{"database": "press", "table": "releases", "is_view": false, "human_description_en": "where chamber = \"House\", party = \"Democrat\" and year = 2020 sorted by date descending", "rows": [["http://www.casey.senate.gov/newsroom/releases/in-2020-casey-produces-results-for-pa-constituents", "In 2020, Casey Produces Results for PA Constituents", "2020-12-31", "2020", "2020-12", "Democrat", "House", "PA", "Bob Casey", "C001070", "www.casey.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Washington, D.C. - U.S. Senator Bob Casey (D-PA) is finishing 2020 having delivered results for Pennsylvania families.\r\nBelow is a list of Senator Casey's 2020 work on behalf of Pennsylvania constituents.\r\nSecuring COVID-19 Relief for America's Families  Securing $100 Million for Nursing Home Oversight: As part of the Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security (CARES) Act (Public Law 116-136), provisions from Senator Casey's Coronavirus Relief for Seniors and People with Disabilities Act (S. 3544) led to the passage of $100 million to promote infection control in nursing homes during the pandemic through enhanced surveys and inspections.   Shedding Light on the Nursing Home Crisis: Senator Casey authored multiple investigative reports, alongside U.S. Senators Ron Wyden (D-OR) and Gary Peters (D-MI), documenting the Trump Administration's repeated failures to contain the spread of COVID in nursing homes. Following the Senators' oversight, the Trump Administration implemented federal data collection requirements and the public release of information on COVID cases, deaths and supply shortages in nursing homes.\r\n Securing $1 Billion to Keep Seniors Safe at Home: Senator Casey led efforts to obtain vital funding to support seniors sheltering in place during the pandemic. Stemming from S. 3544, the Senator secured roughly $1 billion for essential services, including home-delivered meals and caregiver respite, across two relief packages passed by Congress  the CARES Act and the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2021 (Public Law 116-260). To date, Pennsylvania has received $47 million of these relief funds.\r\n Delivering Food Boxes to Seniors in Need: Also stemming from his bill, S. 3544, Senator Casey obtained $13 million in additional funding to support food delivery to low-income seniors during the COVID pandemic through the Commodity Supplemental Food Program, also known as the senior food box program. His advocacy also helped to secure an additional $80 million in funding for the program in FY2021. This money will allow states to serve more low-income seniors with shelf-stable food boxes. Both the COVID-19 and FY2021 funding was secured as part of Congress's year-end agreement (P.L. 116-260).\r\nStanding Up for Seniors   Passing the Improving Low-Income Access to Prescription Drugs Act: Senator Casey's bipartisan Improving Low-Income Access to Prescription Drugs Act (S. 1999) was passed into law as part of Congress's year-end deal (P.L. 116-260). This important legislation makes permanent a federal program to ensure low-income seniors and people with disabilities retain affordable access to their prescription medications as they transition to Medicare.   Passing the Reauthorization of the Older Americans Act: Senator Casey co-led the bipartisan reauthorization of hallmark legislation, now Public Law 116-131, to deliver essential services and supports to America's seniors. This 5-year reauthorization provides respite services to grandfamilies, advances innovation and evaluation within the Act, prioritizes funding to bring kids and seniors together, requires data collection on LGBT seniors and ensures younger adults with Alzheimer's disease are eligible for services.  Passing a Law to Close Harmful Coverage Gaps in Medicare: Key provisions from Senator Casey's bipartisan Beneficiary Enrollment Notification and Eligibility Simplification Act (BENES) Act (S. 1280) were passed into law as part of Congress's year-end agreement (P.L. 116-260). These policies will ensure people new to Medicare have more immediate access to health insurance, closing coverage gaps that led seniors and people with disabilities to go without essential care.   Securing Continued Support for Grandfamilies: The Advisory Council to Support Grandparents Raising Grandchildren, created by Senator Casey's bipartisan bill signed into law in 2018, will continue to meet in 2021 as a result of funding the Senator obtained through the appropriations process (P.L. 116-260). The Council is tasked with developing a one-stop shop of resources to help grandparents raising grandchildren navigate programs and benefits.  Allowing Families to Access Long-Term Care at Home: Through his Protecting Married Seniors from Impoverishment Act (S. 2000), Senator Casey continues to stand up for financial protections to prevent spouses whose partners need home and community-based services under Medicaid from falling into abject poverty. Congress's year-end agreement (P.L. 116-260) includes a 3-year extension of these vital protections.  Advancing Best Practices to Stop Senior Scams: Senator Casey's bipartisan Stop Senior Scams Act (S. 149) passed the U.S. Senate. The Senator's bill would establish a federal advisory council charged with bringing together relevant government officials, industry representatives, advocates and consumer representatives to collect and develop model educational materials for retailers, financial institutions and wire transfer companies to use in stopping scams on seniors.  Combatting Age Discrimination in the Workplace: Senator Casey's bipartisan Protecting Older Workers from Age Discrimination Act (S. 485) passed the U.S. House of Representatives. The Senator's bill would restore standards undone by a 2009 Supreme Court decision that made it more difficult for older workers to successfully seek restitution in court for age discrimination they experienced.\r\nLeading Efforts for Individuals with Disabilities  Fighting for Continued Access to Disability Benefits and Supports: Senator Casey led efforts, along with 40 Senators, to call for the withdrawal of a proposed rule that would make it more difficult for people with Social Security disability benefits to retain needed support. The Senator also led an initiative to encourage the public to tell the Social Security Administration directly how the proposal would harm them, resulting in more than 125,000 comments submitted on the rule.\r\n Promoting Care Continuity from Home to the Hospital: The CARES Act (P.L. 116-136) included a provision that Senator Casey fought for to ensure direct service providers could enter and provide services and supports to people with intellectual and developmental disabilities who were admitted to hospitals and rehabilitation settings because of COVID or other health-related concerns. Making it possible for those providers who care for people in their homes while they are in the hospital allows for continuity of care, better communication among hospital and community caregivers and makes the transition back to their homes safer and healthier.\r\n Preventing COVID Infections Among People with Disabilities: Senator Casey advocated that the CARES Act (P.L. 116-136) include funding increases for Centers for Independent Living to provide COVID prevention services during the pandemic. Pennsylvania received $2.75 million to be distributed among its eleven federal Centers for Independent Living. The funds make it possible to provide people with disabilities with personal protective equipment (PPE) in their own homes, to transition from congregate care settings to home settings, to translate COVID information into other languages and many more preventive actions to reduce the risk of infection for people with disabilities.\r\nFighting for Rural Communities and Expanding Broadband Access\r\n Supporting Rural Innovation: Senator Casey secured increased funding for the Small Business Administration's Regional Innovation Clusters (RIC) program in the FY 2021 appropriations bill (P.L. 116-260). The RIC program provides an increased focus on outreach to rural areas in leveraging a region's unique competitive strengths and geographically-concentrated, interconnected network of complementary businesses, suppliers and associated organizations that engage in a particular industry sector. These types of programs are essential to Pennsylvania businesses to fight the economic effects of COVID-19.\r\n Don't Break Up the T-Band: Senator Casey led efforts with U.S. Senator Ed Markey (D-MA) and other colleagues to enact the Don't Break Up the T-Band Act into law (P.L. 116-260). The Don't Break Up the T-Band Act will ensure that our brave first responders throughout Pennsylvania and the rest of the country have access to the tools they need to effectively communicate with other first responders when responding to public safety emergencies.\r\n Hyndman Cellular Tower: In October, Senator Casey announced the completion of a project to provide cellular service in Bedford County via Hyndman Cellular Tower, ensuring that thousands of Bedford County residents have reliable service. After train derailments and feedback from local and state first responders highlighted the urgent need for better emergency response telecommunications, Senator Casey advocated for more than two years for AT&T to prioritize rural areas like Hyndman for First Responder Network Authority (FirstNet) tower sites.\r\nFighting for Jobs and a Secure Retirement\r\n Standing up for Federal Workers: Senator Casey led a letter opposing proposed changes to the Department of Defense's procurement policy in the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) that would have undermined the role depots and shipyards play in the readiness and maintenance of our armed forces. This effort led to stringent oversight requirements over decisions that lead to undermining depot and shipyard workforces.\r\n Fighting for Pay Equity for Army Depot Workers: A version of Senator Casey's Locality Pay Equity Act (S. 3015) was included in the FY 2021 NDAA passed by the U.S. House of Representatives. This legislation would put an end to locality pay adjustment disparities between salaried and hourly workers at federal facilities, including Tobyhanna and Letterkenny Army Depots in Pennsylvania.\r\n Strengthening Unemployment Benefits: Senator Casey pushed for the expansion and strengthening of unemployment benefits for workers affected by COVID as was done in the CARES Act that passed into law in March (P.L. 116-136). Senator Casey also strongly pushed for the extension of vital unemployment benefit programs that were slated to expire at the end of this year, which was achieved in the end-of-year relief package (P.L. 116-260).\r\nFighting to Combat Hunger and Support our Farmers\r\n Leading Efforts to Expand Access to Food for the Most Vulnerable: As the pandemic increased food insecurity for households who lost access to paychecks, Senator Casey worked to build the capacity of the food assistance system to assist families in Pennsylvania and across the country. He led letters to the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) and grocery retailers urging innovative solutions to expand access to home delivery and curbside pickup for Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) participants, especially for seniors and immunocompromised individuals. He introduced the Increasing Access to SNAP Delivery During COVID-19 Act to support retailers in expanding their SNAP delivery offerings during the pandemic. Senator Casey also advocated for and supported Pennsylvania's participation in the SNAP Online Purchasing Program and will continue working for additional access to delivery services.\r\n Advocating for the Expansion of Hunger Assistance Programs: Senator Casey fought to protect critical nutrition assistance programs for our most vulnerable citizens. From the beginning of the COVID pandemic, he advocated for the expansion of SNAP benefits to respond to the food insecurity crisis. He led a Pennsylvania delegation letter urging the inclusion of a 15 percent increase in SNAP benefits levels. A six-month increase in these benefits was ultimately included in the most recent COVID relief package (P.L. 116-260). Senator Casey also advocated for critical nutrition waivers for Pennsylvania to access food assistance and necessary flexibilities throughout the pandemic. In addition to COVID-related food security needs, he also led appropriations efforts to support the Healthy Food Financing Initiative (HFFI), a program modeled after Pennsylvania's Fresh Food Financing Initiative.\r\n Supporting our Farmers and Food Production System: Senator Casey worked tirelessly to support our farmers, who play a critical role in feeding families throughout Pennsylvania and the Nation. He introduced and co-sponsored legislation to support farmers who faced significant market losses and supply chain disruptions. He introduced the Farmers Feeding Families Act, building on his work to establish Farm to Food Bank projects in the 2018 Farm Bill. He was also an original cosponsor of the Food Supply Protection Act to help strengthen the food supply chain, protect workers, reduce food waste and support farmers and families in need. Additionally, Senator Casey led a Pennsylvania delegation letter to the Small Businesses Administration to ensure that loans and programs are available and work for farmers and agricultural businesses.\r\nProtecting the Environment\r\n Securing Funding for the Chesapeake Bay Watershed: Senator Casey joined the Chesapeake Bay delegation in working to secure increased funding for the Chesapeake Bay Program in the FY 2021 spending agreement (P.L. 116-260). Senator Casey also introduced the bipartisan Farmer Driven Conservation Outcomes Act, which would direct USDA to establish a process through which it could measure, evaluate and report on conservation program outcomes, including water quality improvements. He continues to build on wins from the 2018 Farm Bill for water quality by ensuring that programs are implemented to benefit the Bay. He led a bipartisan letter to USDA regarding implementation of key provisions in the Conservation Reserve Program (CRP) to improve water quality.