Congresswoman Beatty Moves to Break Barriers Blocking Women from Lifesaving Heart Care

WASHINGTON, D.C. — This week, Congresswoman Joyce Beatty [D-OH-3], in recognition of American Heart Month, reintroduced the bipartisan Women’s Heart Health Expansion Act to reauthorize and expand access to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s (CDC) Well-Integrated Screening and Evaluation for Women Across the Nation (WISEWOMAN) program, which provides free cardiovascular risk screenings and lifestyle support services to low-income, uninsured, and underinsured women ages 35–64.

The WISEWOMAN program currently operates in only a limited number of states and tribal organizations, restricting access for women at highest risk of heart disease.

Under existing law, women must not only be eligible for the National Breast and Cervical Cancer Early Detection Program (NBCCEDP), but also be a recipient of NBCCEDP services to be referred to WISEWOMAN. This requirement unnecessarily restricts participation. The Women’s Heart Health Expansion Act would give CDC, states, and tribal organizations the flexibility to develop additional referral pathways and permit other health care providers to participate in the WISEWOMAN program, significantly expanding access. The bill also authorizes $250 million for WISEWOMAN over the next five years to support nationwide expansion and meet increased demand.

“Heart disease is the number one killer of women in America, yet too many women are still denied access to the screenings that could save their lives,” said Congresswoman Beatty. “That is unacceptable. The WISEWOMAN program works, but outdated restrictions are limiting who it can reach. This bill removes those barriers, expands providers, and invests $250 million to take lifesaving prevention nationwide. Black women and other women of color face the highest risks and the worst outcomes. That is not inevitable, it is preventable. The WISEWOMAN program helps low income women know their numbers before heart disease becomes fatal. Women’s heart health must be prioritized, funded, and protected.”

This bill is cosponsored by the following Members of Congress: Rep. Rosa L. DeLauro, [D-CT-3], Rep.Christopher Smith [R-NJ-4], Rep. Juan Ciscomani [R-AZ-6], Rep. Brian K. Fitzpatrick [R-PA-1], Rep. Sanford D. Bishop [D-GA-2], Rep. Michael Lawler [R-NY-17], Rep. Lois Frankel [D-FL-22], Rep. Gwen Moore [D-WI-4], Rep. Debbie Dingell [D-MI-6], Rep. Sheila Cherfilus-McCormick, [D-FL-20] and Rep. Shontel Brown [D-OH-11].

Cardiovascular disease is the leading cause of death in the United States and accounts for 12 percent of total U.S. health expenditures, more than any other disease.

Women experience disproportionately high rates of preventable heart-related illness and death, and more than half of American women do not recognize heart disease as their leading health threat. Disparities worsen across race, ethnicity, and socioeconomic status. The Women’s Heart Health Expansion Act is a critical step toward closing those gaps and reducing preventable deaths.

"We know heart disease is not just costing American lives, but it is also costing us financially– accounting for 12 percent of total U.S. health expenditures. We must do all we can to prevent this disease and ultimately save lives. The Women's Heart Health Expansion Act provides critical screenings and services to help women catch and treat heart disease early," said Senator Alsobrooks.

“Heart disease is the leading cause of death for women in the United States, and it disproportionately affects women of color,” said Rep. DeLauro. “The Center for Disease Control’s WISEWOMAN program, which I was proud to help establish in 1993, provides needed services to women who struggle with accessing healthcare – to ensure that they receive the treatment they need to prevent and overcome heart disease and lower their risk of death. I am proud to partner with Congresswoman Beatty on this lifesaving legislation that will expand access to cardiovascular disease screenings and support services, and will continue to fight to ensure all women have access to the healthcare they need to thrive.”

"Historically and unnecessarily, women have experienced delayed diagnoses, ineffective treatments, and poor prognoses when it comes to cardiovascular disease (CVD) prevention, management, and care. Information, awareness, and access to critical cardio-health services can and will save women’s lives,” said Rep. Chris Smith. "To combat the systemic gaps in health care and to improve the outcomes of women suffering from CVD, I am proud to introduce the Women’s Heart Health Expansion Act alongside my fellow Congressional Coalition on Heart and Stroke Co-Chair, Rep. Joyce Beatty (D-OH). This critical legislation reauthorizes and expands the CDC’s WISEWOMAN program, ensuring that more at-risk women can benefit from the program’s free-of-charge cardiovascular health services, regardless of financial constraints or insurance coverage."

“Cardiovascular disease remains the No. 1 killer of women, and nearly 45% of women over age 20 are already living with some form of it. Raising awareness and promoting prevention is essential. This includes helping more women ‘know their numbers’ and expanding access to screenings to detect risk early,” said Mark Schoeberl EVP of Advocacy, American Heart Association. “The Women’s Heart Health Expansion Act would broaden and strengthen the WISEWOMAN program to ensure more women get preventive care and the support they need to protect their heart health. The American Heart Association is grateful to Congresswoman Beatty for her steadfast leadership in championing policies that help ensure every woman has the opportunity for a longer, healthier life.”

“WomenHeart strongly supports the Women’s Heart Health Expansion Act because it expands access to lifesaving prevention for women who are too often overlooked by our health care system,” said Celina Gorre, CEO of WomenHeart. “By strengthening the CDC’s WISEWOMAN program, this legislation helps ensure more low-income women can receive early screening, education, and follow-up care for heart disease and stroke. Prevention saves lives, and this bill is a critical step toward closing longstanding gaps in women’s heart health and advancing equity in cardiovascular care.”

“By strengthening and expanding the WISEWOMAN program, this legislation directly addresses longstanding gaps that have contributed to preventable disparities in outcomes. For too long, women’s cardiovascular health—especially for Black women—has been overlooked in prevention and early care. This bill brings us closer to a future where women’s heart health is recognized, prioritized, and protected by recognizing the urgency of investing in targeted, equitable approaches that prioritize early detection, strengthen care pathways, and improve outcomes across generations.” — Anthony Fletcher, MD, FACC, President, Association of Black Cardiologists

“The Partnership to Advance Cardiovascular Health applauds efforts to strengthen and expand preventive cardiovascular services for women. By enhancing the WISEWOMAN program to support blood pressure and cholesterol screenings as well as appropriate referrals and follow-up care, this legislation addresses critical gaps in early detection and management of heart disease — the leading cause of death among women in the United States.” — Emma Maron, Advocacy Director, Partnership to Advance Cardiovascular Health

This bill is endorsed by the following organizations:

The American Heart Association, The Adult Congenital Heart Association, The Association of Black Cardiologists, WomenHeart, Heart Valve Voice U.S., Partnership to Advance Cardiovascular Health (PACH), Healthy Women, Women’s Heart Alliance, Arrhythmia Alliance, Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy Association (HCMA), The Mended Hearts, Inc., StopAfib.org, Physician-Patient Alliance for Health & Safety, Alliance for Aging Research, and Preventive Cardiovascular Nurses Association (PCNA)

Click HERE for the full bill text.

###


Statement from Congressman Nick Begich on House Passage of the SAVE America Act

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Feb. 11, 2026 – Congressman Nick Begich (R-AK) released the following statement following the House passage of the Safeguard American Voter Eligibility (SAVE) America Act, legislation he co-sponsored to strengthen election integrity:

“The passage of the SAVE America Act is instrumental in strengthening election integrity and restoring trust in our election process. This legislation reinforces the foundational principle that the United States must be the gold standard for secure and transparent elections. American elections are for American citizens. Additionally, American elections must engender trust by ensuring each vote is cast by a valid voter. These basic principles are broadly supported by Americans from all ideological persuasions and walks of life, and I am proud to see this legislation pass the House.”

###


Rep. Bera in Substack: Why I Oppose the "SAVE America Act"

WASHINGTON, D.C. — Today, Representative Ami Bera, M.D. (CA-06) released a video statement on “Ami’s Substack” explaining why he will vote against the SAVE America Act.

You can watch the full video here and read his statement below:

This afternoon, we’re going to vote on something called the SAVE America Act. On paper, the Safeguard American Voter Eligibility Act sounds pretty good, but it would fundamentally change how you can register to vote.

Under this bill, you’d have to show proof of citizenship—and that would not include a driver’s license or a military ID. For most Americans, it would mean having to show a passport or a birth certificate.

That would upend voter registration drives—efforts that everyday citizens participate in—and it would make it much harder to register to vote online. In California, we actually have made it a lot easier for folks to register to vote.

This is totally unnecessary.

We’ve seen case after case where people allege voter fraud, but it’s actually very rare in the United States. Think about the 2020 presidential election: President Trump filed multiple lawsuits, his supporters filed multiple lawsuits, and time and again, when ballots were reviewed and recounted, it was incredibly rare that any were thrown out or that actual voter fraud was found.

The SAVE Act is also a real problem because it would disproportionately harm some voters, including in red states.

In America, your vote is your voice. That’s how we express our opinions—by voting for individuals, voting for propositions, voting for ballot measures we support, or voting against the ones we don’t. It’s incredibly important that we encourage every American to vote in our elections. That’s core to our democracy—and this act makes it harder.

It would also discriminate against women. A lot of women—over 50%—change their names when they get married. That means the name they currently use may not match their birth certificate, so they may not be able to use their birth certificate as proof.

Additionally, the majority of Americans don’t have passports; disproportionately, it’s wealthier, college-educated Americans who do. So this would disproportionately impact lower-income folks and people without a college education.

I’m all about protecting the integrity of our elections—but the SAVE Act doesn’t do that. It makes it much harder for Americans to register to vote and to cast their ballots.


