Rep. Grijalva Introduces New Legislation to Protect Public Lands Surrounding Oak Flat from Foreign Exploitation

Washington, D.C. – Congresswoman Adelita S. Grijalva (AZ-07) released the following statement after introducing legislation to preserve public lands in the Chi’chil Biłdagotel Historical District that lie directly adjacent to the land that was transferred to Resolution Copper following the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals ruling last Friday.

Her legislation directs the Secretary of Agriculture to preserve the natural condition of the public land and prohibit mining related activities including rights-of-way, toxic waste pipelines, road development, and related infrastructure on the public land in the Chí’chil Biłdagoteel Historic District.

Additionally, the bill requires the Secretary to engage in government-to-government consultations with Indian tribes with ties to the Chí’chil Biłdagoteel Historic District and enter into cooperative agreements requested by these Indian tribes to ensure access for traditional activities and preservation of sacred and cultural areas. The full text of the bill is available here.

“While I am deeply disappointed by the Ninth Circuit’s ruling, the fight to save Oak Flat does not stop here,” said Rep. Grijalva. “Thousands of acres of public land surrounding the transferred parcel remain at risk, and these lands are sacred to the Apache people. Congress must act to immediately preserve a site of immense cultural, spiritual, and natural significance. We cannot enable the destruction of Oak Flat by turning a blind eye to all of the disruptive mining infrastructure and toxic waste that will irreparably harm the surrounding lands.”

A map of the Oak Flat region is available for download here. The area encompassed by the purple “TCP Boundary” (but not including the portions that overlap with the “Exchange Parcel”), would be protected from mining-related activities under Rep. Grijalva’s proposed legislation.

Resolution Copper is a joint venture between two of the world’s largest foreign owned mining entities formed to acquire public land at Oak Flat to extract United States copper located beneath the site, primarily for export to the People’s Republic of China.

They have proposed the development of significant mining-related infrastructure throughout Tonto National Forest, including large parts of the Chí’chil Biłdagoteel Historic District that were not transferred to Resolution Copper:

A 19.6-mile pipeline corridor to slurry 1.37 billion tons of toxic waste to a dump site that will require drilling a tunnel through a mountain called King's Crown Peak and constructing a pipeline bridge to span Ga’an Canyon in the Chí’chil Biłdagoteel Historic District;

A 3.6-mile high voltage power line corridor and a 16.9-mile power line through the Chí’chil Biłdagoteel Historic District to provide power to the toxic waste dump; and

New roads in the Chí’chil Biłdagoteel Historic District for servicing of the pipelines and power lines and the conversion of various Tonto National Forest service roads to commercial use by Resolution Copper.

The following elected officials and organizations provided the below statements:

“Chi'chil Biłdagoteel, or Oak Flat, is a sacred place, one too special to mine,” said Rep. Jared Huffman, Ranking Member of the House Natural Resources Committee. “The Trump administration’s decision to transfer Oak Flat, to Resolution Copper is a disgrace and an insult to the San Carlos Apache Tribe and the many other Tribes who have held this place dear and as a place of prayer and ceremony since time immemorial. This is a human rights violation, environmental disaster in the making, and multibillion-dollar giveaway to multinational mining companies. I am proud to cosponsor Representative Grijalva’s Preserve Chi'chil Biłdagoteel Historic Act and will continue to fight with the Apache peoples to protect Oak Flat.”

“Chí’chil Biłdagoteel — Oak Flat — is a sacred place of prayer, culture, and identity for Tribal Nations, and it deserves protection from further harm,” said Rep. Leger Fernández. “After the transfer of over 2,000 acres of Oak Flat to a foreign-owned mining corporation, Congress has an even greater responsibility to safeguard the surrounding lands in the Chí’chil Biłdagoteel Historic District. Protecting Tribal sovereignty, scarce water resources, and irreplaceable cultural heritage is not optional — it’s our responsibility.”

“Oak Flat is sacred. That is why generations have fought to protect these lands—and why we will keep fighting. This week’s decision by Donald Trump and his Administration to hand over title of these lands to a foreign-owned mining company is a betrayal of U.S. Tribal trust and treaty responsibilities and the moral responsibility of the U.S. government protect our national security, indigenous sacred sites, and our public lands,” said Rep. Stansbury. “I stand with Tribal leaders and advocates in Arizona and New Mexico in the continued fight to protect Oak Flat and we will not stop until it is protected.”

“Shame on USDA and its accomplices for giving away title to 2,422 acres of the Chí’chil Biłdagoteel Historic District to Resolution Copper. This Traditional Cultural Place is listed on the National Register of Historic Places due its unique historical, cultural, and religious significance. This giveaway of sacred land is causing untold suffering and pain that will last for generations to come,” said Chairman Terry Rambler of the San Carlos Apache Tribe. “Resolution Copper’s foreign-owned parent corporations, Rio Tinto and BHP, plan to blow up this area to extract ore, which will result in a 2-mile crater over 1,000 feet deep. USDA is prioritizing the pocketbooks of foreign corporations with ties to the People’s Republic of China over the First Americans. We thank Rep. Grijalva for introducing this bill to protect the remaining parts of the Historic District and requiring that USDA enter into cooperative agreements with Tribal governments with ties to the area to ensure that cultural resources are preserved. This bill is needed; otherwise, USDA will allow Resolution Copper to ravage and destroy this public land too."

“The decision to hand over Chí’chil Biłdagoteel is a shameful betrayal and a profound injustice to our people. This is not just land—it is a sacred place where our ancestors prayed, where our ceremonies continue, and where our identity is rooted,” said Dr. Wendsler Nosie Sr., Apache Stronghold. “Now, it faces permanent destruction for the benefit of foreign mining interests. We are grateful for Rep. Adelita Grijalva’s legislation to protect what remains and we will continue to stand together to preserve the Traditional Cultural Place of Chí’chil Biłdagoteel Historic District for future generations.”

“This bill offers a clear path to protect Chí’chil Biłdagoteel, or Oak Flat, as both a sacred cultural landscape and a vital ecological refuge,” said Russ McSpadden from the Center for Biological Diversity. “It would safeguard groundwater, springs, wildlife habitat, native plants and the surrounding desert from a massive mining project that would permanently devastate the area. This legislation recognizes that places of profound cultural significance can also be irreplaceable ecological treasures, and that protecting both isn't just possible, it's essential.”

“American history is filled with stories of broken promises to our Indigenous neighbors. It is past time that we take violations of their right to worship as seriously as we do our own,” said Rev. Jennifer Hawks, director of advocacy for the Cooperative Baptist Fellowship. “The irresponsible decision to give away America’s natural resources so that foreign companies can profit should not be compounded by allowing the further destruction of the sacred Apache land known as Chi’chil Bildagoteel that remains entrusted to the U.S. government.”

"As Reform Jews, we are committed to religious freedom and the protection of sacred spaces for all religious communities,” said Rabbi Jonah Dov Pesner, Director of the Religious Action Center of Reform Judaism. “Destroying Oak Flat is a breach of the United States' commitment to religious liberty and an act of profound, irreversible spiritual violence against Indigenous communities. We are proud to support this bill to protect Oak Flat and urge Congress to pass it without delay."

"Our Indigenous neighbors deserve the same religious freedom protections that are afforded to any house of worship. Sacred land does not require a steeple," said Rabbi David Segal, policy counsel at BJC. "Despite the disappointing outcome of recent litigation, our mission should remain the same: to prevent the further destruction of Oak Flat. This new bill is a vital safeguard against the infrastructure that threatens this sacred space."

"Oak Flat, or Chi’chil Bildagoteel, is as holy to the Apache as church sanctuaries are to us Christians,” said Avery Lamb, Executive Director of Creation Justice Ministries. “We grieve and lament recent litigation resulting in the land transfer of this sacred land to the foreign owned Resolution Copper that would not only desecrate Oak Flat, but place the health of those living nearby at risk due to exposure of toxic waste. We know about the importance of sacred space, and we stand alongside the Western Apache Peoples to protect their own. The introduction of the ‘Preserve the Traditional Cultural Place Chí’chil Biłdagoteel Historic District Act’ is an opportunity to turn from desecration of sacred land and turn toward its restoration."

“While the Oak Flat land exchange has proceeded for now, the work to protect the region is not finished,” said Sandy Bahr, director for Sierra Club's Grand Canyon (Arizona) Chapter. “We must also protect the lands that are not part of the exchange from the harmful impacts of mining. The Preserve the Traditional Cultural Place Chí’chil Biłdagoteel Historic District Act recognizes and safeguards lands that are sacred to Tribal Nations and requires the U.S. Forest Service to cooperate with the affected Tribes. Rep. Grijalva's bill puts sacred Tribal sites, Arizona water, and protection of the land ahead of the interests and excessive profits of multinational mining giants."

“It is a travesty that the public lands transfer was made, against the wishes of Indigenous communities and stakeholders in the area. This new legislation, however, will ban any activities that adversely impact the landscape or wildlife that surround the mine,” said Garrit Voggesser, Senior Director of Tribal partnerships and Policy at the National Wildlife Federation. “In addition, the legislation calls on the administration to engage in government-to-government consultations with any Tribes that have ties to Chi’chil Biłdagoteel, to preserve sacred and cultural areas and ensure access for traditional Indigenous activities.”


Rep. Grijalva Statement on Reported Sexual Abuse Allegations Against Cesar Chavez

“I am deeply troubled by recent reports of allegations of sexual abuse, including incidents involving minors, brought against Cesar E. Chavez. To the survivors: estamos con ustedes – we are with you. We hear you, we believe you, and we admire the immense courage it takes to speak out.

I know that there is a profound sense of grief in our community today that may bring mixed emotions. The betrayal of trust by a leader who had such a significant impact on our community is difficult to comprehend. It is ok to feel angry, shocked, heartbroken, saddened, confused, and dismayed – all at the same time. We still have more questions than answers. However, it is important to remember that one person does not define a movement. We, the people, are the movement.


Chairman Guthrie Delivers Opening Statement at Hearing Examining Role of CMS in Combatting Fraud in Medicare and Medicaid

Washington, D.C. – Congressman Brett Guthrie (KY-02), Chairman of the House Committee on Energy and Commerce, delivered the following statement at today’s Oversight & Investigations Subcommittee Hearing titled Protecting Patients and Safeguarding Taxpayer Dollars: The Role of CMS in Combatting Medicare and Medicaid Fraud.