\r\n Addressing the Climate Crisis: Senator Casey worked to address the climate crisis through efforts to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, protect the health of our communities, create good paying jobs and address environmental injustices. He was an original cosponsor of the Clean Economy Act of 2020, which would empower the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to design and implement a national plan to rapidly reduce the country's greenhouse gas emissions by 2050 or sooner. He continued to stand up against the Trump Administration's efforts to roll back bedrock environmental laws. Additionally, Senator Casey is working to ensure that farmers can be part of the solution to address the climate crisis by introducing legislation to measure, evaluate and report on the outcomes associated with farm bill conservation programs, including carbon sequestration and greenhouse gas emissions reductions.\r\n PFAS Contamination: Senator Casey continued to stand up for communities impacted by PFAS contamination. He fought for inclusion of key PFAS provisions in the NDAA and advocated for funding to expand PFAS monitoring, standards development and cleanup capabilities. Senator Casey also continued to engage in efforts to implement a Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) study on the effects of PFAS on long-term health. He led efforts to secure this funding and Pennsylvania's Bucks and Montgomery Counties were included in the multi-year site study.\r\n Preserving Public Lands in Pennsylvania: Senator Casey introduced legislation to extend authorization of Pennsylvania's National Heritage Areas (NHAs). The Pennsylvania National Heritage Area Act would extend authorization of the Pennsylvania NHAs set to expire between FY 2021 and FY 2022. Additionally, this legislation would eliminate incongruent funding restrictions and streamline appropriations levels for NHAs. Senator Casey will continue to work to ensure these extensions are secured and to protect our natural and cultural resources while strengthening communities and stimulating local economies.\r\nFighting for Miners' Benefits\r\n Leading Efforts to Protect Retired Miners: Senator Casey successfully advocated for language in the year-end agreement (P.L. 116-260) to protect the health care benefits of all retired miners in the event of future bankruptcies, no matter when the bankruptcies occur. Previous efforts to protect coal miner health care specified the year of a company's bankruptcy; The United Mine Workers of America (UMWA) anticipate the remaining coal companies with retiree health care obligations will declare bankruptcy within the next 6-12 months. This language will ensure coal miners' health care is fully covered if a coal company goes bankrupt and also ensures Congress does not have to act each time a company is relieved of its obligations to pay for retiree health care by a bankruptcy court. According to UMWA, the majority of retirees and widows covered by this provision are over 80 years old.\r\nStanding Up For Veterans\r\n Veterans Affairs and Veteran Health: Senator Casey and U.S. Senator Jerry Moran (R-KS), working with House colleague U.S. Representative Elaine Luria (D-VA-2), successfully introduced and passed the Department of Veterans Affairs Website Accessibility Act (P.L. 116-213). This law directs the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) to report to Congress regarding the accessibility of VA websites (including attached files and web-based applications) to individuals with disabilities. Senator Casey continues to advocate for robust funding for veterans health, supporting efforts to secure PPE, vaccines, mental health support and additional resources to VA workers and patients in response to the COVID pandemic.\r\n Passage of the Rosie the Riveter Congressional Gold Medal Act: The bipartisan Rosie the Riveter Congressional Gold Medal Act honors American women who joined the workforce in support of the war effort during World War II by awarding them a Congressional Gold Medal. These Rosie the Riveters answered the Nation's call to action and learned new skills, many building the vehicles, weaponry and ammunitions that were critical to the war effort. Senator Casey led the effort along with U.S. Senator Susan Collins (R-ME) and U.S. Representatives Jackie Speier (D-CA-14) and Brian Fitzpatrick (R-PA-1). 76 senators co-sponsored the Senate bill, including every female senator, and it has now been enacted into Public Law 116-195.\r\nKeeping Communities Safe and Our Judiciary Working\r\n Law Enforcement Reform: In response to a national reckoning regarding the systemic violence and injustice impacting communities of color across the Nation, Senator Casey helped to advance a critical conversation focused on transformative change within law enforcement. Senator Casey joined thirty-four of his colleagues, led by U.S. Senators Cory Booker (D-NJ) and Kamala Harris (D-CA), to introduce the Justice in Policing Act of 2020. The bill would put in place the most significant police reforms in our Nation's history by focusing on officer accountability, data transparency and enhancing police practices and training.\r\nHe also led the Law Enforcement Education and Accountability for People with Disabilities (LEAD) Initiative to help counter the high rate of violent interactions between police and people with disabilities. The LEAD Initiative is comprised of two bills  the Safe Interactions Act and the Human-services Emergency Logistic Program (HELP) Act. Combined, these bills would: (1) divert non-criminal, non-fire and non-medical emergency calls from the 9-1-1 system to the 2-1-1 system; and (2) provide grants to enable non-profit disability organizations to develop training programs in partnership with police academies and agencies to support safe interactions between law enforcement officers and people with disabilities.\r\n Fighting for Prison Safety During COVID: Senator Casey has repeatedly pressed the Department of Justice (DOJ) and Bureau of Prisons (BOP) for answers and reforms in response to the COVID pandemic. Senator Casey wrote multiple letters in March and April to DOJ and BOP leadership raising significant concerns about BOP's inmate transfer policies, supply of PPE and other general concerns related to the BOP's preparation for COVID. After raising these concerns and calling on the DOJ to require mandatory testing before transferring any incarcerated individual, BOP announced in May that it had decreased internal movement by 90 percent and committed to testing all incarcerated individuals prior to leaving a local detention facility.\r\n Criminal Justice Reform: Senator Casey introduced the bipartisan Clean Slate Act of 2020 with U.S. Senator Joni Ernst (R-IA), which would automatically seal the federal records of individuals convicted or arrested for simple drug possession, and establish a process for individuals to petition to seal records for other nonviolent offenses. This landmark piece of legislation would give tens of millions of Americans a second chance to fully participate in society by removing major barriers for finding employment, securing housing and accessing education. The Clean Slate Act is modeled after Pennsylvania's own Clean Slate Act, which was the first Clean Slate law in the Nation after it was enacted into law with tremendous bipartisan support in 2018.\r\n Federal Judges: Senator Casey worked with U.S. Senator Pat Toomey (R-PA) to confirm two more Federal judges to the District Courts in PA. Since 2011, Senators Casey and Toomey have worked together, in a bipartisan fashion, to fill vacancies on the federal bench in Pennsylvania. Together they have now vetted, recommended and confirmed 27 Federal District Court Judges for Pennsylvania. Only two states - New York and Texas - have had more district court judges confirmed to their federal benches during this time.\r\n Combat Online Predators: Senator Casey led efforts with Senator Toomey to enact the Combat Online Predators Act into law in December 2020 (P.L. 116-249). This bipartisan law was drafted in response to the traumatic experiences of a Pennsylvania family and will give judges additional tools to ensure that perpetrators who stalk or cyberstalk children are held accountable with serious penalties.\r\nFighting for Consumer Health\r\n Leading Senate Efforts to Modernize FDA Regulation of Over-the-Counter Drugs: Senator Casey, along with retired U.S. Senator Johnny Isakson (R-GA), led a multi-year effort to overhaul and modernize the Food and Drug Administration's (FDA) regulatory authority for over-the-counter (OTC) monograph drugs. These products, including drugs like painkillers, allergy medicines and sunscreens, are used by millions of Americans and are subject to certain requirements known as monographs. The OTC system was outdated, making it hard for FDA to take action to protect public health and hard for companies to innovate. With the passage of the Over-the-Counter Monograph Safety, Innovation, and Reform Act (P.L. 116-136), the FDA has new tools and resources at its disposal, and consumers will benefit from increased regulatory oversight and new innovation.\r\nFighting for Children\r\n Leading Efforts to Increase Federal and State Efforts to Investigate and Collect Information When an Infant or Young Child Die: Senator Casey's bipartisan legislation, named after Pittsburgh child Scarlett Pauley, will help combat Sudden Unexpected Infant Death and Sudden Unexpected Death in Childhood by providing grants to help states, municipalities and nonprofits improve data collection and death scene investigations related to unexpected infant and child deaths. The bill will also help promote safe sleep practices for children and support local efforts to conduct infant and child death reviews. This legislation was signed into law by the President as Public Law 116-273 on December 31, 2020.\r\n Leading Efforts to Extend the Creating Hope Act: Senator Casey led a bipartisan effort to reauthorize the Creating Hope Act, which authorized the FDA's pediatric priority review voucher program. This important program encourages the development of new drugs to treat rare pediatric diseases, and was first authorized in 2012 following Senator Casey's efforts. The Creating Hope Reauthorization Act was included as a provision in the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2021 (P.L. 116-260) and extends the program for an additional four years.\r\n Leading Efforts to Reauthorize Critical Program for Emergency Medical Care for Children: Senator Casey led a bipartisan, bicameral coalition to reauthorize the Emergency Medical Services for Children (P.L. 116-49), a federal program that works to improve the quality of emergency care provided to children and ensure that hospitals and emergency workers providing emergency care to children are properly equipped.\r\nFighting for Health Care\r\n Children's Hospital Graduate Medical Education (CHGME) Program: Senator Casey, the Senate champion of the Children's Hospital Graduate Medical Education (CHGME) and author of several laws to extend and improve the program, secured additional funding for the program through the appropriations process. Funding for the program was increased by $10 million from $340 to $350 million for FY2021 (P.L. 116-159).\r\nFighting the Administration's Immigration Cruelty\r\n Care of Immigrant Children in U.S. Custody: At Senator Casey's request, the Government Accountability Office opened an investigation into the conditions and care of migrants, including children, in Customs and Border Patrol (CBP) custody. The report revealed that CBP illegally used funds designated for medical care and food for children in detention on dirt bikes, dog food and leashes, boats and other unrelated items. The report also shined a light on significant gaps in care for children in custody and CBP's failure to follow its own health and safety guidelines.\r\nHelping Children Learn More Now to Earn More Later\r\n Early Care and Education COVID Relief: Senator Casey has fought to provide assistance to childcare providers facing financial hardship and families struggling to find care due to COVID. In March, aspects of Senator Casey's Supporting Child Care Providers and Families Affected by Coronavirus Act (S. 3562) was included in the CARES Act (P.L. 116-136), helping to secure $3.5 billion in emergency relief for the Child Care and Development Block Grant (CCDBG) and $750 billion for Head Start. His continued advocacy to provide an additional $50 billion for early education helped to secure $10 billion for CCDBG and $250 million for Head Start COVID relief in the FY2021 omnibus appropriations and COVID relief legislation (P.L. 116-260).  Ensuring Opportunity For Students: Senator Casey's Stopping Unfair Collateral Consequences from Ending Student Success Act or SUCCESS Act (S.5079) was included in the FY2021 omnibus appropriations and COVID relief legislation (P.L. 116-260). The SUCCESS Act repeals provisions of the Higher Education Act that limits access to federal student aid for students convicted of drug-related offenses. To date, according to the ALCU, this provision has prevented about 200,000 students from receiving federal student aid. This legislation will help to reduce recidivism, over-criminalization and taxpayer burdens by stopping the suspension of college aid for young people who made a mistake but want to get their lives back on track. It affirms that the United States is a country of second chances, not second punishments.