Beyer, Buchanan Introduce Bipartisan Legislation to Protect Hospitals from Natural Disasters

Congressman Don Beyer (D-VA) and Congressman Vern Buchanan (R-FL), Vice Chairman of the House Ways and Means Committee, today introduced the bipartisan Protecting Hospitals from Disaster Act to help hospitals, clinics, and other health care facilities prepare for extreme weather and natural disasters without compromising patient care and routine services. The bill would expand the role of Quality Improvement Organizations (QIO) to provide direct support to health care providers as they prepare for and respond to disasters, including mitigating physical risks to facilities and reducing chronic health risks to patients.

“While health care facilities and the professionals who staff them regularly demonstrate remarkable resilience amid increasingly frequent and severe natural disasters, many face impossible choices between preparing and responding to severe weather and keeping up day-to-day operations,” said Rep. Don Beyer. “Thankfully, Congress has already established pathways through QIOs to help providers avoid choosing between delivering today’s care and improving tomorrow’s. Our Protecting Hospitals from Disaster Act would explicitly task QIOs with helping providers prepare for and respond to disasters, while giving them the resources they need to deliver high-quality care even in the most extreme circumstances.”

“After devastating hurricanes like Milton and Helene, Florida hospitals have shown extraordinary resilience, but when facilities are forced to close or evacuate, lives are put at risk,” said Rep. Vern Buchanan. “Our health care system must be prepared, providers should never have to choose between storm readiness and caring for patients. As Chairman of the Ways and Means Health Subcommittee, I’m committed to strengthening the Medicare program through Quality Improvement Organizations that support providers before, during and after disasters. I’m proud to introduce the Protecting Hospitals from Disaster Act with Congressman Don Beyer to help hospitals stay operational, protect vulnerable patients and ensure continuity of care when it matters most.”

As extreme weather events have become more frequent, deadlier, and more costly, health care providers have not been immune from damaging effects. Between 2000 and 2017, there were 114 natural disaster-related hospital evacuations in the United States, more than half of which required the evacuation of over 100 patients.

Most Medicare providers, like hospitals, dialysis facilities, and clinics, don’t have the resources and technical knowledge to address the dual challenges of responding to severe weather while maintaining day-to-day operations. In such cases, Quality Improvement Organizations (QIOs) could play a pivotal role in providing the support necessary to respond to extreme weather threats and implement critical mitigation strategies. QIOs are private, mostly non-profit organizations that are required by law to contract with the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services to provide technical assistance and implement care quality improvements in specific geographic and clinical areas. These organizations are widely trusted partners within the medical community with a localized, on-the-ground perspective and a deep understanding of Medicare programs and their rules.

The Protecting Hospitals from Disaster Act would dedicate funding for QIOs’ emergency preparedness work, enabling QIOs to work with lower-resourced providers to close gaps in preparedness and performance, improve the quality of Medicare services, and help ensure continuity of health services during disasters.


House Votes To End Trump’s Tariffs On Canada

Congressman Don Beyer (D-VA), ), who serves on the House Ways and Means Subcommittee on Trade, today hailed the passage of a House measure to end President Trump’s tariffs on Canada, America’s neighbor and close ally to the north, which has been significantly alienated over the past year by Trump’s tariffs, tantrums, bullying and threats. The measure now goes to the Senate, which previously passed similar legislation led by Virginia Senator Tim Kaine.

“President Trump’s tariffs have crushed our economy, raised prices, and alienated our allies for the past year. These effects have been particularly harmful to our strategic and economic relationship with Canada, one of our closest allies and largest trading partners. Despite the clear harm to American interests from these tariffs, House Republicans steadfastly refused to even allow a vote in Congress – which has sole authority under the Constitution to regulate taxes and trade – until now. And with this massive vote to rebuke Trump’s disastrous trade policy, everyone now knows why.

“The President admitted yesterday that he imposed tariffs on an American trading partner simply because he didn’t like a foreign leader’s tone. Donald Trump’s mercurial whims are not a national security emergency, yet his administration has dishonestly claimed in court that his tariffs are necessitated by a fictitious national emergency. In fact, new reporting strongly suggests that his latest feud with Canada is primarily motivated by a corrupt desire to benefit political allies of disgraced Secretary of Commerce Howard Lutnick.

“The American people see through all of this, which is one reason why Trump’s tariffs are deeply unpopular. I am glad that some of my Republican colleagues have finally chosen to do the right thing, although the vote says that Speaker Johnson is correct when he says ‘the vast majority of House Republicans agree wholeheartedly with the president’ on trade and will continue to ‘give him the latitude to continue’ his price-raising tariffs. We will have more votes to come on Trump’s tariffs, and I encourage Republicans to do the right thing, stand up to Trump, and vote to lower prices for their constituents.”

Economic analysis by the Tax Foundation finds that Trump’s tariffs cost American families $1,000 last year, while similar analysis from Congress’ Joint Economic Committee put the figure at $1,625.

Beyer chairs the New Democrat Coalition’s Trade Task Force, and is the sponsor of the Congressional Trade Authority Act, which would rein in presidential abuses of authorities under Section 232 of the Trade Expansion Act of 1962.


Scott Statement on January Jobs Report

As originally released by the Committee on Education and Workforce, Democrats

WASHINGTON – Ranking Member Robert C. “Bobby” Scott (VA-03), House Committee on Education and Workforce, released the following statement after the Bureau of Labor Statistics announced that the economy added 130,000 jobs in January, and the unemployment rate ticked down from 4.4 percent to 4.3 percent.

“The economy is not working for the American public. Since President Trump’s so-called ‘Liberation Day,’ more Americans are out of work and struggling to find a good job. And even people who have found stable employment are being squeezed by the high cost of living, health care, housing, childcare, and utilities. Too many people who work hard can't afford the little extras to have a good life – like owning a home, taking your family on vacation, or going out to eat.

“Today’s jobs report validates the failure of this administration’s economic policies. The revised Bureau of Labor Statistics report finds that the total number of jobs created in calendar year 2025, when President Trump returned to office, was only 181,000 — a number the Biden Administration typically exceeded in a single month during his term in office. And while President Biden did not experience a month of job loss until President Trump was sworn in, the Trump Administration has already experienced three months of job loss in the first 11 months of this term. That is not the kind of economic performance working families were promised.

“According to theBureau of Labor Statistics, the portion of U.S. GDP heading to workers in the form of compensation is now at its lowest level in its more than 75-year history. That means workers are increasingly taking home a smaller share of the wealth they helped create despite increased productivity. At the same time, wealth at the very top has surged—over the past year alone, the 10 richest U.S. billionaires increased their fortunes by nearly $700 billion.

“An economy cannot be considered strong when people are working harder but are falling further behind. Congressional Democrats are committed to policies that lower costs, raise wages, and make it possible not just to survive—but to thrive.”

To see a chart comparing the cumulative seasonally adjusted job change by month between President Trump's first and second terms, and President Biden's presidency, click here.

To see a chart comparing the total job change between President Trump's first 12 months and President Biden's first 12 months in office, click here.

###


BOST ISSUES STATEMENT ON HOUSE PASSAGE OF THE SAVE AMERICA ACT

“I voted for the SAVE America Act because the right to vote in American elections belongs to American citizens, period. This bill puts commonsense safeguards in place by requiring proof of citizenship to register, photo ID to cast a ballot, and real accountability to clean up voter rolls. If we can require an ID to board a plane, rent an apartment, drive a car, or buy prescription medication, we can require it to vote. The American people deserve elections they can trust, and I will never apologize for fighting to protect the integrity of their vote.”


Boyle Statement on House Vote to Terminate Trump’s Canada Tariffs

WASHINGTON, DC – Congressman Brendan F. Boyle (PA-02), Ranking Member of the House Budget Committee and a member of the Ways and Means Committee, issued the following statement after the House voted to terminate President Trump’s tariffs on Canadian imports:

“President Trump’s reckless tariffs are a tax increase on working families, and they are making the cost-of-living crisis worse.

For months, I have been sounding the alarm about these tax hikes and fighting to end them. Meanwhile, Republicans have continued to protect tax breaks for the ultra-wealthy while the President’s policies drive costs higher for everyone else.

Today, a small number of Republicans finally joined the effort to limit some of the damage. But the vast majority of them continue to enable Trump’s agenda, despite tariffs costing American families a staggering $1,700.

I will keep using every tool available to roll back these foolish tariffs and lower costs for the American people.”

For more information on the Trump-Republican cost-of-living crisis in congressional districts across the United States, visit the Committee’s website at democrats-budget.house.gov/costofliving.

###


Buchanan, Mast and Colleagues Introduce Bipartisan, Bicameral Legislation to Protect Pets and Families During Disasters

“For Millions of Families, Pets Are Part of the Family and in Disaster-Prone States Like Florida, Families Often Won’t Evacuate If They Can’t Bring Them, Putting Lives at Risk.”

Legislation Expands Use of Existing Emergency Funds to Improve Animal Evacuation and Sheltering

WASHINGTON — Congressman Vern Buchanan, co-chair of the Animal Protection Caucus and co-chair of the 30-member bipartisan Florida congressional delegation, recently joined Representatives Brian Mast (R-Fla.), Dina Titus (D-Nev.) and Judy Chu (D-Cal) to introduce the bipartisan Providing Essential Temporary Shelter Assistance for Emergencies (PETSAFE) Act. Senator Adam Schiff introduced companion legislation in the Senate.

The PETSAFE Act aims to strengthen emergency preparedness for companion animals. During hurricanes, wildfires and other emergencies, families are often forced to evacuate with little notice. For pet owners, evacuation can present an impossible choice: leave their pets behind or stay home and risk their own safety. Too often, families choose the latter, endangering themselves and complicating rescue efforts for first responders. The bill addresses these challenges by expanding the allowable use of existing emergency management grants so state and local governments can better prepare for animal evacuation, sheltering, veterinary care, training and specialized rescue equipment during disasters.

