across party lines and branches of government to deliver real results,” said Buchanan. “This bipartisan funding package supports critical national priorities from strengthening our national defense to improving access to health care, education and infrastructure. It makes meaningful, lasting improvements that directly benefit working families, seniors and the men and women who serve our country.”

“As Chairman of the Ways and Means Health Subcommittee, I’m especially proud that this bill includes two of my health care initiatives that modernize how care is delivered in America. By extending telehealth access and the Hospital-at-Home program, we are giving patients more flexibility, improving outcomes and reducing unnecessary costs. These reforms provide certainty for providers, keep seniors connected to care and move our health system toward smarter, more efficient models that put patients first. I will continue working to advance commonsense, bipartisan solutions that keep Americans healthier, protect taxpayer dollars and ensure our government delivers real results.”

The two Buchanan proposals included in the Consolidated Appropriations Act are:

Permanent Telehealth from Home Act (H.R. 1407): Extends Buchanan’s Permanent Telehealth from Home reforms by removing outdated geographic restrictions and expanding originating sites under Medicare, ensuring continued access to telehealth services for seniors through December 31, 2027.

Hospital Inpatient Services Modernization Act (H.R. 4313): Extends the successful Hospital-at-Home program through September 30, 2030, allowing eligible patients to safely receive hospital-level care at home while improving outcomes and lowering costs.

The legislation also supports Buchanan’s forward-looking health agenda by:

Encouraging early detection and prevention, including expanded coverage pathways for innovative cancer and cognitive screening tools

Supporting value-based and alternative payment models that reward high-quality, coordinated care

Promoting the responsible use of wearable medical technologies to empower patients and improve clinical decision-making

Continuing funding for community health centers and critical health services, particularly in rural and underserved areas

Strengthening protections for patients while increasing accountability and transparency across the health care system

Beyond health care, the bill funds core government operations, invests in national defense and infrastructure, supports law enforcement and servicemembers and eliminates wasteful programs keeping spending below projected levels under the current continuing resolution.

In addition to being the Vice Chairman and most senior Republican on the powerful U.S. House Ways and Means Committee, Buchanan is also the Chairman of the Health Subcommittee, which has broad jurisdiction over traditional Medicare, the Medicare prescription drug benefit program and Medicare Advantage.

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Carter demands removal of Georgia doctor connected to Iranian Regime leaders advocating violence against Americans

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Rep. Earl L. “Buddy” Carter (R-GA) today sent a letter to Emory University and the Georgia Composite Medical Board demanding the immediate removal of Dr. Fatemeh Ardeshir-Larijani from her position at Emory University and termination of her medical license in Georgia, citing her immediate familial ties to a senior Iranian official who has publicly advocated violence against Americans.

In the letter, Rep. Carter writes, “Dr. Ardeshir-Larijani is the daughter of Ali Larijani, a senior official of the Islamic Republic of Iran…That regime is designated by the United States as a state sponsor of terrorism responsible for the killing, imprisonment, and brutal repression of thousands of civilians. Her father has recently and publicly advocated violence against Americans and U.S. allies.”

Rep. Carter continues, “In light of these facts, Dr. Ardeshir-Larijani’s continued role treating American patients at a major U.S. medical institution is unacceptable…America’s medical institutions must not serve as a safe harbor for individuals connected by blood and loyalty to regimes that openly call for the death of Americans. Patient safety, public trust, and national security demand decisive action now. ”

Read the full letter here.

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Carter bill preventing maternal deaths and improving health outcomes for mothers heads to Senate

WASHINGTON, D.C. – The House of Representatives today passed Rep. Earl L. “Buddy” Carter’s (R-GA) Preventing Maternal Deaths Reauthorization Act of 2025 as part of the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2026.

This bill reauthorizes support for State-based maternal mortality review committees through FY 2030. Additionally, it directs the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) to disseminate best practices on maternal mortality prevention to hospitals, professional societies, and perinatal quality collaboratives.

“I’m proud to champion the Preventing Maternal Deaths Reauthorization Act, which will improve health care outcomes for mothers at all stages of pregnancy. Georgians are severely impacted by our nation’s alarming and preventable maternal mortality crisis, and this bill will help ensure that all families have access to lifesaving health care resources. I urge the Senate to quickly send this bill to President Trump’s desk so we can improve health care outcomes for mothers nationwide,” said Rep. Carter.

“Reauthorizing these vital maternal and infant health programs allows us to continue addressing preterm birth and maternal mortality at a time when the United States received a D+ on the 2025 March of Dimes Report Card,” said Stacey Y. Brayboy, March of Dimes, Sr. Vice President, Public Policy & Government Affairs. “Enactment of the Preventing Maternal Deaths Reauthorization Act provides the authority needed to invest in essential CDC programs, ensuring we have the accurate data and actionable prevention strategies required to give every mom and baby the best possible start.”

Read the full bill text here.


Carter bill extending telehealth access for patients passes House

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Rep. Earl L. “Buddy” Carter’s (R-GA) Telehealth Modernization Act of 2025, a bill to extend telehealth flexibilities for seniors on Medicare through December 31, 2027, passed the House today as part of the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2026.

Absent congressional action, telehealth flexibilities in Medicare are set to expire on January 30, 2026.

“Telehealth is a vital part of our health care system, and we must ensure that it is available to patients who need it. By extending telehealth flexibilities for patients, we are making health care more accessible, regardless of their physical location. As a pharmacist, one of my top priorities has been increasing the accessibility and quality of health care; this bill does both, in a bipartisan manner, and paves the way for more patients and providers to use 21st century technology,” said Rep. Carter.

“This bill marks a major win for the millions of patients and clinicians who rely on telehealth and shows real momentum for telehealth policy. We are hopeful this legislation will advance, and are urging policymakers to take strong, swift action. We greatly appreciate the ongoing bipartisan support from Representative Carter and our telehealth champions in Congress, as well as President Trump’s Administration, and their continued efforts to secure years-long extensions for telehealth services,” said Alexis Apple, Deputy Executive Director, American Telemedicine Association (ATA) Action and Vice President of Federal Affairs, ATA.

Read the full bill text here.