\r\nProtecting the Nation and Promoting American Values Abroad\r\n International Disability Rights: Senator Casey introduced the Office of International Disability Rights Act (S. 3880) to require the State Department to develop and implement a formal policy for disability inclusion in foreign assistance programming and establish State Department Office of International Disability Rights headed by an Ambassador-at-Large (AAL) for International Disability Rights. He also introduced S. Res. 445, a resolution recognizing International Day of Persons with Disabilities. These efforts to promote disability rights globally will continue into the 117th Congress.\r\n Global Impacts of COVID: Senator Casey led letters to the Trump Administration urging increased funding to combat increasingly global food insecurity due to COVID, as well as assessment of COVID's impact on children's mental health and psychosocial support (MHPSS). Senator Casey intends to introduce legislation next Congress addressing child MHPSS globally.\r\n Promoting a Peaceful and Inclusive Future: Senator Casey successfully secured $10 million in the FY21 NDAA to improve training and inclusion of Afghan women in Afghanistan's security forces. These efforts will serve to integrate and create opportunities for Afghan women to have a say in Afghanistan's future. Senator Casey and U.S. Senator Tim Kaine (D-VA) also led a letter to the Trump Administration urging emergency humanitarian funding for the Nagorno-Karabakh region for the clearance of cluster munitions deployed during the fall 2020 hostilities that put children at particular risk of exposure to unexploded ordnance. The National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2021 was signed into law as Public Law 116-283 on January 1, 2021.\r\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["http://www.warren.senate.gov/newsroom/news-coverage/politico-elizabeth-warrens-next-chapter", "Politico: Elizabeth Warren's next chapter", "2020-12-31", "2020", "2020-12", "Democrat", "House", "MA", "Elizabeth Warren", "W000817", "www.warren.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "December 31, 2020\n\t\t\t Politico: Elizabeth Warren's next chapter \n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t \n\t\n\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\n        \n\t\t\t\t The progressive senator is already playing the inside game to shape Biden's agenda.\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez wants Nancy Pelosi and Chuck Schumer replaced, lamenting that there's no one ready to step in. Elizabeth Warren has a different approach. The Massachusetts Democrat is a member of Schumer's leadership team and is working closely with the Senate minority leader on a policy priority that could fuel the first intra-party fight with President-elect Joe Biden. A few months before the election, Warren asked Schumer to join her effort to cancel $50,000 of student loan debt for millions of Americans. The president can do it without Congress, she argues. The New York Democrat, who is up for reelection in 2022, was immediately interested.  Read the full articlehere.\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t  \n\t\t\t\t    By:\n\t\t\t\t    Burgess Everett \n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t  \n\t\t\t\tSource:\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\tPolitico\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\n\t  \n\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t \n\t\t\n\t\t\tPrint\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\tEmail\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\tTweet\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\n\t \n\t\n\t\n\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n    \n\t\n\t\n    \n    \n    \n    \t\n    \t\n\t    \t  \n\t\t    \n\t\t    \tNext Article\n\t\t    \n\t\t    \n\t\t    \tPrevious Article", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://bonamici.house.gov/media/in-the-news/2020-year-disruptions-good-and-ill", "2020: A year of disruptions, for good and ill", "2020-12-31", "2020", "2020-12", "Democrat", "House", "OR", "Suzanne Bonamici", "B001278", "bonamici.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "The Feb. 19 arrest sparked outrage, including from U.S. Rep. Suzanne Bonamici, a Beaverton Democrat whose House district includes all of Washington County. Bonamici has lobbied without success for Congress to pass a bill she has sponsored to keep ICE away from bus stops, schools, courthouses and other \"sensitive locations.\"", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://bonamici.house.gov/media/in-the-news/minority-group-leaders-discuss-covid-19-vaccine-equity-oregon", "Minority group leaders discuss COVID-19 vaccine equity in Oregon", "2020-12-31", "2020", "2020-12", "Democrat", "House", "OR", "Suzanne Bonamici", "B001278", "bonamici.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "The livestream discussion lasted more than two hours, including recorded remarks from Oregon's US Sen. Ron Wyden and Rep. Suzanne Bonamici.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://cicilline.house.gov/press-release/memo-rhode-island-media-cicilline-2020-fighting-people", "Cicilline in 2020: Fighting For the People", "2020-12-31", "2020", "2020-12", "Democrat", "House", "RI", "David Cicilline", "C001084", "cicilline.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "To: Rhode Island Editors, Editorial Writers, Reporters\n\tFrom: The Office of Congressman David N. Cicilline (RI-01)\n\tRe: 2020 End of Year Report\n\tDate: December 31, 2020\nOverview\nIn 2020, U.S. Congressman David N. Cicilline (RI-01) once again delivered on his promises to fight For The People of Rhode Island. Most notably, as a member of House Leadership during an unprecedented public health crisis, he played a key role in ensuring that Rhode Island state and local officials received the federal resources they needed to take on the pandemic.\nCOVID Relief for Rhode Island Families\nFrom the moment COVID-19 swept through the country and began wreaking havoc, I started working with my colleagues to ensure we addressed Rhode Islanders' urgent needs:\n Keeping your family healthy\nSince we first learned that the pandemic had hit our shores, I fought for a national testing strategy. The HEROES Act would have supported testing, tracing and treatment, by providing $75 billion in funding for coronavirus testing, contact tracing and isolation measures, ensuring every American can access free coronavirus treatment, and supporting hospitals and providers, as well as making improvements to our testing infrastructure. The House passed the HEROES Act on May 15, 2020, but the bill never became law because Senator Mitch McConnell refused to bring the bill to the Senate floor for a vote.\nThe CARES Act, passed into law in March, requires that private insurance plans cover COVID-19 treatments and vaccines, and provided $1.3 billion in emergency funding for Community Health Centers, which are responsible for providing health care services for approximately 28 million Americans.\nOn March 18, 2020, Congress passed the Families First Coronavirus Response Act, which mandates free coronavirus testing for everyone who needs a test. This law also included $82 million to the Department of Defense TRICARE health program to carry out detection of COVID-19 and testing related visits; $64 million for the Indian Health Services for COVID-19 diagnosis and testing related visits; $1 billion for the Public Health and Social Services Emergency Fund. Given the lack of a national testing strategy, the House has done everything we can to ensure that every American is able to get tested for COVID-19 and receive treatment.\nHelping your family weather the economic crisis\nWhen the pandemic forced the American economy to shut down, I fought to make sure Congress sent $1,200 direct cash payments to adults and $500 for children in the CARES Act.\nAnd as the economy felt the impact of the virus, the CARES Act expanded unemployment insurance so more Rhode Islanders could access benefits. The bill made available an additional $600 a week and extended benefits for 13 weeks.\nThe CARES Act also made available $454 billion in life-saving loans for businesses, states, and cities. This included $1.25 billion for the State of Rhode Island through the Coronavirus Relief Fund. Rhode Islanders have also been able to secure 17,941 Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) loans, totaling $1,906,190,125 and 10,679 Economic Injury Disaster Loans (EIDL) for $565,362,000. And I have been fighting for additional funding for cities throughout the pandemic, striving to ensure that Rhode Island cities and towns are able to continue to grow.\nOn December 27, 2020, the Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2021 was signed into law. This bill will send an additional $600 in direct cash payments to adults and $600 for children. While these payments are a step in the right direction, I know Americans need significant survival checks. This past week, I voted for H.R. 9051 - CASH Act, which would raise these payments to $2,000 per adult.\nDemocrats fought hard to include expanded unemployment insurance benefits in this package. The Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2021 makes available an additional $300 a week and extended benefits for 10 weeks.\nThe Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2021 also makes available an additional $284 billion in Payroll Protection Program forgivable loans. These loans have served as a lifeline for hard-hit small businesses.\nKeeping Rhode Islanders in their homes\nHousing is always essential, but especially at a time when staying in our homes protects us from a deadly disease, housing is even more important. To keep Rhode Islanders safely housed, I supported a moratorium on evictions and foreclosures in the CARES Act.\nI also supported $11.5 billion to combat homelessness and $100 billion for short term rental assistance in the HEROES Act.\n Delivering for Rhode Island\nOne of my highest priorities is to ensure that Rhode Islanders have the resources we need to stay healthy, safe, and maintain good jobs. Over the past year, that includes securing:\n $1.8 million for Rhode Island fire departments, including $209,809 for critical firefighter breathing apparatus for the Central Falls Fire Department.\n$34 million in regular Community Development Block Grants and CARES Act Community Development Block Grants funds for the State of Rhode Island and first congressional district entitlement communities. Some of these funds were utilized by the state to establish a Microenterprise Stabilization Grant Program, designed to help microbusinesses largely left out of federal relief programs.\nMillions of dollars to the Rhode Island Emergency Management Agency. This included $209,979 for crisis counseling and $3,342,540 this year in Emergency Management Performance Grants, which assist state and local governments in enhancing and sustaining all-hazards emergency management capabilities. And through FEMA's Public Assistance program, Rhode Island has been reimbursed over $94 million to date for life-saving emergency protective measures in response to COVID-19.\nHundreds of millions of dollars in COVID relief funding through the CARES Act for educators, students, fisheries, and so much more. This included $8,704,245 through the Governor's Emergency Education Relief Fund, $46,350,444 through the School Emergency Relief Fund, and $3,293,234 through the Fishery Disaster Assistance Program.\nOver $90 million through critical BUILD and INFRA grants to support needed infrastructure investments. This included over $65 million to RIDOT to make improvements, increase safety, and reduce congestion along Route 146.\nOver $7 million to the state through the Economic Development Administration, including $230,000 for the Cities of Pawtucket and Central Falls to develop a joint economic development action plan for the Conant Thread District, which overlaps the two municipalities.\nOver $6 million to the Rhode Island Department of Education to support high quality afternoon school programs through 21st Century Community Learning Centers.\n$3.4 million in federal funds coming to Rhode Island for the arts, humanities, museums, and libraries. This includes $184,576 for the Preservation Society of Newport County to complete a digitization initiative of 13 high-priority special collections.\n Fighting for Racial Justice\nIn April 1967, Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., visited Rhode Island and said, I haven't lost faith in the future, but I never intend to adjust myself to the madness of militarism or racial inequality.\nMore than 50 years later we are still fighting the madness of racial inequality. We can build a better, more just country. Since my time as Mayor of Providence I have fought to end racial profiling, end militarism in policing and practices like the chokehold. This is a time for Americans of all races to come together and fight racism and inequality and I have been proud to advocate for that on the floor of Congress.\n I cosponsored and voted for H.R.7120 - the George Floyd Justice in Policing Act, which would implement sweeping police reform policies to our country by establishing a national standard for the operation of police departments, banning dangerous choke holds, ending qualified immunity for police, prohibiting racial and religious profiling, and mandating data collection on police encounters among other reforms.\nI cosponsored and voted for S.2163/H.R. 1636, the Commission on the Social Status of Black Men and Boys Act, which establishes the Commission on the Social Status of Black Men and Boys within the U.S. Commission on Civil Rights to make a systematic study of the conditions affecting black men and boys. This bill became law on August 14, 2020.