Chairman Guthrie’s Remarks:

“Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Thank you for the recognition. Thank you for being here to our witness, and good afternoon to everybody. Gosh, the Center for Medicare and Medicaid Services, they safeguard our taxpayers. That's what you're here for, and you would think if anything could be bipartisan in this Committee would be when people do fraud, they take away resources for people that really need them. I mean, people really need Medicaid. It is important that they have it, and fraud just robs them of that.

“There are people who set up these groups that aren't just overcharging or mis-billing, or improper payments, which was brought up the other day. We're talking people that set up fraudulent businesses to take money away from the people that need it the most, and not only money away from people who need them most, taking it out of the pockets of hard-working taxpayers. It is frustrating that this can't be bipartisan.

“And Florida is now, you just noticed Florida is under investigation. I just saw Governor DeSantis. He's not a Democrat, I can promise you that. The other day I sent a letter to Nebraska. So we're going to follow where the fraud is. And if the fraud is in Democrat governors, we're going to hold them accountable for it. If it's Republican governors, we're going to hold them accountable for it, because the people that need this program the most are the ones who are the most vulnerable.

“You think about who's vulnerable to fraud… we have behavioral analysis for children with autism, and we have those kind of programs, non-emergency medical transportation has been enthralled, substance use disorder treatment, people who really need those programs are being robbed because people are robbing the hard-earned tax dollars.

“You know, for example, just last month, a Russian citizen was charged in an alleged $3.4 million fraud scheme involving Medicare claims for durable medical equipment.

“Today's hearing provides an opportunity to examine how much CMS is strengthening its efforts to detect fraud sooner, prevent fraud or fraudulent payments, and improve coordination with states and law enforcement agencies. It is also an opportunity to identify reforms that can further strengthen program integrity, while protecting access to care for millions of Americans who rely on Medicaid and Medicare.

“I look forward to hearing from you today about how we're going to deal with it. And gosh, if you think anything could be bipartisan, it's when people defraud the taxpayer that work hard for the money, who generously through these programs, give it to people who are the most vulnerable, and they're being taken advantage of. They're being taken advantage of from people who don't take this seriously as well.

"I will yield back.”

Chairman Guthrie's questions during today's hearing examining the role of CMS in combating fraud in Medicare and Medicaid can be found HERE.


Houlahan Secures Key Provisions of Bipartisan Innovation Bill in Final SBIR/STTR Package

WASHINGTON – U.S. Representative Chrissy Houlahan (D-PA) today announced that key provisions from her bipartisan Research Advancing to Market Production (RAMP) for Innovators Act have been included in final legislation to reauthorize the Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) and Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR) programs. The bill has now passed both the House and Senate and will head to the President’s desk to be signed into law.

The legislation delivers a major win for small businesses, startups, and research institutions in Pennsylvania’s Sixth District and across the country by strengthening the federal government’s support for innovation and commercialization.

SBIR and STTR—often referred to as America’s “seed fund”—help small businesses develop cutting-edge technologies while addressing federal research and development needs. The final bill incorporates Houlahan’s RAMP provisions that will expand and improve small businesses’ access to the technical and business assistance they need to bring their innovations to market while integrating the SBIR and STTR programs with other key federal innovation programs. The effort was led in the Senate by Senator Chris Coons (D-DE).

WATCH Rep. Houlahan Speak on Bill Passage

“Pennsylvania’s Sixth District is home to world-class research institutions and innovative small businesses, but too often great discoveries struggle to reach the marketplace,” said Representative Houlahan. “I’m proud that key provisions from my bipartisan RAMP for Innovators Act will soon become law, giving entrepreneurs more flexibility to access the expertise they need to scale and opening the door to Innovation-Corps training that helps turn promising research into real products and companies. I’m grateful to Senator Chris Coons and Representative Troy Balderson for their partnership in advancing this work and helping ensure American innovators can bring the next generation of technologies to market.”

“Delaware’s incredible small businesses are making discoveries, inventing new products, supporting our communities, and growing our economy every day,” said Senator Coons. “When the federal government helps small businesses access research funding—and those businesses can deliver cutting-edge solutions back to the government—everybody wins. I’m glad Congress passed this crucial bill and urge the President to sign it.”

Representative Houlahan has long championed bipartisan policies that help entrepreneurs, researchers, and manufacturers scale their ideas, create jobs, and strengthen U.S. competitiveness. Her RAMP for Innovators Act, introduced with Representative Troy Balderson (R-OH), focuses on helping small businesses successfully commercialize federally funded innovations.

This legislation ensures more American innovations are developed, scaled, and manufactured here at home.


Hoyer, Elfreth, Wittman Lead House Passage of Bill to Tackle Invasive Blue Catfish in the Chesapeake Bay

WASHINGTON, DC - Today, Congressman Steny H. Hoyer (MD-05) joined Congresswoman Sarah Elfreth (MD-03) and Congressman Rob Wittman (VA-01) to recognize the House passage of the Mitigation Action and Waterman Support (MAWS) Act.

This legislation, which was introduced last July, would establish a pilot program in the NOAA Chesapeake Bay Office to facilitate a market for Chesapeake Bay blue catfish in the pet and animal food industry in an effort to take millions of pounds of these harmful fish out of our waterways. NOAA will administer grants to pet and animal food manufacturers to ensure watermen are properly incentivized to catch blue catfish and establish transportation, processing, and manufacturing structures for a long-term market. Throughout this two-year pilot, NOAA will collect data on the ecological and economic impacts of this program. NOAA will then report best practices, lessons learned, and recommendations to Congress.

"The Chesapeake Bay is the beating heart of Maryland, and invasive blue catfish threaten the very ecosystems and communities that the watershed sustains," said Congressman Hoyer, an original cosponsor of the MAWS Act. "I was proud to join my friend Congresswoman Sarah Elfreth on the MAWS Act and help secure passage of this vital legislation to combat blue catfish and protect our beloved Bay."

“With House passage of the MAWS Act, we are one step closer to creating new opportunities in a growing market for blue catfish, which pose a direct ecological and economic threat to the Chesapeake Bay. While we can all do our part and order blue catfish when we see it on a menu, this is not a problem that we alone can eat our way out of,” said Congresswoman Elfreth. “That’s why we need bipartisan, innovative solutions, like the MAWS Act, that strengthen our local economy and preserve the health of the Bay. I look forward to working with my colleagues in the Senate to get this legislation past the finish line. If we can prove this innovative strategy works in the Chesapeake, my hope is it can utilize similar tools in waterways across the country - like invasive carp in the Mississippi and Great Lakes.”

“The MAWS Act will facilitate a new market for invasive blue catfish — protecting the biodiversity of the Chesapeake Bay,” said Rep. Wittman. “I am pleased that the House has passed this legislation, and I look forward to seeing it advance to the Senate. Preserving the health of the Bay remains one of my top priorities, and I am proud to have joined Congresswoman Elfreth in leading this critical legislation.”

Blue catfish are not only contributing to the ecological biodiversity challenge of the Bay, but also causing significant economic damage to Maryland and Virginia's seafood industries. They are now the most abundant biomass in the Chesapeake Bay. Despite being safe and nutritious for human consumption, watermen are struggling to sell enough blue catfish to combat the rapidly growing population, partially due to a rule that redirects inspection for this species to the USDA, unlike every other fish that is inspected through the FDA.

Following today’s passage, the bill moves to the Senate for further consideration. The full bill text is available HERE.


Hoyer: The Men and Women of the Capitol Police Showed Extraordinary Courage in the Face of the Overwhelming Force that Confronted Them

WASHINGTON, DC – Today, Congressman Steny H. Hoyer (MD-05), Ranking Member of the Financial Services and General Government (FSGG) Appropriations Subcommittee questioned U.S. Capitol Police (USCP) Chief Michael G. Sullivan during the House Committee on Appropriations Budget Hearing for the Capitol Police. Below are a video and transcript of the interaction:

Click here to watch a video of the questioning.


Whip Clark: “The Care Crisis Is a Core Priority for House Democrats”

WASHINGTON D.C. — Today, Democratic Whip Katherine Clark (MA-5) joined Congressional Dads Caucus Chair Jimmy Gomez (CA-34), Congressional Progressive Caucus Chair Greg Casar (TX-35), New Democrat Coalition Chair Brad Schneider (IL-10), Rep. Rob Menendez (NJ-8), and Rep. Suhas Subramanyam (VA-10) to discuss Democrats’ continued focus on the care economy. The press conference was held during Rep. Gomez’s National Summit on the Caregiving Crisis. Below is a transcript of Whip Clark's remarks:

"The financial inability of most people to get by is the economic crisis of our time.

"Most people cannot afford the first rung of that American Dream. Sixty percent — six-zero — of families, in the richest nation on earth, are struggling to afford the basics: groceries, gas, school supplies, clothes. All of it has contributed to that crisis.

"But there is a particular cruelty, an especially heavy burden, to the care crisis.

"I remember when my children were young. One day, my husband and I realized that my entire paycheck went to child care. But I was fortunate. I had a spouse with a good job. I had resources and support so I could get by.

"But for others, the care crisis means choosing between paying rent or groceries. And for hundreds of thousands of women last year, it meant leaving the workforce entirely.

"And what do we see from Donald Trump and the Republicans? What are they doing about this? We see them withholding child care funding. We see them sending ICE to terrorize caregivers. We see them dismantling Medicaid — a program that pays for two-thirds of home care costs in America. And we see them taking the harshest obstacle to families’ financial security, an obstacle to small businesses, a drain on our economy as a whole, and making it worse.

"Democrats recognize that the American people expect more from their elected officials. They expect a plan to bring down costs. To build a system where families can have a little breathing room and get ahead. Where it is feasible and mathematically possible to work hard, make rent, save some money, and sustain a family.

"And we are going to bring straightforward solutions to the table.

"Let's bring down the cost of child care to $15 a day by passing the Child Care for Working Families Act. Let's help three million student parents by supporting on-campus care. Let's get family caregivers the support they need by fully funding Medicaid. And make early childhood education an attractive career by investing in the students who are pursuing those degrees and making sure they’re paid a fair wage so they can support their own families while they're caring for ours.

