Davids Invites Kansans to Share Their Stories Ahead of America’s 250th Birthday

As the nation prepares to celebrate the 250th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence, Representative Sharice Davids is inviting Kansans in the Third District to share what America means to them through a short video submission as part of her America 250 initiative.

Kansans of all ages can submit their videos HERE.

“Every community has a story to tell, and I want to make sure Kansans are part of how we mark this moment in our nation’s history,” said Davids. “I’m looking forward to hearing from people across the Third District about what they love about this country, what patriotism means to them, and what they hope for the next 250 years.”

Participants are invited to submit a short video response addressing one of the following prompts:

What do you love about America?

What does patriotism mean to you?

What is your hope for this country for the next 250 years?

What would you like your fellow Americans to know?

How are you celebrating America250?

Video Submission Guidelines:

Videos must be filmed horizontally (landscape mode)

Participants should begin by introducing themselves

Videos must be 1 minute or less and may be edited for final use

Accepted formats: .mp4 or .mov

All participants must sign an appearance release form to be featured; participants under 18 must have parent or guardian permission

Release forms should be returned via email to DavidsPress@mail.house.gov or by mail to 9200 Indian Creek Parkway, Suite 562, Overland Park, KS 66210

Submissions must be made using the official form to be considered

Only submissions from residents of Kansas’ Third Congressional District (KS-03) will be accepted

Submissions must be original work; videos suspected of plagiarism or artificial intelligence generation will not be accepted

Deadline for submission is July 10, 2026


Davids Leads Over 100 Lawmakers in Urging Administration to Protect Safe Drinking Water Standards

Washington, D.C. – U.S. Representative Sharice Davids (D-KS-03) led over 100 of her House colleagues in urging the Trump Administration to protect safe drinking water standards and address PFAS contamination that poses risks to the physical health and environmental health of communities across America. In a new letter to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), Congresswoman Davids and 112 of her colleagues in the House pressed the administration to reconsider eliminating the 2024 National Drinking Water Standards for four PFAS forever chemicals. The water standards established an enforceable limit of forever chemicals and required that public water systems monitor for PFAS, notify the public of PFAS, and reduce PFAS in drinking water.

“Safe drinking water should never be a luxury or a legal debate. For families facing PFAS contamination, this is about the water they pour into a glass, cook with, and give to their children. America should be moving faster to get PFAS out of our drinking water—not giving families more years of uncertainty and harm. We will not stand by while protections are weakened and working families are left waiting. We will continue fighting to protect clean water, hold polluters accountable, and put public health ahead of the interests that created this crisis. We urge EPA to reconsider its proposals to eliminate and delay the 2024 National PFAS Drinking Water Standards and meaningfully protect Americans from PFAS contamination,” said the lawmakers.

Nearly 98% of Americans have PFAS detectable in their blood, and as of March 2026, about 176 million Americans drink water contaminated with PFAS. By EPA’s own estimates, the Drinking Water Standards would protect as many as 105 million Americans from exposure to PFAS in their drinking water, prevent thousands of deaths, and reduce tens of thousands of serious PFAS-attributable illnesses. The EPA also cited economic benefits from the standards, estimating cost savings of over $1 billion in avoided health costs.

A copy of the letter can be found HERE and text is below:

Dear Administrator Zeldin:

We write to urge EPA to reconsider its proposals to eliminate the 2024 National Drinking Water Standards for four PFAS forever chemicals and to allow water utilities to opt-in to an extension of the compliance deadline for the remaining two standards by two years to 2031. These standards regulate and set legally enforceable limits to protect millions of Americans from unsafe levels of PFAS in their drinking water. Rescinding and delaying these standards is dangerous and undermines the core purpose of the Safe Drinking Water Act, which is to provide communities with clean and safe drinking water.

PFAS contamination affects communities across the country. These forever chemicals persist in our environment and can accumulate in our bodies. Nearly 98% of Americans have PFAS detectable in their blood, and as of March 2026, about 176 million Americans drink water contaminated with PFAS. While this Administration is investing nearly $1 billion dollars from the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law to states to address PFAS in drinking water, rolling back these standards and extending the compliance deadline risks exacerbating the PFAS crisis across the country and fails to address this public health problem.

The 2024 Drinking Water Standards established an enforceable maximum contaminant level (MCL) standard of four parts per trillion for two of the more widespread and harmful PFAS variants, PFOS and PFOA. It also regulated other known toxic PFAS (PFNA, PFHxS, and GenX) with health-based enforceable MCL standards of ten parts per trillion each. In addition, EPA set a mixture-based hazard-index for these three PFAS and PFBS that sets a limit for the total amount of these four PFAS in any combination. It required that public water systems monitor for PFAS, notify the public of PFAS, and reduce PFAS in drinking water through phased-in approaches.

The 2024 Drinking Water Standards were finalized in response to EPA’s own extensive scientific research and analysis consisting of hundreds of scientific studies that overwhelmingly point to associations between PFAS exposure and serious health effects, including high cholesterol, kidney cancer, decreases in birth weight, and immune suppression. EPA also received extensive input from the public on these standards during the comment period and issued an exhaustive response to the comments that spanned over 4,500 pages. EPA’s conclusions on the toxicity of these PFAS are well in line with other authoritative evaluations, including those conducted by the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine, Michigan, California, New Jersey, Canada, and the European Union.

By EPA’s own estimates, the Drinking Water Standards would protect as many as 105 million Americans from exposure to PFAS in their drinking water, prevent thousands of deaths, and reduce tens of thousands of serious PFAS-attributable illnesses. In its analysis, EPA also cited substantial economic benefits from the Standards, estimating cost savings of $1.17 billion in avoided health costs, though the agency noted it only considered three health effects, and many additional health benefits were not quantified in this estimate. More comprehensive economic analyses have estimated PFAS-related health care costs up to $60 billion per year. Finalizing the 2024 Standards was a critical step in keeping PFAS out of homes and communities. Rescinding and delaying the standards will do nothing to alleviate the economic and health burden on families and individuals who are exposed to PFAS contamination.

EPA’s decision to limit monitoring and treatment solely to PFOA and PFOS will not be sufficient to protect against exposure to and harms associated with other PFAS, including the four PFAS the agency is proposing to remove protections for. Not all PFAS contamination can be predicted by the presence of PFOA and PFOS.

Additionally, newer generation, short chain PFAS, like GenX and PFBS, are more difficult to remove from drinking water than PFOA and PFOS. If water systems are only focused on removing PFOA and PFOS, they may opt to install treatments that are insufficient to fully address the PFAS that are present. This will leave communities unprotected and waste resources while not fully addressing the problem.

Safe drinking water should never be a luxury or a legal debate. For families facing PFAS contamination, this is about the water they pour into a glass, cook with, and give to their children. America should be moving faster to get PFAS out of our drinking water—not giving families more years of uncertainty and harm. We will not stand by while protections are weakened and working families are left waiting. We will continue fighting to protect clean water, hold polluters accountable, and put public health ahead of the interests that created this crisis.

We urge EPA to reconsider its proposals to eliminate and delay the 2024 National PFAS Drinking Water Standards and meaningfully protect Americans from PFAS contamination.


Statement of Representative Danny K. Davis

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I move to strike the last word, and I certainly appreciate Dr. Murphy’s skill, passion and interest in healthcare and healthcare delivery.

But one year after Donald Trump and the Republicans cut over $1 trillion out of health care to fund tax cuts for billionaires and big businesses, millions of people have lost health insurance. Millions more are crushed by exploding health care costs. Hospitals are closing and cutting services and staff. People face the impossible choice between seeing a doctor, paying rent, eating, or getting gasoline. Yet the Republican leadership is moving a bill that does absolutely nothing – nothing - to lower health costs or stabilize hospitals.

More than 175,000 Illinoisans have lost their Medicaid, CHIP, or ACA coverage after the GOP’s Big Ugly Bill. Premiums for Illinois receiving ACA tax cuts increased by an average of 144% this year. Illinois hospitals alone are expected to lose just under $31.3 billion annually. With 26 health care providers at-risk now for cuts, closing or have closed, including one across the street from where I live.

At a time when we should be helping hospitals after we cut $1 trillion from health care, the GOP solution is a bill with additional paperwork rather than tax credits to help people buy health insurance and rather than funding to help hospitals hire health professionals to care for people.

I just happen to have more hospital beds in my district than any other Member of Congress. My professional work background includes working with health centers to provide low-cost health care to people in need. I co-led the bipartisan Rural and Underserved Health Task Force where we recognized that rural and underserved hospitals face similar challenges as urban hospitals.

This bill is an offensive answer to the urgent health care crisis facing America. The bill does absolutely nothing to lower cost of patients. It does nothing to help hospitals provide low-cost care. It does nothing to push Pharma to lower drug costs.

The bill rejects the needs of hospitals in urban areas by carving out protections for certain rural hospitals, ignoring the very work done bipartisanly by members of this Committee. It unfairly targets hospitals solely on the basis of their size without accounting for their unique cost structures, especially for academic health systems and teaching hospitals who invest in their communities and ensure access to care for patients with complex, highly acute care needs - such as transplantation, Level 1 trauma care, neonatal intensive care, and burn care.

These health systems and hospitals train tomorrow’s health care workforce and invest in medical research. Rather than helping health systems and hospitals focus on treating patients, train future health care providers, conduct cutting edge research, and serve their communities, this bill forces these health entities to divert critical funding to administratively burdensome requirements.

So, I strongly oppose the Tax-Exempt Hospital Transparency act for its abject failure to meet the health care crisis facing Americans, hospitals, and communities.

And Mr. Chairman, I ask unanimous consent to submit to the record statements by the American Hospital Association, the Association of American Medical Colleges and, America’s Essential Hospitals voicing their concerns about the Tax-Exempt Hospital Transparency Act.


Dingell Statement on Consumers Energy Withdrawing Proposed Power Plant in Lima Township

U.S. Representative Debbie Dingell (D-MI-06) released the following statement after Consumers Energy announced it would not move forward with a proposed power plant in Lima Township:

"I am pleased that Consumers Energy has decided not to move forward with the proposed power plant in Lima Township.

Residents raised thoughtful and legitimate concerns about the project's potential impacts on public health, the environment, and their community. I shared those concerns directly with Consumers Energy and urged the company to listen carefully to the people who would be most affected.