“For millions of families, pets are part of the family and in disaster-prone states like Florida, families often won’t evacuate if they can’t bring them, putting lives at risk,” said Buchanan. “The PETSAFE Act improves preparedness and removes unnecessary cost barriers, so states and local governments have the flexibility they need to protect animals, families and first responders during hurricanes and other emergencies. As co-chair of the Congressional Animal Protection Caucus, I am proud to join Congressman Brian Mast in leading this commonsense, bipartisan effort.”

“When we plan better for animals, we save human lives too,” said Mast. “This bill helps communities prepare smarter, respond faster, and keep families together when disaster strikes.”

“Protecting pets during disasters is not just compassionate, it is responsible. As an original supporter of the bipartisan PETSAFE Act, I am advancing a practical, lifesaving approach that helps families evacuate safely without leaving their furry friends behind,” said Titus.

“When the Eaton Fire tore through my district, so many families were forced into an impossible choice. As a result, many families delayed evacuating because they couldn’t bear to leave their pets behind. Thankfully, local shelters and community members across California stepped up to care for animals of all kinds that had to be relocated out of the fire’s path,” said Chu. “Disasters like these make it clear that emergency planning must also account for the safety and wellbeing of pets. That’s why I’m teaming up with Representative Brian Mast and Senator Adam Schiff to introduce the PETSAFE Act. Our bill would ensure that state and local governments can utilize FEMA grant money to purchase the resources they need to protect animals during disasters,” she added.

“Our pets are part of our families, and when disaster strikes, it’s important that communities have the resources to ensure they aren’t left behind. I’m proud to partner with Representative Brian Mast to reintroduce this legislation which will help us protect our animals during major disasters and emergencies,” said Schiff.

The legislation is supported by the ASPCA, Florida State Animal Response Coalition, Florida Association of Animal Welfare Organizations, Humane Society of Tampa Bay, Florida Animal Protection and Advocacy Association, Flagler Humane Society and the Humane Society of the Treasure Coast.

“Americans consider their pets to be a part of the family, and many won’t evacuate during an emergency without them. Empowering communities to include animals in emergency response plans is critical to preventing further devastation and helps save the lives of animals, families, and first responders,” said Daniel Leonardini, director of federal legislation for the ASPCA. “We are grateful to Representatives Mast and Titus for introducing the PETSAFE Act to give communities the tools they need to better prepare and care for pets before, during, and after disasters, which will ease the burden on already overwhelmed shelters and ensure taxpayer dollars are used more effectively.”

“Animal shelters in Florida and across the country are constantly operating at capacity regarding animals in their care daily. When disaster strikes a community, animal shelters bear the burden for animal care during disaster response. Our organization provides sheltering services for pets of first responders, those living in mandatory evacuation zones, and stray animals that have been displaced. The PETSAFE Act is critical legislation that will help communities across Florida better prepare, respond, and recover from disasters and ensure that we have the resources needed to care for our beloved companions,” said Frank Valente, President and CEO of the Humane Society of the Treasure Coast.

Under current law, many animal preparedness efforts are limited by high local cost-share requirements. The PETSAFE Act lowers that barrier by increasing the federal cost share for eligible companion-animal preparedness activities from 50 percent to 90 percent, making it more affordable for communities to put comprehensive plans in place. By strengthening preparedness before emergencies occur, the bill ensures communities have the tools, supplies, and coordination needed to execute safe, organized evacuations that protect pets, their owners and emergency personnel alike.

Buchanan is a longtime bipartisan leader on animal welfare and disaster preparedness. His legislation to ban animal cruelty and torture nationwide was signed into law in 2019, one of the most significant federal animal-protection reforms in U.S. history. As co-chair of the Congressional Animal Protection Caucus and co-chair of the Florida congressional delegation, Buchanan has supported hurricane recovery efforts and commonsense policies that protect animals, families and first responders during emergencies.

###


WATCH: Carter defends election integrity, urges SAVE America Act passage on House floor

Rep. Carter speaks on the House floor

Watch the Floor Remarks Here

"Mr. Speaker, I rise today in strong and unapologetic support of the SAVE America Act - legislation that defends the integrity of our elections and makes one principle perfectly clear: U.S. elections are for U.S. citizens ONLY.

"This is not extreme; It's common sense. Citizenship matters. Sovereignty matters, and Americans alone must decide America’s future.

"Yet radical Democrats have abandoned this standard. New York City has allowed non-citizens to vote in local elections. Washington, D.C. has done the same—granting political power to foreign nationals in the capital of our nation.

"Georgia’s own senator Jon Ossoff, who once said that voter ID was 'right and appropriate,' now supports his party as reframing it as 'voter suppression'.

"The law didn’t change. Public opinion didn’t change. What changed was he – and other Democrat politicians like him – realized that illegal immigrants could no longer vote to keep Democrats in office.

"They oppose this bill because it chips away at their voting base; plain and simple.

"For years, conservatives warned that this was the radical Left’s goal, and we were mocked for it.

"But that’s exactly what Democrats are doing right now: fighting to allow illegal aliens to vote. This is not only grotesquely unjust, but it waters down the meaning of American citizenship.

"By passing this bill, we reaffirm a simple but sacred truth: American elections belong to Americans. No loopholes. No exceptions. No apologies."


Carter lauds House passage of SAVE America Act

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Rep. Earl L. “Buddy” Carter (R-GA) today lauded the House of Representatives’ passage of the SAVE America Act, a bill safeguarding U.S. election integrity by requiring proof of citizenship and a photo identification (ID) to vote.

According to an August 2025 Pew Research Center Poll, 83% of Americans support voter ID laws.

“We know illegal immigrants are exploiting flaws in our voter registration system to cast ballots and influence our elections. Every illegal vote suppresses the vote of an American citizen, and we must protect against foreign actors determining the outcome of our elections. By verifying that people are who they say they are at the polls, we will strengthen election security, eliminate fraud, increase confidence in the outcomes of our elections, and protect every law-abiding Americans’ right to vote,” said Rep. Carter. “Those opposed to this bill – including Jon Ossoff who requires ID to attend his campaign events – are more than just hypocrites; they are beneficiaries of the broken system that allows illegal immigrants to sway the outcome of elections in favor of Democrat leadership.”

Specifically, the bill will:

Require any voter to show a photo ID when they cast a ballot. Absentee and mail-in voters can attach a copy of their ID to their mail-in ballot.

Amend the National Voter Registration Act (NVRA), which has governed State voter registration since 1993, to require States to obtain documentary proof of U.S. citizenship – in person – when registering an individual to vote in a federal election.

Require States to check for noncitizens and other ineligible registrants on their voter rolls at least once a month.

Direct States to create a procedure for addressing discrepancies in documentation so that no eligible voter is disqualified due to a name change.

Allow eligible voters to register and provide documentary proof of citizenship by mail, provided their State allows early voting or same-day voter registration.

Allow eligible voters to cast a provisional ballot if they forget to bring necessary paperwork on Election Day.


Carter bill securing U.S. undersea cables passes House

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Rep. Earl L. “Buddy” Carter (R-GA) and Senator Marsha Blackburn (R-TN) today celebrated the House of Representatives passing their Undersea Cable Protection Act, a bill strengthening national security and global connectivity by safeguarding the United States’ submarine cable infrastructure.

The bill, which now heads to the Senate, accomplishes these goals by ensuring diversity of routes for national security, eliminating duplicative permitting laws, and promoting rather than delaying the deployment and maintenance of submarine cables. It also preserves existing local, state, and federal permitting rules and protects national marine sanctuaries.

“By passing this bill, we are advancing President Trump’s mandate to strengthen national security and cut burdensome red tape. Streamlining and improving the permitting processes behind our submarine cable infrastructure will help advance global connectivity and speed up deployment and maintenance, ensuring our cables are not subject to attacks from hostile foreign nations such as China,” said Rep. Carter.

“Undersea networks are a major component of global connectivity and our digital economy,” said Senator Blackburn. “The Undersea Cable Protection Act would ensure that undersea cables can be built and preserved without duplicative, burdensome, and unnecessary federal regulations. I’m thrilled to see this pass the House, and I’m looking forward to its passage in the Senate, which will deliver a critical win for America’s digital infrastructure, national security, and economic competitiveness.”

"Undersea cables carry our global internet traffic and digital communications, serving as a critical piece of infrastructure that keeps us connected to the world. Because of burdensome federal regulations that impose undue burdens on projects, we haven’t laid new cables in marine sanctuaries in more than 20 years. Rep. Carter’s bill helps cut red tape, ensuring the United States can meet future technological demands," said House Committee on Natural Resources Chairman Bruce Westerman (R-AR)

Read full bill text here.


WATCH: Carter champions his Undersea Cable permitting reform bill on House floor

Rep. Carter speaks on the House floor

Watch the Floor Remarks Here

"Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of my bill, H.R. 261, the Undersea Cable Protection Act of 2025.

"Undersea fiber optic cables carry roughly 95 percent of all intercontinental internet traffic and nearly all transoceanic digital communications.

"Trillions of dollars in financial transactions - trillions! Global trade data, cloud computing, and secure government communications depend on these cables every single day.

"They are critical infrastructure, just as essential as ports, as pipelines, or power grids.

"Yet despite their importance, the United States has allowed overregulation and duplicative permitting to stand in the way of deploying and maintaining this infrastructure.

"Especially on the West Coast, where permitting delays and overlapping approvals have made it effectively impossible to lay new cables in certain areas for decades.

"The [Natural Resources] Chairman [Bruce Westerman] just described what we're talking about here.

"These projects weren’t stopped because they failed environmental review.

"They were stopped because of bureaucracy.

"That is the problem H.R. 261 is designed to fix.

"Today, even when an undersea cable project has already received full authorization from a federal or state agency, it can still be forced through an additional, duplicative permitting process within national marine sanctuaries.