"None of this is groundbreaking or revolutionary. But it would be transformative.

"The care crisis is a core priority for House Democrats — both this year and in the Majority."

To view presser photos, click HERE.

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Lawler, Bishop, Salazar, & Clarke Introduce Bipartisan Bill To Protect Health Care Workforce And Maintain Patient Access

Washington, D.C. – 3/17/26… Today, Congressman Mike Lawler (NY-17) introduced the H–1Bs for Physicians and the Healthcare Workforce Act, bipartisan legislation with Reps. Sanford D. Bishop, Jr. (GA-02), Maria Elvira Salazar (FL-27), and Yvette Clarke (NY-09). This legislation will exempt physicians and other health care workers from the new $100,000 fee for H-1B petitions. It also prohibits new H-1B fees from being imposed on health care workers that exceed the existing fees under the U.S. Code.

This effort comes after Reps. Lawler and Clarke organized 100 Members of Congress in urging the Department of Homeland Security to exempt the health care sector from the fee. With workforce shortages continuing to strain hospitals and health systems across the country, lawmakers are now moving forward with legislation to ensure physicians and other medical professionals can continue serving patients in communities that rely on them.

“As detailed in President Trump’s proclamation putting this fee in place, it is certainly in the national interest to exempt healthcare workers. Hospitals, community health centers, and other critical facilities are facing serious workforce shortages that threaten access to care. And they can't pay a $100,000 price tag on new immigrant workers. Without the clarification provided in this bill, the physicians and the wider healthcare workforce would effectively be shut out of the H-1B program, furthering workforce shortages and limiting care options. Communities in the Hudson Valley and across the country depend on healthcare workers, and this legislation makes sure they can continue delivering critical care,” said Congressman Lawler.

“The $100,000 H-1B filing fee adds insult to injury to hospitals, especially in rural areas. The fee will have a detrimental impact on their ability to recruit qualified health care professionals to some of the nation’s most underserved areas. The bipartisan legislation we are introducing today, however, will ensure that all physicians and health professionals are exempted from this fee so that they can continue to serve without fear or financial hardship,” said Congressman Bishop.

“Healthcare access starts with having enough doctors and medical professionals to serve our communities. As our nation faces a growing physician shortage, we must ensure that steep fees do not stand in the way of hospitals bringing in the medical talent American patients depend on. That’s why I’m proud to co-lead the H-1Bs for Physicians and the Healthcare Workforce Act, removing a financial barrier so providers can recruit the physicians they need and ensure families in Florida and across America receive the timely, high-quality healthcare they deserve,” said Congresswoman Salazar.

"As they are in so many areas across our society and economy, immigrant Americans remain indispensable assets to keeping our hospitals and health systems running steadily, efficiently, and effectively. The bipartisan willingness to ensure migrant health care workers are exempted from the $100,000 fee for H-1B petitions stands as a testament to the widely accepted value and necessity of these workers in one of this country’s most vital, yet vulnerable sectors. I am proud to co-lead this effort to prevent dangerous workforce shortages from impacting the health and well-being of Americans, as well as to ensure that those who are willing to contribute their expertise and talents to our nation can continue to do so at the times when we most need them," said Congresswoman Clarke.

The U.S. healthcare industry relies on the H-1B visa program to recruit physicians, nurses, and other healthcare professionals, particularly in rural and underserved communities facing workforce shortages. According to the Health Resources and Services Administration, nearly 87 million Americans live in areas federally designated as lacking enough medical professionals to meet community health care needs.

The H-1Bs for Physicians and the Healthcare Workforce Act exempts health care workers, defined under the Affordable Care Act, from the $100,000 fee required for certain H-1B visa petitions under the September 2025 Presidential Proclamation and prohibits additional fees beyond those already established under existing immigration law for these workers.

Endorsing organizations include the Association of American Medical Colleges, American Hospital Association, American Academy of Neurology, American Medical Association, Association for Advancing Physician and Provider Recruitment, Greater New York Hospital Association, Healthcare Association of New York State, Physicians for American Healthcare Access, American College of Radiology (ACR), National Rural Health Association, American Pharmacists Association, Medical Group Management Association (MGMA), and California Medical Association.

“The AAMC recognizes this important first step to addressing the H-1B issue that poses a significant, real challenge to the academic medicine workforce. To ensure the US maintains the world’s most talented health care professionals, we must have a viable pathway. This bipartisan legislation helps by supporting our nation’s medical schools, academic health systems, and teaching hospitals that rely on highly educated international talent,” said Danielle P. Turnipseed, Chief Public Policy Officer, Association of American Medical Colleges.

“Patients across the country are feeling the effects of the growing physician shortage. Medicare patients and people in rural and underserved areas already struggle to get the care they need. In many such communities, international medical graduates play an important role in providing care and ensuring patients can see a doctor when they need one. The AMA supports this legislation to ensure the new $100,000 fee does not make it harder to recruit highly skilled physicians. We thank Reps. Lawler (R-NY), Bishop (D-GA), Salazar (R-FL), and Clarke (D-NY), for introducing this bipartisan bill. The AMA urges Congress to act quickly to protect patients’ access to care,” said Bobby Mukkamala, MD, President, American Medical Association.

"International medical graduates are essential to health care delivery in communities that would otherwise struggle to access a doctor. The $100,000 H-1B fee could undermine the physician pipeline to the places that need it most, including rural communities, underserved areas, and safety-net hospitals. Physicians for American Healthcare Access (PAHA) applauds Reps. Lawler (R-NY), Bishop (D-GA), Salazar (R-FL), and Clarke (D-NY) for this bipartisan legislation, and we urge Congress to pass the H-1Bs for Physicians and the Healthcare Workforce Act to safeguard patients' access to care," said Dr. Ram Alur, President, Physicians for Americans Healthcare Access.

"The $100,000 H-1B filing fee on health care entities poses a serious challenge to provider recruitment at a time when demand for physicians and other health care professionals continues to grow. Hospitals, health systems, and practices across the country rely on international physicians and health care professionals to meet patient needs. This fee could slow recruitment efforts and make it harder for employers to bring on the providers their communities depend on," said Carey Goryl, Chief Executive Officer of the Association for Advancing Physician and Provider Recruitment (AAPPR). AAPPR supports the H-1Bs for Physicians and the Healthcare Workforce Act and applauds Reps. Lawler (R-NY), Bishop (D-GA), Salazar (R-FL), and Clarke (D-NY) for their bipartisan leadership on this issue," said Carey Goryl, CEO, Association for Advancing Physician and Provider Recruitment.

“The AHA commends Representatives Lawler, Bishop, Salazar, and Clarke for introducing bipartisan legislation that would help maintain patient access to care in communities nationwide. Specifically, this important bill will maintain critical staffing for areas of the country where there are well-documented shortages of health care workers,” said Stacey Hughes, Executive Vice President of the American Hospital Association.

“New York’s hospitals have long relied on the H-1B visa program to help address healthcare workforce shortages in underserved communities new $100,000 fee for each H-1B visa applicant is jeopardizing hospitals’ ability to fill open roles and maintain their patients’ access to care, while increasing the cost of providing care. By exempting healthcare workers from this burdensome fee, the H-1Bs for Physicians and the Healthcare Workforce Act will help our providers do what they do best – serve their patients. I commend Reps. Mike Lawler and Yvette Clarke for continuing to lead on this critical issue,” said Bea Grause, RN, JD, President, Healthcare Association of New York State.

“The H-1B visa program helps ensure that New York hospitals can deliver world-class health care, train the next generation of physicians, and conduct cutting-edge research. The $100,000 filing fee for H-1B visa petitions poses a grave threat to this critical mission. It will further strain hospitals financially, exacerbate ongoing workforce shortages, and diminish access to care. The H-1B Visas for Physicians and the Healthcare Workforce Act will eliminate this onerous fee and ensure that hospitals can continue to care for their communities. I thank Representatives Lawler, Clarke, Salazar, and Bishop for their commitment to strengthening the health care workforce,” said Kenneth E. Raske, President, Greater New York Hospital Association.

"This bill would also preventany new increases in H-1B filing fees, capping costs at a maximum of $1,500 for employers as outlined in section 214(c)(9)(B) of the Immigration and Nationality Act. As baby boomers continue to age and health care demands rise alongside continued population growth, reports1 have shown a projected shortfall of nearly 86,000 physicians by 2036, underscoring the need for a robust health care workforce. In the absence of additional Medicare-funded GME slots, highly trained international medical graduates (IMGs) have historically played a critical role in filling these workforce gaps," said Natalia S. Rost, MD, MPH, FAAN, FAHA, President, American Academy of Neurology.

"On behalf of more than 330,000 pharmacists nationwide, the American Pharmacists Association (APhA) writes in strong support and to thank you for your leadership in introducing the “H–1Bs for Physicians and the Healthcare Workforce Act.” This legislation takes critical steps to ensure that essential health care professionals, including pharmacists, are not subject to unnecessary barriers that would further strain an already challenged health care workforce and limit patient access to care. APhA applauds your recognition of the significant and growing workforce shortages across the U.S. health care system. Pharmacists play a vital role in ensuring medication safety, managing chronic diseases, administering immunizations, and supporting public health initiatives nationwide,” said Michael Baxter, Vice President of Government Affairs, American Pharmacists Association.

Full text of the bill can be found HERE.

Congressman Lawler is one of the most bipartisan members of Congress and represents New York's 17th Congressional District, which is just north of New York City and contains all or parts of Rockland, Putnam, Dutchess, and Westchester Counties. He was rated the most effective freshman lawmaker in the 118th Congress, 8th overall, surpassing dozens of committee chairs.

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Lawler Joins Bipartisan Safe Speeds Act To Strengthen E-Bike Safety Standards Nationwide

Washington, D.C. – 3/17/26… This week, Congressman Mike Lawler joined Reps. Dave Min (CA-47), Jared Huffman (CA-02), and Brian Fitzpatrick (PA-01) to introduce the Safe Standards for Personal E-Bike and E-Moto Device Specifications Act (Safe SPEEDS Act), legislation to establish uniform consumer product safety standards for low-speed electric bikes and other off- road electric devices sold in the United States.