Carter celebrates passage of his key PBM reforms to lower costs for patients

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Rep. Earl L. “Buddy” Carter (R-GA) today celebrated House passage of key portions of his PBM Reform Act as part of the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2026. After more than a decade of advocacy, Rep. Carter’s efforts have resulted in a major win for patients and pharmacies that will increase transparency, preserve patient access to pharmacies, and lower health care costs by reforming the middlemen – pharmacy benefit managers (PBMs).

“As a pharmacist from coastal Georgia, I came to Congress with the goal of building a health care system that put patients before profits,” said Rep. Carter. “PBMs have been stealing hope and health from the American people for decades, inflating prescription drug costs, forcing pharmacy closures, and blocking access to medications. To that I say: Not on my watch. The PBM mafia has officially been put on notice. I call on the Senate to pass this bill and help build a quality, accessible, and affordable health care system for patients.”

Included in this funding package are Rep. Carter’s policies to:

Prohibit PBM compensation in Medicare Part D from being tied to the manufacturer’s list price of a drug in an effort to reduce drug prices and save money for taxpayers.

Promote price transparency for prescription drugs purchased by employer health plans by ensuring PBMs provide group health plans and issuers with detailed data on prescription drug spending at least semi-annually. Such data includes gross and net drug spending, drug rebates, spread pricing arrangements, formulary placement rationale, and information about benefit designs that encourage the use of pharmacies affiliated with PBMs. The section also ensures that health plans and individuals can receive a summary document regarding information about the plan’s prescription drug spending.

Require the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) to define and enforce “reasonable and relevant” Medicare Part D contract terms, including information about reimbursement and dispensing fees, and establish an appeals process for pharmacies to dispute terms that do not follow the reasonable and relevant standards. CMS also has enforcement authority to impose monetary penalties, and CMS will receive $188 million for implementation.

Promote transparency by allowing CMS to track payment trends to pharmacies and pharmacy inclusion in PBM networks, including a designation of essential retail pharmacies.

The PBM provisions included in the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2026, boast support from key stakeholders.

“The PBM Accountability Project commends Representative Carter’s leadership in advancing meaningful PBM reforms. His efforts to increase transparency, curb abusive middleman practices, and protect patients and independent pharmacies are a critical step toward lowering prescription drug costs at the pharmacy counter and restoring accountability to the drug pricing system,” said Mark Blum, Managing Director of the PBM Accountability Project.

“For independent community and long-term care pharmacies, the PBM reforms included in this package are as welcomed as they are long overdue. We’re grateful for the doggedness of pharmacy champions like Rep. Cater in advancing them through House, and look forward to getting this through the Senate and to the president’s desk as quickly as possible. Independent pharmacies and the patients they treat need relief from PBM manipulations, and they need it soon,” said Anne Cassity, Senior Vice President of Government Affairs, National Community Pharmacists Association (NCPA).

“The bill contains long-overdue, urgently-needed pharmacy benefit manager (PBM) middleman reforms that are crucial for reducing Americans’ drug costs and preserving access to their trusted pharmacies – which are being forced to close at an ever-accelerating rate,” said Steven C. Anderson, National Association of Chain Drug Stores (NACDS) President and CEO. “The PBM reforms are essential for seniors in Medicare and for their pharmacies. These reforms would advance the clear priority of Congress and the Trump Administration to bring down peoples’ drug costs, to bring healthcare more in-reach for all Americans, and to confront the PBM middlemen’s exorbitant profit-grabbing at the expense of taxpayers, all people, and local pharmacies. This bill must be enacted with these PBM reforms without delay.”

“Congress stands at the precipice of passing the most important legislation in history to reform the pharmacy benefit management industry. For too long, giant PBMs have taken advantage of their own clients – America’s employers and purchasers – to drive their own profits at the expense of working families. The comprehensive PBM reform legislation mandates end-to-end transparency, finally giving employers the information they need to ensure their employees and families are receiving the best price on drugs. Critically, the bill requires PBMs to transparently pass on all rebates and discounts to plan sponsors, ensuring that employers are paying a fair price for drugs and PBMs are only being paid on value added services,” said Shawn Gremminger, MPP, President and CEO, National Alliance of Healthcare Purchaser Coalitions.

“Enacting the PBM reform measures in H.R. 7148 would be a significant and long-awaited step forward for patients and pharmacies. It is time to hold the PBMs accountable and put an end to abusive PBM practices that steer patients towards pricier drugs, charge steep markups on medicines and extract billions of dollars in hidden fees,” said Mike Stigers, Wakefern Food Corp. President.

“Affordable access to medications is essential for people with MS to manage their disease and live their healthiest lives. We continuously hear from those with MS on the challenges they face in getting their life-changing medications,” said Steffany Stern, VP of Advocacy, National MS Society. “The PBM reform provisions included in the minibus package are important steps in putting patients first and bringing much needed transparency to opaque business practices. We applaud Representative Carter for his longstanding leadership in championing bipartisan reforms to support patients.”

Read full bill text here.


Burlison Opens Hearing on Saving the American Dream Through Housing Affordability

WASHINGTON—Subcommittee on Economic Growth, Energy Policy, and Regulatory Affairs Chairman Eric Burlison (R-Mo.) delivered opening remarks at today’s hearing on “Housing Affordability: Saving the American Dream.” In his opening statement, Subcommittee Chairman Burlison noted how skyrocketing housing costs and Democrats’ excessive regulations and illegal immigration have made homes unaffordable for many young Americans. He also highlighted how President Trump and Congressional Republicans are working to make housing more affordable by removing barriers for building homes and delivering historic tax relief for working families.

Click here to watch Rep. Burlison's opening remarks.

Below are Subcommittee Chairman Burlison’s remarks as prepared for delivery:

Let’s start with a basic reality check.

A young American can work full-time, do everything right, and still have no realistic path to owning a home.

Not because they are lazy.

Not because they made reckless choices.

But because public policy has made ownership more expensive and further out of reach than it has been in decades.

Only twenty-five percent of Americans say they are confident they can afford to buy a home.

More than half say they have little or no confidence at all.

Housing affordability is now at a forty-year low.

At the same time, Americans are seeing something that doesn’t add up.