"That extra layer adds years of delay, drives up costs, and discourages investment without providing meaningful environmental protection.

"H.R. 261 clarifies that once a project has been lawfully approved at the state and federal levels, it should not be required to obtain an additional permit for the same activity.

"And let me be clear: This bill does not weaken environmental protections.

"All existing environmental laws, reviews, and interagency coordination requirements remain fully intact.

"This is about eliminating redundancy—not eliminating oversight.

"This matters for states like Georgia.

"Georgia’s economy depends on global connectivity, from the Port of Savannah and our logistics and supply chain networks to manufacturing, defense contractors, data centers, and a growing technology sector.

"Reliable undersea cable infrastructure supports jobs, it supports trade, and economic growth across the country.

"There is also a serious national security component to this.

"Undersea cables carry sensitive government and military communications.

"Delays in installing, repairing, or maintaining this infrastructure create real vulnerability to our national security.

"Even today, our adversaries like China are actively targeting global communications networks, especially cutting undersea cables that connect us to our allies like Japan, Korea, and Taiwan.

"Secure, resilient connectivity is not optional; It is a strategic necessity.

"H.R. 261 is the solution that offers a balanced, commonsense solution.

"It cuts unnecessary red tape, it preserves environmental safeguards, it strengthens our economy, and most importantly, it protects America’s national security.

"I implore this Congress to pass this legislation to secure America’s technological dominance and fortify our national security."


Bynum Nominates 23 Oregon Students for Consideration to U.S Service Academies

Congresswoman Janelle Bynum (OR-05) announced the nomination of 23 Oregon students to the elite United States Service Academies. Four retired veterans representing Naval, West Point, Air Force, and Merchant Marine Academies made up Bynum’s Service Academy Board. The board evaluated the applicants based on academic performance, extracurricular involvement, and character.

“I am honored to nominate these outstanding young Oregonians to the United States Service Academies,” said Rep. Bynum. “Their commitment to service, academic achievement, and civil engagement is exactly what the Academies are all about. I’d also like to thank the Service Academy Board for investing their time, energy, and expertise into the nomination process. The nominees represent the very best of Oregon, and I am confident that they will make our district proud.”

The 2025 Service Academy Nominees are as follows:

Clackamas County:

Cole Solari – Air Force Academy

Thomson Burch – Air Force Academy

Ryder Gray – Naval Academy

Wyatt Sturgeon – Air Force Academy

Logan Koelbel – Naval Academy

Derek Griffin – Air Force Academy

Claire Yates – Military Academy and Air Force Academy

Vivian Vogt – Naval Academy

Kruz Mogel – Air Force Academy

Kathryn Shurko – Merchant Marine Academy

Beckett Godfrey – Military Academy and Naval Academy

Matthew Wang – Air Force Academy and Naval Academy

Reese Wenker – Air Force Academy, Naval Academy, Military Academy

Deschutes County:

Harrison Jennrich – Naval Academy

Keira Schroeder – Military Academy

Naomi Bennette – Naval Academy and Air Force Academy

West Abrams – Military Academy

Clara Rodrigues – Air Force Academy

Walter Petkun – Air Force Academy, Naval Academy, and Military Academy

Multnomah County:

Liam Flenniken – Air Force Academy

Sawyer Best – Merchant Marine Academy

Phoebe Fisher – Naval Academy, Air Force Academy, Military Academy

Marion County:

Ester Gorelik – Air Force Academy, Military Academy, and Naval Academy

You can read more about the Congressional Service Academy Nominations here and below.

The honor of attending a Service Academy comes with the obligation and commitment to serve in the military for a minimum of five years upon graduation.

Members of Congress may nominate candidates for appointment to four of the five U.S. service academies: U.S. Military Academy (USMA), West Point, NY; the U.S. Naval Academy (USNA), Annapolis, MD; the U.S. Air Force Academy (USAFA), Colorado Springs, CO; and the U.S. Merchant Marine Academy (USMMA), Kings Point, NY. The fifth service academy, the U.S. Coast Guard Academy (USCGA), New London, CT, does not require a congressional nomination for appointment.

###


Bynum Passes Key Housing Bill Through the House

Congresswoman Janelle Bynum (OR-05) voted to pass the bipartisan, bicameral Accelerating Home Building Act, as part of a broader package, through the House, making it one step closer to becoming law. The bill will help build more and lower the cost of housing in Oregon and across the country. This bill is co-led by Congressmen Bryan Steil (WI-01), Chris Pappas (NH-01), and Brian Fitzpatrick (PA-01).

“We’re finally moving something through the House to make real progress on a key issue for Americans,” said Rep. Bynum. “I’ve said since my first day in office that the cost of housing is too high – and to fix it, we need more housing and we need it now. That’s why my bill will make it easier and faster to build a house. I’m proud that this bill is one step closer to becoming law and I’ll keep pushing for it until it is.

This is the fourth bipartisan bill Rep. Bynum has passed through the House.

Background

In a recent study of housing affordability and homebuilding, Oregon earned an ‘F,’ ranking 45th out of the 50 states. It is estimated that Oregon will likely need to build over 140,000 single-family homes by 2030 to meet demand. Moreover, delays caused by complex and restrictive permitting processes and other regulatory burdens have resulted in a nationwide housing shortage of nearly 5 million homes.

Nationwide, communities are investing in a process called pattern zoning, in which architects and local governments develop pattern books full of pre-approved, standardized plans and designs. This bipartisan bill would establish a grant program to fund the creation of these pattern books, speeding up the permitting and home building process and lowering costs for home-buyers.

Specifically, this legislation would:

Establish a pilot HUD-administered grant program to fund the creation of pattern books with a focus on missing middle and infill construction; and

Provide set-asides for rural communities and prioritize high-opportunity areas and localities working to reduce barriers to housing development.

This legislation was also introduced in the Senate by U.S. Senators Lisa Blunt Rochester (D-Del.) and Bernie Moreno (R-Ohio).

This legislation is endorsed by the American Planning Association, Congress for the New Urbanism, Up for Growth Action, National Apartment Association, Smart Growth America, Main Street America, and the National Association of REALTORS.

“NAR is grateful that Representatives Janelle Bynum (D-OR), Bryan Steil (R-WI), Chris Pappas (D-NH) and Brian Fitzpatrick (R-PA) introduced the bipartisan Accelerating Home Building Act to help address the nation’s housing affordability crisis through streamlined construction approval processes,” said Shannon McGahn, NAR Chief Advocacy Officer and Executive Vice President. “NAR recognizes that reducing regulatory barriers and streamlining approval processes are essential steps toward addressing the housing shortage affecting communities across the country. We support this legislation as part of comprehensive efforts to increase housing supply and improve affordability.”

You can view a one-pager on the legislation here and the full text of the bill here.

In Congress, Rep. Bynum is a member of the House Financial Services Committee and sits on the Subcommittee on Housing and Insurance, where she works to address the housing shortage and make life more affordable for Oregon families.


Rep. Cammack Introduces The NEST Act

WASHINGTON, D.C. — Today, Congresswoman Kat Cammack introduced the Next-Generation Equity Savings Tool (NEST) Act, legislation aimed at helping American families overcome the financial barriers to homeownership.

The NEST Act would create tax-advantaged savings accounts for first-time homebuyers, allowing individuals and families to set aside money for a down payment and closing costs in a tax-friendly way. By making it easier to save for a home, the bill seeks to expand opportunity for those priced out of the housing market and strengthen financial stability for working families.

“Homeownership remains a cornerstone of the American Dream, yet too many young families and working Americans struggle to save enough for a down payment,” said Congresswoman Cammack. “The NEST Act empowers a new generation of homebuyers to save responsibly, keep more of what they earn, and build generational wealth.

What the NEST Act Does:

Establishes tax-advantaged First-Time Homebuyer Savings Accounts under the Internal Revenue Code.

Allows above-the-line tax-deductible contributions to help families save faster.

Provides tax-free growth and tax-free withdrawals when used for qualified home purchase expenses.

Permits funds to be used for down payments, closing costs, and related financing expenses for a primary residence.

Limits eligibility to individuals who have not owned a principal residence within the prior three years.

Caps lifetime contributions at 20 percent of the state median home price to reflect local housing markets.

Allows employers to contribute to an employee’s account on a tax-free basis.

Imposes taxes and penalties on non-qualified withdrawals to protect program integrity.

###


Castro, Salazar Lead Bipartisan Effort to Extend Critical PACT Act Benefits to Panama Canal Zone Veterans

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, Congressman Joaquin Castro (D-TX) and Congresswoman María Elvira Salazar (R-FL) led more than a dozen of their colleagues in a letter urging the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) and the Department of Defense (DoD) to ensure veterans who served in the Panama Canal Zone (PCZ) and were exposed to toxic chemicals receive disability compensation through the PACT Act.

“Historical documentation reveals that the Department of Defense (DoD) transferred herbicides and other toxic chemicals to U.S. bases in the PCZ to maintain and clear vegetation. Veteran testimony and archival records confirm their presence. At least 400 PCZ veterans have been diagnosed with cancer, cardiovascular disease, or other serious conditions correlating with herbicide exposure, yet many continue to be denied appropriate disability benefits and recognition,” the lawmakers wrote.

“While the authority provided under the PACT Act fully empowers the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) to ensure veterans exposed to toxic chemicals receive the treatment and recognition they deserve, the Department of Defense is also tasked with updating and maintaining the List of Locations Where Tactical Herbicides Were Tested, Used, and Stored. With the understanding that information sharing between the VA and DoD is essential, we also strongly urge your departments to work together to ensure the list of locations accurately reflects the presence of tactical herbicides in the PCZ. This will not only create greater transparency, but it will also solidify the case for establishing a presumption of service-connected disability for veterans who served in the PCZ, beyond information that is already publicly available,” the lawmakers continued.