The legislation directs the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) to create a national standard to clearly classify and label e-bikes and similar devices and prohibits products from being marketed as low-speed e-bikes if they don’t meet federal definitions. It also requires the CPSC to review data on crashes, injuries, and fatalities and work with manufacturers, safety experts, consumer groups, and the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration to develop the standard.

“Electric bikes are becoming a popular and convenient way for people to get around, but safety standards and consumer information have not kept up with their rapid growth. The Safe SPEEDS Act will create clear national classifications and labeling requirements so riders and families know exactly what they’re buying and how they should be used,” said Congressman Lawler.

“E-bikes are an affordable, convenient, and popular mode of transportation in my district and across the nation; however, the lack of oversight regarding e-bikes poses serious safety risks to our children and our communities. This bill will ensure federal e-bike standards are clearly defined while also empowering local governments to enhance their safety programs, keeping our communities safe while in transit,” said Congressman Min.

“Without clear federal standards, the rapid growth of unregulated e-bikes is creating real safety risks for pedestrians, motorists, bicyclists, and especially children. The Safe SPEEDS Act closes a decades-long gap in consumer protection by giving the CPSC the tools to set real safety standards, improve data collection, and help local communities respond to this growing challenge. Everyone who shares our roads, sidewalks, and trails across the North Coast deserves to feel safe,” said Congressman Huffman.

“E-bikes are quickly becoming a more common sight in communities across the country, offering convenience and new opportunities for riders of all ages. As this technology continues to evolve, our safety standards must evolve with it. The Safe SPEEDS Act establishes clear federal classifications, strengthens transparency for consumers and families, and improves the data communities rely on to better understand crash trends and prevent injuries. This is a smart, common-sense framework that ensures innovation continues responsibly while helping keep riders and communities safe,” said Congressman Fitzpatrick.

Endorsing organizations include PeopleForBikes, League of American Bicyclists, National Bicycle Dealers Association, Consumer Reports, Safe Routes Partnership, International Association of Chiefs of Police, Advocates for Highway and Auto Safety, and Rails-to-Trails Conservancy.

“PeopleForBikes is pleased to enthusiastically endorse the Safe SPEEDS Act, which will direct the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission to gather and analyze data about incidents involving the many e-mobility products under its jurisdiction. The bill also directs the CPSC to adopt clear classification, age guidelines, and labeling requirements for these devices, including consideration of the three recognized classes of low-speed electric bicycles. This legislation marks an important step towards understanding and mitigating the hazards posed by e-motos: higher speed electric motorized vehicles that are sold as electric dirt bikes, but often end up being inappropriately used on public roads by young riders,” said Jenn Dice, president and CEO of PeopleForBikes.

“The League of American Bicyclists celebrates biking in all of the diverse forms it takes, and e-bikes have become a common and essential type of bike for many people. While states have been active in defining e-bike classes that allow responsible regulation, the federal government has not yet stepped up in its role as a regulator to define what an e-bike is and what is not, based on speed and motor capacity. The Safe SPEEDS Act would direct the Consumer Product Safety Commission to conduct research, propose national e-bike classes, and help communities integrate those classes into their traffic safety efforts. The League applauds Representative David Min for introducing this bill and we are optimistic its passage would help states implement responsible regulation for this growing and transformative mobility option, and reduce confusion for consumers, law enforcement, and emergency responders around e-bike safety,” said Ken McLeod, Policy Director of League of American Bicyclists.

“The NBDA strongly supports Congressman Dave Min’s leadership on this critical e-bike safety legislation. Establishing a clear, uniform federal standard for the classification and labeling of low-speed electric bicycles is long overdue and essential for protecting consumers, retailers, and the broader public. Specialty Bicycle Retailers see firsthand how confusion around e-bike classes, speed capabilities, and intended use can create real safety risks. This bill brings much-needed clarity by reinforcing consistent definitions, permanent labeling, and evidence-based recommendations grounded in data and stakeholder input. We appreciate Congressman Min’s thoughtful approach, one that balances innovation, consumer access, and safety, while supporting responsible manufacturers and retailers who are committed to compliance and education. This legislation represents an important step toward safer streets, better-informed riders, and a more accountable electric bicycle marketplace,” said Heather Mason, Executive Director of the National Bicycle Dealers Association.

Full text of the bill can be found HERE.

Congressman Lawler is one of the most bipartisan members of Congress and represents New York's 17th Congressional District, which is just north of New York City and contains all or parts of Rockland, Putnam, Dutchess, and Westchester Counties. He was rated the most effective freshman lawmaker in the 118th Congress, 8th overall, surpassing dozens of committee chairs.

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Rep. Mike Levin Introduces DEATH BETS Act to Ban Death & War Prediction Contracts

Washington, D.C.—Today, Rep. Mike Levin (CA-49) introduced the House companion bill of the DEATH BETS Act. The bill, H.R. 7942, would explicitly prohibit any Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) registered entity from listing any contract that involves, relates to, or references terrorism, assassination, war, or an individual’s death. Sen. Adam Schiff leads the Senate version of the bill.

“No one should make a profit betting on war and death through prediction markets. While federal law prohibits prediction market contracts on terrorism, war, and assassination, there are still loopholes that allow traders to profit off them,” said Rep. Levin. “The DEATH BETS Act would stop a system that allows individuals to make money off predicting if service members will be put in harm’s way. It is completely unacceptable. I thank Sen. Schiff for his partnership on this bill and look forward to it moving through the legislative process.”

Under the Commodity Exchange Act, the CFTC currently has the authority to prohibit war, terrorism, and assassination contracts from being listed if they are determined by the Commission to be contrary to the public interest. Whether or not these contracts are in the public interest is at the discretion of the CFTC. At a time when CFTC Chair Selig has indicated that he will rewrite the rules on prediction markets, the CFTC can no longer be granted this discretion. The DEATH BETS Act will unequivocally ban these contracts.

The introduction of this bill follows platforms listing prediction contracts relating to war and death, such as whether Iran’s Ali Khamenei would be “out as Supreme Leader" which had $54 million in trading volume on Kalshi before it was paused.

Rep. Levin previously raised alarms on these “death contracts” being offered on offshore exchanges, such as if Maduro would be removed from power and whether the Ukrainian town of Myrnohad would be captured by Russian forces.

The bill would:

codify a prohibition on war, assassination, and terrorism contracts,

explicitly prohibits contracts that involve death or may otherwise be construed to closely correlate with death, which is not currently referenced in the Commodity Exchange Act.

The bill was assigned to the House Committee on Agriculture.

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House Committees on Science, Space, and Technology and Small Business Celebrate Passage of SBIR/STTR Reauthorization Bill on the House Floor

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, the U.S. House of Representatives passed S. 3971, the Small Business Innovation and Economic Security Act, under suspension, favorably out of the chamber. The bill will now head to the President’s desk.

Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) and Small Technology Transfer (STTR) programs expired on September 30, 2025, following the Senate’s failure to pass the House’s clean, one-year extension. Legislation extending the SBIR/STTR programs was introduced by Small Business Committee Chairman Williams on September 2, 2025, and passed on the House Floor, with bipartisan support, on September 15, 2025.

House Committee on Science, Space, and Technology Chairman Brian Babin (R-TX), Ranking Member Zoe Lofgren (D-CA), House Committee on Small Business Chairman Roger Williams (R-TX), and Ranking Member Nydia M. Velázquez (D-NY), issued a joint statement following the passage of S. 3971, the Small Business Innovation and Economic Security Act:

“The reauthorization of the SBIR and STTR programs is a critical win for the small businesses that drive American innovation. We have worked to provide entrepreneurs with the resources they need to transform bold ideas into technology that will fuel our economy, strengthen supply chains, and safeguard our future. We look forward to this bill becoming law and restoring certainty to Main Street America.”

S. 3971, Small Business Innovation and Economic Security Act

The bill reauthorizes the SBIR and STTR programs through September 30, 2031, while strengthening research security within the programs, modernizing and streamlining the programs to reduce administrative burdens, and accelerating innovation to advance cutting-edge technology.

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Rep. Loudermilk: Over $74 Million Returned to Constituents in Georgia’s 11th Congressional District

Washington, D.C. (March 17, 2026) | Rep. Barry Loudermilk (R-GA) issued the following statement highlighting the successful return of $74 million in casework relief for 11th District constituents since 2023:

“Serving the people of Georgia’s 11th Congressional District in the U.S. House of Representatives is a tremendous honor, and a large part of that service is assisting constituents with issues they have with federal agencies. When Georgians call our District Office while trying to deal with agencies such as the IRS, Veterans Administration, Social Security Administration, State Department, and others, my office is able to cut through much of the red tape and deliver results that help solve issues on behalf of the Georgians I have the privilege to represent.

“I am very grateful to my excellent staff who are dedicated to assisting the people of the 11th Congressional District; and, just since 2023 that has led to over $74 million in compensation for seniors, veterans, families, and businesses. My office continues to offer these services to our constituents; so if you have an issue, please feel free to reach out to our exceptional team.”

Casework Totals Last year (2025)

– Dollars returned to constituents: $12,270,978.00

– Total Federal Case Inquiries: 1,327


Rep. Nancy Mace Issues Statement After Oversight Committee Issues Subpoena To AG Pam Bondi

WASHINGTON, D.C. (Mar. 17, 2026) – Congresswoman Nancy Mace (R-S.C.) today issued the following statement after House Oversight Committee Chairman James Comer issued a subpoena to Attorney General Pam Bondi. She is scheduled to appear for a deposition on April 14th.

This follows the committee's approval earlier this month of Rep. Mace's motion requiring Bondi to appear for a deposition on the Department of Justice's handling of the Epstein investigation and compliance with the Epstein Files Transparency Act:

"The Epstein victims and the American people have waited long enough for answers.

“We moved to subpoena Attorney General Pam Bondi because the Department of Justice has not complied with the Epstein Files Transparency Act. They claim all files have been released. The facts say otherwise. Key evidence remains hidden from the public and from victims seeking justice.

"Full transparency is the only way justice can take its course and no one connected to Epstein's global trafficking network gets a pass. No matter your rank, title, or political status, if you were involved, you need to be dragged into the light and held accountable.

"We thank every member who voted for this subpoena and chose transparency over secrecy and accountability over cover-ups.

"We look forward to asking Attorney General Pam Bondi our questions next month and getting to the bottom of this for every victim and every American."