I appreciate that Consumers Energy took those concerns seriously and ultimately made the decision not to move forward. Projects of this scale are most successful when communities have a meaningful seat at the table from the very beginning.

It is important that anyone proposing projects in our communities are transparent and give community members the opportunity for input and a discussion of the issues they are concerned about. Consumers Energy recognized that they made a mistake, and I appreciate them apologizing for it. Thank you to the residents, local officials, and everyone who spoke up. Their voices mattered, and they helped shape this outcome.


MORE PFAS, MORE PROBLEMS: Dingell Leads Over 100 Lawmakers in Urging Administration to Protect Safe Drinking Water Standards

U.S. Representative Debbie Dingell (D-MI-06) led over 100 of her House colleagues in urging the Trump Administration to protect safe drinking water standards and address PFAS contamination that poses risks to the physical health and environmental health of communities across America. In a new letter to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), Congresswoman Dingell and 112 of her colleagues in the House pressed the administration to reconsider eliminating the 2024 National Drinking Water Standards for four PFAS forever chemicals. The water standards established an enforceable limit of forever chemicals and required that public water systems monitor for PFAS, notify the public of PFAS, and reduce PFAS in drinking water.

“Safe drinking water should never be a luxury or a legal debate. For families facing PFAS contamination, this is about the water they pour into a glass, cook with, and give to their children. America should be moving faster to get PFAS out of our drinking water—not giving families more years of uncertainty and harm. We will not stand by while protections are weakened and working families are left waiting. We will continue fighting to protect clean water, hold polluters accountable, and put public health ahead of the interests that created this crisis. We urge EPA to reconsider its proposals to eliminate and delay the 2024 National PFAS Drinking Water Standards and meaningfully protect Americans from PFAS contamination,” said the lawmakers.

Nearly 98% of Americans have PFAS detectable in their blood, and as of March 2026, about 176 million Americans drink water contaminated with PFAS. This issue is particularly concerning in Michigan, which has one of the highest numbers of PFAS contamination sites in the nation, making federal enforcement of safe water standards vital for public health. By EPA’s own estimates, the Drinking Water Standards would protect as many as 105 million Americans from exposure to PFAS in their drinking water, prevent thousands of deaths, and reduce tens of thousands of serious PFAS-attributable illnesses. The EPA also cited economic benefits from the standards, estimating cost savings of over $1 billion in avoided health costs.

A copy of the letter can be found HERE and text is below:

Dear Administrator Zeldin:

We write to urge EPA to reconsider its proposals to eliminate the 2024 National Drinking Water Standards for four PFAS forever chemicals and to allow water utilities to opt-in to an extension of the compliance deadline for the remaining two standards by two years to 2031. These standards regulate and set legally enforceable limits to protect millions of Americans from unsafe levels of PFAS in their drinking water. Rescinding and delaying these standards is dangerous and undermines the core purpose of the Safe Drinking Water Act, which is to provide communities with clean and safe drinking water.

PFAS contamination affects communities across the country. These forever chemicals persist in our environment and can accumulate in our bodies. Nearly 98% of Americans have PFAS detectable in their blood, and as of March 2026, about 176 million Americans drink water contaminated with PFAS. While this Administration is investing nearly $1 billion dollars from the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law to states to address PFAS in drinking water, rolling back these standards and extending the compliance deadline risks exacerbating the PFAS crisis across the country and fails to address this public health problem.

The 2024 Drinking Water Standards established an enforceable maximum contaminant level (MCL) standard of four parts per trillion for two of the more widespread and harmful PFAS variants, PFOS and PFOA. It also regulated other known toxic PFAS (PFNA, PFHxS, and GenX) with health-based enforceable MCL standards of ten parts per trillion each. In addition, EPA set a mixture-based hazard-index for these three PFAS and PFBS that sets a limit for the total amount of these four PFAS in any combination. It required that public water systems monitor for PFAS, notify the public of PFAS, and reduce PFAS in drinking water through phased-in approaches.

The 2024 Drinking Water Standards were finalized in response to EPA’s own extensive scientific research and analysis consisting of hundreds of scientific studies that overwhelmingly point to associations between PFAS exposure and serious health effects, including high cholesterol, kidney cancer, decreases in birth weight, and immune suppression. EPA also received extensive input from the public on these standards during the comment period and issued an exhaustive response to the comments that spanned over 4,500 pages. EPA’s conclusions on the toxicity of these PFAS are well in line with other authoritative evaluations, including those conducted by the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine, Michigan, California, New Jersey, Canada, and the European Union.

By EPA’s own estimates, the Drinking Water Standards would protect as many as 105 million Americans from exposure to PFAS in their drinking water, prevent thousands of deaths, and reduce tens of thousands of serious PFAS-attributable illnesses. In its analysis, EPA also cited substantial economic benefits from the Standards, estimating cost savings of $1.17 billion in avoided health costs, though the agency noted it only considered three health effects, and many additional health benefits were not quantified in this estimate. More comprehensive economic analyses have estimated PFAS-related health care costs up to $60 billion per year. Finalizing the 2024 Standards was a critical step in keeping PFAS out of homes and communities. Rescinding and delaying the standards will do nothing to alleviate the economic and health burden on families and individuals who are exposed to PFAS contamination.

EPA’s decision to limit monitoring and treatment solely to PFOA and PFOS will not be sufficient to protect against exposure to and harms associated with other PFAS, including the four PFAS the agency is proposing to remove protections for. Not all PFAS contamination can be predicted by the presence of PFOA and PFOS.

Additionally, newer generation, short chain PFAS, like GenX and PFBS, are more difficult to remove from drinking water than PFOA and PFOS. If water systems are only focused on removing PFOA and PFOS, they may opt to install treatments that are insufficient to fully address the PFAS that are present. This will leave communities unprotected and waste resources while not fully addressing the problem.

Safe drinking water should never be a luxury or a legal debate. For families facing PFAS contamination, this is about the water they pour into a glass, cook with, and give to their children. America should be moving faster to get PFAS out of our drinking water—not giving families more years of uncertainty and harm. We will not stand by while protections are weakened and working families are left waiting. We will continue fighting to protect clean water, hold polluters accountable, and put public health ahead of the interests that created this crisis.


Dingell Statement on Future of USMCA

U.S. Representative Debbie Dingell (D-MI-06) released the following statement after President Donald Trump announced the United States will not renew the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA):

“Today’s announcement regarding the USMCA review process is an important step toward strengthening North American manufacturing and ensuring this agreement continues to work for American workers and businesses. I want to work with this administration, labor, industry, and all stakeholders, because we need a strategic approach to ensure our workforce and manufacturing industries are supported. And it is important we continue working closely with our Canadian friends,” said Congresswoman Dingell. “As we continue to negotiate and fine tune this agreement, we must improve rules of origin, enforce stronger labor and environmental standards, and prevent China from exploiting loopholes in our supply chains that undermine domestic manufacturing. We must provide certainty for automakers, suppliers, workers, and communities who rely on an integrated North American auto industry, including many in Southeast Michigan. I will continue working to ensure this agreement supports American competitiveness, strong union jobs, and long-term economic and national security.”


DelBene Blasts Trump for Not Renewing His Own Signature Trade Deal: Gravely Misguided

Today, Congresswoman Suzan DelBene (WA-01) released the following statement on President Trump deciding not to renew the U.S.-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA).

“USMCA was the one major trade success from Trump’s first term. It was a real, enforceable trade agreement that addressed issues in NAFTA and supported American workers, manufacturers, and consumers. The deal was passed through Congress with bipartisan support and created a stable economic partnership in North America, unlike the reckless, illegal tariffs the administration has pursued since retaking office.

“Washington has particularly benefited from this agreement and is one of the states with the most to lose by withdrawing. Washington exported over $11 billion to Mexico and Canada last year. Our farmers, producers, and manufacturers need the predictability this agreement provides to stay in business and plan future investments.

“There are ways to improve USMCA without ripping up the agreement. The decision to withdraw from it will harm our already war- and tariff-ravaged economy, threaten jobs, and increase costs on businesses and families. This is a gravely misguided step by the president.”


Democrats Introduce Saving MEDICARE Act to Stop Insurers’ Profiteering Off Medicare

Washington, D.C.—Today, U.S. Representative Lloyd Doggett (D-TX), Ranking Member of the House Ways & Means Health Subcommittee, joined by 44 colleagues, introduced the Saving Medicare Enrollees from Deceptive Insurers and Creating Ample Resources for Everyone (Saving MEDICARE) Act. This landmark legislation comprehensively addresses the many ways Medicare Advantage insurers are overpaid—with a consistent goal of leveling the playing field so that Traditional Medicare does not remain at a disadvantage to giant private insurance companies.

“Despite their early claims of greater efficiency and lower costs, Medicare Advantage has never saved a penny. It actually costs taxpayers more each year while offering consumers less. This unjustified, costly advantage private Medicare Advantage insurers receive must be ended to save taxpayers and end the disadvantage for Traditional Medicare,” said Rep. Doggett. “As the Trump regime jeopardizes the promise of comprehensive health care for retirees and the disabled, the Saving MEDICARE Act will provide essential resources to achieve better Medicare for more Americans.

"Medicare Advantage insurers have been getting away with robbing the American people for far too long. The Saving MEDICARE Act would finally start to level the playing field between Medicare Advantage and Traditional Medicare by preventing insurer payment shenanigans and enhancing oversight of insurers,” said Robert Weissman, Co-President of Public Citizen. “If we don't take action now, we are on course to waste more than $2.5 trillion over the next decade in overpayments to Medicare Advantage plans, which not only cost more than Traditional Medicare but which also make patients and providers jump through unnecessary hoops, including delays and denials of necessary care. The time has come to put patients ahead of profits and pass this commonsense legislation that will not only save taxpayers money but will help ensure that the Medicare program is on firm financial footing for the future."

“The Saving MEDICARE Act would be an important first step towards righting the Medicare ship and strengthening the traditional Medicare program” said David Lipschutz, Co-Director of the Center for Medicare Advocacy. “Reining in wasteful overpayments to Medicare Advantage plans and enhancing oversight of this private market would provide needed stability to Medicare’s finances, as well as a real opportunity to enhance the Medicare program – to the benefit of all enrollees – by expanding the scope of coverage (such as dental, hearing and vision) and reducing out-of-pocket costs (such as capping such expenses).”