\nI cosponsored and voted for H.Res. 908, Condemning all forms of anti-Asian sentiment as related to COVID-19, which calls on all public officials to condemn and denounce anti-Asian sentiment, racism, discrimination, and religious intolerance related to COVID-19.\nVoted for H.R. 2574, the Equity and Inclusion Enforcement Act (EIEA), which reestablishes the ability for students who have been wronged to seek justice and dismantle discriminatory policies and practices that unjustly punish them.\nCosponsored and voted for passage of H.R. 221 4, the NO BAN Act, which rescinds all versions of the Muslim Ban and prohibits religion-based discrimination in our immigration system.\nCosponsored and voted for passage of H.R. 2639, the Strength in Diversity Act, which seeks to address segregation in America's schools by providing federal funding to support voluntary local efforts to increase diversity in schools.\n Standing up for Rhode Island Values\nTaking on Big Tech Monopolies\nOver the past year and a half, I am proud to have led Congress' biggest investigation into the four largest technology companies and whether they have stifled competition. I am fighting to make sure that the digital economy works for all Rhode Islanders and all Americans, and that it's not a vehicle to make the rich richer at the expense of the rest of us.\n Our investigation involved seven congressional hearings, the production of nearly 1.3 million internal documents and communications, submissions from 38 antitrust experts, and interviews with more than 240 market participants, former employees of the investigated platforms, and other individuals.\nThis top to bottom review of the state of competition in the digital economy confirms that the digital economy has become highly concentrated and prone to monopolization.\nCongress must consider a menu of reforms that will achieve three key priorities:Restoring competition in the digital economy, including Structural separations and prohibitions of certain dominant platforms from operating in adjacent lines of business.\nStrengthening existing antitrust laws.\nReviving antitrust enforcement including Civil penalties for unfair methods of competition rules.\n Investing in the Blue Economy\nRhode Island's blue economy, the economic sectors with a direct or indirect link to Rhode Island's coasts and ocean  defense, marine trades, tourism and recreation, fisheries, aquaculture, ports and shipping, and offshore renewable energy  is bustling, and has room for growth.\n I have worked hard to grow the blue economy in Rhode Island and the Northeast through the introduction of the Southern New England Regional Commission Act, which would help integrate cross-border assets and information to help the region sustainably utilize its ocean resources for economic growth.\nI support the Offshore Wind Incentives for New Development Act, which would extend tax credits for offshore wind development through 2026  a burgeoning industry in the Northeast.\nI have continued to work to bring investment in Rhode Island's ports, fought to safeguard our fisheries, and worked to promote the state's ocean-based tourism.\nAt the same time, I recognize the threat that climate change poses to Rhode Island's natural resources and have pushed for a shift away from our nation's heavy reliance on fossil fuels.\n Serving You\nOver the past year, my staff in both Pawtucket and Washington have worked relentlessly to serve the people of our great state. In 2020, we:\n Provided casework assistance for more than 1,800 Rhode Islanders who requested help with Social Security, Medicare and Veterans benefits, COVID relief programs, IRS tax refunds, and other federal agencies.\nHosted and participated in more than 120 constituent meetings and community events, including 18 Town Hall meetings, community conversations, and roundtable discussions on COVID-19 response and recovery, small business assistance, resources for seniors, health care and prescription drug costs, immigration, and more.\nResponded to 3,058 calls, letters, and emails from constituents.\nProvided 29 internship opportunities for young people to learn more about the federal government.\nProvided more than 105 books to three public libraries in the district through the Library of Congress Surplus Book Program.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://dankildee.house.gov/media/press-releases/coronavirus-daily-update-december-31", "Coronavirus Daily Update: December 31", "2020-12-31", "2020", "2020-12", "Democrat", "House", "MI", "Dan Kildee", "K000380", "dankildee.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Thursday, December 31, 2020\nDear Constituent\nThe coronavirus pandemic is developing very quickly, and I know many people have questions and concerns. I will try to answer some of them below.\nThese are incredibly stressful times for all Michiganders. I am working, along with my staff, around the clock, seven days a week to answer your questions, provide community resources and provide up-to-date, accurate information. Please do not hesitate to reach out to my office anytime by calling (810) 238-8627.\nThe Michigan Department of Health and Human Services (MDHHS) has updated the epidemic order that restricts indoor social gatherings and other group activities, to allow indoor activities where Michiganders can remain masked, including in-person learning at high schools and indoor entertainment venues. Indoor dining is still prohibited. This order is effective December 21, 2020 through January 15, 2021. More information can be foundhere.\nThe Pure Michigan Small Business Relief Initiativewill provide $10 million in grants to meet the needs of Michigan small businesses impacted the COVID-19 virus. Applications for businesses to apply will open on December 15, 2020. Grants will be awarded in the amount of up to $15,000 per eligible business. More information can be foundhere.\nThe Unemployment Insurance Agency (UIA) provided additional guidance to workers and employers who may be affected COVID-19. Michiganders who were on unemployment, went back to work, and are now temporarily unemployed again due to COVID-19 can reopen their claim online. More information can be foundhere.\n\nLEGISLATIVE UPDATE\nOn December 21, Congress passed theConsolidated Appropriations Act of 2021, which includes a nearly $1 trillion emergency relief packageto support American workers, families and small businesses during the coronavirus pandemic. More information can be foundhere.\nOn October 1, the U.S. House of Representatives passed an updatedversionThe Heroes Act. Thesenewprovisions are essential to supporting our schools, small businesses, restaurants, performance spaces, airline workers and others.More information can be foundhere.\nOn August 22, the U.S. House of Representatives passedThe Delivering for America Act, to fund the U.S. Postal Service and prohibit changes to operations until the pandemic has ended. More information can be foundhere.\nOn May 12, the U.S. House of Representatives passedThe Heroes Act.TheHeroes Actincludes a number of key policies I have advocated for, including additional direct payments to families and seniors, expanding unemployment insurance, increasing the Earned Income Tax Credit and the Child Tax Credit, and funding to prevent water shutoffs. More information can be foundhere.\nOn May 15, I introduced a bipartisan bill,TheRecharge and Empower Local Innovation and Entrepreneurs Fund for Main Street Act(RELIEF for Main Street Act), with Reps. Evans (D-PA), Fitzpatrick (R-PA) and Upton (R-MI). The billcreates a $50.5 billion Small Business Local Relief Program to provide direct federal support to cities, counties and states in order to seed and scale local relief funds and target smallbusinesses with 20 employees or fewer, orwith 50 employees or fewer located in low-income neighborhoods. More information can be foundhere.\nCongress has also passedtheCoronavirus Preparedness and Response Supplemental Appropriations Act,TheCARES Act,Families First Coronavirus Response Actand thePaycheck Protection Program and Health Care Enhancement Actto help families and health care facilities respond to the coronavirus pandemic.\n\nCORONAVIRUS TESTING UPDATE\nThe Governor has expanded testing opportunities for Michiganders to access testing in their own backyards. More information can be foundhere.\nThe U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has launched a website and app with a coronavirus screening tool and resources to help people protect their health. The website can be foundhereand the app can be accessedhere.\n\nUNEMPLOYMENT INSURANCE RESOURCES UPDATE\nGovernor Whitmer signed bipartisan bills restoring many unemployment provisions from her previous executive orders, including extending state unemployment benefits for Michiganders who have lost work as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic from 20 to 26 weeks until the end of the year. More information can be foundhere.\nUIA is now offering telephone appointments for customers with specific claim issues. By scheduling a phone appointment, customers will be able to get assistance with issues at their convenience. Phone appointments are available Monday through Friday from 8:15 a.m.  4:25 p.m. More information can be foundhere.\nThe last federal $600 weekly unemployment benefit was paid to Michiganders on July 25. The U.S. Federal Emergency Management Administration (FEMA) provided the state funding to provide six weeks of an additional $300 per week unemployment benefit, covering dates July 26 through September 5. To qualify, claimants must self-certify that they are unemployed or partially unemployed due to COVID-19.More information can be foundhere.\nAdditionally, unemployed Michiganders who have exhausted their regular and extended weeks of unemployment eligibility will receive up to 20 weeks of additional benefits, through the Federal Extended Benefits program. More information can be foundhere.\nOn May 1, I introducedTheStrengthening UI for COVID Impacted Workers and StudentsActto expand unemployment insurance for American workers, which was included inThe Heroes Act. For more information, visithere.\nUnemployment Insurance Benefits: Individuals should apply online atwww.Michigan.gov/UIAor call 866-500-0017 and are encouraged to follow afiling schedulebased on last name and use off-peak times (8 p.m.  8 a.m). The UIA offersresourcesto help workers resolve online technical issues with their account. More information can be foundhere.\n\nHOUSING UPDATE\nGovernor Whitmer created the Eviction Diversion Program, which outlines a process for renters to get fast rental assistance or establish a manageable payment plan to help them stay in their homes. The program also includes assistance to landlords. More information can be foundhere.\nThe Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB), the Federal Housing Finance Agency (FHFA) and the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) have a website to help renters and homeowners understand their housing assistance options. This includes information on mortgage and rental relief as well as resources for additional help that may be needed. More information can be foundhere. The CFPB has also put out a step by step videoherefor homeowners that are interested in mortgage forbearance.\nThe CDC has issued a moratorium on evictions of renters through December 31, 2020 based on non-payment of rent. For individuals that have questions on how this moratorium works or how they can access help, the National Low Income Housing Coalition has put together an overview of the orderhere, while Michigan Legal Help has more tools and informationhere.\n\nCOMMUNITY RESOURCES UPDATE\nThe Pure Michigan Small Business Relief Initiativewill provide $10 million in grants to meet the needs of Michigan small businesses impacted the COVID-19 virus. Applications for businesses to apply will open on December 15, 2020. Grants will be awarded in the amount of up to $15,000 per eligible business. More information can be foundhere.\nThe SBA has put out a step by step guide for businesses with a PPP loan on how to apply for loan forgiveness. More information can be foundhere.\nThe Governor launched the Futures for Frontliners' program, a tuition-free path to community college for essential, frontline workers who continued working during the COVID-19 Stay Home, Stay Safe orders between April  June 2020. Those eligible must apply for this scholarship before the end of the year. More information can be foundhere.\nThe Governor announced low-income residents, seniors, schools and homeless shelters will benefit from the MI Mask Aid partnership that is part of the Mask Up Michigan Campaign. More information can be foundhere.\nPersonal Protective Equipment: The Michigan Economic Development Corporation has launched a platform to help re-opening businesses acquire PPE. More information can be foundhere.\nMichigan's Virtual Food Bank:Seniors in need of food support cansign up for assistance, including meal delivery, delivery of non-perishable food items, and daily wellness-check calls, through the MDHHS coronavirus website, or by contacting their localArea Agency on Aging. More information on the virtual food bank can be foundhere.\nFlint Cares Help Centers: The city of Flint is offering resources and services including bottled water and food assistance. Services will continue to be provided from two semi-trailers staged in church parking lots across the city to distribute items directly to cars as residents drive through. For more information please call 810-410-2020 or visithere.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://haaland.house.gov/media/press-releases/torres-haaland-celebrate-native-american-economic-opportunity-bill-becomes-law", "Torres, Haaland Celebrate as Native American Economic Opportunity Bill Becomes Law", "2020-12-31", "2020", "2020-12", "Democrat", "House", "NM", "Debra Haaland", "H001080", "haaland.