Members who signed the letter include: Reps. André Carson (D-IN), Dina Titus (D-NV), Greg Casar (D-TX), Kat Cammack (R-FL), Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-DC), Danny K. Davis (D-IL), Morgan McGarvey (D-KY), James C. Moylan (R-GU), Brian K. Fitzpatrick (R-PA), Gus M. Bilirakis (R-FL), Jonathan L. Jackson (D-IL), and Thomas H. Kean, Jr (R-NJ).

Read the full letter here.

Background:

During the 1950s-1970s, the Department of Defense (DoD) routed herbicides to Southeast Asia with many vessels offloading these toxic chemicals at U.S. bases in the Panama Canal.

In 2022, Congress passed the Sergeant First Class Heath Robinson Honoring Our PACT Act, which extended the presumption of service connection for certain diseases associated with herbicide exposure to veterans who served offshore of Vietnam and near the Korean DMZ. While the PACT Act did not extend the same presumption to PCZ veterans, it did provide the Department of Veterans Affairs with the authority and independence to expand service-connected presumption to eligible groups of veterans. Today’s letter urges the VA to work with the DoD to establish the presence of tactical herbicides in PCZ, establishing a presumption of service-connected disability and ensuring that veterans receive disability care through the PACT Act.

Congress has continued to press for clarity on Panama Canal Zone exposures. In the Joint Explanatory Statement accompanying the FY2025 National Defense Authorization Act, Congress directed the Secretary of Defense to brief the armed services committees on the use and presence of herbicide agents in the Panama Canal Zone during the 1958–1999 period. While the directive is important, the Members argue that sufficient evidence already exists to justify VA action now under the PACT Act framework.


Breitbart article on new Smith-Moore Nigeria bill'Republicans Debut "Nigeria Religious Freedom" Act Demanding Report on U.S. Support for Persecuted Christians'

By Frances Martel

Published February 11, 2026

House Republicans led by Reps. Chris Smith (R-NJ) and Riley Moore (R-WV) introduced a bill on Monday calling for the State Department to offer comprehensive reports on American actions to protect Christians persecuted by a host of jihadist terror threats in Nigeria, as well as efforts to convince the Nigerian government to take the threat seriously.

The “Nigeria Religious Freedom and Accountability Act” supports efforts by President Donald Trump to protect Christians in the country, particularly the designation of Nigeria as a Country of Particular Concern (CPC) for religious freedom, which allows for the imposition of sanctions on the country if its government is found to be aiding human rights abuses on faith grounds. Trump had placed Nigeria on the CPC list during his first term in office, but former President Joe Biden removed the country shortly after becoming the president, outraging religious freedom advocates. Trump returned the country to the list in October.

MARCO LONGARI/AFP via Getty Images

The new bill, if passed, would also ask the State Department to monitor individual jihadist groups in Nigeria that may be eligible to be deemed Foreign Terrorist Organizations (FTOs) and to document any positive efforts the Nigerian government may make to eliminate the “blasphemy” laws in place in several of the country’s Muslim-majority states.

The bill would report an initial report from the State Department in 90 days of its passing and one every year following until Nigeria is removed from the CPC list. This report would include assessments of Nigeria’s compliance with America’s international religious freedom laws, efforts against the blasphemy law, efforts by Nigeria to offer humanitarian aid to persecuted Christians, and identification of potential groups or individuals to sanction.

“Estimates indicate that between 50,000 to 125,000 Christians have been martyred between 2009 and 2025, with more than 19,000 Christian churches attacked or destroyed,” the text of the bill observes, in particularly highlighting the atrocities committed by ethnic Fulani militias, sometimes known as “Fulani herdsmen,” who have engaged in anti-Christian extermination campaigns in the Middle Belt of the country. In addition to Fulani terrorists, Nigeria faces regular attacks by the jihadist terrorists of Boko Haram in the north of the country and various terrorist gangs associated with the Islamic State.

“These militias have conducted attacks involving targeted killings, hostage-taking, hijackings, armed assaults, massacres of civilians, destruction of property, and forced displacement of local population,” the text adds, noting that 72 percent of Christians murdered for their faith around the world were killed in Nigeria in 2025, according to the humanitarian organization Open Doors.

Rather than protect the targets of this jihadist violence, the bill notes that Nigeria has allowed states with Muslims majorities to impose sharia, or the Islamic law, on everyone, including laws against “blasphemy,” which are abused to persecute non-Muslims.

“Nigeria retains and enforces blasphemy laws carrying the death penalty in northern states under Sharia criminal law; such laws have been used to target Christians, Muslims, and dissenters,” it notes. Furthermore, the government in Abuja “routinely denies that religious persecution exists” and “has historically failed to adequately respond to or prevent religiously motivated violence.

Under current President Bola Tinubu, a Muslim, the government has indeed denied any religiously motivated violence occurring in the country at all. Following Trump’s CPC designation, Tinubu declared, “the characterisation of Nigeria as religiously intolerant does not reflect our national reality, nor does it take into consideration the consistent and sincere efforts of the government to safeguard freedom of religion and beliefs for all Nigerians.”

Tinubu’s top officials have pressured national marketing firms to help eliminate awareness of jihadist killings in the country and have vehemently opposed the idea of a constitutional amendment protecting religious freedom by banning the imposition of sharia.

“We differ with them on this idea of amending our constitution. Nigeria is a sovereign state, has never been colonized by America anywhere and we are not Venezuela,” Presidential Adviser on Policy Communication Daniel Bwala declared in December. Venezuela is a majority Christian country whose socialist regime routinely persecutes Catholics for opposition to Marxist ideology, but has never in its history been colonized by the United States or allowed the official imposition of sharia on its population. Bwala never clarified why he mentioned Venezuela in his comment.

Public tensions aside, the Nigerian government did collaborate with American airstrikes on Islamic State targets in the northwest of the country on Christmas Day. The U.S. government also confirmed this month that it had sent a “small U.S. team” of military officers to Nigeria to help contain jihadist violence.

In a statement after introducing the bill, Rep. Smith deemed it necessary in the face of “the Nigerian government’s blatant denial of the religious persecution occurring within its borders.”

“Inaction on the parts of both the Nigerian and U.S. governments only emboldens these radical Islamist thugs to inflict even more misery, suffering, and death upon Christians and non-radical Muslims in Nigeria,” he asserted. “That is why it is paramount that the United States remain steadfast in its mission to promote and protect religious freedoms throughout the globe—by ensuring that we are doing all that we can to end this crisis, we set an important example for the rest of the international community.”

Rep. Moore noted in his statement the “unspeakable violence” that has become routine for Christians in the country.


CBN article on Smith's work to advance religious freedom in Nigeria'US Sending 200 Troops to Fight Jihadist Terrorism in Nigeria'

By CBN News

Published February 11, 2026

The U.S. is planning to send 200 American troops to help fight terrorism in Nigeria, according to the Wall Street Journal.

The contingent will reinforce a small group of U.S. military personnel already on the ground there. Officials say the U.S. troops will not be involved directly in combat, but their mission is to train Nigeria's military to fight Islamic militants.

"The terrorist activity in West Africa—and Nigeria specifically—is something we're incredibly concerned with," a spokesperson for U.S. Africa Command told the Journal. "We want to partner with capable and willing partners that are able to address these shared security concerns."

Soldiers patrol outside burned homes, days after an attack in the village of Woro, Nigeria, Feb. 5, 2026. (AP Photo/Pelumi Salako)

President Trump has accused Nigeria's government of failing to protect Christians from terror attacks. Last November, he warned on Truth Social that the U.S. military was ready to go into Nigeria "guns-a-blazing," arguing the country's government was allowing Christians to be slaughtered.

He later told a reporter, "They're killing record numbers of Christians in Nigeria, and they have other countries very bad, also. You know that. That part of the world is very bad. They're killing the Christians and killing them in very large numbers. We're not going to allow that to happen."

Nigeria's president rejects those accusations and says both Christians and Muslims suffer at the hands of terrorist groups.

But the persecution watchdog Open Doors lists Nigeria as the seventh most dangerous country in the world for Christians.

Last year, Republican Rep. Chris Smith of New Jersey, who has traveled to many dangerous areas in Nigeria, explained, "There has been an exponential increase in attacks on Christians and some Muslims, but Christians in particular, Protestants, evangelicals, Catholics, they're firebombing their churches."

In January of this year, gunmen abducted over 160 worshippers from 3 churches in Kaduna state in Nigeria from the following groups:

The Evangelical Church Winning All (ECWA),

the Cherubim and Seraphim denomination,

and a Catholic church.

And last week, Islamic State jihadists murdered 162 people in attacks on 2 villages in the state of Kwara, Nigeria

Numerous extremist groups are operating throughout Nigeria, but they're largely jihadist groups like Boko Haram, multiple Islamic State factions, and the Fulani herdsmen, who are Muslims that typically attack Christian farmers and villages to steal their land and water.

Rep. Smith says the Nigerian government has been silent and unresponsive to the crisis. "The Fulani are killing them with absolute impunity. We've called on the government in Abuja and the president several times to do what governments do, law enforcement, use the military if you have to, but stop this genocide, and do it now," he said.


CatholicVote article on new Smith-Moore Nigeria bill'Legislation introduced in House would hold Nigeria accountable for Christian persecution'

By Hannah Hiester

Published February 11, 2026

Several members of Congress from foreign affairs committees introduced legislation in the House of Representatives Feb. 10 to institute strategies holding Nigeria accountable for the ongoing persecution of Christians in the country.

Rep. Chris Smith, R-N.J., who co-introduced the Nigeria Religious Freedom and Accountability Act of 2026 with its author, Rep. Riley Moore, R-W.Va., stated in a press release that the legislation would require the U.S. secretary of state to provide Congress with a comprehensive report on U.S. involvement in combating the persecution in Nigeria. The report would also cover the Nigerian government’s efforts to comply with international religious freedom and human rights laws.