"Medicare Advantage is neither Medicare nor an advantage. It is simply another mechanism Big Insurance uses to pad their profits with taxpayer dollars while the majority of Americans continue to struggle with skyrocketing health care costs. Congress should act to end the abusive and predatory actions of Big Insurance and Congressman Doggett's legislation is an important step to do that. We urge Congress to pass it without delay." - Rachel Madley, Executive Director, Center for Health and Democracy

Medicare Advantage has remained much more expensive than Traditional Medicare—with the nonpartisan, independent Medicare Payment Advisory Commission (MedPAC) estimating MA will cost $2,660 more per enrollee in 2026. MA insurers use a variety of tactics to secure additional payments, including upcoding to make patients appear sicker, and favorable selection to steer healthy consumers into MA plans and sicker patients into Traditional Medicare. Flawed program design and inadequate oversight and enforcement has also resulted in overpayments.

The Saving MEDICARE Act would:

Prevent upcoding by:

Excluding diagnosis codes collected from chart reviews and health risk assessments, as recommended by MedPAC.

Requiring CMS to review diagnosis codes annually as part of the Medicare Advantage payment rulemaking, and eliminate or adjust codes that are most likely to be abused.

Prohibiting percentage of premium contracts and other financial incentives for providers to add unnecessary diagnosis codes, as recommended by the Center for American Progress.

Creating a MedPAC study on establishing an alternative risk adjusted payment system based on consumer survey data, as recommended by the Center for American Progress.

Improve benchmark payments by:

Establishing a favorable selection payment adjustment, as recommended by the Center for American Progress.

Eliminating the county quartile system, as recommended by MedPAC.

Eliminate frivolous payments by:

Ending the failed Quality Bonus Program, as recommended by the Medicare Rights Center.

Permitting the VA to collect reimbursement from MA plans for care delivered to dually-enrolled veterans, just as the VA already does with other commercial insurance. This is supported by the American Legion, Veterans of Foreign Wars, Paralyzed Veterans of America, and other consumer groups.

Enhance oversight by:

Establishing timelines for completion of Risk Adjustment Data Validation (RADV) audits and requiring plans to help finance audits, as recommended by the Center for American Progress.

Permitting state insurance commissioners to enter into agreements with CMS to share enforcement authority over Medicare Advantage plans, as recommended by the National Association of Insurance Commissioners.

Watch Congressman Doggett introduce the legislation on the House floor here.

The bill text can be found here and a fact sheet can be found here.

A 10-year savings estimate of $2.5 trillion from the Brown University Center for Advancing Health Policy through Research (CAHPR) can be found here.

Endorsing organizations include Public Citizen, Families USA, Center for Medicare Advocacy, Medicare Rights Center, National Committee to Protect Social Security and Medicare, Justice in Aging, Center for Health and Democracy, Social Security Works, Healthcare NOW

Original Cosponsors: Reps. Ansari, Balint, Carson, Casar, Chu, Clarke, Cleaver, Cohen, Danny Davis, DeLauro, Deluzio, DeSaulnier, Dingell, Garamendi, C. Garcia, R. Garcia, Green, Grijalva, Huffman, Jackson, Jayapal, H. Johnson, Khanna, McGovern, Mfume, Nadler, Norton, Ocasio-Cortez, Omar, Pingree, Pocan, Ramirez, Randall, Schakowsky, B. Scott, Smith, Takano, Thanedar, B. Thompson, Tlaib, Tokuda, Velazquez, Waters, Watson Coleman

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Congressman Don Davis Issues Statement on U.S. Supreme Court’s Scholastic Sports Ruling

WASHINGTON, D.C. — U.S. Congressman Don Davis (NC-01) released the following statement today regarding the U.S. Supreme Court’s 6-3 decision in West Virginia v. B.P.J., which upheld state laws regulating student-athlete participation based on biological sex:

“The U.S. Supreme Court delivered a significant ruling affirming that states possess the legal authority to maintain separate sports teams based on biological sex.

“As I have previously stated, North Carolina has already addressed this issue through the Fairness in Women’s Sports Act, which establishes that athletic teams designated for women and girls in our state's middle schools, high schools, and colleges are reserved for students whose biological sex is female. The U.S. Supreme Court's ruling recognizes that states may enact and enforce policies of this nature consistent with constitutional limits.

“As a former Division I athlete who played football at the U.S. Air Force Academy, I understand the profound impact organized sports can have on a young person. While I have always believed in a balanced approach to governance, I have listened to many concerns from across eastern North Carolina, and we must remember that the young people at the center of these discussions deserve dignity and respect.

“We must respect the rule of law while ensuring our athletic policies promote fairness, competitive integrity, and student safety. Title IX has played a vital role in expanding athletic opportunities for women and girls, and we must continue safeguarding those opportunities.”


Congresswoman Escobar Introduces Bipartisan VA Home Loan Navigator Act

Last week, Congresswoman Veronica Escobar (TX-16), alongside Republican Congressman Jack Bergman, introduced the VA Home Loan Navigator Act, legislation to help veterans better access and use their VA home loan benefits by providing free, independent guidance and counseling.

The VA home loan is one of the most valuable benefits available to veterans, helping them and their families achieve homeownership. But unlike most VA benefits, the VA home loan program lacks a structured support system of accredited, unbiased representatives who can help veterans navigate the process from start to finish. As a result, reports find that less than 15 percent of eligible veterans use the VA home loan benefit, and others face confusion, misinformation, and housing-related scams when attempting to buy, refinance, or keep their homes.

“Too often, veterans seeking home loans face confusion, misinformation, and predatory scams," said Congresswoman Escobar. "My bipartisan bill extends the same kind of support available for other VA benefits to the home loan program, giving veterans access to free, independent guidance when buying, refinancing, or fighting to stay in their homes. Our veterans and their families have sacrificed so much for our country; ensuring their much deserved benefits are working the way they're intended to is the least we can do."

“Our Veterans earned the VA Home Loan benefit through their service, but too many still face unnecessary confusion when trying to use it,” said Rep. Bergman. “This important legislation helps ensure our Veterans have the same trusted support they've long relied on for other VA benefits, making it easier for them to achieve and protect the American dream of homeownership.”

The VA Home Loan Navigator Act would establish a voluntary borrower support program within the Department of Veterans Affairs that connects veterans with free, qualified housing counselors trained to help veterans navigate the benefit. This bill builds on a proven model already used throughout the VA benefits system, extending independent assistance to veterans utilizing one of the most important benefits they have earned through military service. Additionally, the legislation includes strong independence and conflict-of-interest protections and provides VA enforcement authority to ensure compliance.

The VA Home Loan Navigator Act would provide services at no cost to borrowers, including:

Education on VA home loan benefits

Assistance obtaining or resolving issues with certificates of eligibility

Counseling on homebuying, refinancing, and closing

Guidance on appraisal requirements, property standards, and loan documentation

Assistance with loan servicing matters

Counseling on loss mitigation and foreclosure prevention

Coordination between borrowers, mortgage servicers, and the VA, and

Education on housing costs, fees, and financial obligations.

You can view the full bill text here.


Congresswoman Escobar Statement on Closure of La Tuna

Tonight, Congresswoman Veronica Escobar (TX-16) released the following statement in response to the reported closure of La Tuna Federal Correctional Institution:

"The decision by the Bureau of Prisons to close La Tuna was done without notifying my office.

"As I push for the agency to release more information, I’m concerned closing La Tuna is evidence of a continued pattern by the Trump administration to privatize more government agencies as outlined in Project 2025. I fear the justification of a massive deficit - despite the Trump administration having no issue already funding other agencies for the rest of his term - will only be used as a flimsy excuse to transform the federal government into a pay-for-play, corrupt system. Republicans have given DHS $45 billion to privatize immigration detention, and this may be the model going forward.

"I am also very concerned about all of the federal employees that have already sacrificed and endured so much whose livelihood has been taken away by Donald Trump. My office will share any new information as soon as we learn more."

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CONGRESSMAN FIELDS INTRODUCES NFIP PREMIUM TRANSPARENCY ACT ALONGSIDE COSPONSORS

WASHINGTON, D.C. – This week, Congressman Cleo Fields, along with Representatives Troy Carter, Mike Ezell, and Rob Bresnahan, introduced H.R. 9511, the NFIP Premium Transparency Act, legislation that would require the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) to give the more than 400,000 Louisiana policy holders enrolled in the National Flood Insurance Program a full, clear picture of what is driving their premiums and what they can do to bring those costs down:

"Louisiana families pay more flood insurance premiums than almost anyone in the United States, and for too long they've been handed a bill with no explanation. They deserve to know why their rates went up, when they'll go up again, and what they can do about it. This bill does exactly that,” said Representative Fields.

Louisiana has the most NFIP policies per capita of any other state in the country. Despite that, members of communities throughout the state routinely receive renewal notices with little to no explanation of what factors are driving their costs or how long they can expect their premiums to reach their full risk-based potential. For working families in flood-prone areas, many of whom are already living on tight margins, that lack of information can mean the difference between staying in their home and being priced out of it.

“Since FEMA's Risk Rating 2.0 program went into effect, Louisiana families have opened their flood insurance bills with more questions than answers: why their premium jumped and what discounts they're missing,” said Representative Carter. “Louisiana has more riding on this than almost any state in the country. This legislation gives homeowners the information they've always deserved: a clear breakdown of their rates, real savings from mitigation, and a roadmap to full-risk pricing. This isn't a partisan issue. It's about giving working families the tools to protect their homes, their budgets, and their futures.”

The NFIP Premium Transparency Act addresses this issue directly. Within 12 months of enactment, every NFIP policy declaration page must clearly show the policyholder's current premium, all applicable discounts, the full set of rating factors behind their rate, their claim history, available mitigation options and the savings associated with each, and an estimate of how many years remain before their premium reaches its full risk-based level. If any of that information cannot be provided, FEMA must explain why in writing, on the policy itself, eliminating blank walls and guesswork.