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "WASHINGTON, DC  U.S. Representatives Norma J. Torres (CA-35) and Deb Haaland (NM-01), Co-Chair of the Native American Caucus, celebrated this week as their bill, the Indian Community Economic Enhancement Act, was signed into law.\nThe new law expands economic opportunities for Native Americans by addressing the lack of access to credit and community development that hampers entrepreneurialism in Native American tribes. Specifically, the legislation:\n Updates and provides new resources to the Department of Commerce's Office of Native American Business Development;\n\tEnsures effective implementation of the Buy Indian Act within the Departments of Interior and Health and Human Services;\n\tReauthorizes the Social and Economic Development Strategies (SEDS) grant program administered by the Administration for Native Americans; and\n\tAuthorizes the Administration for Native Americans (ANA) to provide financial assistance to Native American community development financial institutions.\n The lawmakers released the following statements:\nNative communities are one step closer to economic independence and self-charted prosperity today now that the Indian Community Economic Enhancement Act is law of the land, Rep. Torres said. For tribal members whose financial opportunities have historically been limited by the geographic and economic isolation, this new law will allow capital to flow and new businesses to take root. I am grateful for Rep. Haaland's leadership as we ushered this bill through the legislative process, and thank our partners in the Senate for working with us to make this day a reality.\nAll communities deserve access to the tools to grow businesses and build economic opportunities, but years of oppression have left Native American entrepreneurs behind, Rep. Deb Haaland, Co-Chair of the Congressional Native American Caucus, said. As a small business owner while raising my daughter there were times when easier access to capital would have benefited my business. I'm proud of the work Rep. Torres and I did to expand opportunities for Native entrepreneurs and get this bill across the finish line.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://harder.house.gov/media/press-releases/harder-announces-free-mobile-coronavirus-testing-van-coming-communities", "Harder Announces Free Mobile Coronavirus Testing Van Coming to Communities Throughout Central Valley", "2020-12-31", "2020", "2020-12", "Democrat", "House", "CA", "Josh Harder", "H001090", "harder.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Modesto, CA  Today, Representative Josh Harder (CA-10) announced the launch of a new COVID-19 mobile testing van for Stanislaus and San Joaquin counties  scheduled to start Monday, January 4th. Curative, one of the largest providers of oral COVID-19 testing in the country, will be launching a mobile testing unit on Monday January 4th and will serve locations across Rep. Harder's district in both Stanislaus and San Joaquin Counties. Curative offers a self-administered oral test, which uses saliva instead of a nasal swab. The test is free to all individuals, including those without insurance, and can be administered to children.\n \n\tWe heard from communities across the Valley that we're low on testing capacity  so we went and found some more, said Rep. Harder. The first step in combating the virus is understanding where it is  this will give us a better chance to do that while also giving people more opportunities to get tested.\n \nInterested residents can visit www.curative.com/CA10 to make an appointment. Appointments will be available starting four days before date of test. Walk-up availability is limited. More information on the test itself is available at www.curative.com. More information on local testing, including a bilingual flyer, is available here.\nThe testing van will be available on a weekly basis at the following locations, 10am  4pm, starting Monday, January 4th:\nMondays: Patterson - Hammon Senior Center Parking Lot, 1033 W Las Palmas Ave, Patterson\nTuesdays: Riverbank - Riverbank Community Center Parking Lot, 3600 Santa Fe St, Riverbank\nWednesdays: Manteca - City Hall Parking Lot, 1001 West Center Street, Manteca\nThursdays: Oakdale - Family Resource Center Parking Lot, 631 W F St, Oakdale\nFridays: Ceres - Central Valley Opportunity Center; Ceres Parking Lot, 3860 Brickit Ct., Suite A, Ceres\nSaturdays: Modesto - King Kennedy Center Parking Lot, 601 Martin Luther King Dr, Modesto\nSundays: Tracy - Ritter Family Ball Park, 2300 N. Tracy Blvd, Tracy", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://lee.house.gov/news/press-releases/coin-redesign-act-celebrating-prominent-american-women-and-others-passes-both-chambers-of-congress_--", "Coin Redesign Act Celebrating Prominent American Women and Others Passes Both Chambers of Congress", "2020-12-31", "2020", "2020-12", "Democrat", "House", "CA", "Barbara Lee", "L000551", "lee.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "12.31.20\n\t\t\t Coin Redesign Act Celebrating Prominent American Women and Others Passes Both Chambers of Congress     \n\t\t\tWashington, D.C. Representatives Barbara Lee (D-CA), Anthony Gonzalez(R-OH), and Bonnie Watson Coleman (D-NJ) today joined Senators Catherine CortezMasto(D-NV) and Deb Fischer (R-NE)in celebrating the bicameral passage of their bipartisan legislation, the Circulating Collectible Coin Redesign Act of 2020. \r\n\r\nH.R. 1923, the Circulating Collectible Coin Redesign Act of 2020 allows the Department of the Treasury and U.S. Mint to mint and issuenewquarter-dollar coins. The first series of quarters in this program commemorates the centennial of the ratification of the 19th Amendment granting some women the right to vote. The design on the reverse of those quarters will represent prominent American women in a range of fields, including but not limited to suffrage, civil rights, abolition, government, and humanities. This series will also include women from ethnically, racially, and geographically diverse backgrounds. \r\n\r\nThe 114th Congress created a United StatesSemiquincentennialCommission to facilitate activities in 2026 to commemorate the 250th anniversary of the founding of the United States. This bill allows for the issuance offivedifferent designs emblematic of the United States'Semiquincentennial, including one dedicated to the contributions made by women to our nation's founding or a monumental moment in American History.Additionally, from 2027-2030,quarter dollars willcommemorate sports played by American youthandhalf-dollar commemoratingParalympicsports. \r\nWomen have played a critical role in shaping this country since its founding but have often been excluded or gone unrecognized. This bill is an important step in recognizing the contributions women have made in furthering civil rights and making our country a more equitable place. This bill's passage also coincides with the centennial of the 19th Amendment which gave some women the right to vote,said Congresswoman Lee.When women gathered in Seneca Falls in July 1848, it was to give white women the right to vote  no Black women were invited to participate. As we commemorate women's suffrage and celebrate the first series of coins in the package to depict prominent American women, it is also my hope that diverse American women will be chosen and depicted, celebrating our nation's leaders, thinkers, and innovators.  \r\n\r\nSome of the greatest and most influential figures in our nation's history have been women, although these voices and stories have too often gone untold. In this centennial anniversary of the 19th Amendment, it is fitting that we take this opportunity to highlight the role women have played in shaping our great nation and ensure their inclusion in the fabric of our nation's story,said Congressman Gonzalez.I am excited to see this legislation head to the President's desk to be signed into law. \r\n\r\nI'm proud to see this legislation honoring the 100th anniversary of the 19th Amendment and recognizing the many American women who have contributed to the fight for suffrage and civil rights, science, government, and the arts pass the House of Representatives,said Senator CortezMasto.While our nation still has steps to take in honoring the right to vote for women of color, the 19th Amendment has firmly established every woman's right to vote for the last 100 years and has brought women into the halls of power across our country. And by ensuring that prominent women are featured in the U.S. Mint'sSemiquincentennial, we are recognizing our history and inspiring future generations of young women to dream big. From business boardrooms to research labs to state legislatures, like Nevada's first majority-women legislature, this bill recognizes the decades of contributions women have made and will make to our shared history. \r\nI am happy that we were able to work together in a bipartisan, bicameral way to pass this legislation,said Senator Fischer.These coins will pay tribute to the women heroes and trailblazers who have played a major role in our nation's history. Their leadership, stories, and sacrifices are going to inspire generations of women to come. \r\n\r\nAs a member of the U.S.SemiquinentennialCommission, I am thrilled to see us take steps to prepare for the celebration of our 250th Independence Day and especially excited to ensure that celebration includes not just the founding fathers we so often think of, but more diverse contributions made to our nation's founding. The inclusion of women is vital, and so it is fitting that we make sure a woman is included on the coins we'll circulate to mark the occasion,said Congresswoman Watson Coleman.For so long, we've allowed a pervasive narrative that women, Black, indigenous and other people of color are new to leading. The truth is, we've been doing it since the dawn of time, but with little recognition. With measures like these we pay a small amount of what's due and inspire everyone to dream big. \r\n\r\nSince our institution's founding in 1792, the men and women of the United States Mint have taken great pride in rendering the story of our nation in enduring examples of numismatic art,said United States Mint Director David J. Ryder.We look forward to honoring the many contributions of women in American history, as well as celebrating the 250thAnniversary of our Great Nation and the shared pastimes that are important to all of us.\r\n\r\n\"As we commemorate the Suffrage Centennial in 2020 and the 250th anniversary of our country's founding in 2026, I can't think of a better way of righting our history than to include historical American women,said Rosie Rios, 43rd Treasurer of the United States.I would like to thank Congresswoman Barbara Lee and her office for taking a leadership role in partnering to craft this legislation and continue the journey of having women represented on our currency and coins, something that is used every day around the world. By seeing ourselves honored and valued in our history, our daughters and sons can be inspired to also see their own future.\" \r\n\r\nThis bill will include the following package of coins: \r\n\r\n \r\nFrom 2022-2025, up to 5 quarters annually depicting prominent American women;\r\nIn 2026, up to 5 quarters commemorating the USSemiquincentennial(250th) anniversary,including one quarter design featuring women;\r\nAll circulating coins (obverse and reverse) will be redesigned for 2026 for the celebration;\r\nFrom 2027-2030, a series of 5 quarters annually honoring American youth sports and a half-dollar design depicting a sport in the Paralympics;\r\nGives authority for permission for the Mint to design and strike Olympic medals. \r\n \r\n\r\nThis year marks the 100th anniversary of the 19th Amendment, guaranteeing women's constitutional right to vote. 68 million women can vote today because of the work of the women's suffrage movement and this bill honors these efforts.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://lindasanchez.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/s-nchez-highlights-accomplishments-38th-congressional-district-during", "S\u00e1nchez Highlights Accomplishments for 38th Congressional District During 116th Congress", "2020-12-31", "2020", "2020-12", "Democrat", "House", "CA", "Linda T. S\u00e1nchez", "S001156", "lindasanchez.house.gov", "lindasanchez", "https://lindasanchez.house.gov/media-center/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON\u2014 U.S. Representative Linda T. S\u00e1nchez (D-CA) today highlighted accomplishments for the 38th Congressional District during the second session of the 116th Congress. S\u00e1nchez has devoted her career to helping working people get ahead: advocating for families, improving America's education system, and bringing jobs to Southern California.\n\n\"I take seriously my responsibility to be the voice for California's 38th District in Washington,\" said Congresswoman Linda S\u00e1nchez. \"In 2020, my Democratic colleagues and I have been able to deliver significant wins for our constituents and the country, despite historic opposition from the other party and the Administration. The cornerstone of my work is and continues to be serving my constituents, especially in these difficult and unpredictable times.\"\n\nIn the 116th Congress, Congresswoman S\u00e1nchez served on the Ways and Means Committee where she lead on issues of importance to working families such as family caregiving and nursing homes, fair taxation, improving education at all levels, and worker-first priorities for labor. Additionally, S\u00e1nchez served as Chair of the Congressional Hispanic Caucus' Immigration Task Force and Co-Chair of the Labor Caucus, and as a member of the Congressional Progressive Caucus and Democratic Women's Caucus.