Across the country, people who entered the United States illegally are living in housing that many working Americans cannot afford.

That is not a talking point.

It is a policy outcome.

Young adults who followed the law, entered the workforce, and tried to build a future are told they should accept permanent renting.

Meanwhile, government programs increase housing demand, subsidize select populations, and drive prices higher for everyone else.

That is not fairness.

That is displacement.

Nearly one-quarter of homeowners and almost half of renters spend at least thirty percent of their income on housing.

For millions of families, housing is no longer a foundation for stability—it is a financial choke point.

So how did we get here?

First, the Federal Reserve held interest rates near zero and injected trillions of dollars into the economy leading up to and during the COVID pandemic.

Mortgage rates fell sharply. Demand surged. Home prices skyrocketed while housing supply failed to keep pace.

Then the Federal Reserve reversed course.

Interest rates climbed to their highest levels since 2008.

Americans were left with the worst possible combination: elevated home prices and sharply higher borrowing costs.

At the same time, the Biden administration fueled historic inflation through excessive federal spending.

Paychecks lost purchasing power, while housing costs continued to rise.

Now consider supply.

The United States is short somewhere between 3.8 and 8.2 million homes today.

By 2035, that shortage could approach 10 million units.

Instead of prioritizing supply, federal policy increased demand.

Mass illegal immigration placed immediate pressure on housing markets across the country—especially in working-class communities.

More people competing for too few homes drove rents and prices higher for Americans already struggling to get ahead.

Washington also made housing more expensive to build.

Federal regulations on building codes, energy standards, and home appliances added tens of thousands of dollars to the cost of constructing or renovating a home.

Proposals for nationwide rent control further discouraged new construction and reduced supply.

The result is a system that squeezes working Americans from every direction.

Higher prices.

Higher interest rates.

Too little supply.

And demand competition driven by federal policy.

That is not a failure of the free market.

It is a failure of government.

President Trump and Congressional Republicans are taking a different approach.

On day one, the President directed his Cabinet to deliver emergency price relief by expanding housing supply and eliminating regulations that raise costs.

The Department of Housing and Urban Development and the Department of the Interior are working to make federal land available for housing development.

Congress passed H.R. 1, the One Big Beautiful Bill, which delivered historic tax relief for working families and removed barriers that make it harder to build new homes.

The direction is clear.

Housing affordability will not be restored by trapping Americans in permanent rent.

It will not be restored by distorting markets or importing demand into an already broken system.

It will be restored by unleashing American builders, dismantling the regulatory cartel, mass deportations, and putting HARD-WORKING American families back at the center of national policy—where they belong.

That is why we are here today.


Congresswoman Bynum Votes Against DHS Funding Bill

Oregon City, OR – Today, Congresswoman Janelle Bynum (OR-05) released the following statement after voting against H.R. 7147, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Appropriations Act of 2026, which includes funding for Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). Last summer, Republicans included a $75 billion increase in funding for ICE in the One Big Beautiful Bill Act, which Congresswoman Bynum voted against.

"We’ve all seen how Kristi Noem lies and has led ICE to stray from its original mission. Instead of following the Constitution and using best practices in law enforcement, ICE is terrorizing American citizens, demanding citizenship ‘papers,’ and destroying property families have worked hard for,” said Rep. Bynum. “And in response, Republicans gave them an additional $75 billion in funding last summer, which I opposed for the same reasons. ICE needs transparency, accountability, and to follow the law. Full stop. That’s why I voted against this bill and the level of funding it gives to ICE. I’ll continue calling for Congress to exercise our oversight responsibilities over ICE and demanding accountability for Secretary Noem’s leadership.”

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Carbajal-Backed Bill to Expand Farm Aid, Delay Trump-Led SNAP Changes Introduced in the House

Today, U.S. Representative Salud Carbajal (D-CA-24) joined other Democratic members of the House Agriculture Committee in introducing a bill to assist struggling family farmers and safeguard key food benefits for low-income Americans.

The Farm and Family Relief Act is a response to President Trump’s crushing tariffs and massive unfunded mandate to the states through a cost-shift in the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) – which have endangered the financial wellbeing of farmers, increased the cost of groceries, and threatened food access for millions of American children, seniors and veterans. View the Farm and Family Relief Act summary here.

“Trump’s erratic policies are impacting our food system from start to finish: His tariffs are bankrupting family farmers while raising costs at the grocery store. His ‘Big Ugly Bill’ is creating unprecedented chaos within the SNAP food assistance program, leading to reduced food security for millions of households. Enough is enough,” said Rep. Carbajal. “The Farm and Family Relief Act offers a clear path forward by providing a lifeline to the farmers and families bearing the brunt of these misguided decisions, and restoring stability to the food system we all rely on.”

According to a new report by Joint Economic Committee Democrats, Trump’s inflation cost the average California family $2,355 in the past year. Fruits and vegetable prices are up an average of 5.3 percent, while food eaten away from home has increased 4.1 percent. Hardworking Americans paid $310 more for groceries in 2025 than the year before.

The American Farm Bureau Federation estimated in November that U.S. farmers have accumulated over $50 billion in losses across the last three crop years. The 2025/26 crop year shows the steepest loss at $28 billion, influenced by Trump’s tariffs. Farm leaders have described the president’s $12 billion Farmer Bridge Assistance (FBA) program as “not enough.”

The National Governors Association recently estimated that annual SNAP expenditures could increase an average of $218 million per state if payment error rate data collected during the shutdown period is not excluded from cost-shift calculations, and a coalition of state and local stakeholders has urged Congress to delay the cost shifts.


Congressman Carson Statement on DHS Appropriations Vote

WASHINGTON, DC—Today, Congressman André Carson (IN-07) made the following statement after voting no on the Department of Homeland Security appropriations bill for Fiscal Year 2026:

"I voted no on today’s DHS appropriations bill for FY26 because it continues to fund ICE without any substantive changes to stop unlawful actions and abuse of power. Since President Trump’s first term, I have fought the administration’s baseless attacks on the immigrant community by supporting constructive legislation like the Neighbors Not Enemies Act and the NO BAN Act. This administration has escalated its attacks into a violent reign of terror.