“Too many families in Northeastern Pennsylvania struggle with the impact flooding can have on their homes, businesses, and livelihoods. Flood insurance continues to go up, making it harder for families to sell and first-time homeowners to buy,” said Representative Bresnahan. “For many homeowners in our region, the NFIP is the only realistic option for protecting their property, but rising premiums are making that coverage increasingly difficult to afford. This legislation ensures that our families, small businesses, and non-profits are not priced out of the peace of mind that flood insurance brings.”

Within 36 months, FEMA must build a publicly accessible online tool that allows homeowners, prospective buyers, and community leaders to look up any NFIP-covered property and model how improvements like elevating a home would reduce both flood risk and insurance costs. That interactive capability matters. Right now, many constituents know their premiums are high but have no way of knowing whether investing in mitigation would actually move the needle. This tool gives them that answer before they spend a dollar.

The tool must also account for factors critical to Louisiana specifically, including coastal land loss, coastal restoration projects, and levee reliability. With the state's coastline constantly changing, the families living through that reality deserve a flood insurance system that reflects it.

“Families deserve to know exactly how their flood insurance premiums are determined and what steps they can take to lower their costs,” said Representative Ezell. “The NFIP Premium Transparency Act gives homeowners greater access to the information they need to make informed decisions, invest in mitigation, and better protect their property. For coastal communities like those in South Mississippi, improving transparency within the National Flood Insurance Program is a common-sense step that will help strengthen resilience while making the program more accountable to the people it serves.”

The legislation also directs FEMA to publish aggregate flood insurance data by state, county, and ZIP code annually, bringing long-overdue transparency to a program that affects millions of Americans. It also directs the Government Accountability Office to study whether the tool can be expanded to give prospective homebuyers access to a property's full flood history before they close, so families are never blindsided after the fact.

This bill costs taxpayers nothing beyond what FEMA already does, it simply requires the government to share information it already has. Louisiana families have carried the weight of living in a flood-prone state for generations, and the least Congress can do is make sure they have the information they need to protect their homes, plan their finances, and make informed decisions about their future.


Garamendi, Jayapal, Davidson, Moulton Introduce Bipartisan Legislation to Cut Wasteful Pentagon Spending

WASHINGTON, DC — Today, U.S. Representatives John Garamendi (CA-08), Pramila Jayapal (WA-07), Warren Davidson (OH-08), and Seth Moulton (MA-06) are introducing the bipartisan Streamline Pentagon Budgeting Act to end the requirement that military services send Congress funding wish lists outside the appropriations process. This irresponsible requirement forces military commands to ask for additional spending — even if the President’s Budget Request meets their needs — for projects the President, Secretary of Defense, Pentagon, and the Joint Chiefs of Staff have deemed non-essential for the United States’ national security strategy.

“Bloated defense spending has been a serious problem for far too long. Requiring unfunded priorities only encourages the Pentagon to seek additional funding outside the normal budget process, often at the expense of readiness and sound fiscal discipline,” said Rep. Garamendi. “The Streamline Pentagon Budgeting Act is an important step toward reducing inefficient spending while prioritizing investments that strengthen our military readiness and national security. This bipartisan, commonsense bill will eliminate unnecessary bloat while reinforcing Congress's constitutional responsibility to provide meaningful oversight.”

“The Pentagon has never passed an audit and is requesting an unprecedented $1.5 trillion for their FY27 budget,” said Rep. Jayapal. “If the Pentagon required the items on their wish list, they would have been reflected in this already enormous budget request. Our Streamline Pentagon Budgeting Act is a bipartisan solution to combat this wasteful and inefficient spending.”

“Our military should have the resources needed to defend the country, but every dollar should support a clear national security need,” said Rep. Davidson. “Requiring commands to submit unfunded priorities lists encourages unnecessary spending outside the regular budget process. This bipartisan bill ends that mandate while fully preserving the ability of military leaders to bring real funding gaps directly to Congress.”

"Congress has a responsibility to ask tough questions instead of rubber-stamping increased defense spending,” said Rep. Moulton. “The Streamline Pentagon Budgeting Act is about bringing accountability and rigorous oversight to defense spending so that we can build a military that’s prepared for tomorrow’s threats while only prioritizing investments that help our military and don’t divert taxpayer dollars away from addressing other pressing issues affecting Americans here at home.”

While the military has long provided unfunded priorities lists, they became a required submission in the FY17 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA). For FY26, the list totaled $53.7 billion. These lists often include expensive and wasteful requests that have been deemed by defense leaders as low priority.

This legislation is endorsed by R Street Institute and Public Citizen.

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Garbarino, Flood Secure House Passage of Bipartisan TRIA Reauthorization Act

WASHINGTON, D.C. – This week, the U.S. House of Representatives passed the bipartisan TRIA Program Reauthorization Act, legislation introduced by Congressman Mike Flood (R-NE) and co-led by Congressman Andrew Garbarino (R-NY), to extend the Terrorism Risk Insurance Program (TRIA) through 2034.

Created in the aftermath of the September 11, 2001, terrorist attacks, TRIA provides a federal backstop that helps ensure terrorism insurance remains available and affordable for businesses across the country. For New York, where the impact of 9/11 continues to be felt nearly 25 years later, the program has played a critical role in supporting economic stability and ensuring businesses can rebuild following an act of terrorism.

"As a lifelong New Yorker, I know the lasting impact the September 11th terrorist attacks have had on our communities, our economy, and our country," said Congressman Garbarino. "Nearly 25 years later, we cannot lose sight of the lessons we learned that day. TRIA has helped ensure businesses have the certainty they need while strengthening our nation's resilience against future acts of terrorism. I was proud to help lead this bipartisan legislation through the House, and I urge the Senate to act quickly."

“Reauthorizing TRIA is one of the must-pass measures of this Congress,” said Congressman Flood. “Created in the aftermath of the September 11, 2001, terrorist attacks, this program has provided a vital guarantee of stability in the insurance market. While the program has fortunately never had to pay a claim, extending it provides businesses nationwide with certainty and stability. I am pleased to see this bipartisan effort pass the House of Representatives and look forward to the Senate taking up this measure quickly.”

The TRIA Program Reauthorization Act extends the Terrorism Risk Insurance Program through 2034 and includes targeted updates to strengthen the program, including adjusting the damages threshold to account for inflation and clarifying the timeline for the Department of the Treasury to certify an act of terrorism.


Rep. Gillen Leads Bipartisan Letter Urging President Trump to Secure Justice for 9/11 Families and Victims of Iranian State-Sponsored Terrorism

WASHINGTON, DC — Today, Congresswoman Laura Gillen (D-NY-04), Rep. Nicole Malliotakis (R-NY-11) and Rep. Mike Lawler (R-NY-17) urged President Trump to secure justice and compensation for 9/11 victims and other Americans who have suffered from Iran’s state-sponsored terrorism through the U.S. Victims of State Sponsored Terrorism Fund (USVSST Fund) as part of the ongoing negotiations over an agreement with Iran. More than 20,000 Americans currently hold unpaid judgments from perpetrators of state-sponsored terrorism, including Iran.

“As members of the New York Congressional Delegation, we urge you to secure justice for 9/11 victims and other Americans who have suffered from state-sponsored terrorism,” said the bipartisan group of lawmakers. “That is why we insist that any negotiation or agreement with Iran holds them accountable for terrorism and must not come at the expense of the families of victims.”

The lawmakers highlight Iran’s decades-long legacy of state-sponsored terrorism, which has killed hundreds of Americans, and was found liable for providing material support to Al-Qaeda in carrying out the 9/11 terrorist attacks. Victims and their families are still eligible for billions in compensation from Iran through the USVSST Fund.

“As you know, the June 17 Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between the U.S. and Iran issues waivers to allow the sale of oil and proposes providing Iran with access to frozen funds. As the Administration continues negotiations with Iran, including discussions involving sanctions relief and access to frozen assets, we cannot allow Iran to receive economic benefits without addressing its outstanding obligations to American victims of terrorism,” continued the group.

“As we approach the 25th anniversary of 9/11, New Yorkers will never forget the lives we lost to terrorism. That is why we insist that the victims and their families’ right to justice will be prioritized and protected in any negotiation or agreement with Iran,” concluded the lawmakers.

Established in 2015, the United States Victims of State Sponsored Terrorism Fund is a federal program administered by the Department of Justice to provide financial compensation to American victims and families harmed by international terrorism. As Iran refuses to honor billions of dollars in outstanding American judicial judgments, the Fund relies on assets seized from federal enforcement actions and state sponsors to ensure victims receive a measure of justice. 9/11 victims and their family members receive a dedicated 50 percent allocation of all money available for distributions from the USVSST Fund.

The full letter can be found here with the full text below:

Dear President Trump:

As members of the New York Congressional Delegation, we urge you to secure justice for 9/11 victims and other Americans who have suffered from state-sponsored terrorism. Thousands of Americans who lost family members in deadly terrorist attacks hold unpaid judgments against Iran and other supporters of international terrorism. That is why we insist that any negotiation or agreement with Iran holds them accountable for terrorism and must not come at the expense of the families of victims.

Since 1979, Iran has supported terrorism and terrorist groups that have killed hundreds of American citizens. Federal courts have also found Iran liable for providing material support to Al Qaeda in carrying out the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001. The United States Victims of State Sponsored Terrorism Fund (USVSST Fund) was established to provide a path for these victims to obtain justice and compensation from the perpetrators of terrorism. However, despite obtaining legal judgments against Iran, the victims are owed billions of dollars in damages that Iran has never paid. These families have suffered and waited for too long.

The Justice for United States Victims of State Sponsored Terrorism Act requires the President to pursue recovery of these funds from state sponsors of terrorism, including during negotiations over normalizing relations or lifting sanctions. As you know, the June 17 Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between the U.S. and Iran issues waivers to allow the sale of oil and proposes providing Iran with access to frozen funds. As the Administration continues negotiations with Iran, including discussions involving sanctions relief and access to frozen assets, we cannot allow Iran to receive economic benefits without addressing its outstanding obligations to American victims of terrorism.

As we approach the 25th anniversary of 9/11, New Yorkers will never forget the lives we lost to terrorism. That is why we insist that the victims and their families’ right to justice will be prioritized and protected in any negotiation or agreement with Iran. Thank you for your attention to this important issue.