\n\nOn Sunday, January 3rd, Congresswoman S\u00e1nchez will be sworn in as the Representative for California's 38th Congressional District in the 117th Congress. At that time, she will begin her tenth term serving the people of Los Angeles and Orange Counties in Southern California.\n\nHighlighted district and legislative accomplishments are below. For additional information, please visit here.\n\nFor a complete listing on House Democrats' work For The People in the 116th Congress, please visit here.\n\nHighlighted District Accomplishments\n\nCOVID-19 Response\n\nSince March 2019, Congresswoman S\u00e1nchez's office has received thousands of constituent requests for assistance related to the pandemic. The office has resolved more than 1,000 constituent issues this calendar year, and for issues outside of the federal scope, our team continues to share information regarding state and local resources.\n\nSupport for Small Businesses\n\nAdditionally, the District office has been laser-focused on providing information and assistance for small businesses. The office has assisted hundreds of small businesses, including more than 200 local businesses with Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) loans and the Economic Injury Disaster Loan (EIDL) program.\n\n2020 Census\n\nCongresswoman S\u00e1nchez prioritized Census response this year, as the district faced several challenges for an accurate count. As a result of this sustained effort, in partnership with many local organization, CA-38 had a response rate of 73.9% which is significantly higher than the state average of 69.6% and L.A. County average of 65%.\n\nWhittier Narrows Dam\n\nCongresswoman S\u00e1nchez, working together with Congresswomen Napolitano and Chu, secured $192.5 million for long-needed repairs to the Whittier Narrows Dam. The Whittier Narrows Dam Safety Project is part of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers' Dam Safety and Seepage Program and was included in the FY2021 Omnibus Appropriations bill. This will ensure construction of the project commences on schedule. This important milestone will make our communities more resilient in the face of increasingly dangerous and damaging storms.\n\nVirtual Constituent Engagement\n\nThis year, the offices pivoted to a virtual model of constituent support and held hundreds of virtual events to meet with local leaders, community members and constituents.\n\nHighlighted Legislative Accomplishments\n\nHealth\n\nThe Congresswoman continues to be a leader on the Ways and Means Committee, specifically on the topics of caregiving, nursing homes, and Alzheimer's disease. She is acutely focused on these issues and health disparities in the Latino community as it relates to much of her legislative work in this portfolio. She authored an op-ed regarding the importance of the ACA: \"Being a woman is a preexisting condition? Here's what is at stake for health care.\"\n\nHer top bills include:\n\nCOVID-19 Health Legislation\n\nThe Facilitating Virtual Visitation for Nursing Home Residents Act, The Stronger Medicaid Response to the COVID-19 Pandemic Act, (included in the HEROES Act and updated HEROES Act), and The Public Health Emergency COBRA Extension Act\n\nLegislation with Reps. C\u00e1rdenas and Castro that would allow those who are uninsured to receive COVID-19 tests at no-cost. This legislation was included in the larger Families First Coronavirus Response Act, which passed the House of Representatives.\n\nHealth Legislation\n\nThe Community-Based Independence for Seniors Act, The CHANGE Act, The Fairness in Nursing Home Arbitration Act,The Medicare Adult Day Services Act, The Compassionate Care Act.\n\nTaxation\n\nAs a senior member of the Committee on Ways and Means and the Select Revenue Measures Subcommittee, the Congresswoman continues to be a leader of federal taxation issues in Congress and several of her priorities have been included in the House of Representatives-passed COVID packages this year.\n\nCOVID-19 Tax Legislation\n\nHer previously committee-passed bipartisan Working Parents Relief Act that would allow families to set aside more pre-tax dollars to cover the skyrocketing costs of childcare was partially included in the HEROES Act.\n\nRelated to the Congresswoman's ongoing work to provide families with more flexibility to afford childcare, she led a letter to the Treasury Department advocating for an interpretation to allow workers to change the amount of money set aside for dependent care expenses. This provision was also included in the HEROES Act.\n\nThe Providing Essentials for Frontline Workers Act (included in the HEROES Act), The WORK NOW Act (modified version included in the updated HEROES Act),The Helping Independent Tracks Succeed (HITS) Act, and TheMechanical Insulation Incentive Act.\n\nTax Legislation\n\nBuilding Apprentice Skills in Career Training, Credit for Caring Act is a bi-partisan bill that would provide a non-refundable federal tax credit of up to $3,000 to family caregivers to help address the financial burdens of caregiving and help working family caregivers remain employed and not have to leave their jobs and risk their financial security.\n\nImmigration\n\nCongresswoman S\u00e1nchez continued her term as Chair of the Immigration Task Force for the Congressional Hispanic Caucus (CHC), where she led over a dozen meetings with advocacy groups and CHC members to build consensus to develop a new roadmap toward immigration reform. The Congresswoman developed key principles to guide a legislative strategy and will continue leading conversations with key Congressional members and the Biden Administration to move immigration reforms in the 117th Congress.\n\nThe Congresswoman also secured a deal to provide emergency relief funding and led legislation to provide access to COVID-19 testing and treatment for all, including undocumented people and mixed-status families.\n\nImmigration Issues\n\nCalled for DHS and Customs and Border Patrol (CBP) to provide the agency's plans to provide flu vaccines to migrants in CBP custody, ahead of flu season during COVID-19.\n\nThe Congresswoman led a letter to DHS Acting Secretary Wolf on the agency's stance and plan to provide flu vaccinations to migrants, including children and family units currently detained at U.S. CBP facilities, ahead of this year's flu season.\n\nLed an effort to oppose Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) modifications to the Student Exchange and Visitor Program (SEVP) that affected international student's ability to take online classes during the pandemic, causing undue harm to our international students, student bodies, and institutions of higher learning in and around the district.\n\nLabor\n\nThe Congresswoman hosted quarterly virtual meetings with local union representatives to hear directly from workers regarding the challenges they faced during the COVID-19 pandemic, bringing a direct voice for working families to Congress. She was a vocal supporter of legislative efforts to protect worker's economic security and ensure safety on the job, especially frontline workers.\n\nCongresswoman S\u00e1nchez once again served as Co-Chair the Labor and Working Families Caucus, including 74 members, and worked to expand the Caucus. The Congresswoman welcomed like-minded colleagues to leadership on key labor issues by helping form the new Congressional Labor Caucus. The Labor Caucus will build on the legacy of the Labor and Working Families Caucus by expanding support for legislative efforts that strengthen workers' rights and rebuild America's middle class.\n\nLabor Legislation\n\nCoronavirus Frontline Workers Fair Pay Act and a bipartisan resolution Expressing support for the designation of Journeyman Lineworkers Recognition Day\n\nOversight\n\nThe Congresswoman, along with Reps. Lieu, Cicilline, Eshoo, and Gallego introduced a comprehensive package of oversight bills \u2013 the Restoring Public Trust Act \u2013 which included her RIGGED Act to end nepotism at the White House.\n\nOversight Legislation\n\nThe Relatives in Government Getting Employment Dishonorably Act and The Financial Accountability in Reporting Act\n\nEducation\n\nThe Congresswoman remains focused on improving education at all levels. The Safe Schools Improvement Act has the highest number of cosponsors ever with 231. The Congresswoman led the Orange County delegation encouraging the O.C. Board of Education to abide by health guidelines, including mandating local school districts to mandate masks and physical distancing guidelines.\n\nEducation Legislation\n\nThe Safe Schools Improvement Act, The Put School Counselors Where They're Needed Act, and The National School Counselors Week Resolution\n\nSocial Security\n\nAs an active member of the Social Security Subcommittee on Ways and Means, the Congresswoman has prioritized protecting beneficiaries during the COVID-19 pandemic this year while she fights for longer term reform. She secured inclusion of a version of her legislation to provide a boost to widows and widowers in emergency Social Security legislation introduced by Chairman Larson. She also joined with her colleagues to push for a temporary fix to this year's woefully inadequate cost-of-living-adjustment (COLA), forgiveness for Social Security overpayments during the pandemic, and fewer administrative hurdles for beneficiaries to receive their Economic Impact Payments (EIP).\n\nCongresswoman S\u00e1nchez continues to fight for permanent improvements to Social Security through her legislation to strengthen benefits and the solvency of the Social Security program. She testified before the Committee on the importance of the program to Latinx families and communities of color.\n\nSocial Security Legislation\n\nProtecting Our Widows and Widowers in Retirement (POWER) Act, H.R. 2654 - Strengthening Social Security Act of 2019, and the Social Security COVID-19 Correction and Equity Act\n\nWorker and Family Support\n\nThis year, the Congresswoman expanded her leadership role on critical legislation to help working families endure and recover from the pandemic. She joined Committee leadership in spearheading the Childcare for Economic Recovery Act through the House, including testifying before the Rules Committee. She also helped broker a provision to provide emergency assistance for vulnerable populations in both Heroes Act versions between the Ways and Means Committee and CHC and secured a provision to provide family care for essential workers in the original Heroes Act. The Congresswoman also advocated for crucial programs to help working families, including sharing constituent stories on the importance of enhanced pandemic unemployment benefits. She also published an op-ed in Latino Magazine on the importance of programs like paid family leave and federal support for family caregivers in the Latinx community.\n\nWorker and Family Support Legislation\n\nH.R. 7327 - Childcare for Economic Recovery Act, H.R. 6460 \u2013 Family Care for Essential Workers Act,H.R.6862 - Social Services Pandemic Disaster Relief Act(co-led with Reps. Davis, Chu, and Gomez) (included in both versions of the Heroes Act ), H.R. 7846 - The Support Working Families Act of 2020 (bill co-led with Rep. Porter)\n\nTransportation and Infrastructure\n\nThe Congresswoman has continued to lead efforts to restore the Whittier Narrows Dam, including leading a push to secure funding of the restoration in the FY 2021 House and Senate Energy and Water Appropriations Acts. She continues to work with the City of Pico Rivera, the Army Corps of Engineers, and the Appropriations Committee to mitigate the project's impact on the community. She drafted and secured compromise language included in the FY 2021 House Energy and Water report directing the Corps to study ways to minimize the impact on the community. The Congresswoman has also testified before House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee urging the WRDA process to better serve disadvantaged communities and hosted the Committee to tour the Whittier Narrows Dam in Pico Rivera this year. The Congresswoman has also continued to push for a major infrastructure investment, as well as advocate for federal infrastructure grants that would benefit local agencies like L.A. Metro (rail and bus electrification projects) and WRD that serve the 38th District.\n\nSmall Business\n\nCongresswoman S\u00e1nchez has fought to secure lifesaving help for small businesses to weather the COVID-19 pandemic and joined aggressive oversight to ensure the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) and Economic Injury Disaster Loan (EIDL) program serve truly small and minority-owned businesses. She has joined with her colleagues on efforts to expand PPP eligibility for nonprofits and increase transparency and accountability of SBA programs to prevent large corporations from taking advantage of funds intended for small businesses. The Congresswoman has engaged with the Small Business Committee on policy problems raised by local labor and small business owners during the rollout of PPP.\n\nThe Congresswoman has also continued to be supportive of manufacturing businesses in the district, many of whom contract with NASA and the Air Force. She has joined her colleagues in pushing the Air Force to keep the National Security Space Launch program on schedule, which local small manufacturing businesses depend on for contracting work.