"At least 3,800 children have been taken into ICE custody in the last year – including around 20 infants. ICE has denied due process, committed physical and psychological violence, created inhumane conditions, and harassed and killed U.S. citizens.

"For those who voted for today’s bill, I demand they look in the eyes of Liam Ramos, age 5, who is being detained by ICE over a thousand miles away from his home. I demand they look in the eyes of Renee Good’s widow and children. I demand they explain their vote to the 10-year-old girl with brain cancer who was deported to Mexico, away from lifesaving treatment. There is no justification for the trauma ICE and this administration have caused. There is no defense. It is not moral or lawful – it’s cruel. A vote for this bill is a vote allowing more abuse from ICE.

"I will not rubber stamp this administration’s lawless assault on our communities."


U.S. House Passes Last Four Of Twelve Fiscal Year 2026 Appropriations Bills To Prevent Another Shutdown And Reject Extreme Funding Cuts

(Washington, DC) – U.S. Representative Ed Case (HI-01), a member of the key House Committee on Appropriations, responsible for all federal discretionary funding, today supported House passage of three of the four final annual appropriations bills for the current Fiscal Year (FY) 2026 (commencing October 1, 2026) but opposed the fourth.

The first measure which Case voted for included three of twelve annual appropriations measures:

The first bill includes $839 billion to fund the Department of Defense (DoD) and the U.S. intelligence community, including the Central Intelligence Agency and the National Security Agency. Case’s Subcommittee on Defense is responsible for developing the bill.

The measure also includes $224 billion for federal labor, health, human services and education programs - $50 billion more than President Trump’s budget request.

The third funding bill appropriates $103 billion for the Department of Transportation and the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), a historic $7.2 billion increase for HUD despite the administration’s call to cut the department in half.

The second measure against which Case voted included $64 billion – a decrease of $800 million below current funding levels – for the Department of Homeland Security (DHS).

“The Homeland Security measure includes many provisions for which I advocated throughout our appropriations process,” said Case, a member of the Appropriations Committee’s Subcommittee on Homeland Security with jurisdiction over the bill. “However, I voted against the measure largely because it did not include any effective oversight over the actions of Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) despite widespread concerns.”

The DHS funding measure also passed the House, meaning that the House has now passed all twelve of Case’s Appropriations Committee’s annual funding bills. If as expected they pass the Senate next week and are signed into law by the President, another federal government shutdown will be averted.

Through his assignment on the Appropriations Committee, Case also secured the seven Member-designated Community Project Funding projects totaling $7.5 million across the bills that specifically focused on local needs in Hawai‘i.

Details on each of the four bills are as follows:

Defense

The FY 2026 Defense bill proposes to spend $838.7 billion, an increase of less than one percent over the FY 2025 enacted level, for federal agencies and programs in the DoD, including the military services and intelligence community, including the Central Intelligence Agency and the National Security Agency.

“The Department of Defense measure not only funds programs critical to our national security interests in the Indo-Pacific but also continues to recognize the critical role Hawai‘i plays in the region,” said Case, who is in his eighth year on Appropriations. Case currently serves on its Subcommittee on Defense with jurisdiction over defense and intelligence community funding.

Case highlighted programs and provisions that he requested and secured in the Defense funding measure that are especially critical to Hawai‘i, including:

· $30 million to continue efforts to replace O‘ahu’s outdated air surveillance radar, which is needed to defend Hawai‘i from missile attacks.

· Directing the Navy to support a program to control and eradicate invasive coral at naval installations, which is in response to the invasive coral found at the mouth of Pearl Harbor.

· Protecting the special contracting preference for Native Hawaiian businesses.

· $369 million for the Navy’s Environmental Restoration program plus an additional $235 million for the cleanup of Formerly Used Defense Sites. These funds will help accelerate efforts to remediate per- and polyfluoroalkyl (PFAS) contamination and remove unexploded ordnance and discarded military munitions in Hawai‘i and throughout the nation.

· Funding for two Virginia-class fast attack submarines, which are critical to protecting the Indo-Pacific and are maintained at the Pearl Harbor Naval Shipyard.

· $171 million for the Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency, which maintains critical scientific laboratories at Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam.

· $167 million for the Sea-Based X-Band Radar, which helps defend Hawai‘i from ballistic missile threats.

· Over $267 million for “Civil-Military Programs,” which will support Hawaii’s Youth Challenge Academy.

· $70 million for Impact Aid programs, which help Hawaii’s public schools by partially reimbursing the cost of educating military children.

· Blocked efforts to change the command and control structure of the U.S. Pacific Fleet. There have been efforts within the department to streamline control of forces under one command structure, which would limit the ability of Navy forces in Hawai‘i to respond quickly to changing threats in the Indo-Pacific region.

Case requested and supported other programs and provisions in the measure that are especially critical to the broader Indo-Pacific, including:

· $8 million for the Asia Pacific Regional Initiative (APRI) Program, managed by U.S. Indo-Pacific Command. APRI supports a wide range of exercises, humanitarian assistance, programs and training symposiums that help expand U.S. influence in the Indo-Pacific. The initiative is an important tool for the U.S. military to strengthen relationships throughout the Indo-Pacific region.

· Continued support for providing humanitarian and other assistance by U.S. military Civic Action Teams in the Freely Associated States.

General military-related programs and provisions supported by Case related to the DoD overall include:

· 3.8% basic pay increase for all military personnel.

· $1.3 billion for the Congressionally Directed Medical Research Program (CDMRP). The CDMRP fills research gaps by funding high impact, high risk and high gain projects that other agencies may not venture to fund.

A summary of the defense provisions is here.

Transportation and Housing

The Transportation-HUD Appropriations bill incorporated important wins for Hawai‘i requested by Case including $5.5 million for Case’s Community Funding Projects (described below), as well as $22.3 million for the Native Hawaiian Housing Block Grant and $28 million for the Native Hawaiian Housing Loan Guarantee Fund (for both of which programs the President’s budget had proposed eliminating).

It also included Case’s request to continue funding for the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB), which plays a crucial role in enhancing the safety of the helicopter and small aircraft industry through accident investigation, analysis and recommendations to prevent future incidents, including several fatal accidents throughout Hawai‘i.