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RELEASE: Gottheimer Announces Bipartisan Legislation to Require Labels on AI-Generated Content

WASHINGTON, D.C. — Today, July 1, 2026, Congressman Josh Gottheimer (NJ-5), Co-Chair of the Democratic AI Commission, joined with Congressmen. Tom Kean Jr. (NJ-7) and Sam Liccardo (CA-16) to announce bipartisan legislation requiring that all AI-generated content carry a built-in label embedded in its metadata — giving consumers, platforms, and regulators a reliable way to know what’s AI and what’s not.

Under the bill, the Federal Trade Commission (FTC), working in coordination with the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST), would establish the technical rules governing exactly how the AI-generated label must appear within a file’s metadata. The FTC would then enforce those requirements as it does any other consumer protection violation.

“Americans deserve to know if what they’re seeing, reading, or hearing was made by a machine,” said Congressman Josh Gottheimer (NJ-5). “This is a commonsense, bipartisan fix — we’re simply requiring that AI content come with a built-in label, so platforms, journalists, and everyday people can tell fact from fabrication. Getting this right matters, and that’s why, as co-chair of the Democratic AI Commission, I’m proud to be working with my colleagues Congressman Kean and Liccardo to get it done.”

“As artificial intelligence becomes more sophisticated, identifying what’s real and what’s artificially generated has become a real challenge,” said Congressman Kean (NJ-7). “The Spot the Fakes Act will bring much‑needed transparency by ensuring AI‑generated content can be clearly labeled, giving Americans the transparency they need to verify the authenticity of the content they view.”

“The Spot the Fakes Act provides an essential tool in a much larger toolbox that we will need to empower American consumers to distinguish fact from AI fiction,” said Congressman Sam Liccardo (CA-16).

The legislation builds on and reinforces momentum from the Coalition for Content Provenance and Authenticity (C2PA) — a voluntary industry technical standard already backed by Adobe, Microsoft, Google, the BBC, Intel, and others. The bill would help social media platforms more easily identify AI-generated content and take appropriate action, complementing the work already underway across the tech sector.

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Rep. Haridopolos: Mid-Year District Update Highlights Results for Florida’s Space and Treasure Coasts

Washington, D.C. — Today, U.S. Congressman Mike Haridopolos (FL-08) published an op-ed in Florida Today detailing the progress made during the first half of 2026 and the results being delivered for families across Central Florida.

“The people of Central Florida sent me to Washington to put taxpayers first, strengthen our economy, secure our border, and keep America the strongest nation in the world,” said Congressman Haridopolos. “While we have made meaningful progress, our work is far from finished. Thank you for the opportunity to serve as your voice in Congress. It is an honor to represent Florida's 8th Congressional District, and I remain committed to earning your trust every day.”


Washington, D.C. — Today, U.S. Congressman Mike Haridopolos (FL-08) published an op-ed in Florida Today detailing the progress made during the first half of 2026 and the results being delivered for families across Central Florida.


Comisionado Residente anuncia más de $6.6 millones para salud pública, Head Start y servicios a pacientes en Puerto Rico.

WASHINGTON, DC — El Comisionado Residente de Puerto Rico, Pablo José Hernández, anunció hoy la otorgación de $6,604,877 en fondos federales del Departamento de Salud y Servicios Humanos de Estados Unidos (HHS) para fortalecer servicios de salud pública, programas de Head Start y servicios de apoyo a pacientes y familias en Puerto Rico.

“Puerto Rico necesita un sistema de salud más robusto y servicios comunitarios más accesibles. Estos fondos federales ayudarán a avanzar esa meta, fortaleciendo programas esenciales para niños, pacientes y familias a través de la Isla”, expresó el Comisionado Residente.

Entre las otorgaciones anunciadas se encuentran:

Programas Head Start

El HHS otorgó fondos para apoyar programas de Head Start en varios municipios de Puerto Rico, incluyendo:

$62,998 para el Municipio de Mayagüez.

$9,197 para el Municipio de Dorado.

$53,001 para el Municipio de Ponce.

Salud pública y prevención de enfermedades

Los fondos también incluyen otorgaciones importantes para programas de vacunación, prevención de cáncer y eliminación de tuberculosis:

$4,690,013 para el Departamento de Salud de Puerto Rico, dirigidos a fortalecer la prevención y respuesta ante enfermedades prevenibles por vacunación.

$1,511,566 para el Centro Comprensivo de Cáncer de la Universidad de Puerto Rico, para programas de prevención y control del cáncer.

$124,912 para el Departamento de Salud de Puerto Rico, bajo el acuerdo cooperativo de eliminación de tuberculosis y apoyo a laboratorios.

Servicios Ryan White para mujeres, niños, jóvenes y familias

Además, se otorgaron fondos bajo el programa Ryan White Title IV, que apoya servicios para mujeres, bebés, niños, jóvenes y familias afectadas por el VIH/SIDA:


ICYMI: Persistence from Hinson Helps Turn Constituent’s Naval Academy Dream into Reality

Washington, D.C. — Congresswoman Ashley Hinson (IA-02) highlighted the story of Ellie Hance and her mother, Kathy Hance, on her weekly press call as they shared Ellie’s journey to the U.S. Naval Academy and reflected on how Hinson’s office never stopped pushing through the roadblocks Ellie encountered.

After facing repeated setbacks in her pursuit of attending the U.S. Naval Academy following serious medical complications from ACL surgery, Ellie Hance refused to give up. Hinson’s office worked with Ellie, her family, and Naval Academy officials through months of challenges to secure a full review of her case, ultimately leading to the Superintendent approving her appointment. Ellie and Kathy joined Hinson last week to share their story of perseverance and the impact that persistence can have in helping Iowans navigate the federal government.

Read more about the challenges Ellie faced in her own words below:

"I truly believe that the people who represent you are just that—they are a representation of you. And you have an amazing team.

"It was truly incredible. I went through a lot of hardship with getting people to call me back, and never once did your office do that to me. If they did miss a call, that day, I was getting a call back.

"So thank you for your hard work. Thank you for getting answers for me. I really do believe that your team was part of the reason that this got turned around." — Ellie Hance

Read more from her mom, Kathy, below:

"Ellie's story is really a story of resilience and perseverance, and it's something that we as parents tried to instill in her. Despite all of the roadblocks and challenges, she never gave up. We are really grateful for the folks on your team that were able to help us along the way.

"Thanks to that mindset, she's leaving tomorrow to report to the U.S. Naval Academy to achieve her dream.

"Ashley, your team has been a huge part of the success of where we are today. They certainly don't take no for an answer. They exhausted every option, and they did everything they possibly could to help us.

"Your liaison...picked up the phone every single phone call. No one ever asked what party we belonged to. It was completely bipartisan. They were just there to help and support us.

"For your team, it was never about politics. It was always about helping a fellow Iowan and delivering results.

"I know there are many Iowans like our family who have benefited from your team and from your commitment to solving problems and improving the lives of Iowans.

"This may not seem like the biggest story of the day to a lot of people, but to our family, it really is a big deal. Ellie's story is one that we recognize, and we're happy that you're willing to tell it." — Kathy Hance

Interested in attending a United States Military Academy? Learn about the nomination process here. If you experience challenges navigating a federal agency, please contact my team for assistance here or call 319-364-2288.

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Huffman, Raskin Introduce Resolution Reaffirming Church-State Separation Ahead of America's 250th Anniversary

Washington, D.C. – This week, Representative Huffman (CA-02) and Representative Raskin (MD-08) alongside other democratic colleagues are introducing a resolution in honor of America’s 250th anniversary. As the United States prepares to celebrate its Semiquincentennial, the resolution recognizes the nation's long tradition of protecting religious liberty through a secular government, celebrates America's growing religious diversity, and rejects efforts to use the power of government to impose any one religious belief on the American people.

This resolution comes at a pivotal moment for religious freedom in America. Last week, Trump's Religious Liberty Commission released a dangerous 224-page draft report proposing policies that would expand the role of religion in government and weaken safeguards that have protected religious freedom for generations. The commission is stacked with mostly right-wing Christian nationalists, and one conservative Jewish member, all of whom endorse claims that America was founded as a Chrisian nation.

"Last week Trump’s so called Religious Liberty Commission released an absurd report launching a direct attack on one of America’s greatest constitutional achievements: the separation of church and state,” said Rep. Jared Huffman. “The Constitution doesn't belong to Christian nationalists, and it doesn't belong to Donald Trump. It belongs to all of us, and its promise of religious freedom protects every American, regardless of what they believe. No president, no matter how determined to erode our constitutional freedoms, can change what has always been at the heart of this country: a belief in liberty and freedom for all. That includes the freedom to worship as you choose, or not at all, without government interference or religious coercion. That's the America worth celebrating after 250 years, and it's the America we must continue to defend."

“Our Founders rebelled against centuries of state-controlled churches, religious warfare, Crusades, inquisitions, witchcraft trials, and other expressions of religious authoritarianism to create a secular Constitution,” said Rep. Jamie Raskin. “As we mark America's 250th anniversary, our resolution is a necessary reminder to guard religious freedom, one of our nation’s founding principles, from those seeking to destroy it by using the government to impose white Christian nationalism. Mr. President, read the Free Exercise and Establishment Clauses of our Constitution.”

The resolution draws on the writings of Thomas Jefferson, James Madison, George Washington, and other Founders, as well as longstanding constitutional precedent, to underscore that religious freedom flourishes when government remains neutral in matters of faith. It also recognizes that the First Amendment's Establishment and Free Exercise Clauses have safeguarded Americans of every religion, and those of no religion, for nearly 250 years.

A full copy of the resolution can be found here.

In addition to Huffman and Raskin, the resolution is cosponsored by Suzanne Bonamici (OR-01), Gil Cisneros (CA-31), Sean Casten (IL-06), Emily Randall (WA-06), Eric Sorensen (IL-17), Maxine Dexter (OR-03), Yassamin Ansari (AZ-03), Eleanor Holmes Norton (DC-AL), Julia Brownley (CA-26), Lizzie Fletcher (TX-07), Val Hoyle (OR-04), Lloyd Doggett (TX-37), Mark Pocan (WI-02), Zoe Lofgren (CA-18), Steve Cohen (TN-09), Kevin Mullin (CA-15), Jill Tokuda (HI-02), Robert Garcia (CA-42).