\n\nSmall Business Legislation\n\nThe Supporting Entrepreneurs and Economic Development (SEED) Act\n\nEnergy and Environment\n\nThe Congresswoman pushed back against the Trump administration's political and environment attacks against the state of California. She has joined with her colleagues to combat PFAS (forever chemicals found in nonstick cookware and firefighting foam) contamination by urging appropriators to fund new grant programs for states and localities to decontaminate water supplies, as well as cosponsoring legislation passed by the House to regulate PFAS chemicals. The Congresswoman has continued to support appropriations for local and national environmental priorities including water conservation programs, energy efficiency and renewable energy research, and the L.A. River Restoration project.\n\nAgriculture and Animals\n\nThe Congresswoman continued her leadership on nutrition issues in the start of the pandemic by urging the Secretary of Agriculture to use authority under the Families First Coronavirus Response Act to allow WIC food package substitutes as a result of panic buying. The effort was endorsed by the National WIC Association and her letter garnered more than 60 Congressional member signatures. She also signed onto numerous letters to the Administration to ensure families receive pandemic nutrition assistance and cosponsored legislation to expand nutrition assistance through SNAP and other programs during the crisis. The Congresswoman once again received a 100 percent scorecard rating from the Humane Society for her record and cosponsorship of animal protection bills.\n\nNutrition Legislation\n\nH.R. 6811 \u2013 WIC Act of 2020\n\nDefenseand Foreign Affairs\n\nThe Congresswoman vocally defended the Armenian Community as the latest conflict between Azerbaijan, Armenia, and Artsakh erupted this year. She joined her colleagues in the Congressional Caucus on Armenia to push for the U.S. to engage in fostering a peace process that would respect the rights of Armenians and residents of Artsakh. The Congresswoman engaged directly with the State Department to urge the Administration to increase its involvement and restore demining programs in Artsakh.\n\nShe also joined with her colleagues to commemorate the Armenian Genocide. The Congresswoman also continued to expand her participation in NATO PA by serving out her term as Vice-Chair of the Economics and Security Committee. She was elected Special Rapporteur of the Civil Dimension of Security Committee and has further developed relationships with NATO counterparts and colleagues in the U.S. delegation. The Congresswoman maintained her strong support for Israel through responsiveness to all corners of the Jewish community in the 38th District, including supporting security assistance for Israel, strides in the regional peace process, and humanitarian assistance in the Gaza Strip.\n\nCivil Rights\n\nCongresswoman S\u00e1nchez led the fight for transparency in the Census Bureau's plan to respond to the COVID-19 pandemic. She engaged with the Congressional Hispanic Caucus to provide oversight of all operations, including updated messaging strategies and new engagement plans. The Congresswoman supported the George Floyd Justice in Policing Act, bipartisan legislation led by the Congressional Black Caucus: unprecedented reforms to fundamentally transform the culture of policing by curbing police brutality, ending racial profiling, increasing transparency and accountability, as it saves lives.\n\nCivil Rights Letters\n\nU.S. Census Bureau and Department of Commerce seeking information about the Bureau's contingency plans to conduct the 2020 Census during the COVID-19 pandemic, with a focus on outreach on how historically marginalized communities, people experiencing homelessness, and those with low broadband access would be reached.\n\nCivil Rights Legislation\n\nGeorge Floyd Justice in Policing Act, Law Enforcement Trust and Integrity Act, Truth, Racial Healing, and Transformation resolution, Juneteenth National Independence Day Act, s 2020 Observance of Juneteenth Independence Day, Commission to Study and Develop Reparation Proposals for African-Americans Act, and the Domestic Terrorism Prevention Act\n\nVeterans\n\nThe Congresswoman has continued to support numerous legislative efforts related to veterans. She will continue to explore new legislative opportunities after a meeting she had with local leaders on the topics of homelessness, mental health, and health care. The Congresswoman's Fair Credit Reporting for Servicemembers passed the U.S. House of Representatives on January 29, 2020 as part of the Comprehensive CREDIT Act.\n\nVeterans Legislation", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-06-28T00:42:23Z"], ["https://luria.house.gov/media/press-releases/congresswoman-elaine-luria-announces-passage-critical-health-care-priorities", "Congresswoman Elaine Luria Announces Passage of Critical Health Care Priorities in COVID-19 Relief Package", "2020-12-31", "2020", "2020-12", "Democrat", "House", "VA", "Elaine Luria", "L000591", "luria.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "WASHINGTON, DCToday, Congresswoman Elaine Luria announced the inclusion of several vital health care provisions in theConsolidated Appropriations Act, 2021 and Emergency Coronavirus Relief package, which the President recently signed into law. These provisions would bolster COVID-19 vaccine and testing deployment, reverse planned budget cuts to Medicare, and provide additional funding for personal protective equipment (PPE).As our nation faces record-breaking numbers of COVID-19 cases and hospitalizations, we must continue providing robust funding for critical health care imperatives,said Congresswoman Elaine Luria.While neither perfect nor all-inclusive, this much-overdue COVID-19 relief package allocates resources needed to improve our nation's response to this pandemic. I am pleased the President signed this package into law, and I urge my colleagues in the House and Senate to continue finding common ground as we continue addressing this public health emergency.Included in the COVID-19 relief package are:\n\t\t\t\t$69 billion for COVID-19 testing, vaccine deployment, contact tracing, and other critical health care needs;\n\t\t\t\t\t$3.25 billion for a national stockpile of PPE;\n\t\t\t\t\tA reversal of the 2021 Medicare Sequester; and,\n\t\t\t\t\tAn end to surprise medical bills by ensuring patients are only responsible for in-network cost-sharing amounts in emergency and non-emergency situations, in which they cannot choose an in-network provider.\n\t\t\t\tAs a member of the Problem Solvers Caucus, Congresswoman Luria helped develop aframework for a COVID-19 relief package, whichthe Caucus introduced with a bipartisan group of Senators earlier this month. The relief package that just became law shares striking similarities with this framework, which prioritizes support for families, students, small businesses, and health care providers.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://schneider.house.gov/media/press-releases/schneider-bill-elevate-antisemitism-envoy-ambassador-passes-house-headed", "Schneider Bill to Elevate Antisemitism Envoy to Ambassador Passes House, Headed to President\u2019s Desk", "2020-12-31", "2020", "2020-12", "Democrat", "House", "IL", "Bradley Scott Schneider", "S001190", "schneider.house.gov", "schneider", "https://schneider.house.gov/media/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON \u2014 Today, the House of Representatives unanimously passed legislation authored by Rep. Brad Schneider (IL-10), Chris Smith (NJ-4), and Eliot Engel (NY-16) that would elevate the State Department's antisemitism Special Envoy position to an Ambassadorship, giving more clout to address the alarming rise in antisemitism worldwide. The House voted overwhelmingly to pass H.R. 221 in January 2019 and the Senate amended and approved the legislation earlier this month. The bill now heads to President Trump's desk to be signed into law.\n\n\"Today, the House took historic action to combat hate by unanimously passing the Special Envoy to Monitor and Combat Antisemitism Act and sending it to the President,\" said Congressman Brad Schneider (IL-10). \"The United States has a critical leadership role to play in stamping out hate, both at home and around the world, and with acts of antisemitism increasing across the globe, it's important that the United States Special Envoy have the authority and standing to lead the fight. As an Ambassador, this role will be better equipped to root out hate wherever and whenever it manifests.\n\n\"I want to thank Congressman Chris Smith and House Foreign Affairs Chair Eliot Engel for working hard to keep this fight bipartisan and I look forward to continuing our work together to ensure the safety of Jewish communities across the globe.\"\n\nThe House originally voted overwhelmingly to pass H.R. 221 in January 2019. The bill is endorsed by numerous organizations, including the Anti-Defamation League, B'nai B'rith International, the Simon Wiesenthal Center, the American Jewish Committee, Hadassah, the Jewish Council for Public Affairs, and the Jewish Federations of North America.", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-06-28T00:42:23Z"], ["https://schrier.house.gov/media/press-releases/rep-schrier-introduces-bill-reduce-methane-emissions-cow-burps", "Rep. Schrier Introduces Bill to Reduce Methane Emissions in Cow Burps", "2020-12-31", "2020", "2020-12", "Democrat", "House", "WA", "Kim Schrier", "S001216", "schrier.house.gov", "schrier", "https://schrier.house.gov/media/press-releases", "scraper", "ISSAQUAH, WA \u2013 Congresswoman Kim Schrier, M.D. (WA-08) has introduced the Research to Reduce Agricultural Methane Act. This bill will provide funds to study innovative methods to reduce methane emissions in livestock, including through feed additives such as seaweed.\n\n\"We are facing an unprecedented climate crisis and it falls on all of us to find creative solutions to this pressing problem,\" said Rep. Schrier. \"Our farmers are the leading stewards of our land and on the front lines fighting climate change. While they are already innovating with solutions like no-till farming and increased cover crop adoption, we must provide more federal research support and ensure any game-changing products are accessible to our farmers and ranchers. As the only member on the Agriculture Committee from the Pacific Northwest, I will continue to work on common sense solutions that support our farmers while helping to address climate change.\"\n\nAccording to EPA's 2018 Inventory of U.S. Greenhouse Gas Emissions and Sinks, enteric fermentation, the digestive process by which cows and other ruminants produce methane, was the largest human-caused source of methane in the United States, representing 28% of domestic methane emissions. Ruminants, such as cattle, buffaloes, sheep and goats, have the highest methane emissions per unit of body mass among all animal types.\n\nThe amount of methane from livestock production alone is about the equivalent of the emissions from about 650 million cars.\n\nThe Reduce Agricultural Methane Act will enable further research in promising methods to reduce agricultural methane emissions including:", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-06-28T00:42:23Z"], ["https://sherman.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/congress-passes-sherman-bill-to-support-non-profit-provided-affordable", "Congress Passes Sherman Bill to Support Non-Profit Provided Affordable Housing", "2020-12-31", "2020", "2020-12", "Democrat", "House", "CA", "Brad Sherman", "S000344", "sherman.house.gov", "sherman", "https://sherman.house.gov/media-center/press-releases", "scraper", "Congress passed the Building Up Independent Lives and Dreams Act or \"BUILD\" Act, legislation led by Congressman Brad Sherman (D-Sherman Oaks), Congressman Barry Loudermilk (R-GA), Senator Deb Fischer (R-NE) and Senator Chris Van Hollen (D-MD). The passage of this legislation represents a significant step towards helping nonprofits like Habitat for Humanity help struggling families access housing through zero percent interest mortgages.\n\n\"We've heard of different local Habitat for Humanity chapters who make more than 5 loans a year having difficulty complying with the mandatory TILA-RESPA Integrated Disclosure form, citing increased costs and complexity. The BUILD Act is a straightforward way to address these challenges with a narrow regulatory tweak that will ensure non-profits can focus on working in their communities to build homes, rather than sitting in an office,\" said Congressman Sherman.\n\nFollowing the 2008 mortgage crisis, Congress established the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) to create rules of the road to protect consumers against the predatory mortgage lending practices which contributed to the crisis. To protect borrowers from being unknowingly pushed into mortgages they cannot afford, the CFPB established the TILA-RESPA integrated disclosure (TRID), also known as the \"know before you owe\" disclosure. TRID requires that, prior to a mortgage signing, lenders must provide borrowers with a simplified disclosure detailing all of mortgage costs the borrower will owe. The TRID forms include a loan estimate and closing disclosure, designed to allow consumers to easily identify high-cost mortgages such as those with ballooning interest rates.\n\nHowever, these disclosures are often not relevant to mortgages made by charitable organizations, like Habitat for Humanity, which provide low- or no-fee zero percent interest mortgages. Habitat provides homeownership opportunities to low-income families by building homes that are financed with a zero percent interest loans, or other affordable mortgage loan products. Small and mid-sized Habitat for Humanity chapters have experienced challenges in complying with TRID requirements because of the cost of the necessary software to complete these forms and training required to use the software.