Through his assignment on the Committee, Case secured the following six Member-designated Community Project Funding projects that specifically focused on local needs in Hawai‘i:

· $2 million for the Hawai‘i Department of Transportation to repair Aloha Tower, including replacing its 40-foot mast, repairing the crown of the tower and replacing its windows to weatherproof the landmark.

This funding is essential to maintain Aloha Tower’s structural integrity, enhance public access and ensure that it remains a celebrated symbol of Honolulu’s history for generations to come.

$1 million for the City and County of Honolulu for its Waikīkī Vista Project. This project converts former Tokai University and Hawai‘i Pacific University classrooms into a consolidated, family-friendly emergency shelter and additional affordable housing units for low-income families. This investment will directly enhance the City’s ability to reduce family homelessness and expand affordable housing inventory in one of Hawaii’s most housing-challenged areas.

$850,000 for the City and County of Honolulu to support its Safe Harbor Support for Housing Survivors of Domestic Violence project. This funding will expand the Domestic Violence Action Center’s successful housing program by supporting property acquisition and staffing to increase safe and stable housing options for survivors and their children.

$850,000 for Kalihi Waena Elementary School to construct a new single-span pedestrian bridge with American with Disabilities Act-compliant access between Kūhiō Park Terrace and the school. The new bridge will replace dangerously deteriorating infrastructure and ensure safe and equitable access for students and community members.

$300,000 for Highlands Intermediate School to modernize and expand its media center infrastructure. The renovation will create a collaborative, technology-driven learning environment that fosters student creativity, innovation and digital literacy.

$250,000 for the Hawai‘i State Parks System and Hawai‘i Nature Center to upgrade educational and operational facilities, including classroom expansion and replacement of a sustainable wetland wastewater system supporting environmental education for thousands of Title I students annually.

$250,000 for the Hawai‘i State Broadband Office for broadband infrastructure development in our local community centers.

Funding will be used toward essential network enhancements, including rewiring, electrical system upgrades and the installation of Wi-Fi access points to ensure reliable, high-speed connectivity.

The House’s Community Project Funding rules require that each project must have demonstrated community support, must be fully disclosed by the requesting Member and must be subject to audit by the independent Government Accountability Office.

Case’s disclosures are here: https://case.house.gov/services/funding-disclosures.htm.

The bill also includes the following funding requested by Case for programs to improve access to affordable housing in Hawai‘i and nationwide:

$22 million for the Native Hawaiian Housing Block Grant Program, which supports the building, acquisition and rehabilitation of affordable homes.

$1.3 billion for the HOME Investment Partnership Program, the only federal program dedicated to developing affordable housing.

$5 million for core housing research partnerships with Native Hawaiian serving institutions among other minority serving institutions.

$18.5 billion for project-based rental assistance.

$7 billion for the Community Development Fund, which includes $3.3 billion for the Community Development Block Grant formula programs.

$4.4 billion for the Homeless Assistance Grants, which includes restored funding for the comprehensive approach to serving homeless youth.

Other transportation and infrastructure programs requested and secured by Case include:

$390 million for the Maritime Security Program, $103 million for the Port Infrastructure Development Program and $35 million for assistance to small shipyards like Kalaeloa/Barbers Point.

$145 million for the NTSB, which plays a crucial role in investigating civil transportation accidents like helicopter crashes, and issues safety recommendations to prevent future incidents.

$18.6 billion for the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), including $13.7 billion to fully fund air traffic control operations and allow the FAA to hire 2,500 air traffic controllers to replace the retiring workforce.

$64.3 billion for the Federal Highway Administration to improve the safety and long-term viability of our highways.

$16.5 billion for the Federal Transit Administration.

A summary of this funding measure is here.

Labor, Health and Human Services and Education

The annual appropriations bill for the Department of Labor, the Department of Education, and much of the Department of Health and Human Services includes various related agencies such as the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

“This measure funds many critical Hawai‘i priorities I requested, especially for Native Hawaiians,” said Case. “National programs that are so key to advancing virtually all Americans across multiple fronts to realize the full opportunities of our country that the administration proposed be decimated have been funded by my Committee.

“This includes support for youth from preschool through higher education, public health research and delivery through the National Institutes of Health and Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, workforce development through the Employment and Training Administration and Job Corps, maternal and child health and family planning, and substance abuse.”

Through his assignment on the Committee, Case was able to gain inclusion in the measure for his funding requests for federal programs and services especially important for the State of Hawai‘i including those affecting Native Hawaiians, workforce development, education, and community health care. These include:

· $64 million for Native American Nutrition and Supportive Services grants to promote the delivery of nutrition and home and community-based services to Native American, Alaska Native and Native Hawaiian kupuna.

· $63 million for Native American job training programs authorized under the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act of 2014.

· $46 million for the Native Hawaiian Education Program.

· $25 million for the Strengthening Alaska Native and Native Hawaiian-Serving Institutions Program. These funds will support tutoring, mentorships, internships, faculty development and other activities to support Alaska Native and Native Hawaiian students at the collegiate level.

· $27 million for the Native Hawaiian Health Care Systems, with $10 million being included for Papa Ola Lōkahi.

· $5 million to establish a Native Hawaiian/Pacific Islander Health Research Office within the National Institute on Minority Health and Health Disparities. These funds will be used to address Native Hawaiian/Pacific Islander health disparities as well as supporting research being done by Native Hawaiian/Pacific Islander investigators.

· $6 million for the Center for Indigenous Innovation and Health Equity within the Office of Minority Health to advance Indigenous solutions to achieve health equity and encourage the Department of Health and Human Services to partner with universities in these efforts.

· $4 million for the Native American/Native Hawaiian Museum Services Program, which provides grants to Native American-serving organizations and federally recognized tribes to sustain indigenous heritage, culture and knowledge through museum-related services.

· $1.8 billion for the Job Corps Program, which provides career training and education for 16-24 year olds.

· $285 million for the Registered Apprenticeship Program.

· $105 million for the YouthBuild program to provide at-risk youth with basic education and job skills training in the construction field.

· $66 million for the Homeless Veterans Reintegration Program.

· $47 billion for the National Institutes of Health, to support a wide range of biomedical and behavioral research.