The resolution is endorsed by Americans United for Separation of Church and State, American Humanist Association, Freedom From Religion Foundation, Secular Coalition, The Center for Inquiry, and Interfaith Alliance, and Baptist Joint Committee, Ex-Muslims of North America, Muslim Public Affairs Council, Jews for Secular Democracy, Society for Humanistic Judaism, Emgage, Vote Common Good, Sikh Coalition.


Huffman Releases Gov Watchdog Report, Finds Billions in Puerto Rico Grid Funding Stuck in Federal Pipeline Nine Years After Hurricanes

FEMA refusal to correct staff turnover, and agency dysfunction have stalled recovery as the people of Puerto Rico endure the worst power reliability in the nation

Washington, D.C. – A new Government Accountability Office report today released by House Natural Resources Committee Ranking Member Jared Huffman (D-Calif.) found that nine years after Hurricanes Irma and Maria destroyed Puerto Rico's electricity grid, the federal government has made limited progress delivering the billions of dollars Congress appropriated for recovery and modernization.

The report found that FEMA, HUD, and the Department of Energy have obligated approximately $14.3 billion for Puerto Rico's grid recovery since 2017, but roughly $10.7 billion of those funds have not reached the island.“The people of Puerto Rico have waited nine years for their government to keep its word,” said Ranking Member Huffman. “They watched billions get appropriated and almost none of it arrive. Puerto Ricans are paying more for electricity than almost anyone in the country and getting the least reliable power in return. And now the Trump administration is pulling energy security funding away from seniors with disabilities and giving it to a bankrupt fossil fuel company to fund infeasible projects. This report makes clear that the federal government has broken its promise to Puerto Rico, and Committee Democrats are going to keep demanding accountability until that changes.”

“El informe del GAO confirma lo que hemos dicho por meses: Las deficiencias de este gobierno y la falta de coordinación entre todos los actores han retrasado el desembolso de fondos. Por eso en abril del año pasado, radiqué un proyecto para crear un mecanismo claro de coordinación, ejecución y rendición de cuentas. Puerto Rico necesita menos división y excusas y más trabajo en equipo con resultados,” dijo Comisionado Residente Hernández.

Among the report's key findings:

The federal government obligated $14.3 billion for Puerto Rico's grid recovery and modernization through FEMA, HUD, and DOE, but 75 percent of those funds remain undisbursed. FEMA alone has $8.4 billion in undisbursed obligations.

Vegetation overgrowth causes approximately half of the island's power outages, yet only about 400 miles of transmission and distribution lines had been cleared using federal funds as of February 2026, out of 16,000 miles planned. In San Juan, federally funded clearing stopped entirely when the money ran out.

FEMA's environmental and historic preservation review process was identified by multiple stakeholders as extending project timelines by months or years -- all 14 FEMA staff conducting these reviews for grid projects were temporary employees, and turnover among those staff rose from 3 percent in 2021 to 19 percent in 2024. A FEMA request for additional reviewers was denied due to a hiring freeze.

The Palo Seco generation plant “was withdrawn after obtaining the result of the initial feasibility analysis.” But a pipeline to service Palo Seco with methane gas is now funded by the Department of Energy’s Energy Resilience Fund (ERF), a program created to help protect low-income people and people with disabilities from hurricanes by providing them dependable electricity from solar panels and batteries.

DOE canceled up to $350 million in grants originally designated for solar installations for households with people with disabilities and low-income and reallotted an additional $365 million that was supposed to go to providing dependable post-disaster energy to rural health clinics as part of ERF.

While GAO suggested updating a memo that helped all the federal stakeholders in grid repair operate more efficiently, DOE replied that it would terminate the memo. Then it terminated the working group of all Puerto Rico energy stakeholders, which was designed to streamline grid repair, and replaced it with a meeting of their preferred stakeholders.

GAO issued five recommendations, three to FEMA and two to DOE, including updating guidance to reflect available flexibilities like categorical exclusions, ensuring sufficient staffing for environmental reviews, clarifying objectives and roles among recovery entities, and establishing a formal coordination mechanism. Both DHS and DOE agreed with all five recommendations.

Read the full report here.

En Español:

Washington, D.C. – Un nuevo informe de la Oficina de Rendición de Cuentas del Gobierno (GAO), publicado hoy por el líder demócrata del Comité de Recursos Naturales de la Cámara de Representantes, Jared Huffman (D-Calif.), determinó que—nueve años después de que los huracanes Irma y María destruyeron la red eléctrica de Puerto Rico—el gobierno federal ha logrado un progreso limitado en el desembolso de los miles de millones de dólares que el Congreso asignó para recuperación y la modernización.El informe determinó que FEMA, el Departamento de Vivienda y Desarrollo Urbano (HUD) y el Departamento de Energía (DOE) han obligado aproximadamente $14.3 mil millones para la recuperación de la red eléctrica de Puerto Rico desde 2017, pero cerca de $10.7 mil millones de esos fondos no le han llegado a la isla.

“El pueblo de Puerto Rico lleva nueve años esperando para que el gobierno federal cumpla su palabra,” dijo el líder demócrata Huffman. “Vieron cómo se asignaron miles de millones de dólares después de los huracanes y casi nada ha llegado. Puerto Rico paga más por la electricidad que casi cualquier otra persona en el país y, a cambio, reciben el servicio menos confiable. Y ahora la administración de Donald Trump le está quitando los fondos de resiliencia energética a envejecientes con discapacidades para dárselos a una empresa petrolera en quiebra y financiar proyectos inviables. Este informe deja claro que el gobierno federal le ha roto su promesa a Puerto Rico, y los demócratas del Comité seguiremos exigiendo rendición de cuentas hasta que eso cambie.”

“El informe del GAO confirma lo que hemos dicho por meses: Las deficiencias de este gobierno y la falta de coordinación entre todos los actores han retrasado el desembolso de fondos. Por eso en abril del año pasado, radiqué un proyecto para crear un mecanismo claro de coordinación, ejecución y rendición de cuentas. Puerto Rico necesita menos división y excusas y más trabajo en equipo con resultados,” dijo Comisionado Residente Hernández.

Entre los principales hallazgos del informe:El gobierno federal obligó $14.3 mil millones para la recuperación y la modernización de la red eléctrica de Puerto Rico a través de FEMA, HUD y el DOE, pero el 75 por ciento de esos fondos sigue sin desembolsar. A FEMA le corresponden, por sí sola, $8.4 mil millones en obligaciones sin desembolsar.

El crecimiento excesivo de vegetación causa aproximadamente la mitad de los apagones en la isla; sin embargo, hasta febrero de 2026 solo se habían despejado unas 400 millas de líneas de transmisión y distribución con fondos federales, de las 16,000 millas planificadas. En San Juan, el despeje financiado con fondos federales se detuvo por completo cuando se acabaron los fondos.

Varios de los actores involucrados identificaron el proceso de revisión ambiental y de preservación histórica de FEMA como una causa de retrasos de meses o años en los proyectos. Los 14 empleados de FEMA que realizan estas revisiones para los proyectos de la red eléctrica eran todos temporeros, y la rotación entre ese personal subió del 3 por ciento en 2021 al 19 por ciento en 2024. Una solicitud de FEMA para contratar revisores adicionales fue denegada debido a una congelación de contrataciones.

La planta de generación Palo Seco "fue retirada después de obtener el resultado del análisis de viabilidad inicial.” Sin embargo, un gasoducto para transportar gas metano a Palo Seco ahora está financiado por el Fondo de Resiliencia Energética (ERF) del Departamento de Energía. El ERF fue creado para ayudar a las personas de bajos ingresos y a las personas con discapacidades a mantener electricidad confiable después de un huracánmediante paneles solares y baterías.

El Departamento de Energía canceló hasta $350 millones en fondos destinados a instalaciones solares para hogares de bajos ingresos y hogares con personas con discapacidades, y reasignó $365 millones adicionales del ERF que iban dirigidos a clínicas de salud rurales para asegurarles energía confiable tras un desastre.

Aunque GAO recomendó actualizar un documento que ayudaba a coordinar a todas las agencias federales que trabajan en la reparación de la red eléctrica, el Departamento de Energía respondió que lo eliminaría. Luego eliminó también eliminó el grupo de trabajo de todas las partes interesadas en materia energética de Puerto Rico—creado para agilizar la reparación de la red—y lo reemplazó por una reunión con solo las partes interesadas de su preferencia.

La GAO presentó cinco recomendaciones , tres para FEMA y dos para el DOE, entre ellas: actualizar los documentos de orientación de la agencia para reflejar las flexibilidades disponibles, como las exclusiones categóricas; garantizar personal suficiente para las revisiones ambientales; aclarar los objetivos y las funciones entre las entidades de recuperación; y establecer un mecanismo formal de coordinación.


Dr. Joyce Announces Expanded Relief to PA-13 Counties Impacted by April Freeze

Washington, D.C. – Congressman John Joyce, M.D. (PA-13) issued the following statement after the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), based on crop loss assessment reports, determined that each county in Pennsylvania's 13th Congressional District impacted by April's devastating freeze qualifies for federal disaster assistance:

“Since May, I have been working closely with the USDA to ensure that every remaining impacted county received the same disaster declaration and the federal assistance that comes with it,” said Congressman Joyce. “I am grateful that, following our conversation yesterday, Secretary Rollins and the USDA expanded the Secretarial Disaster Declaration to the remaining eligible counties in Pennsylvania's 13th Congressional District. With today's announcement, every eligible county impacted by April's devastating freeze in our district now has access to this critical federal assistance.

“Our fruit growers are the backbone of many of our rural communities, and the economic impact of these devastating crop losses cannot be overstated. I appreciate Secretary Rollins for recognizing the urgency of this issue and taking action to support the families and businesses that depend on a successful harvest. I will continue working with federal partners to ensure our communities have the resources they need to recover.”