READ MORE ABOUT REP. MACE'S MOTION TO SUBPOENA AG BONDI HERE AND HERE.

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From Servers to First Responders: Floridians See Real Relief from Working Families Tax Cuts

DORAL, FL – Congressman Mario Díaz-Balart, Dean of the Florida Delegation, and House Republican Conference Chairwoman Lisa McClain hosted a roundtable last week with working moms, small business owners, and tax professionals to discuss how the Working Families Tax Cuts are delivering real relief for families and workers during the 2026 tax season.

Rep. Díaz-Balart, Chairwoman McClain Highlight Tax Relief as Families See Bigger Refunds During the 2026 Tax Season

Congressman Mario Díaz-Balart said, “I was grateful to be joined by House Republican Conference Chairwoman Lisa McClain, who has been a strong leader in ensuring Americans across our country understand and benefit from the many tax relief provisions included in the Working Families Tax Cuts.

I was especially pleased to welcome her to Sergio’s restaurant in Doral, in Florida’s 26th Congressional District, where we had the opportunity to hear directly from my constituents — from working parents, entrepreneurs, UBER and DoorDash drivers, and local tax professionals — about how these policies are making a difference during tax season. These hardworking Americans are already seeing the benefits of the tax relief passed last year by House Republicans and signed into law by President Trump.

I also wanted to thank Carlos Gazitua for his hospitality and leadership and for bringing together such an outstanding group from our community.”

Chairwoman Lisa McClain said, “Across the country, we’re seeing the real people who benefit from these policies – hardworking Americans keeping more of what they earn. In Miami, Congressman Mario Diaz-Balart has been a steady leader, fighting to put money back where it belongs: in the pockets of families, small businesses, and workers. It’s been extremely helpful to hear directly from Congressman Diaz-Balart’s constituents about how these tax cuts are helping their businesses grow, their families, thrive, and their communities succeed.”

Watch Rep. Díaz-Balart's opening remarks here.

Watch Chairwoman McClain's opening remarks here.

During the roundtable, Floridians shared how the Working Families Tax Cuts are delivering tangible benefits for their families, businesses, and communities.

NO TAX ON TIPS

Bob Mitchell, Uber Driver said: “I've been doing Uber for 11 years…And I have to say, with the new tax cuts and everything and the savings on tips, it's been amazing. Just on my IRS, my income tax I got back this year, I've saved over 20% more than last year. … What's so impressive about this whole thing, the bill, it wasn't like you had touched on before—it doesn't affect you guys. It doesn't affect the President…It affects us. The working people, the people who day in and day out go out there. And I can tell you this, people I have picked up since this has all gone into effect, those in the service industry, bartenders and servers, they've also said they appreciate so much what the government has done with this bill. And they feel it, they've seen a difference, too, on their taxes.”

Watch his full testimony:

Nikki Trevino, Florida DoorDash Driver said: “In 2020, I had a surgery—a surgery that resulted in a permanent disability. Many traditional jobs aren't possible for me anymore. Dashing has truly been a godsend, and it's one of the few types of work I can do because I'm able to choose when I work...I know that being able to keep more of my hard-earned tips is going to make a meaningful impact. Those savings will go directly toward helping my 17-year-old daughter who is preparing to start college, and any parent knows every extra dollar matters. No Tax on Tips recognizes the hard work of people like me—people who earn tips not as a bonus, but as essential income.”

Watch her full testimony:

Ilenai Rodríguez, Waitress said: “It’s extra savings that comes back to us. Most of our income comes from tips…so not having to pay taxes on those tips means important savings at the end of the year.”

Watch her full testimony (Spanish):

NO TAX ON OVERTIME

Chief Matthew Castillo, City of Miami Springs Police, said: “Public safety relies heavily on three important factors: one is recruitment, two is morale, and three is retention, which rely heavily as far as my job is concerned. And the No Tax on Overtime provision directly impacts these three aspects. In policing, overtime isn't really a luxury. Sometimes it's necessary to keep our community safe. These officers working those extra hours, unfortunately, a lot of their pay disappears due to taxes, and the rate goes up and you get put in a higher tax bracket. This provision actually ensures that our officers are able to take home more of their pay so they could better provide for their families.”

Watch his full testimony:

Lt. Albert Vargas, City of Miami Springs Police, said: “When it comes to overtime in law enforcement, a lot of times it's not optional. It's mandatory. We have manpower shortages and we have a lot of different things going on that the overtime is mandatory…These officers that work this overtime, they're able to keep some of that money for their family. We think it's a huge benefit for our department and all the first responders…we appreciate the support that Congressman Mario Díaz-Balart and the House Republicans give us on a daily basis.”

Stephen G. Bussé, Metro-Dade Firefighter, said: “In our line of work, overtime is not a choice; it is a necessity. No matter what happens when that bell goes off, there needs to be a professional firefighter in that seat running that call and answering the community. Thanks to this federal tax relief for overtime, the extra hours we have been putting in away from our families at the fire or police station are finally being respected. This was actually the first year that I have seen the largest tax refund in my entire career.”

Watch his full testimony:

CHILD TAX CREDIT EXPANSION, TRUMP ACCOUNTS, STANDARD DEDUCTION

Adriana McLamb, Marketing Director of the Independent Women’s Forum, said: “I feel the effects with a growing boy who I feel every single day I have to buy new-sized diapers, new-sized shoes, and more food. He eats more than the FIU football team, it feels like. Those costs grow as they get older… with more money in my pocket, I'm able to do what I can for my son and my growing family. But it's not just that portion also; it's the expansion of 529 and the standard deduction. All of those are really felt as a new mom.”

Watch her full testimony:

Maria M. Negron-Gonzales, a realtor from Hialeah, Florida, said: “I used that extra money to put [my son] in SAT tutoring… I really want to thank you for thinking of parents, and even a little bit goes a long way. I honestly got more money back.”

Watch her full testimony:

Carlos Gazitua, CEO of Sergio’s Restaurants, said: “This is going to be our first full year of the tax policy, and we already opened up a restaurant, took the bonus depreciation, and hired over 60 employees this year. We already have plans for the next project that is going to hire another 15 people. We're spending over $3 million already in six or seven months… the bonus depreciation and business tax deductions give small business owners the confidence to invest. That confidence has a trickle effect; we have to hire more employees, and when we hire more employees, we have to pay more because we have to compete against other small businesses. That's the way it works in our local economy. The more money that our hardworking servers keep from their taxes and their tips, the more they get to put that money into their families.”

Watch his full testimony:

Andrei Stern, Owner at SuViche Hospitality, said: “In our experience, it has really helped our team with retention. It has helped our team have more money in their pockets, which means they have more money to spend in local businesses and grow the economy. It has also let them have more time with their families. We have had team members who used to have multiple jobs, and because of the savings they have from no tax on tips and no tax on overtime, they can now have one job and spend more time at home.”

Watch his full testimony:

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Congressman Christian Menefee Tours Houston ICE Detention Facility Urging Immigration Reform

HOUSTON, TX — This weekend, Congressman Christian Menefee (TX-18) conducted an oversight visit to the Houston Contract Detention Facility, operated by CoreCivic under contract with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). A federal court reaffirmed the right of Members of Congress to conduct these visits just weeks ago, after the Trump administration tried to block them.

The facility currently holds around 750 detainees, who spend up to 20 hours per day confined to a single room. Around 40% are detained at the facility not because of a criminal conviction, but simply because they are undocumented. “Trump promised the American people he was going after violent criminals,” said Congressman Menefee. “But hundreds of people at this facility are simply not that. They are members of our community, being held in incarceration-type conditions for 20 hours a day. This cruelty makes no one safer.”

“Americans agree that violent criminals should be deported and that border communities deserve protection. But what the Trump administration is doing goes far beyond that,” said Congressman Menefee. “My visit showed that the administration is demonizing, rounding up, and detaining people who have been contributing to our communities instead of focusing on violent criminals.”

“Immigrants are our neighbors. So many are business owners, workers, and part of the fabric of our communities,” Congressman Menefee said. “Congress must find a pathway to citizenship for long-term residents who are here, living with their families, contributing to our communities, and not getting into trouble. That is the immigration system the American people deserve, and it is nowhere close to what we have today.”

Beyond the detention facility, the Trump administration has radicalized ICE. Agents have terrorized communities across the country and killed at least three people. Congressman Menefee will continue to vote against ICE funding until the administration is held accountable and the agency is reformed.

“What we’ve seen from ICE in the streets shows we need real immigration reform. That we’re detaining so many people who have committed no crime is just more evidence of that,” Congressman Menefee said. “I will keep doing this oversight work, keep asking hard questions, and keep pushing for a system that is actually fair.”

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About Congressman Christian Menefee (TX-18)

Rep. Christian D. Menefee represents Texas’s 18th Congressional District, covering communities across the Houston area. He was sworn into office on February 2, 2026.


Speaker Johnson: Democrats Refuse to Reopen DHS for the American People Until They Can Reopen American Borders for Illegal Aliens

WASHINGTON — This morning, at the weekly House Republican Leadership press conference, Speaker Johnson discussed the absurdity of House Democrats demanding to defund CBP and ICE as a condition for reopening TSA, FEMA, and other critical DHS agencies.

“[Democrats] latest proposal would only partially fund DHS while stripping funding for ICE and Customs and Border Protection. As Leader Scalise just reminded you, the discharge petition is really a petition to defund the police,” Speaker Johnson said. “The law enforcement agencies that are the part of the Department of Homeland Security are what they're targeting. Democrats refuse to reopen TSA and FEMA and the Coast Guard and these other critical functions of government unless they can reopen our borders to illegal aliens.”

Watch Speaker Johnson’s press conference remarks here.

On Democrat efforts to defund Customs and Border Protection:

As one of the primary agencies responsible for protecting the homeland, Customs and Border Protection plays an irreplaceable role in our national security framework. This is not a game. Our CBP agents stand on the front lines. They protect our nation against transnational crime, drug and child trafficking, and terrorist threats before they reach our communities. It is our largest federal law enforcement agency. CBP is the largest federal law enforcement agency. Any bill that strips its funding, weakens our defenses against terrorist plots, undermines the integrity of our borders, and disrupts lawful travel through US ports of entry, including the millions of American and international travelers processed at our airports every single day.