· $1.5 billion for the Advanced Research Projects Agency for Health within the Department of Health and Human Services, to accelerate the pace of scientific breakthroughs for diseases such as ALS, Alzheimer’s disease, diabetes and cancer.

· $1.9 billion for Community Health Centers, to provide high quality cost-effective health care to predominantly low-income and medically underserved communities.

· $12.4 billion for Head Start, equal to the FY 2025 enacted level.

· $8.8 billion for the Child Care and Development Block Grant, equal to the FY 2025 enacted level.

· $1.5 billion for Career, Technical and Adult Education.

· $1.2 billion for the Federal TRIO Program, to provide academic support to low-income individuals, first-generation college students, veterans and individuals with disabilities.

· $129 million for McKinney-Vento Education for Homeless Children and Youth Program, which provides homeless youth with the health services and academic support they need to succeed in and out of the classroom.

· $65 million to continue and expand Strengthening Community College Training Grants, which offer training to workers in in-demand industries at community colleges and four-year institutions to help meet local labor market needs.

· $22.5 billion for federal student aid programs to provide $7,395 for the maximum Pell Grant award.

Also included in the bill are multiple bipartisan provisions focused on pharmacy benefit manager reform through transparency and reporting requirements.

There is also an extension of Medicare telehealth flexibilities through the end of 2027 to ensure Medicare beneficiaries can continue to access telehealth services.

A summary of this funding bill is here.

Homeland Security

The $64.2 billion Homeland Security Appropriations bill supports the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), U.S. Customs and Border Protection, Immigration and Customs Enforcement, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services, Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA), Transportation Security Administration (TSA), the U.S. Coast Guard, the U.S. Secret Service and more.

Despite his no vote on this funding bill, Case, through his assignment on the Subcommittee, secured $1 million for the Hawai‘i Emergency Management Agency’s (HIEMA) Emergency Operations Center IT Modernization Project. This is one of Case’s Member-designated Community Project Funding projects that specifically focuses on local needs in Hawai‘i. The project will fund the procurement and installation of touchscreen monitors for a new information wall at the emergency operations center to facilitate emergency response communications and instantaneous information sharing.

“These facilities will share information in real time so that emergency responders can make informed decisions and take necessary actions to save lives and protect property in the event of a disaster,” said Case.

The bill also responds to concerns raised about the Trump administration’s immigration efforts by:

· Rejecting the funding increase request for ICE.

· Reducing funding for ICE’s enforcement and removal operations by $115 million.

· Lowering Border Patrol funding by $1.8 billion (22 percent).

· Strengthening oversight of ICE and other DHS federal funding through a $37 million increase (20 percent) to Office of Inspector General.

· Including funding for both the Office for Civil Rights and Civil Liberties and Office of the Citizenship and Immigration Services Ombudsman, two offices the Trump administration shuttered last year.

Case also secured a number of other key programs and provisions for Hawai‘i, including:

· $337 million for Emergency Management Performance Grants, which support state and local emergency management agencies like HIEMA.

· $342 million for FEMA’s Assistance to Firefighters Grant Program, which is a major source of funding for county fire departments.

· $342 million for FEMA’s Staffing for Adequate Fire and Emergency Response Grant Program.

· $116 million to support the Coast Guard’s expanding mission in the Indo-Pacific.

· $15 million for the Coast Guard’s Honolulu Homeport Project, which funds expansion of operations and cutter maintenance activities at Base Honolulu.

· $100 million for the National Domestic Preparedness Consortium, a $9 million increase over FY 2025, which funds University of Hawaii’s National Disaster Preparedness Training Center.

· $65 million for the National Computer Forensic Institute, through which 397 state and local law enforcement officers from agencies in Hawai‘i have received a host of forensic training courses.

· $48 million for FEMA’s Next Generation Warning System.

· Language requiring a report on the opportunity for the Coast Guard to acquire additional pier and related space at Base Honolulu.

· Language requiring a report on unmet requirements for the infrastructure at the Coast Guard’s Air Station Barbers Point.

· Language encouraging TSA to address potential degradation of security scanning equipment at open-air airports.

The measure also includes the following national priorities requested by Case:

· $13.9 billion for the Coast Guard.

· Report language supporting the growth of CISA support in the Pacific Islands.

· Language requiring a report on Coast Guard engagement and needs in the Indo-Pacific.

· Language requiring a briefing on the Coast Guard’s role in combatting illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing, which is a major issue in the Indo-Pacific.

· $584 million for the Urban Area Security Initiative under FEMA.

· $494 million for the State Homeland Security Grant Program, which provides funding to protect against terrorism and other threats.

· $124 million for the Emergency Food and Shelter Program.

· $95 million for FEMA’s Port Security Grant Program.

· $50 million for the TSA Law Enforcement Officer Reimbursement Program.

A summary of the bill is available here.

The measures now move to the full U.S. Senate for its consideration.

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Casten Secures Over $9 Million for Local Projects in IL-06

Washington, D.C. (January 22, 2026) — U.S. Congressman Sean Casten secured $9,052,500 million in federal funding for local projects in Illinois’ 6th Congressional District through government funding bills passed by the House of Representatives today.

“From replacing water mains to ensure access to clean water to fixing parking lots at local parks and ensuring kids have spaces for physical education at school, these projects will improve day-to-day lives for folks in communities across the 6th Congressional District,” said Rep. Sean Casten. “I’m incredibly proud to have brought more than $9,000,000 back to the 6th District and look forward to getting back to work on securing the next round of Community Funding Projects."

These projects were selected by Rep. Casten as part of his Community Funding Projects for FY2026. The legislation is expected to soon receive consideration in the Senate and become law.