Kaptur Announces Over $3.67 Million in Awards for Toledo Area Airports Improvements

Toledo, OH — Today, Congresswoman Marcy Kaptur (OH-09) announced that two Toledo airports will receive awards totaling $3,677,990 from the United States Department of Transportation (USDOT) to improve passenger and crew safety and for facility updates and upgrades. The Eugene F. Kranz Toledo Express Airport (TOL), Toledo’s commercial passenger airport and home to the Ohio Air National Guard’s 180th Fighter Wing, will receive $2,836,854 through the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA). The Toledo Executive Airport (TDZ) which serves as a hub for flight training, corporate travel, and law enforcement and will receive an award of $841,136 from the FAA.

“I am proud to have helped secure these federal awards for two of our district’s premier airports,” said Congresswoman Marcy Kaptur (OH-09). “Ohio has a storied history in aviation—from the pioneering Wright brothers to astronauts John Glenn and Neil Armstrong. Investing in safe, quality transportation and commerce is vital for our region’s success and builds on our century-long legacy of innovation in flight. I look forward to building on these awards to bolster existing infrastructure, as we create more efficient travel and business throughout Northwest Ohio, while working to attract new air carriers and passenger routes.”

"Receiving this grant funding through the Federal Aviation Administration's Airport Improvement Program is an important investment in the long-term strength and reliability of our regional airports," said Thomas J. Winston, President and CEO of the Toledo-Lucas County Port Authority. "These funds will support critical infrastructure improvements at both Eugene F. Kranz Toledo Express Airport and Toledo Executive Airport. At Toledo Express, the project will modernize the passenger boarding bridge and baggage handling system to enhance the passenger experience and improve operational efficiency. At Toledo Executive, the reconstruction of key taxilanes and apron pavement will strengthen airfield safety and reliability for the general aviation community. These investments will help ensure our airports continue to provide safe, efficient, and dependable service while supporting future growth across the region."

Named for former NASA flight director and Toledo native Gene Kranz, the Eugene F. Kranz Toledo Express Airport serves five domestic flight routes, with plans for expansion and efforts to attract new passenger routes underway. Their award from the FAA will be used to fund reconstruction projects on a passenger boarding bridge and a passenger baggage handling belt inside the terminal.

The original airport in the Toledo area, the Toledo Executive Airport, is now used for many aviation purposes. This award will fund updates on two different taxiing runways, as well as the pavement for hangars used to store planes.

These awards build on a longstanding efforts by Congresswoman Kaptur, who is a senior member of the House Appropriations Committee, to bring federal funds back to Northwest Ohio for essential infrastructure projects. Toledo-area airports support a variety of industries and strengthen our local economy, medical transport, and business access.

This new federal investment build on previous awards to airports across our Northwest Ohio region in recent years. On May 18th, Congresswoman Kaptur announced a $1.4 Million Award for Eugene F. Kranz Toledo Express Airport. On May 12th, 2026, Congresswoman Kaptur announced over $1 Million in federal investment for infrastructure improvements at Williams County Regional Airport, Defiance Memorial Airport, and Sandusky County Regional Airport. In April 2026 Congresswoman Kaptur announced $536,616 awarded to rehabilitate Defiance County Airport Infrastructure. In June 2025 Congresswoman Kaptur delivered over $1.4 Million in FAA funding for four Northwest Ohio airports to modernize infrastructure and bolster safety. In July 2025, she announced $342,000 for Fulton County Airport to improve runway conditions. In August 2025, Congresswoman Kaptur announced $300,000 in FAA Funds to Fulton and Williams County Airports. In 2024 she also brought home $400,000 in FAA funds to strengthen aviation upgrades across multiple airports in the district.


Kean Introduces Landmark Bill to Put Mental Health Care on Equal Footing with Physical Health Care

(July 1, 2026) WASHINGTON, D.C. – This week, Congressman Tom Kean, Jr. (NJ-07) introduced the Mental Health Parity Enforcement and Funding Act, legislation that would provide the U.S. Department of Labor the authority to investigate and hold insurers and plan sponsors accountable for offering health plans that are in violation of the Mental Health Parity and Addiction Equity Act of 2008 and extend supplemental funding for the Employee Benefits Security Administration to enforce the provisions.

"I have always been a supporter of mental health care. During my time in the New Jersey Legislature, I worked to advance mental health parity. I believed in the cause then,” said Congressman Kean. "I understand it in a far more personal way now. I am proud to help lead this fight in Congress.”

Background:

The Mental Health Parity and Addiction Equity Act of 2008 requires that insurance plans provide the same level of coverage for mental health and substance-use disorders as they do for physical health services.

In January, Congressman Kean advocated for the restoration of federal funding for vital substance abuse and mental health treatment services after New Jersey organizations raised concerns about the potential loss of key grants. These efforts helped lead to the reversal of a decision that would have placed thousands of Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration grants at risk.

While in the New Jersey Senate, Congressman Kean sponsored legislation that requires health insurers to provide coverage for mental health conditions and substance-use disorders under the same terms and conditions as provided for any other sickness. Insurance carriers now have to submit an annual report to the New Jersey Department of Banking and Insurance that demonstrates their compliance with the mental health parity laws. The legislation was signed into law by Governor Murphy in 2019.

“Yesterday, Congressman Kean delivered a floor speech upon his return to the House floor where he described in detail overcoming his own challenge with Depression. The full speech can be viewed HERE."

A copy of the bill text is available HERE.


Congressman Keith Self Introduces Bill to Protect U.S. Constitution from Sharia Law Ahead of America’s 250th Anniversary

Congressman Keith Self (TX-03) introduced the Preserving Our Constitution Act, a bill ensuring that courts and adjudicative bodies in the United States do not recognize or enforce foreign laws, religious laws, customs, or practices that conflict with the Constitution of the United States and the laws made pursuant to it.

The Preserving Our Constitution Act is built upon the successful framework established by the American Laws for American Courts legislation enacted in numerous states across the country. These state laws were adopted to ensure fundamental liberties cannot be undermined through the application of parallel legal systems that conflict with the Constitution. Now it is time the federal government takes the same stance.

“The Constitution is the supreme law of the land,” said Congressman Self. “Any legal or political doctrine that places itself above the Constitution threatens the stability and unity of the nation, and that’s exactly what Shaira Law does. The rule of law requires one standard that applies to every person. The Constitution provides that standard. Allowing any competing legal system would erode the authority of the courts, weaken the protection of individual rights, and fracture our country.”

Cosponsors: Reps. Eli Crane (AZ-02), Clay Fuller (GA-14), Scott Perry (PA-10), Paul Gosar (AZ-09), Barry Moore (AL-01), and Pat Harrigan (NC-10).

The Preserving Our Constitution Act will:

Prohibit federal courts and adjudicative entities from recognizing or enforcing foreign or religious laws, customs, or practices that conflict with the Constitution or federal law.

Prevent courts from enforcing contracts that require disputes to be governed by incompatible foreign or religious legal systems, agreements forcing parties into foreign tribunals that do not provide constitutional protections, foreign court decisions based on laws inconsistent with fundamental rights guaranteed under the Constitution.

Reinforce fundamental American liberties by identifying practices incompatible with constitutional principles including forced or underage marriage, polygamy, female genital mutilation, restrictions on speech, religion, or religious conversion, discriminatory treatment based on sex, religion, ethnicity, or caste, and cruel or unusual punishments prohibited under the Eighth Amendment.

Ensure Constitutional protections in international litigation by preventing courts from dismissing cases in favor of foreign jurisdictions unless those jurisdictions provide sufficient due process and equal protection safeguards.

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Kelly Celebrates America's 250th Anniversary

WASHINGTON, D.C. -- To commemorate America's 250th anniversary on Saturday, July 4, 2026, U.S. Representative Mike Kelly (R-PA) has introduced a special "America's 250th Anniversary" section of his website.

Here, you find legislation Rep. Kelly has sponsored or co-sponsored to supports this historic occasion. You will also find Rep. Kelly's new video on his YouTube channel highlighting Western Pennsylvania's role in American history.

On his Facebook, Instagram, and X pages, Rep. Kelly is rolling out America's 250th anniversary-themed fun facts, history, and other information to help constituents learn more about the region, commonwealth, and nation we call home.


Rep. Mullin Condemns Supreme Court Transgender Sports Ruling

Washington, D.C.- I am disappointed by the Supreme Court’s decision to uphold states’ discriminatory laws banning transgender girls and women from playing on school athletic teams that match their gender identity—a decision that will cause real harm to youth who simply want to be themselves while playing alongside their peers. Local school leaders and athletic officials are best positioned to make individual determinations about safety and fairness. We shouldn’t have sweeping prohibitions based on fear. States should be focused on breaking down barriers to participation, but instead this decision sends a devastating message to youth who already face discrimination. While this case is focused on school sports, it leaves the door open to further attacks on transgender rights more broadly. As a proud member of the Equality Caucus and a representative of the diverse San Francisco Bay Area, I will continue to fight for the rights and dignity of LGBTQ+ individuals everywhere.

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Krishnamoorthi, Bynum, Merkley, Booker Urge EPA to Begin Monitoring Microplastics in America's Drinking Water

WASHINGTON — Congressman Raja Krishnamoorthi (D-IL), Congresswoman Janelle Bynum (D-OR), Senator Jeff Merkley (D-OR), and Senator Cory Booker (D-NJ) on Tuesday led a bicameral letter, joined by 53 of their colleagues, urging Environmental Protection Agency Administrator Lee Zeldin to add microplastics to the agency's recently published Sixth Unregulated Contaminant Monitoring Rule (UCMR 6). The lawmakers argue that EPA should begin monitoring microplastics in America's drinking water, citing a growing body of research linking the emerging contaminant to serious adverse health effects.

In their letter, the lawmakers note that emerging research has found microplastics throughout the human body and associated them with lung disease, increased risk of heart attack and stroke, impaired kidney and liver function, and neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer's disease and dementia. They argue that adding microplastics to UCMR 6 would provide critical transparency regarding exposure, inform future health-protective standards under the Safe Drinking Water Act, and help ensure the federal government meets its responsibility to protect the health and safety of the American people.

The lawmakers write:

"As plastic production continues to expand rapidly, microplastics pose a potential threat to public health in the United States. Emerging research demonstrates that microplastics are now pervasive in the human body and are associated with serious adverse health effects. Concentrations of microplastics in human brain tissue have been reported to increase by nearly 50 percent between 2016 and 2024."