As Zeale News previously reported, Christians in Nigeria have been facing persecution at the hands of radical Islamic organizations for several years. Thousands of Christians have been killed, and their homes, churches, and livelihoods have been destroyed. Nine Catholics were abducted Feb. 6 while they were praying in their church, while a priest and 10 others were kidnapped Feb. 7, Zeale News reported.

The country’s government tolerates the ongoing persecution, prompting U.S. President Donald Trump to designate Nigeria as a Country of Particular Concern (CPC) in October and carry out a strike on a Nigerian ISIS camp in December.

Smith stated in the release that since Nigeria is now a CPC, the U.S. “has a responsibility to do its due diligence in ensuring that the Nigerian government is taking the proper steps to address and punish the systemic violence against Christians and non-radical Muslims by Islamist extremists, such as Boko Haram and Fulani terrorists.”

Moore said that he better understood Nigerian Christians’ situation when he traveled to the country as part of an investigation into the persecution, adding that he “witnessed firsthand the horrors our brothers and sisters in Christ face and saw the security challenges Nigeria faces.”

“That is why I am proud to introduce the Nigeria Religious Freedom and Accountability Act of 2026 with Representative Chris Smith,” he said. “This legislation makes clear that the United States stands with our persecuted brothers and sisters in Christ and seeks to help Nigeria address its many challenges.”

According to the release, the Secretary of State’s report to Congress must include assessments of Nigeria’s compliance with international religious freedom law and cooperation with U.S. humanitarian efforts, investigations into whether Nigeria makes efforts to dismantle its blasphemy laws and address religious persecution, among other requirements.

Smith stated in the release that if Nigeria and the U.S. do not act to stop the persecution, Christians and non-radical Muslims will continue to suffer “even more misery, suffering, and death.”


Congressman García’s Statement on Trump Administration Denial of a Major Disaster Declaration for Illinois

CHICAGO — Congressman Jesús “Chuy” García (IL-04) issued the following statement on the Federal Emergency Management Administration’s (FEMA) decision to deny a major disaster declaration for Illinois that would have provided disaster relief funds for the August 2025 storms:

“The Trump administration’s denial of a major disaster declaration for Illinois is a politically motivated decision to punish a blue state, and leave families without the extra help they need.

“It’s a continuation of Trump’s approach to federal assistance: pick winners and losers based on what direction a state swung in the presidential election. The people of California, Maryland, and now Illinois, all impacted by devastating natural disasters, are left to pick up the pieces without the backing of the federal government.

“Chicago’s Southwest Side, a primarily Latino community, was hit hardest by flooding due to the summer storms of 2025. I refuse to let Illinois families be punished for political revenge. I stand ready to work with Governor Pritzker and Mayor Johnson to support the Southwest Side to find alternative ways to ensure homes are safe and free of mold and other contaminants.”

# # #


Ciscomani Warns DHS Shutdown Would Jeopardize Border Security, Cybersecurity, and Disaster Response

Washington, D.C. - Congressman Juan Ciscomani and his colleagues on the House Appropriations Committee held an oversight hearing today to discuss the negative impacts of a potential Department of Homeland Security (DHS) shutdown. DHS funding will expire on Friday, February 13 if Congress does not pass a separate appropriations bill to keep the Department funded.

“I believe strongly that shutting down the government and agencies and departments over policy disagreements is completely inappropriate and reckless,” said Ciscomani. “I’ve never supported a shutdown and if Congress does not pass DHS funding the result will be critical services to the public, including disaster response, law enforcement, cybersecurity, and emergency preparedness, being delayed or suspended with increased risk across the Department.”

This hearing included witnesses from:

U.S. Coast Guard – Admiral Thomas Allan, Acting Vice Commandant

Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency – Dr. Madhu Gottumukkala, Acting Director

Transportation Security Administration – Ha Nguyen McNeill, Acting Administrator

United States Secret Service – Matthew Quinn, Deputy Director

Federal Emergency Management Agency – Gregg Phillips, Associate Administrator, Office of Response and Recovery

Congressman Ciscomani, Vice Chairman of the House Appropriations Homeland Security Subcommittee, delivered remarks during the hearing in support of keeping our government funded and avoiding a shutdown, which you can WATCH HERE.

Ha Nguyen McNeill, Acting Administrator, Transportation Security Administration, testified:

“In addition to the grave impact on the TSA workforce, without budget certainty we are at risk of critical technology deployments being pushed even further out. A lack of adequate funding and capital investment for technology impedes our ability to give the workforce the tools it needs to do their jobs.”

Gregg Phillips, Associate Administrator, Federal Emergency Management Agency, stated:

“In emergency management, time is always the most important resource. In summary, a federal government shutdown would have far-reaching and serious consequences for FEMA’s operations and for the nation’s ability to prepare for, respond to, and recover from disasters.”

###


Two Ciscomani Bills Pass the House Natural Resources Committee

Washington, D.C. - Congressman Juan Ciscomani welcomes the committee passage of two of his bills, which support the resource management and conservation efforts of southeastern Arizona. The Critical Mineral Consistency Act of 2025 (H.R. 755) will increase the efficiency of resource development by streamlining the recognition of critical minerals. The Chiricahua National Park Act (H.R. 6380) will designate Chiricahua National Monument as a National Park to further preserve this unique area of public land while also bolstering tourism.

Now that these two pieces of legislation have passed the House Natural Resources Committee, the next step is for them to be scheduled for debate on the House floor. Congressman Ciscomani urges his colleagues in the House to vote YES on these bills once they go to the floor for passage.

“Today’s committee passage of these two bills reflects a thoughtful, balanced approach to responsible resource management and conservation,” said Rep. Juan Ciscomani. “The Critical Mineral Consistency Act brings clarity and certainty to federal policy so we can responsibly develop the critical minerals our economy and national security depend on. At the same time, the Chiricahua National Park Act honors, protects, and promotes one of Southern Arizona’s most extraordinary natural treasures as a national park for future generations. I’m proud to support legislation that strengthens our supply chains, protects our public lands, and reflects the unique needs and values of Arizona.”

Natural Resources Committee Chairman Bruce Westerman, commented:

“I thank Rep. Ciscomani for his leadership on the Critical Mineral Consistency Act of 2025. By merging the Department of Energy’s critical materials list and the U.S. Geological Survey’s critical minerals list into the Critical Minerals and Materials List, his bill reduces confusion and strengthens America’s supply chain for essential resources. This commonsense reform will help our energy, manufacturing and defense sectors access the minerals they need to compete and innovate here at home.”

“The Chiricahua National Monument features ancient rock formations and offers outdoor enthusiasts a unique place to hike and camp. Redesignating this National Monument into a National Park will boost local economies and ensure this hidden gem gets the recognition it deserves. I commend Rep. Ciscomani for his leadership to designate Arizona’s 4th national park in honor of our country’s 250th anniversary.”


CLARKE AND LAWLER LEAD BIPARTISAN, BICAMERAL LETTER TO SECRETARY NOEM URGING EXEMPTION FROM $100,000 FEE FOR H-1B HEALTH CARE SECTOR

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:

February 11, 2026

MEDIA CONTACT:

e: jessica.myers@mail.house.gov

c: 202.913.0126

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Representatives Yvette D. Clarke (NY-09) and Michael Lawler (NY-17) led 98 of their colleagues in a bipartisan, bicameral letter to Secretary of the Department Homeland Security (DHS) Kristi Noem, urging DHS to grant a health care sector exemption from the new $100,000 fee on employers petitioning for new H-1B visas.

“Worsening workforce shortages across all health care professions are significantly diminishing access to care in rural and urban communities across the nation. According to the Health Resources and Services Administration, nearly 87 million Americans live in areas Federally designated as lacking enough medical professionals to address the community’s health care needs. Physician demand could exceed supply by up to 86,000 in the next decade, and clinical laboratory science programs are educating less than half the number of clinical laboratory professionals needed. These shortages cannot be filled by the domestic workforce alone, and projections will worsen if health care employers cannot continue to recruit and retain international health care workers.” The lawmakers continued, “Imposing a $100,000 fee for new H-1B visa petitions will exacerbate hospitals’ existing staffing challenges and could push chronically underfunded hospitals to their financial brink. If these hospitals cannot petition for new H-1B visas to address their staffing needs without also having to pay this fee, it will further damage their financial viability. Critically needed open positions will simply go unfilled, leaving rural and high-poverty urban areas without adequate access to Care. We strongly urge you to exempt the health care sector from this burdensome fee.”

“New York hospitals have long used the H-1B visa program to ensure they can deliver world-class health care, train the next generation of physicians, and conduct cutting-edge research. The filing fee for H-1B visa petitions poses a grave threat to this critical mission. It will further strain hospitals, exacerbate ongoing workforce shortages, and diminish access to care. I thank Representatives Clarke and Lawler for their leadership and advocacy on this important issue,” said Ken Raske of the President, Greater New York Hospital Association.

“We know the positive impact that H-1 visa holders have in health care – they help fill in the gap in our country’s health care delivery system, providing care where it is needed most and in the face of acute workforce shortages. The AAMC knows that restricting access to H1-B visas will worsen the nation’s existing physician shortage, put strains on the health care workforce and ultimately jeopardize patient access to care, and we simply can’t let any of those things happen,” said Danielle Turnipseed, Chief Public Policy Officer of the Association of American Medical Colleges.

“The H-1B visa program is a critical lifeline to healthcare organizations statewide, helping to ease existing workforce shortages in underserved communities,” said Bea Grause, RN, JD, President of the Healthcare Association of New York State. “Additional barriers, such as the new $100,000 fee for each visa applicant, jeopardize access to care and increase costs in areas already struggling to meet demand. HANYS applauds Representatives Clarke and Lawler for leading on this important issue and calling on DHS to exempt the healthcare industry from additional undue burden.”