Now, it bears repeating, in just the last two weeks, we have had four jihadist attacks on American soil, all of which originated from perpetrators who are already inside the country. Every one of those attacks fall squarely under the purview of the Department of Homeland Security. And the Democrats don't want to fund it. And now they're demanding we strip funding from the very agency responsible for stopping all of that. It's another dangerous game; a political game by Democrats that's as foolish as it is perilous.

On the dangerous Democrat shutdown:

[Democrats] had the longest shutdown in history last fall, as we all know, and now they've got the third. Today is a direct result of Democrats taking the Department of Homeland Security hostage in order to protect criminal illegal aliens. That's exactly what it is. Here's some of the stats: roughly 120,000 DHS employees, including 50,000 TSA agents, are going without pay for yet another week. FEMA's ability to respond to natural disasters is increasingly imperiled. We had some big weather events, as you might have noticed in the last 24 hours. Our agency of government that is responsible for assisting with that is being hampered. American airports obviously are reaching a breaking point, so severe that airlines are pleading with Democrats to please fund the Department of Homeland Security. It's fallen on deaf ears. Four separate times, Republicans have voted to fully fund DHS since this chaos ensued. Four times, and on each of those times, Democrats voted almost unanimously to block the funding.

On Democrats attempting to return to open border policies:

Democrats opened our borders wide to tens of millions of illegal aliens for four years under Joe Biden, including untold numbers of violent, hardened, and repeat criminals. That is an objective fact, and no one can refute it. They could have closed the border anytime. As you all know, I pleaded with President Biden after I became Speaker to do it. And he pretended as though he did not have the authority to close the border. They chose that. They chose to keep the border wide open, and they looked away. And that happened until President Trump was returned to office, and obviously we secured the border in a very short number of days because the law was always there. He always had the authority, and thankfully we got a Commander in Chief who understands national security and safety. And now when our borders are finally secure and when criminal illegal aliens are finally being held to account for breaking our laws, now the Democrats want to reverse course. They want to go back to open borders. They want to defund the agencies that are responsible for keeping law and order.

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Speaker Johnson Hosts Annual Friends of Ireland Luncheon

WASHINGTON — Today in the Rayburn Room of the U.S. Capitol, Speaker Johnson hosted President Donald Trump and Taoiseach of Ireland, Micheál Martin, for the annual Friends of Ireland Luncheon, a St. Patrick’s Day tradition which began in 1983.

The event featured remarks from Speaker Johnson, President Trump, and the Taoiseach as well as a musical and dance performance from the Irish musical “Where Eagles Fly” and the Gardiner Brothers.

Following the luncheon, Speaker Johnson hosted the Taoiseach for a bilateral meeting to discuss the United States-Ireland relationship.

Watch Speaker Johnson’s full remarks here

Speaker Johnson’s remarks as delivered:

So grateful again to have you all with us. I hope you're enjoying this special event and the extraordinary meal that's still being prepared and presented. So, thank you for that.

I know many of you have been attending this luncheon for many years. The President and I were just speaking, and I think this is his sixth of these events. It's my third and we look forward to it every year. It's a tradition that many of you know. It's been going for four decades because it began back in the Ronald Reagan era. Two proud sons of Ireland—one was a Republican, one was a Democrat—President Ronald Reagan and Speaker Tip O'Neill, originally joined forces to celebrate the enduring bond of Ireland and the United States.

We have kept the tradition going ever since. The Friends of Ireland has been a bipartisan tradition, and we look forward to it every year. And of course, this luncheon is just one of the many ways that America is celebrating St. Patrick's Day around the country.

Of course, New York City, is a great place, lots of Irish Americans there. They host the longest running St. Patrick's Day parade in the world that dates back to 1762. That's right. I can't believe you didn't know that, Senator Welch.

In our state, Steve Scalise and I hail from Louisiana, they celebrate a little differently. St. Patrick's Day often falls in the midst of Mardi Gras, so they toss Mardi Gras beads, they put on their own spin on everything. They even throw cabbages and potatoes from the Mardi Gras floats.

In Chicago, famously of course, they dye the city's river bright green, and that's always interesting. I'm not entirely sure that's happening again this year because our Health Secretary, RFK Jr., might've banned it. But, we'll see. We'll see.

Now, if you're familiar with this event, you know that speakers traditionally share their stories of their Irish roots and their long-lost relatives from the homeland. I unfortunately am not Irish. My folks come from, my mother's side from Sicily. So, ‘Mike Johnson’ is so boring. You wouldn't know that. But my maternal grandfather was Nunzio Messina. Okay? I could have been somebody. I could have been Vinny Messina.

But anyway, this is my third year hosting and I've exhausted all my stories. But I do want to say, I do have Irish credibility because I married a beautiful Irish woman. Kelly is my wife, over here, Kelly. Her maiden name is Lary. And it used to be, originally O'Leary. So, Kelly O'Leary, that's pretty Irish, right? I think I qualify.

I'm certainly a great admirer of the Irish spirit and of course, the indelible mark that Irishmen and women have left on our country. There's an old saying that the Irish, like the presence of God himself, are everywhere. And that certainly holds true here in Congress, as well as most of the history of our extraordinary nation.

Irish influence in America dates back to the earliest days of our great country. In fact, some of the most fiery patriots, the ones who inspired our Founders to declare their independence, were the Irish. And when the father of our country, George Washington, needed an army, it was the Irish who made up roughly one third of the fighting force.

Their determined spirit and their love of liberty were so well known that a top British official is said to have lamented, “We have lost America through the Irish.” And that's bragging rights.

Perhaps it was that famous Irish charm, or perhaps it was their rather exuberant ways that made a lasting impression on George Washington himself. Now being the dutiful and stoic general that he was, he rarely picked favorites among his ranks. He was famous for how he did that. But if he ever did, it would've been in the winter of 1780. On that winter, Washington's men were enduring. Some of the harshest conditions of the entire war were while camped at Morristown, New Jersey. The food had been rationed, supplies were scarce, and they had below freezing temperatures that made every task somehow more miserable. Washington knew he had to do something to improve the spirits and morale of his men. So, on March 16, he issued a rare order. The next day, March 17, all work would cease and every soldier would stop to properly celebrate this unexpected day off. It was the day of respite and recovery and merriment. And as Washington noted, a day held in particular regard by the people of Ireland.

Now, here's what I find so interesting about this story. Despite the brutal conditions and despite the shortages in food and supplies, and despite some men going without shoes on their feet, the Irish somehow managed by what I can only assume to be divine intervention, to find beer. Steve, they found beer in the midst of all that. Ever since then, we've continued to celebrate St. Patrick's Day, and we carry on that proud tradition here again today in many ways, the story of America cannot be told without the story of the Irish, we are intertwined in that way.

Your love of freedom, your grit and industriousness, and your proud and resilient spirit, all of which have shaped the character of our country through great servants like Kennedy and Reagan and O'Neill and countless others, many of whom have Irish roots are serving with us still today, many here with us here today. And, America celebrates her 250th anniversary. And in the midst of that, we celebrate the great legacy and reaffirm this enduring and eternal friendship.

And now, without further ado, it's my honor to introduce our next speaker. It's a man who spent a lifetime working with the Irish first to build skyscrapers and golf courses and now trade deals and diplomatic ties. It is my great honor to host him here in the Congress every time he comes down the street. He is our great 45th and 47th President, Donald J. Trump.

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THOMPSON AND AGUIAR-CURRY HONOR 2026 STUDENT LEADERSHIP COUNCIL GRADUATES

Napa, CA – On Saturday, March 7, Rep. Mike Thompson (CA-04) and Assembly Majority Leader Cecilia Aguiar-Curry recognized the 2026 Student Leadership Council graduates at an end-of-year graduation ceremony held at the Napa County Health & Human Services Agency. Rep. Thompson and Assembly Majority Leader Aguiar-Curry spoke to the class and presented graduating students with certificates marking their achievement serving on the Council. Among the 95 graduates were 8 outstanding students from Lake County, 33 from Napa County, 4 from Solano County, 30 from Sonoma County and 20 from Yolo County.

"I'm inspired by the passion and drive of the students graduating from Assembly Majority Leader Aguiar-Curry's and my 2025–2026 Student Leadership Council. This year's students brought incredible energy and ideas to the table—from tackling the climate crisis to gun violence prevention to protecting our democracy. It was an honor to recognize them at this ceremony and hear their thoughtful perspectives firsthand. To our 2026 graduating student leaders: Congratulations! I can't wait to see all you accomplish for our community and our country," said Thompson.

"I am incredibly proud of the collaboration with Congressman Thompson to give our future leaders an opportunity to experience the inner workings of government and learn how to become successful community members. Congratulations to all the students who are completing the 2025–2026 program. I hope it has broadened their horizons and sparked their curiosity, inspiring them to dedicate their lives to improving their communities," said Assembly Majority Leader Aguiar-Curry.

Rep. Thompson and Assembly Majority Leader Aguiar-Curry's Student Leadership Council is an exciting program that allows local students to work directly with their elected officials and staff to develop leadership skills, learn how government works, and engage with our community. The Student Leadership Council has grown into a network of 318 alumni since it was started by Thompson. The Council is open to all high school students who live in California's Fourth Congressional District or California's Fourth Assembly District. Selected students meet several times a month over the course of a semester.

Learn more about the Student Leadership Council here.


Griffith Announces $2.5 Million ARPA-E Award to Virginia Tech Project

The U.S. Department of Energy Advanced Research Projects Agency – Energy (ARPA-E) has launched a $35 million campaign to triple U.S. transmission capacity. As part of the campaign, ARPA-E awarded Virginia Tech, based in Blacksburg, Virginia, a $2.5 million award. The funding will support design development of a novel power electronics converter. The funding is supported by the agency’s Disruptive DC Converters for Grid Resilient Infrastructure to Deliver Secure energy (DC-GRIDS) program.

In response to this news, U.S. Congressman Morgan Griffith (R-VA) issued the following statement:

“As electricity demand in the United States is projected to surge, it is necessary to update our electric grid infrastructure. ARPA-E is responsible for identifying key projects that develop cutting-edge technologies and are strategic to America’s energy security.

“This $2.5 million award to Virginia Tech as part of the DC-GRIDS program helps the university advance innovative energy security solutions that bolster the U.S. electric grid.”