Later in the letter, they write:

"Accordingly, we urge the EPA to add microplastics to UCMR 6 and to design a robust, nationwide monitoring program for microplastics in drinking water. Doing so will provide critical transparency regarding exposure, inform future health-protective standards under SDWA, and help ensure that the federal government meets its responsibility to protect the health and safety of the American people."

The letter also highlights growing bipartisan congressional interest in better understanding how microplastics affect Americans' health, pointing to the recently introduced bipartisan, bicameral Microplastics Safety Act and ARPA-H's STOMP program to develop technologies to measure and remove microplastics from the body. The lawmakers argue EPA has a critical role to play as the primary agency regulating drinking water.


Landsman Leads Bipartisan Bill to Make Child Care More Accessible

Jul 2, 2026

Democracy

Landsman Leads Effort to Ban SCOTUS, Others from Participating in Prediction Markets and Stock Trading

Cincinnati, OH – This week, Congressman Greg Landsman (OH-01) led efforts in Congress to ban stock trading and prediction market participation for federal officials. Congressman Landsman, along with Congresswoman Kristen McDonald Rivet (MI-08), Congressman Kevin Kiley (CA-03), and Congressman Eugene Vindman (VA-07), introduced the bipartisan No Profiting from Public Service Act to ban politicians, Supreme […]

Jul 1, 2026

Jobs & the Economy

Landsman Statement on $25M to Cap Fort Washington Way

Cincinnati, OH – Today, Congressman Greg Landsman (D-OH-01) released the following statement after the U.S. Department of Transportation awarded $25 million in federal funding to cap Fort Washington Way in Cincinnati. “For decades, Cincinnati leaders had a vision, and they never gave up. We’re getting this done – delivering tens of millions of dollars to our region and building something […]


Landsman Statement on $25M to Cap Fort Washington Way

Cincinnati, OH – Today, Congressman Greg Landsman (D-OH-01) released the following statement after the U.S. Department of Transportation awarded $25 million in federal funding to cap Fort Washington Way in Cincinnati.

“For decades, Cincinnati leaders had a vision, and they never gave up. We’re getting this done – delivering tens of millions of dollars to our region and building something that will make Cincinnati even more vibrant.

“Capping Fort Washington Way will create jobs, give downtown even more family-friendly green space for residents and visitors to enjoy for decades to come.”

Congressman Landsman has advocated for federal funding to cap Fort Washington Way since he came to Congress.

HERE is his most recent letter to the Department of Transportation.

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Larsen to Trump Admin: Continue USMCA Trade Deal to Create Jobs and Lower Prices

Today, Representative Rick Larsen (WA-02) sent a report to U.S. Trade Representative (USTR) Ambassador Jamieson Greer urging the continuation of the U.S.-Mexico-Canada trade agreement (USMCA). The report summarizes over a hundred meetings and conversations that Rep. Larsen’s office has had with farmers, businesses, municipalities, ports and other stakeholders across Northwest Washington over the past year.

“Continuing the USMCA deal will lower costs and create jobs in our communities by restabilizing the economic relationship between the U.S. and two of our largest trading partners,” said Rep. Larsen. “Across conversations with the people I represent, I have heard how USMCA helps families and communities thrive. The United States should negotiate in good faith to enhance and renew USMCA, and fully enforce the provisions of the agreement to help lower prices and create more good-paying jobs.”

Today, the required joint review of USMCA began, which USTR is leading together with Canada and Mexico. The Trump administration announced that the U.S. did not agree to renew agreement in its current form, opting instead to spend the coming months renegotiation the deal.

Rep. Larsen’s report to Ambassador Greer summarizes local stakeholders’ broad support for USMCA and top priorities to enhance the agreement during renegotiations:

Providing predictability and reducing uncertainty when it comes to tariff rates, regulations and trade policy;

Sustaining and facilitating integrated, tariff-free cross-border supply chains, particularly with Canada; and

Ensuring WA-02 farmers, producers and businesses can compete in the United States and worldwide on a level playing field, addressing both tariffs and non-tariff measures.


Larsen Releases Statement on the Passing of Paul Roberts

Today, Representative Rick Larsen (WA-02) released the following statement on the passing of Paul Roberts:

“Paul Roberts was instrumental in making Everett the city it is today. Paul was one of the kindest, most dedicated and hardworking people I have ever known. From a deep passion for protecting our cherished environment, to his foresight on bringing the naval base to Everett, Paul was the embodiment of what a lifelong public servant is. Even after leaving the City Council, he continued his work in public service for my office, ensuring that local communities benefited from the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law.

"Paul Roberts was a great friend, and my thoughts are with Marianne and the rest of the Roberts family during this difficult time.”

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Larsen Announces $23.5 Million for the Port of Bellingham

Today, Representative Rick Larsen (WA-02), top Democrat on the Transportation and Infrastructure Committee, released the following statement:

“This funding is great news for the Port of Bellingham and Northwest Washington’s entire economy,” said Rep. Larsen. “These dollars will allow the Port of Bellingham to rebuild port infrastructure and create good-paying jobs in Northwest Washington. I will keep working to bring home federal dollars to upgrade maritime infrastructure and grow the local economy.”

The U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) announced that the Port of Bellingham will receive $23,500,000 in federal funding under the Better Utilizing Investments to Leverage Development (BUILD) grant program for the port to rebuild pier infrastructure, strengthen deck loading capacity and upgrade its mooring system for Phase II of the Bellingham Shipping Terminal’s North Pier Rehabilitation project. The BUILD program provides grants for communities of all sizes to carry out road, rail, transit and other surface transportation projects with significant local or regional impact.

The funding marks another major step towards the Port’s long-term effort to restore the aging shipping terminal that currently limits the Port’s operational capacity. Completion of the project will restore and modernize a critical marine freight asset that will improve the movement of goods, improve worker safety and create long-term jobs in Northwest Washington.

Projects in Washington state received a total of $52 million in BUILD grants for three projects across the state, including the Port of Bellingham’s project.

Larsen Has Secured $129.4 Million in BUILD Grants for WA-02 Since 2022

Larsen has secured nine BUILD grants totaling $129,406,000 for local communities since the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law was signed. In addition to the $23 million for the Port of Bellingham, Larsen has helped deliver:

$2 Million for Snohomish County's Everett Intermodal Yard and Curve Improvements Project – In July 2025, DOT awarded Snohomish County a $2 million BUILD grant to improve rail shipping capability, safety, and reliability for freight and intercity passenger service at the Everett Intermodal Yard.

$25 Million for Lynnwood’s Poplar Way Bridge – In August 2022, DOT awarded the City of Lynnwood a $25 million RAISE grant to construct a new six-lane, multimodal bridge over I-5 in Lynnwood, between the intersections of 196th Street SW (State Route 524)/Poplar Way and 33rd Avenue W/Alderwood Mall Boulevard.

$25 Million for Whatcom County’s Lummi Island Ferry – In August 2022, DOT awarded Whatcom County a $25 million RAISE grant to replace the 60-year-old Lummi Island ferry with an electric-battery hybrid ferry and build related infrastructure.

$9.5 Million for Blaine’s Bell Road Project – In June 2023, DOT awarded the City of Blaine a $9.5 million RAISE grant to improve safety and accessibility and reduce congestion at the Bell Road (State Route 548)-BNSF at-grade rail crossing.

$17.9 Million for Port of Bellingham’s Shipping Terminal Rail Connection Project – In June 2024, DOT awarded the Port of Bellingham a $17,931,000 RAISE grant to renovate a shipping terminal site, returning the site to a fully functioning multimodal terminal with more efficient loading and unloading of railcars on the terminal.

$4.9 Million for the Tulalip Tribes’ Road Safety Project – In June 2024, DOT awarded the Tulalip Tribes a $4,975,000 RAISE grant to plan, design and construct improvements to the 4th Street and 88th Street NE crossings of Interstate 5.

$2 Million for Lynden’s Pepin Creek FASST Design Project – In January 2025, DOT awarded the City of Lynden a $2 million RAISE grant to complete planning for its project to relocate Pepin Creek, which runs in deep roadside ditches that overflow and flood the area during winter storms when large quantities of water flow across the U.S.-Canada border.

$19.5 Million for Skagit Transit’s Maintenance, Operations, and Administration Facility – In January 2025, DOT awarded Skagit Transit a $19.5 million RAISE grant for the agency to continue renovating its Maintenance, Operations, and Administration Facility in Burlington.

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Ways and Means Committee Votes to Advance Larson and Courtney Tax Relief Plan for Connecticut Homeowners with Crumbling Foundations

Washington, D.C. - Today, Rep. John B. Larson (CT-01) and every member of the House Ways and Means Committee voted to send H.R. 9500 to the House floor, bipartisan legislation that includes Larson and Rep. Joe Courtney’sCasualty Loss Deduction Restoration Act, to allow homeowners impacted by crumbling foundations due to pyrrhotite to claim the casualty loss deduction for repair costs. The bill would also allow homeowners to retroactively claim the deduction, starting in 2021.

Watch Rep. Larson’s remarks in the Ways and Means Committee here.

“More than a decade since the crumbling foundations crisis was first discovered in Eastern and North Central Connecticut, as many as 35,000 homes and condos have been impacted,” said Larson. “This legislation will go a long way to provide tax relief so more homeowners can afford to make the repairs they need, and those who already replaced their foundations can be made whole. I am pleased that the Ways and Means Committee approved our bill with such a strong, bipartisan vote this morning. I urge the House to swiftly take it up and thank my friend and colleague Joe Courtney for his partnership on this issue.”

“Thousands of homes in northcentral and eastern Connecticut have been plagued with crumbling concrete foundations caused by the mineral pyrrhotite, leaving families with exorbitant repair costs up to the hundreds of thousands of dollars through no fault of their own,” said Courtney. "By finally restoring the casualty loss deduction for all taxpayers after it was drastically restricted by President Trump’s 2017 tax law and allowing homeowners to amend prior-year tax returns for repairs to crumbling foundations caused by pyrrhotite made during calendar years 2021-2025, Congress can provide overdue relief to impacted homeowners. Thank you to my friend and colleague, Congressman Larson, for his continued work on the Ways and Means Committee to advance this issue and for the determined grassroots advocacy of Connecticut homeowners impacted by crumbling foundations.”