“As a physician and as president of the California Medical Association, I see firsthand how deeply our health care system depends on international medical professionals, especially in rural communities. A $100,000 fee on H-1B visas is not just excessive, it is a direct threat to patient access to care. Exempting the health care sector is squarely in the national interest and essential to protecting the stability of our workforce and the health of millions of patients,” said René Bravo, MD, President of the California Medical Association.

The letter was signed by 100 Members of Congress: Yvette D. Clarke, Michael Lawler, Kirsten Gillibrand, Becca Balint, Nanette Barragán, Wesley Bell, Ami Bera, Donald Beyer, Brendan Boyle, Shontel Brown, André Carson, Joaquin Castro, Sheila Cherfilus-McCormick, Judy Chu, Gilbert Cisneros, Emanuel Cleaver, Steve Cohen, Herbert Conaway, Jasmine Crockett, Danny Davis, Donald Davis, Madeleine Dean, Suzan DelBene, Christopher Deluzio, Maxine Dexter, Debbie Dingell, Lloyd Doggett, Veronica Escobar, Adriano Espaillat, Shomari Figures, Brian Fitzpatrick, Bill Foster, Valerie Foushee, Laura Friedman, Sylvia Garcia, Laura Gillen, Daniel Goldman, Vicente Gonzalez, Maggie Goodlander, Josh Gottheimer, Chrissy Houlahan, Henry Johnson, Julie Johnson, Thomas Kean, Robin Kelly, Timothy Kennedy, Raja Krishnamoorthi, George Latimer, Teresa Leger Fernandez, Ted Lieu, Zoe Lofgren, Stephen Lynch, Seth Magaziner, John Mannion, Doris Matsui, Lucy McBath, Jennifer McClellan, Betty McCollum, James McGovern, LaMonica McIver, Gregory Meeks, Robert Menendez, Grace Meng, Kweisi Mfume, Joseph Morelle, Kelly Morrison, Seth Moulton, James Moylan, Frank Mrvan, Jerrold Nadler, Eleanor Norton, Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, Jimmy Panetta, Chris Pappas, Nellie Pou, Josh Riley, Patrick Ryan, Linda Sánchez, Mary Gay Scanlon, Janice Schakowsky, Bradley Schneider, Hillary Scholten, Terri Sewell, Melanie Stansbury, Suhas Subramanyam, Thomas Suozzi, Eric Swalwell, Emilia Sykes, Shri Thanedar, Bennie Thompson, Mike Thompson, Dina Titus, Paul Tonko, Ritchie Torres, Lori Trahan, Jefferson Van Drew, Marc Veasey, Nydia Velázquez, James Walkinshaw, Nikema Williams.

The members’ letter has the support of the following organizations: American Hospital Association (AHA), Association of American Medical Colleges (AAMC), Greater New York Hospital Association (GNYHA), Hospital Association of New York State (HANYS), American Psychiatric Association (APA), NYC Health + Hospitals, America’s Essential Hospitals (AEH), California Medical Association (CMA), Advocates for Community Health (ACH), Association of Clinicians for the Underserved (ACU), American Academy of Neurology, American College of Obstetricians & Gynecologists (ACOG), Miles for Migraine, American Gastroenterological Association, Association for Advancing Physician and Provider Recruitment (AAPPR), Hope for HIE, American College of Radiology (ACR), American Geriatrics Society, MLD Foundation, Society of Teachers of Family Medicine (STFM), Association of Department of Family Medicine, American Society for Clinical Pathology (ASCP), Society of Hospital Medicine (SHM), The Society of Thoracic Surgeons, American College of Surgeons (ACS), National Society for Histotechnology, American Academy of Family Physicians (AAFP), American Society for Cytopathology, American Academy of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery (AAO-HNS), American Society of Hematology (ASH), American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP), NAPCRG, American Society for Clinical Pathology’s Board of Certification, Infectious Diseases Society of America, HIV Medicine Association, Commission on Laboratory Accreditation (COLA), Philippine Association of Medical Technologist-USA, Inc. (PAMET-USA, Inc.), Association of Academic Leaders of Neurology, American Society for Radiation Oncology (ASTRO), American Clinical Laboratory Association (ACLA)

Full text of the letter can be found HERE.

###


CLARKE CONDEMNS PASSAGE OF THE SAVE ACT

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:

February 11, 2026

MEDIA CONTACT:

e: jessica.myers@mail.house.gov

c: 202.913.0126

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Congresswoman Yvette D. Clarke (NY-09) released the following statement:

“America turned its back on Jim Crow half a century ago. Tonight, House Republicans voted with unanimity to resurrect it through their primitive, suppressive, and aggressively misnamed “SAVE America Act,” which is designed only to save Republican politicians from their own severe unpopularity come November.

“There is a single document available in all 50 states for natural-born and naturalized American citizens alike that will satisfy the restrictive demands of this legislation: a U.S. passport. For the millions of Americans who do not have a passport, or lack either the $165 or time necessary to obtain one, Donald Trump and his congressional lackeys believe their path to the polls should be paved over. Even by their pitiful and authoritarian standards, this is an un-American disgrace.

“Our citizens should face as few barriers to voting as possible. Only a flailing regime terrified of losing its fragile grasp on power would create more. Shame on each and every one of my Republican colleagues whose efforts helped revive one of the darkest chapters in this country’s history. History will not forget their cowardice at this moment, and neither will I.”

###


Higgins’, Kennedy’s Legislation to End Government Payments to Deceased People Signed into Law by President Trump

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Congressman Clay Higgins (R-LA) and Senator John Kennedy (R-LA) witnessed President Trump sign their legislation, the Ending Improper Payments to Deceased People Act, into law in the Oval Office yesterday.

This bill allows the U.S. Social Security Administration (SSA) to share its Death Master File, a list of deceased individuals, with the U.S. Department of Treasury to avoid taxpayer dollars being paid to deceased people.

Rep. Higgins said, “This legislation will save taxpayers billions of dollars every year and does not increase the size of the federal government. Fiscal Conservatives have been clear… waste, fraud, abuse, and theft of hard-earned taxpayer dollars must end. I’d like to thank President Trump for pushing this critical bill across the finish line.”


Congressman Cleaver Presses Secretary of Homeland Security on Proposed Immigration Detention Center in Kansas City

(Washington, D.C.) – Today, U.S. Representative Emanuel Cleaver, II (D-MO) sent a letter to Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Secretary Kristi Noem requesting a meeting with her, local law enforcement, and area officials to discuss the proposed immigration detention center in Kansas City, Missouri. The letter underscores deep and growing opposition from the community and calls out DHS’s failure to respond to questions first raised by the Congressman in a January 2026 letter. In the earlier correspondence, Rep. Cleaver condemned Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s (ICE) actions surrounding the proposed facility and raised serious concerns about the lack of transparency in the decision-making process and the inhumane practice of warehousing people in detention centers. The letter also warned that the continued expansion of these facilities threatens due process, civil liberties, and the fundamental human rights of both immigrants and American citizens – concerns that, to this day, have gone unanswered.

“The chaos this administration brought to the streets of Minneapolis has no place in Kansas City. If there is any confusion, look to the actions of our local government. Without hesitation, the city council passed a resolution that implemented a five-year moratorium on non-municipal detention facilities. For an administration that often flexes their ‘mandate’ and perception of the voters’ will, it would be a disrespectful miscalculation to ignore the Kansas City community,” Congressman Cleaver wrote in a letter to DHS Secretary Kristi Noem.

Today’s letter reiterates unanswered questions, requests a meeting before the end of the month to allow federal officials to hear directly from local leaders and law enforcement about the real-world consequences of the proposed facility and their united opposition against its creation, and reaffirms Rep. Cleaver’s commitment to ensuring that any federal action affecting the region prioritizes community safety, transparency, and accountability.

“Given that these concerns are urgent and your office has not provided a response before the January 23, 2026 deadline, I now respectfully request that you meet with me and local officials, provide additional information to those who would be tasked with overseeing any potential facility in our jurisdiction, and allow us to share our serious concerns. The 770,000 people who call Missouri’s Fifth Congressional District home deserve an explanation, and please know that silence would be an uncivil response,” Cleaver concluded.

The official letter from Rep. Cleaver is available here.

Emanuel Cleaver, II is the U.S. Representative for Missouri's Fifth Congressional District, which includes Kansas City, Independence, Lee's Summit, Raytown, Grandview, Sugar Creek, Greenwood, Blue Springs, North Kansas City, Gladstone, and Claycomo. He is a member of the exclusive House Financial Services Committee and Ranking Member of the House Subcommittee on Housing and Insurance.


Congressman Cohen Questions Attorney General Pam Bondi on ICE Recruitment Priorities and DOJ Accountability

WASHINGTON, DC — Congressman Steve Cohen (TN-09), a senior member of the House Judiciary Committee, questioned Attorney General Pam Bondi during an oversight hearing. Congressman Cohen pressed the Attorney General on U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE)’s recruitment effort that targets local law enforcement officers and on the Department of Justice’s (DOJ) failure to investigate the killings of Renee Good and Alex Pretti, who were slain by federal immigration enforcement officers in Minnesota.

During the hearing, Congressman Cohen questioned Attorney General Bondi on ICE recruitment advertisements offering bonuses, debt relief, and an implied suggestion that ICE agents can operate under looser standards than traditional law enforcement. The ads encourage officers to leave local departments like the Memphis Police Department at a time when many cities face officer shortages—pulling them away from combating violent crimes in their communities to focus on deporting immigrants. According to DOJ’s own data, immigrants are significantly less likely to commit violent crimes than U.S. born Americans.