BACKGROUND

Virginia Tech’s project is one of 12 selected to support the DC-GRIDS program.

ARPA-E notes that the DC-GRIDS awarded projects will focus on developing high voltage direct current (HVDC) technologies that transform conventional alternating current (AC) infrastructure. The Virginia Tech project can potentially enable more resilient and cost-effective energy transmission for the future.

In September 2025, Congressman Griffith announced a $39.9 million ARPA-H award to Virginia Tech for the development of a new biosensor.

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Congresswoman Nikema Williams, Dem Women’s Caucus, & Reproductive Freedom Caucus Urge HHS to Fund Title X Grants to Protect Critical Reproductive Care After Significant Delay

WASHINGTON, DC – On Monday, March 16, Democratic Women’s Caucus (DWC) Whip Nikema Williams (GA-05), Reproductive Freedom Caucus (RFC) Vice Chair Lizzie Fletcher (TX-07), DWC Reproductive Health Care Task Force and Liaison Judy Chu (CA-28), and DWC & RFC members Sharice Davids (KS-03) and Dina Titus (NV-01) led 128 Members of the DWC and RFC in a letter to Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary Robert Kennedy urging him to extend Title X grants that provide critical family planning funding to health care centers across the country after HHS failed to provide guidance for months. Title X-funded health centers are lifelines in their communities, providing high-quality family planning and sexual health care, including cancer screenings, testing and treatment for sexually transmitted infections, HIV testing, contraceptive services and supplies, pregnancy testing, and other essential health care services.

In their letter, the members demand that HHS immediately award a one-year full funding extension to all current Title X grantees. This extension is critical because HHS failed to release the funding guidelines for months, only to release them late last Friday and give applicants only one week to submit their materials. HHS’s rushed approach could delay critical funding to grantees.

In their letter, the Members explained that Title X funding is critical to providing high-quality family planning and sexual health care:

“The bipartisan Title X program, championed by then-Congressman George H.W. Bush and signed into law by President Nixon, served 2.8 million people in 2023. For many of those patients, especially in rural and underserved communities, Title X health centers are their only source of health care. In 2023 alone, Title X supported 3,853 health centers across all 50 states, the District of Columbia, and U.S. territories and performed 461,085 cervical cancer screenings. These screenings have helped lower cervical cancer rates by more than half since the mid 1970s. Without timely access to the Year 5 funding of grants they have already been awarded, Title X clinics will be left without the needed support to continue to provide these screenings, contraceptive supplies, and other critical services.”

The Members also detailed how the failure to extend Title X funding is yet another example of Republicans attacking essential reproductive health care:

“The failure to release guidance and open applications on time is yet another example of this administration’s ongoing assault on the Title X program, birth control, and reproductive health care access more broadly. In March 2025, HHS illegally withheld $65.8 million in Congressionally appropriated funding for the Title X program from 16 grantees with grants in 23 states, threatening essential health care access for an estimated 842,000 people, or 30 percent of all Title X patients. Many of these affected grantees still struggle to sustain the financial burden caused by that extended delay in funding. The attacks on reproductive health care from this administration and congressional Republicans continued with an estimated 15 million Americans poised to lose health insurance under Trump’s One Big Beautiful Bill Act, Republicans’ failure to extend Affordable Care Act tax credits, and a budget proposal and partisan spending bill for FY2026 that sought to eliminate the Title X program entirely.”

The Members closed by urging HHS to extend funding to protect essential health care:

“Undermining Title X will unquestionably result in the loss of health care for patients who depend on it. Title X grantees were already awarded these funds. Those who rely on these services should not be punished by HHS’s inadequate planning. We urge you to award all Title X grantees a full funding extension for the next year before April 1. Do not stifle the life-saving work of Title X-funded centers that have helped women and families across our country for decades.”

Read the full letter from Members of the Democratic Women’s Caucus and Reproductive Freedom Caucus here.

In addition to letter leads Democratic Women’s Caucus (DWC) Whip Nikema Williams, Reproductive Freedom Caucus (RFC) Vice Chair Lizzie Fletcher, DWC Reproductive Health Care Task Force and Liaison Judy Chu, and DWC & RFC members Sharice Davids, and Dina Titus, the letter was signed by Alma Adams, Pete Aguilar, Yassamin Ansari, Jake Auchincloss, Becca Balint, Nanette Barragán, Joyce Beatty, Wesley Bell, Donald Beyer, Suzanne Bonamici, Julia Brownley, Shontel Brown, Salud Carbajal, André Carson, Troy Carter, Greg Casar, Ed Case, Sean Casten, Gilbert Cisneros, Katherine Clark, Steve Cohen, Angie Craig, Jasmine Crockett, Danny Davis, Madeleine Dean, Diana DeGette, Suzan DelBene, Christopher Deluzio, Mark DeSaulnier, Maxine Dexter, Debbie Dingell, Lloyd Doggett, Sarah Elfreth, Veronica Escobar, Bill Foster, Valerie Foushee, Maxwell Frost, Jesús García, Sylvia Garcia, Daniel Goldman, Josh Gottheimer, Adelita Grijalva, Jahana Hayes, Pablo Hernández, James Himes, Steven Horsford, Chrissy Houlahan, Jared Huffman, Glenn Ivey, Jonathan Jackson, Sara Jacobs, Henry Johnson, Julie Johnson, Sydney Kamlager-Dove, William Keating, Robin Kelly, Timothy Kennedy, Ro Khanna, Greg Landsman, George Latimer, Summer Lee, Susie Lee, Teresa Leger Fernandez, Ted Lieu, Stephen Lynch, John Mannion, Doris Matsui, Lucy McBath, April McClain Delaney, Jennifer McClellan, Betty McCollum, Morgan McGarvey, James McGovern, Gregory Meeks, Robert Menendez, Grace Meng, Kweisi Mfume, Dave Min, Gwen Moore, Joseph Morelle, Kelly Morrison, Seth Moulton, Kevin Mullin, Jerrold Nadler, Eleanor Norton, Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, Johnny Olszewski, Chris Pappas, Nancy Pelosi, Brittany Pettersen, Chellie Pingree, Mark Pocan, Nellie Pou, Ayanna Pressley, Delia Ramirez, Emily Randall, Deborah Ross, Patrick Ryan, Andrea Salinas, Mary Gay Scanlon, Janice Schakowsky, Bradley Schneider, Hillary Scholten, Terri Sewell, Lateefah Simon, Melanie Stansbury, Greg Stanton, Haley Stevens, Marilyn Strickland, Suhas Subramanyam, Eric Swalwell, Emilia Sykes, Mark Takano, Rashida Tlaib, Jill Tokuda, Paul Tonko, Ritchie Torres, Lori Trahan, Gabe Vasquez, Nydia Velázquez, Debbie Wasserman Schultz, Bonnie Watson Coleman, Nikema Williams, and Frederica Wilson.


Nunn Joins Effort to Eliminate Drill Pay Taxes for Iowa Guardsmen and Reservists

Under current law, Guardsmen and Reservists pay federal income taxes on compensation earned during monthly drill weekends and additional training activities throughout the year. The No Tax on Drill Pay Act would eliminate federal taxes on Inactive Duty Training pay, putting more money back in the pockets of the more than 800,000 Americans who serve in the National Guard and Reserve, including more than 13,000 in Iowa.

“Our Guard members and Reservists serve on drill days, training deployments, and stand at the ready for our communities,” said Rep. Nunn. “Time away from families, jobs, and home. Under current law, they pay federal income taxes on every dollar they earn doing it. I hear from Iowa Guardsmen and their families about the financial strain that comes with that commitment, and this bill is a straightforward fix: exempt drill pay from federal income taxes so more of that money stays with the families who earned it.”

Rep. Nunn joined colleagues to introduce the legislation on March 13, one day after he welcomed home approximately 140 Iowa National Guard soldiers during a ceremony at Des Moines International Airport. The soldiers are part of the 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 34th Infantry Division, returning from a nearly year-long deployment in the Middle East as part of Operation Inherent Resolve.

Nearly 1,800 Iowa National Guard soldiers deployed in May 2025 to support operations against ISIS in Iraq and Syria. Hundreds have returned home in phases over the past several weeks.

“Last week, I stood with families at the 132nd Air Wing and watched Iowa Guard members reunite with loved ones after months apart,” continued Rep. Nunn. “These soldiers and their families sacrifice more than most people see. Missed birthdays, long drives to drill, and weekends spent training instead of at home so they are ready to defend our communities at a moment’s notice. Exempting drill pay from federal taxes is one way we can make sure their service doesn’t have an added financial burden.”

“Members of the National Guard and Reserve answer the call to serve our country while

balancing civilian careers and family responsibilities,” said Rep. Barr. “Ending federal taxes on a portion of their military pay will reward these patriots for their service to our country. The No Tax on Drill Pay Act will boost recruitment and retention, strengthen military readiness, and continue our commitment to treating our military better than any in the world.”

The National Guard Association of the United States has endorsed the No Tax on Drill Pay Act.

Text of the bill can be found here.

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Rep. Owens ‘No Aid for Ghost Students Act’ Passes Committee

WASHINGTON, D.C. — Congressman Burgess Owens’ (UT-04) No Aid for Ghost Students Act passed the Education and Workforce Committee this afternoon. The bill aims to prevent bad actors from submitting fraudulent FAFSA Applications under stolen or fabricated identities by amending the Higher Education Act and requiring the Department of Education and institutions of higher education to take steps to combat this fraud.

“The No Aid for Ghost Students Act is common-sense legislation that ensures federal dollars aren’t flowing to professional fraudsters.” Representative Owens said. “Federal aid needs to go to those students who need it most, and every cent that is defrauded represents a lost opportunity for students in need and a serious offense to the American taxpayer.”

The bill would specifically require the Department of Education to:

Use an identity fraud detection system to review each application

Notify the applicant if their FAFSA was flagged as suspicious

Verify the applicant before federal student aid is disbursed

Establish guidelines for identity verification procedures

Report to Congress within 30 days what they have done to implement the above systems

Requires a yearly audit of the system, paired with a report to Congress of the fraud identification system and its effectiveness

You can find the full text here.