Projects receiving federal funding include:

$2,000,000 to replace the existing Metra station in Glen Ellyn and include a pedestrian underpass

$250,000 for a new public works facility in Countryside

$250,000 for water main improvements in Lombard

$250,000 for a water main replacement in Crestwood

$302,500 for construction and rehabilitation to fix cracked concrete and flood-prone areas for Worth Park District

$500,000 for a permeable paver parking lot at Ty Warner Park

$500,000 for the Regional Source Water Project at the DuPage Water Commission

$500,000 to improve Main Pump Stations in Palos Park

$600,000 for solar panels and energy-efficient windows at group homes at the DuPage County Health Department

$850,000 for water main replacement in Willowbrook

$850,000 to improve wastewater treatment at the Salt Creek Sanitary District

$1,000,000 to build an artificial turf field at Sutherland Elementary School

$1,200,000 for the rehabilitation of reservoirs in Palos Hills

Earlier this month, Rep. Casten secured funding for two additional Community Funding Projects; $950,000 for research equipment at Elmhurst University and nearly $1.1 million for the City of Palos Heights to ensure residents of Palos Heights and Northwestern Community Hospital have a secondary water source, should the primary source become compromised. Learn more here.

A full summary of all 15 projects secured by Rep. Casten this month, totaling $11,094,500, can be found below.

Rep. Casten’s FY 2026 Community Project Funding

Project Sponsor: Elmhurst University’s Health Sciences Research Equipment

Amount Secured: $950,000

Project Description: $950,000 for the purchase of equipment to advance cutting-edge technology research in the field of health sciences. The equipment will create a modern skills lab where researchers can practice and demonstrate assessment and intervention skills in a realistic and convenient setting. The technological settings will mirror various healthcare settings such as emergency rooms, hospital rooms, labor and delivery rooms, and operating theaters to fully immerse researchers in the clinical experience. The lab and simulation spaces will have life-like mannequins and modern medical equipment, including an anatomy table and a high-tech, 3D anatomy system. This new technology will enable researchers to conduct studies that have the potential to advance the field of health sciences significantly.

Project Sponsor: City of Palos Heights

Amount Secured: $1,092,000

Project Description: This project will upgrade the 80th Ave Pump Station to provide the City of Palos and the Northwestern Community Hospital with a secondary water source in an event the primary source becomes compromised.

Project Sponsor: Board of Education of the City of Chicago, Sutherland Elementary

Amount Secured: $1,000,000

Project Description: This project would build an artificial turf field at Sutherland Elementary School. Incorporating sustainable green infrastructure and spaces in the city of Chicago, using artificial turf, would benefit the residents of District 6. The outdoor spaces at Sutherland are heavily utilized by students and the community for a wide range of activities. A turf field provides multiple benefits to the community.

Project Sponsor: DuPage County Health Department

Amount Secured: $600,000

Project Description: The funding would be used for solar panels and energy efficient windows in our group homes to offset the expense of utilities in these homes and would result in a reduction in expenditures in the accounting unit that supports these programs.

Project Sponsor: Village of Crestwood

Amount Secured: $250,000

Project Description: This funding would be used for the installation of approximately 2,000 lineal feet of 6” water main utilizing the open-cut method. This work also entails the installation of valves, hydrants, and fittings.

Project Sponsor: Village of Glen Ellyn

Amount Secured: $2,000,000

Project Description: The funding would be used to replace the existing Metra Commuter Station in Downtown Glen Ellyn including a Pedestrian Underpass of the UP-West Line.

Project Sponsor: Westmont Park District

Amount Secured: $500,000

Project Description: The funding would be used for the implementation of a permeable paver parking lot that will improve ground water infiltration and water quality.

Project Sponsor: Worth Park District

Amount Secured: $302,500

Project Description: The park area (developed in 1993) has deteriorated over the years with cracked and heaved concrete, broken and loose pavers and flood-prone areas. In addition to continuing moving forward in being an unattractive and dilapidated site, the area has become unsafe, especially for those with disabilities. This funding would allow for reconstruction and rehabilitation of the site.

Project Sponsor: City of Palos Hills

Amount Secured: $1,200,000

Project Description: The funding would be used for rehabilitation work, including the lining and painting of the reservoirs, and the purchase and installation of the scrubber.

Project Sponsor: Salt Creek Sanitary District

Amount Secured: $850,000

Project Description: This funding would be used to improve the District’s Wastewater Treatment Plant (WWTP) to reduce phosphorus to Salt Creek.

Project Sponsor: Village of Palos Park

Amount Secured: $500,000

Project Description: The funding would be used for the replacement of Pump Nos. 1 and 2 and associated piping.

Project Sponsor: DuPage Water Commission

Amount Secured: $500,000

Project Description: The funding would be used to carry out necessary activities for its Regional Source Water Project including electric grid stability and electric supply analysis.

Project Sponsor: City of Countryside

Amount Secured: $250,000

Project Description: The City will utilize community project funding to acquire real property and construct a new public works facility.

Project Sponsor: Village of Willowbrook

Amount Secured: $850,000

Project Description: This project would be used for the construction and engineering associated with new water main installation and replacement along 75th Street between Sheridan Drive and Brookbank Road.

Project Sponsor: Village of Lombard

Amount Secured: $250,000

Project Description: This project includes the replacement and upgrade of the four (4") inch water main on the blocks of Craig, Stewart, and Lombard. The project will increase water flow to these residents improving water quality and fire flows

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Casten to Vote Against DHS Funding Bill That Fails to Rein in ICE

Washington, D.C. — U.S. Congressman Sean Casten (IL-06) will vote against appropriations for the Department of Homeland Security for Fiscal Year 2026 and released the following statement:

“The Department of Homeland Security funding bill set to be considered by the House does not meaningfully end the lawless conduct from ICE that we have seen in Illinois and throughout the country. Congress, having the power of the purse, had an opportunity to respond to the murder and baseless arrests of American citizens, the cruel and inhumane conditions detainees are subjected to, and the denial of due process to both citizens and non-citizens. This bill not only fails to impose real accountability, but it also asks Congress to keep funding ICE’s illegal actions, including entering homes without judicial warrants. It reflects a failure of Congress’s constitutional duty to act as a check on an out-of-control Executive Branch that is operating without accountability.

“To be clear, Democratic appropriators demanded the inclusion of provisions to rein in ICE, but Republicans chose to move forward with a bill without enforceable limits, oversight, or consequences, despite the chaos these operations have inflicted on communities. The Department of Homeland Security should be focused on securing our borders and keeping our communities safe. As we have seen in the last year, when ICE descends on a community, brutality and violence erupt.

“The American people deserve better than the current leadership at the Department of Homeland Security. I cannot in good conscience vote to fund their continued failures.”