Congressman Cohen has previously raised these concerns with Attorney General Bondi in direct correspondence and reiterated them again during the hearing.

“The worst of the worst are not the immigrants,” said Congressman Cohen. “The worst of the worst, records show, are native-born Americans committing crimes that hurt our cities. Why are we trying to get officers working on the front lines to leave the front lines, take a $50,000 bonus, and go work for ICE instead of fighting violent crime in our communities?”

Watch his questioning here.

Congressman Cohen also challenged Attorney General Bondi on the DOJ's lack of response to fatal encounters involving federal immigration enforcement agents, including the killings of Renee Good and Alex Pretti in Minneapolis. He criticized the Department for failing to pursue meaningful, independent investigations and ensure accountability for these deaths.

“The fact is ICE is running rampant and you are not investigating them. When they killed Mr. Pretti and Ms. Good—that was an execution, and you did not investigate it,” said Congressman Cohen. “[...] They were executed, like Kristi Noem executed her dog. And that was wrong, and you should investigate those people, and you should investigate anybody that uses a weapon, federal official or not, for civil rights violations.”

Click here to watch more.

Congressman Cohen is a senior Member of the House Judiciary Committee. He has continued to challenge the Trump administration and Department of Homeland Security’s (DHS) immigration enforcement practices—voting against funding DHS funding that would sustain ICE and calling for the agency’s abolition, co-sponsoring legislation to impeach DHS Secretary Kristi Noem, demanding meaningful oversight and civil rights investigations into federal agents’ use of deadly force, introducing new legislation to require an independent investigation every time a federal officer uses deadly force, and more.


CORREA, COLLEAGUES EMPOWER FIRST-TIME HOMEBUYERS WITH BIPARTISAN LEGISLATION

Text of Legislation (PDF)

WASHINGTON — This week, Representative Lou Correa (CA-46), alongside Reps Tracey Mann (KS-01), Mark Alford (MO-04), and Tom Barrett (MI-07) introduced the First-Time Homebuyer Empowerment Act. This bill would allow first-time homebuyers to use leftover 529 plan funds tax-free to buy or build their first home, giving buyers more options to use their tax-advantaged savings. This legislation aims to remove barriers first-time homebuyers face in putting up a down payment and increase access to the housing market for future homeowners.

“This bill would give hard-working American taxpayers on Main Street greater flexibility to put the money they’ve earnestly saved toward one of the largest investments they can make—buying a home,” said Rep. Correa. “In Orange County and across our state, housing has only become more unaffordable. This would mark an important step toward giving aspiring home-owners across the country the tools they need to build and sustain financial stability—for themselves and their children.”

“Homeownership is the heart of the American Dream," said Rep. Mann. "The ability to provide a safe, stable place to raise a family is so important for the future of our country. Today, too many young Americans feel that owning a home continues to become more and more out of reach. Our legislation gives people more flexibility on how to use their savings, opening up pathways for more Americans to own equity in their homes."

“Every American deserves a fair shot at owning a home," said Rep. Alford. "Too many first-time buyers are working hard and saving yet still can’t reach the down payment. This commonsense bill gives families more flexibility to use their existing savings in tax advantaged accounts, opening the door to the American Dream.”

“Too many families can’t afford homes that work for them, plain and simple,” said Rep. Barrett. “An easy first step towards changing that reality is to let homebuyers tap into unused college savings in their 529 accounts and put them towards purchasing their first home. I’m proud to join my colleagues on this legislation to incentivize saving for the future and help the next generation achieve homeownership.”

The First-Time Homebuyer Empowerment Act is supported by the National Association of Realtors, National Association of Homebuilders, Mortgage Bankers Association, Institute of Real Estate Management, Kansas Association of Realtors, Missouri Realtors, Iowa Association of Realtors, Michigan Association of Realtors, and California Association of Realtors.

“NAHB commends Reps. Mann, Alford and Correa for introducing the First Time Home Buyer Enhancement Act, legislation that would allow first-time home buyers to use funds from their 529 savings accounts to buy their first home," said Buddy Hughes, Chairman of National Association of Home Builders. "Saving for a downpayment is a major barrier for first-time home buyers and this bill would help hard-working families to get a toe hold on the homeownership ladder.”

"Downpayment hurdles continue to block many families from owning a home," said Bill Killmer, Senior Vice President of Legislative & Political Affairs at Mortgage Bankers Association. "The First-Time Home Buyer Empowerment Act provides a common-sense solution that empowers first-time buyers to use their own savings—at no cost to taxpayers. MBA looks forward to supporting this and other efforts in Congress to expand sustainable homeownership.”

###


Central Valley Congressman Costa Calls on Congress to Advance Bipartisan Illegal Biolab Safety Legislation

WASHINGTON — Representatives Jim Costa (CA-21), Kevin Kiley (CA-03), David Valadao (CA-22), Vince Fong (CA-20), Susie Lee (NV-03), and Dina Titus (NV-01) today led a bipartisan letter to House leadership and the Energy and Commerce Committee to move quickly on legislation that strengthens safeguards against illegal biological laboratories and improves coordination for communities and first responders. The Members sent a letter requesting an immediate hearing and subsequent markup on H.R. 5747, the Preventing Illegal Laboratories and Protecting Public Health Act of 2025, legislation developed in direct response to the illegal laboratory discovered in Reedley, California in December of 2022.

Their request comes as authorities in Las Vegas continue an active investigation linked to Reedley, also involving suspected biological materials and lab equipment discovered at a residential property. Reports indicate a large volume of evidence was recovered and sent for testing, underscoring concerns that suspicious biological activity can emerge quickly and leave local officials navigating high-risk situations without clear federal guardrails.

"Recent incidents have made clear that dangerous biological activity can fall into a real oversight gray zone. Congress has a clear opportunity to close those gaps and ensure first responders are not left to navigate high risk biological incidents without clear federal guardrails before the next incident puts another community at risk," said the Members. "The active investigation by the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department and the Federal Bureau of Investigation involving suspected biological materials only reinforces the urgency of closing those gaps now rather than after the next incident. Taken along with continued public reporting about potential links back to the earlier Reedley operation and alleged foreign linked financing concerns, the need for practical federal safeguards and clearer coordination channels is hard to ignore."

The Members emphasized they stand ready to work with House leadership and the Committee on Energy and Commerce to advance a bipartisan path forward and deliver practical, commonsense safeguards that protect communities and support first responders.


House Committee on Small Businesses Advances Bill to Support Tribal Small Businesses

This morning, the House Committee on Small Business unanimously advanced the Native American Entrepreneurial Opportunity Act. Rep. Eli Crane (R-AZ) is part of a bipartisan coalition seeking to codify the Office of Native American Affairs (ONAA) within the Small Business Administration (SBA) by adding it to the Small Business Act.

Last Congress, Rep. Crane partnered with Rep. Sharice Davids (D-KS) on the bill, which passed the U.S. House of Representatives with strong bipartisan support. Although the legislation stalled in the U.S. Senate, it was recently reintroduced in the House alongside Reps. Jake Ellzey (R-TX) and Kelly Morrison (D-MN).

Tribal entrepreneurs who run businesses on reservations face complex hurdles regarding tax implications, property rights, regulatory burdens, and lending. While accessing SBA programs should be straightforward, these communities often do not experience adequate outreach. Due to bureaucratic hurdles largely created by the federal government, it’s critical to provide specialized assistance in navigating the unique complexities of running a business on a reservation.

By codifying ONAA into the Small Business Act, this legislation increases congressional oversight of the office’s activities and effectiveness going forward. Specifically, the bill outlines the responsibilities of ONAA, including the establishment of a working relationship with tribal groups by targeting SBA programs related to entrepreneurial development, contracting, and capital access.

Rep. Crane encouraged representatives from ONAA to visit Arizona’s 2nd Congressional District to form relationships with small business owners who may be unaware that this office exists. Doing so would allow ONAA to adjust and enhance its programs so they can better serve tribal small business owners.


Rep. Crane Supports Bill Requiring Voter ID in Elections

Today, the House of Representatives passed the SAVE America Act, which would require ID to vote in federal elections. This legislation builds on the text of the SAVE Act, which was also supported by Rep. Eli Crane (R-AZ).

According to a 2025 study conducted by Pew Research, 95% of Republicans and 71% of Democrats support voter ID. While many states, including Arizona, currently implement this popular policy, others do not follow the same standards.

Additionally, the National Mail Voter Registration Form relies solely on self-attestation, which allows applicants to check a box under the penalty of perjury, leaving the system without key safeguards against ineligible registrations.

The SAVE America Act closes these loopholes and guarantees that only American citizens can vote in federal elections. The legislation also requires states to establish a program to identify and remove non-citizens from their existing voter rolls and provides states with no-cost access to federal databases containing citizenship information to do so.

Given bipartisan concerns about the integrity of our elections, Rep. Crane strongly believes that requiring voter ID reduces vulnerabilities and increases confidence in outcomes. Since Americans must provide ID to fly, open a bank account, and complete a list of other routine activities, he believes it should likewise be part of our electoral process.

Specifically, the legislation:

Requires any voter to show a photo ID when they cast a ballot. Absentee and mail-in voters may attach a copy of their ID to their mail-in ballot.

Amends the National Voter Registration Act (NVRA), which has governed state voter registration since 1993, to require states to obtain documentary proof of U.S. citizenship in person when registering an individual to vote in a federal election.

Requires states to check for noncitizens and other ineligible registrants on their voter rolls at least once a month.

Directs states to create a procedure for addressing discrepancies in documentation so that no eligible voter is disqualified due to a name change.

Allows eligible voters to register and provide documentary proof of citizenship by mail, provided their state allows early voting or same-day voter registration.

Allows eligible voters to cast a provisional ballot if they forget to bring the necessary paperwork on Election Day.

To view the bill text, please click here.