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Pappas Statement on Passage of Legislation to Fund Critical Small Business R&D Programs

Today, Congressman Chris Pappas (NH-01) helped pass the bipartisan Small Business Innovation and Economic Security Act to reauthorize the Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) program and the Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR) program for five years. The SBIR and STTR programs provide competitive awards to American small businesses to conduct research and development projects that have the potential for commercialization.

“America's Seed Fund is a uniquely successful program that has helped ensure that we are leveraging the expertise and innovation of our small businesses to develop the next generation of technologies to bring to market. After over five months of a lapse in funding for these programs due to congressional inaction, I am glad that this bill to make it right has now passed the House and Senate, and is headed to the President’s desk,” said Congressman Pappas. “I have supported SBIR and STTR on a bipartisan basis with my colleagues throughout my time in Congress, because we have seen first-hand the positive impact they have on our small businesses, global competitiveness, and national security. I remain committed to supporting these programs so that small businesses have the support and stability they need, and that America continues to be a global innovation leader.”

Background:

Pappas is a cosponsor of the SBIR/STTR Reauthorization Act of 2025 to make permanent and expand the SBIR and STTR programs. In September, Pappas spoke in favor of reauthorizing the SBIR and STTR at an event attended by New Hampshire small businesses that have taken part in these programs. That same month, he helped pass bipartisan legislation in the House to reauthorize the SBIR and STTR programs through fiscal year 2026.


Congressman Patronis Issues Statement as DHS Shutdown Cripples TSA and Threatens National Security

WASHINGTON, D.C. - Today, Congressman Jimmy Patronis issued a statement amid TSA staffing shortages and nationwide travel disruptions as the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) shutdown enters its 32nd day.

"The American people shouldn’t be paying the price for Democrat dysfunction,” said Congressman Patronis. “TSA agents are being pushed to the brink, working without pay, struggling to make ends meet, and in some cases leaving their jobs. Travelers across the country are feeling the strain, from longer security lines to widespread flight delays. We need immediate action to fund DHS, support our frontline personnel, and restore stability to our nation’s skies.”

The shutdown has already made a significant impact.

Over 300 TSA employees have resigned, and call-out rates have doubled during peak travel.

As of Tuesday morning, 900+ flights were canceled and 2,600+ delayed.

Strong winds across the Northeast, affecting roughly 34 million Americans, are worsening delays.

With uncertainty abroad, including threats from Iranian sleeper cells, Democrats are putting Americans’ safety at risk by using Homeland Security funding as a political bargaining tool. Congressman Patronis continued, “With uncertainty abroad, including threats from Iranian sleeper cells, Democrats are putting Americans’ safety at risk by using Homeland Security funding as a political bargaining tool. For over a month, essential personnel have continued to serve without pay. TSA agents are keeping our skies safe, the Coast Guard is defending our shores, and FEMA’s disaster preparedness remains uncertain, all while critical funding is stalled. This is neither sustainable nor responsible. Americans deserve better than a standstill when it comes to protecting our nation.”

The DHS shutdown is affecting multiple critical agencies, including TSA, Customs and Border Protection, the Coast Guard, and FEMA. The Senate has not yet announced a date for the next vote on the DHS funding package.

To make your voice heard, contact Democratic Senators and Congressional representatives to demand swift action to end the shutdown and restore funding to these essential agencies.

To contact members of the United States Senate click here

To contact members of the United States House of Representatives click here

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CONGRESSWOMAN PLASKETT CAUTIONS VIRGIN ISLANDERS AGAINST SOCIAL SECURITY CARD SCAMS

U.S. Virgin Islands — Congresswoman Stacey E. Plaskett (D-USVI) is urging residents of the U.S. Virgin Islands to be on high alert after the Social Security Administration (SSA) Office of the Inspector General (OIG) issued a national scam warning to remind the public that new and replacement Social Security cards are provided at no cost. Numerous fraudulent websites and impersonators are currently charging fees for services that the federal government provides for free.

The SSA provides this assistance — for first-time applicants, replacements for lost cards, and name changes — at no charge. Residents are encouraged to visit SSA's official website at ssa.gov/number-card or call 1-800-772-1213 for assistance. Eligible individuals may also create a personal my Social Security account at ssa.gov/myaccount to apply for a replacement card online.

"I want every Virgin Islander to know that you should never have to pay for a Social Security card — not a new one, not a replacement, not for any reason," said Congresswoman Plaskett. "Scammers are actively targeting communities throughout the country with false claims about Social Security card fees. I urge all Virgin Islanders to go directly to the official SSA website or call their hotline, and to avoid third-party websites that may seek to steal your money or your personal information."

The SSA OIG has cautioned the public to be wary of imposter websites and fraudulent social media accounts designed to collect sensitive personal information, including Social Security numbers, birthdates, and credit card information. Section 1140 of the Social Security Act explicitly prohibits misleading SSA-related communications and restricts charging for services the SSA provides for free. Violators are subject to financial penalties.

Congresswoman Plaskett urges all residents to keep the following steps in mind:

Pause. If you receive an unexpected call, text, email, letter, or social media message, be skeptical. Think: is this a scam?

Protect. Guard your personal and financial information. Talk to someone you trust before sharing sensitive details or making any payment.

Report. Visit ssa.gov/scam to report suspected Social Security-related scams. Follow SSA OIG on Facebook, X, and LinkedIn for the latest scam alerts. You may also visit the Federal Trade Commission at ftc.gov for additional consumer protection resources.

"Our seniors, our families, and our most vulnerable residents deserve to access the federal benefits and services they are entitled to without fear of exploitation," Congresswoman Plaskett concluded. "I will always fight to ensure that Virgin Islanders are informed, protected, and empowered. If you or someone you know believes they have been targeted by one of these scams, please report it immediately and do not provide any further personal information."

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House Passes Amata-Backed Bipartisan Ocean Monitoring Bill

Washington, D.C. – Congresswoman Uifa’atali Amata is hailing House passage of a bill she co-led to update and reauthorize the Integrated Coastal and Ocean Observation System Act for five fiscal years with funding at $56 million yearly. This bill would authorize, modernize, and fund the public-private partnership of coastal observation systems collecting data to inform decision-making along our nation’s extensive coasts and in marine waters.

Congresswoman Amata earlier this month in the US Capitol

Congresswoman Aumua Amata was part of the group of six Members of Congress, known as original cosponsors, working together at introduction of this bill, H.R. 2294, in March 2025, which was led by Rep. Mike Ezell (R-MS), with Congresswoman Amata (American Samoa), Rep. Bonamici (D-OR), Rep. Weber (R-TX), Rep. Dingell (D-MI), and Rep. Davis (D-IL). Their bipartisan bill has since advanced through the House Natural Resources Committee with legislative hearings and votes, where Amata and several of these Members serve. The bill now requires Senate passage to become law.

“Well-situated ocean observations provide data that can save lives and improve maritime decisions, as well as considerations for fisheries and coastal areas, and strengthen tsunami response and environmental health,” said Congresswoman Amata. “American Samoa and many other communities on the U.S. coast benefit from these ocean monitoring services that help our scientists know our ocean better.”

The bill provides ongoing and future support for critical ocean monitoring efforts that protect coastal communities, fisheries, and maritime industries.

In addition to reauthorizing, the legislation will improve the program’s effectiveness by clarifying the type of data it provides as operational oceanographic information; updating statutory references to reflect current law, including replacing the National Ocean Research Leadership Council with the Ocean Policy Committee; and enhancing the role of the Interagency Ocean Observation Committee to ensure the program is used to its full capacity as an integrated system.

“In American Samoa, we have a buoy that gathers ocean information that is named in honor of our longtime Port Director Chris King,” said Congresswoman Amata. “Data gathered here can help planners elsewhere, and in turn data on the other side of the Pacific can prove beneficial far away through integrated analysis.”

House Passes Natural Resources Bills for Parks and Forests

The House also passed a slate of 12 bills from the Natural Resources Committee, focused on specific protections, reforms, improvements, services, and restoration efforts at national parks and forests. These House-passed bills await Senate passage.

These include the Save Our Sequoias (SOS) Act, led by Rep. Vince Fong (R-CA). This bipartisan bill builds on efforts in the prior Congress that Amata cosponsored to protect giant sequoias from wildfires, disease, and drought. The updated bill includes reforestation and a multi-year emergency declaration for the threatened area. Nearly 20 percent of giant sequoias were lost to wildfire devastation in just the years 2020-2022.

Other passed bills support restoration efforts at Grand Canyon National Park, create the Chiricahua National Park in Arizona, authorize the Department of the Interior to carry out priority reforestation projects following disasters, extends the National Emergency Medical Services (EMS) Memorial Foundation’s efforts over the next seven years for a memorial to fallen EMS personnel, and authorizes the Secretary of Agriculture to convey small parcels of federal land for cemeteries through the Small Cemetery Conveyance Act.

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Rouzer Announces 2026 Congressional Art Competition for NC-0...

WASHINGTON, DC - Congressman David Rouzer (NC-07) is now accepting submissions for the 2026 Congressional Art Competition. All high school students who reside within North Carolina’s Seventh Congressional District are encouraged to participate.

“The annual Congressional Art Competition showcases the extraordinary talent, creativity, and dedication of students across North Carolina’s Seventh Congressional District and our nation,” said Congressman Rouzer. “Each year, I am inspired by the remarkable students from across our region who participate, and I'm excited to recognize this year's winner.”

Every spring since 1982, Members of the U.S. House of Representatives have sponsored a nationwide high school art competition to recognize and encourage artistic talent across the country. The competition is open to all high school students in NC-07.

The winning artwork will be displayed for a full year in the Cannon Tunnel, a pedestrian walkway leading to the U.S. Capitol. The first-place winner will also receive airfare for two to Washington, DC, to attend a national reception honoring student artists from across the country.

2026 Congressional Art Competition guidelines can be found here, and the required student release form can be found here. Students can verify their home’s congressional district here. Please be advised after the winner is selected, the student is responsible for framing the artwork.

Students must submit their artwork and signed release form in person to one of Congressman Rouzer’s district offices by 5:00 PM on Friday, April 24, 2026.

For more information about the Congressional Art Competition, visit the Congressman’s website or contact Congressional Art Competition Coordinator, Lisa Myers, at (910) 253-6111 or Melissa.Myers@mail.house.gov.

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