U.S. Rep. Kathy Castor Votes “No” on DHS Funding Bill Due To Ongoing Abuses

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, U.S. Rep. Kathy Castor (FL-14) released a statement on House Republicans’ legislation to fund the Department of Homeland Security and Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE):

“The militarization of American cities is dangerous and un-American. At Donald Trump’s direction, ICE has discarded its core mission and is operating without accountability—targeting and terrorizing nonviolent people, violating Americans’ constitutional rights, and fueling fear in communities across the country.

“The Trump Administration promised to focus on violent felons. Instead, agents have grown more reckless. Last year, 32 people died in ICE custody – the most in decades. American citizens have been detained and brutalized, mothers ripped from their babies, and an American murdered in the street.

“Congress must rein in this lawlessness. House Democrats fought to strengthen oversight, accountability, and Civil Rights protections. Unfortunately, House Republicans rejected those safeguards in allegiance to Trump over country. By voting for this legislation, House Republicans are enabling significant abuses of power they claim to oppose. I cannot sanction taxpayer dollars being misused to brutalize U.S. citizens and immigrant families, so I voted no.”


U.S. Rep. Kathy Castor Statement on Appropriations Package

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, U.S. Rep. Kathy Castor (FL-14) voted to pass the final Fiscal Year 2025 “minibus” appropriations bill, a package of 3 funding bills that will help address higher energy costs and build stronger and safer communities.

“It’s heartening to see Democrats and Republicans come together to reject the harmful budget cuts proposed by the Trump Administration. Democrats also forced Republicans to strip many harmful policies from the funding bills and put guardrails on some of the worst tangents of the President. In the end, the appropriations package is good news for working families, seniors, students, Veterans, military families, and the economic engines of the Tampa Bay area.

“For example, the funding package rejects Trump’s proposed cuts to lifesaving medical research that benefits patients, the Moffitt Cancer Center, University of South Florida and local researchers. The package also rejects proposals to cut funding for K-12 education, including students in Hillsborough and Pinellas Public Schools. The package provides critical resources to modernize air traffic control facilities, hire thousands of new air traffic controllers, and keep our skies safe. And it fully delivers the 3.8 percent pay raise our service members have earned, honoring their sacrifice and ensuring military families can better keep up with rising costs.”

“A significant number of Tampa Bay area community priority projects I championed are funded to support housing, transit, schools and neighborhoods across the Bay area. These investments will lower the cost of living, boost opportunities through skills training, create jobs, support Veterans, and address housing affordability.

“I’m grateful to my Democratic colleagues for standing strong to reject extreme cuts pushed by MAGA Republicans following shutdowns, showdowns and continuing resolutions.”

The package now goes to the Senate for action next week and then to the President’s desk.

Castor’s previous Community Funding Projects have secured billions of dollars in investments in the Tampa Bay area for projects ranging from transportation and infrastructure to affordable housing to education and research.

Castor Community Funding Projects

Ed White Senior Housing Redevelopment – Housing Authority of the City of St. Petersburg - $3,150,000

This funding would be for the conversion of a former hospital into 71 units of affordable housing for low-income elderly residents with supportive services on site and clean, efficient energy upgrades.

Ferry Dock at the St. Pete Pier – Pinellas Suncoast Transit Authority - $850,000

This funding would be used to construct a permanent ferry dock to be used by the ferry service to connect two major cities through efficient public transit, spur economic development, increase tourism opportunities, and reduce local congestion.

HCPS Family Community Center – Hillsborough County Public Schools - $2,000,000

This funding would be used to support the physical expansion of an integral support center for students and families in Hillsborough County to allow for more tutoring services and digital literacy activities for families.

Robles Park Village Critical Infrastructure – Housing Authority of the City of Tampa - $1,200,000

This funding would be used to support critical infrastructure for the new Robles Park Village Redevelopment, which will increase affordable housing, generate employment opportunities, and connect residents to community services.

Castor has secured significant federal investments in the Robles Park redevelopment, including $4,000,000 for an innovative Smart HUB and funding to support critical infrastructure, through previous Community Funding Requests and federal grants.

88th Avenue North Storm Drainage Improvements – City of St. Petersburg - $1,145,144

This funding would be used to alleviate flooding, bolster stormwater system capacity, and reduce risk to property damage in an area impacted by frequent heavy rain events.

Chamberlain High School Technical Training Center – Hillsborough County Public Schools - $250,000

This funding would be used to expand academic and workforce opportunities for high school students to meet Tampa Bay’s growing economy and allow students to gain hands-on experience and industry-recognized skills.

Hillsborough Community College Artificial Intelligence Center – Hillsborough Community College - $250,000

This funding would be used to establish a high-tech Artificial Intelligence Center to provide a critical career pipeline to in-demand jobs, strengthen American competitiveness, and support a local community college as an economic engine.

MLK Street South Flooding Alleviation – City of St. Petersburg - $1,145,144

This funding would be used to elevate and improve MLK Street South from 30th Avenue South to 36th Avenue South to address persistent flooding events in a major thoroughfare in South St. Petersburg.

San Martin Boulevard Bridge Replacement – Pinellas County - $850,000

The funding would be used for the replacement of the San Martin Boulevard Bridge, improving connectivity for St. Petersburg residents, rehabilitating an important hurricane evacuation route, and providing the final link of the 75-mile Pinellas Trail loop for pedestrian and bicycle access.

SMART Tech Industry 4.0 Lab – St. Petersburg College - $850,000

This funding would be used to create a lab to provide training and education for today’s high-tech manufacturing workforce in South St. Petersburg, improving the pipeline for jobs in the semiconductor, mechatronics, automation, and robotics industries.

USF Veteran Workforce Support Center – University of South Florida St. Petersburg Campus - $3,000,000

The funding would be used to support a clean and efficient energy remodel of an aging, hurricane-damaged facility to expand resources, career counseling, and workforce training to student veterans and military-connected students.

West River Walk Expansion – City of Tampa - $250,000

This funding would be used to complete the 12.2-mile pedestrian and bicycle path along the Hillsborough River, expanding safe mobility options between jobs, schools, and homes while restoring the native shoreline.