\n\nThe BUILD Act will address this issue by providing a narrow exemption from TRID requirements for legitimate nonprofits making low-cost zero interest mortgages. Rather than provide the loan estimate and closing disclosure forms, these nonprofits will have the option to instead use the three forms that were previously acceptable, the Truth in Lending form, the Good Faith Estimate, and the HUD-1 form. The same exemption is currently available for all organizations making five or fewer mortgage loans per year, and the BUILD Act would simply expand this exemption to include these nonprofits.", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-06-28T00:42:23Z"], ["https://soto.house.gov/media/press-releases/soto-releases-report-highlighting-wins-central-florida-116th-congress", "Soto Releases Report Highlighting Wins for Central Florida in the 116th Congress", "2020-12-31", "2020", "2020-12", "Democrat", "House", "FL", "Darren Soto", "S001200", "soto.house.gov", "soto", "https://soto.house.gov/media/press-releases", "scraper", "KISSIMMEE, FL \u2013 Today, Congressman Darren Soto (FL-09) released a report highlighting his community and legislative accomplishments during the 116th Congress.\n\n\"It's been a busy two years fighting for the issues that matter most to Central Florida's families,\" said Congressman Soto. \"For many in Florida and across the country, 2020 has been an incredibly challenging year. We mourned the loss of over 21,000 Floridians who were taken by the deadly coronavirus. We prayed for the health and safety of our loved ones, neighbors and healthcare workers. We saw business after business forced to close for public safety concerns and suffer the devastating economic impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic. Through it all, we did our best to step up during this crisis and serve our constituents. Going forward, I will work with the Biden Administration to ensure everyone in Central Florida has access to the COVID-19 vaccine and that our community builds back better than before. We are honored to have served the constituents of Florida's 9th Congressional District during the 116th Congress, and we look forward to continuing our commitment to deliver results for Central Florida.\"\n\nOver the course of 116th Congress, Congressman Soto held 100 town halls and roundtables, attended hundreds of community events, sent thousands of correspondence to constituents, helped over a thousand constituents with casework, secured billions of dollars for Central Florida, and passed numerous bills, policy amendments and appropriations requests into law.\n\nIn the 117th Congress, Rep. Soto will continue to serve on the powerful Energy and Commerce Committee to fight for a strong pandemic response, higher-paying jobs and to protect our environment. He will also continue to serve on Natural Resources Committee to pursue his environmental efforts, work with Florida's tribes and bring Puerto Rico back to prosperity. In addition, he will serve as Chair of the Future Forum Caucus to assist the House Democratic Caucus to engage young people, and promote issues affecting Hispanics as Whip for the Congressional Hispanic Caucus.\n\nThe one-pager can be read here and below. The full report can be read here and below.\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-06-28T00:42:23Z"], ["https://watsoncoleman.house.gov/newsroom/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=1747", "Watson Coleman Statement on Passing of Monroe Township Mayor Gerald Tamburro", "2020-12-31", "2020", "2020-12", "Democrat", "House", "NJ", "Bonnie Watson Coleman", "W000822", "watsoncoleman.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Watson Coleman Statement on Passing of Monroe Township Mayor Gerald Tamburro \r\n   \r\n    \r\n       \r\n      \r\n  \r\n    \r\n      f \r\n      t \r\n      #\r\n      e\r\n      \r\n      \r\n    \r\n    \r\n      \r\n        Ewing, NJ,\r\n        December 31, 2020\r\n      \r\n       \r\n    \r\n  \r\n  \r\n  \r\n  \r\n  \r\n  \r\n  \r\n    \r\n      \r\n      \r\n      Congresswoman Bonnie Watson Coleman (D-NJ) released the following statement today after news that Monroe Township Mayor Gerald Tamburro, a veteran and longtime public servant, had passed away:\r\nIt's with great sadness that I learned of the passing of Mayor Gerald Tamburro. Mayor Tamburro's two decades of service to Monroe, first as a city council member then as mayor, are a testament to his commitment to his community. I had the pleasure of working with Jerry since I became a member of Congress six years ago. I will remember him fondly as someone who loved Monroe Township and fiercely fought for his constituents. My condolences to Jerry's family, children, and grandchildren. They will be in my prayers tonight.\r\n\r\n    \r\n  \r\n  \r\n  \r\n    \r\n      f \r\n      t \r\n      #\r\n      e", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://watsoncoleman.house.gov/newsroom/press-releases/watson-coleman-statement-on-passing-of-monroe-township-mayor-gerald-tamburro", "Watson Coleman Statement on Passing of Monroe Township Mayor Gerald Tamburro", "2020-12-31", "2020", "2020-12", "Democrat", "House", "NJ", "Bonnie Watson Coleman", "W000822", "watsoncoleman.house.gov", "watsoncoleman", "https://watsoncoleman.house.gov/newsroom/press-releases", "scraper", "Congresswoman Bonnie Watson Coleman (D-NJ) released the following statement today after news that Monroe Township Mayor Gerald Tamburro, a veteran and longtime public servant, had passed away:", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-06-28T00:42:23Z"], ["https://wexton.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=441", "Rep. Wexton\u2019s EFFORT Act to Expand Opioid Addiction Research Headed to President\u2019s Desk", "2020-12-31", "2020", "2020-12", "Democrat", "House", "VA", "Jennifer Wexton", "W000825", "wexton.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Washington, DC --Today, the Expanding Findings for Federal Opioid Research and Treatment (EFFORT) Act was passed by the House of Representatives, after being amended and passed by the Senate last week. The EFFORT Act is bipartisan legislation authored by Congresswoman Jennifer Wexton (D-VA) and co-sponsored by Congressman Jim Baird (R-IN). The Senate companion bill was carried by Senators Chris Coons (D-DE) and Cory Gardner (R-CO), and now goes to the President for his signature.\r\nWhile much of our attention is focused on the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, the opioid addiction crisis continues to ravage our communities,said Congresswoman Jennifer Wexton.In fact, the crisis has gotten worse. Virginia is seeing a record number of fatal overdoses this year as isolation and anxiety brought on by COVID add new challenges for those who are in recovery. We need to vigorously study and treat addiction like the disease that it is. Once this bill is signed into law, scientists and researchers can provide us with greater resources to end this crisis.\r\nAs our nation confronts the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, we also continue to grapple with an opioid epidemic that is increasingly devastating families in Delaware and across the country,said Senator Chris Coons. The recent record-breaking success with a vaccine for COVID-19 shows that when the federal government invests in research and partners with leading minds in all sectors we can do amazing things. This bill would put our collective resources and know-how to work deepening our understanding of opioid addiction and finding tools and treatments to end this crisis. I'm proud that it will be signed into law.\r\nWe have lost hundreds of lives here in the Northern Shenandoah Valley to the opioid epidemic. The effects of this public health crisis have been seen in the number of children in foster care, babies born substance exposed, and grandparents now raising their grandchildren. The Northern Shenandoah Valley Substance Abuse Coalition supports the EFFORT Act and is proud to see it pass through the House and Senate because research will help to decrease preventable deaths caused by opioid overdoses and will drive better treatment approaches,said Lauren Cummings, executive director of the Northern Shenandoah Valley Substance Abuse Coalition.\r\nThe EFFORT Act expands research into the prevention and treatment of opioid addiction, seeking to promote collaboration and interdisciplinary efforts and close existing gaps in research. The bill directs the National Science Foundation (NSF), in consultation with the National Institutes of Health (NIH), to support research that will allow for further understanding of the science of opioid addiction.\r\n2020 is on track to be theworst year by farfor fatal drug overdose deaths in Virginia. Overdoses have spiked during the pandemic, and the Commonwealth is on track to surpass 2,000 overdose deaths this year after setting a record last year with 1,626 lives lost.\r\nCongresswoman Wexton is a founding member of the bipartisanFreshmen Working Group on Addictionwith Representative David Trone (D-MD) and has been a strong advocate for addiction prevention and recovery efforts since her time in the Virginia state Senate where she served on the Rehabilitation and Social Services Committee.\r\nThe full text of the EFFORT Act can be foundhere.\r\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://www.casey.senate.gov/news/releases/in-2020-casey-produces-results-for-pa-constituents", "In 2020, Casey Produces Results for PA Constituents", "2020-12-31", "2020", "2020-12", "Democrat", "House", "PA", "Bob Casey", "C001070", "www.casey.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", null, 0, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://www.durbin.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/durbin-calls-on-mcconnell-to-help-struggling-families-by-passing-2000-direct-payment-measure", "Durbin Calls on McConnell to Help Struggling Families By Passing $2,000 Direct Payment Measure", "2020-12-31", "2020", "2020-12", "Democrat", "House", "IL", "Richard Durbin", "D000563", "www.durbin.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "12.31.20\n\t\t\t Durbin Calls on McConnell to Help Struggling Families By Passing $2,000 Direct Payment Measure \n\t\t\t\n\t\t\tWASHINGTON  In a speech on the Senate floor, U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) today called on Senate Republicans to support the House-passed CASH Act, a measure that would increase direct payments from $600 to $2,000 for individuals earning less than $75,000 per year. The measure passed the House by a vote of 275-134, with 44 House Republicans supporting the bill.\r\nAll we're saying to Senator McConnell is give us a chance to vote. You can vote no if you wish. Give us a chance to vote for the $2,000 that can make a difference in a person's life. $4,000 for a husband and wife who are struggling to get by. Rent checks, mortgage payments, car payments, utility bills, things that really are basic to family survival. We're trying to help, and I think we should be given that chance, Durbin said.If we are in touch with the reality in our home states, in our hometowns, we should do something, something significant to end this New Year on the right note. I plead with the Republican leader who has the power, the one, the sole member of Congress of 100 members, he has the power to bring this matter to a vote and to do it immediately, within the hour.\r\nVideo of Durbin's remarks on the Senate floor is availablehere.\r\nAudio of Durbin's remarks on the Senate floor is availablehere.\r\nFootage of Durbin's remarks on the Senate floor is availableherefor TV Stations.\r\n-30-\r\n\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\n\t   \n\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t \n\t\t\n\t\t\tPrint\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\tEmail\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\tTweet\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\n\t \n\t\n\t\n\n \n\t\n    \n   \n    \n    \t\n    \t\n\t    \t  \n\t\t    \n\t\t    \tPrevious Article\n\t\t    \n\t\t    \n\t\t    \tNext Article", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://www.gillibrand.senate.gov//news/press/release/icymi-gillibrand-in-buffalo-news-stock-act-20-will-require-new-transparency-in-congress", "ICYMI: Gillibrand In Buffalo News: Stock Act 2.0 Will Require New Transparency In Congress", "2020-12-31", "2020", "2020-12", "Democrat", "House", "NY", "Kirsten Gillibrand", "G000555", "www.gillibrand.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "December 31, 2020\n\t\t\t ICYMI: Gillibrand In Buffalo News: Stock Act 2.0 Will Require New Transparency In Congress \n\t\t\t\n\t\t\tIn case you missed it, U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand penned an op-ed in theBuffalo Newstoday, calling for passage of her new legislation, theSTOCK Act 2.0.\r\nThe legislation will require that whenever a member of Congress, a high-ranking staff member in a position to make policy, the president, the vice president, or other executive branch officials apply for or receive a benefit of value from the government, they must report it in the same way they would report the sale of a stock. The legislation was prompted in part by the fact that several wealthy members of Congress have received millions in PPP loans, while small businesses have continued to struggle.\r\nTheSTOCK Act 2.0is the latest push for transparency for Senator Gillibrand, who had made government accountability a top priority throughout her career. Gillibrand led Senate passage of the STOCK Act in 2012, and was the first member of Congress to post her official meetings, personal financial disclosures, earmark requests, and taxes online.\r\nGillibrandalso supports banning members from buying or selling individual stocks, particularly in light of several recent scandals.\r\nClickhereor see below for the op-ed\r\n\r\nAnother Voice: STOCK Act 2.0 will require new transparency in Congress | Buffalo News\r\nSenator Kirsten Gillibrand\r\nDecember 31, 2020\r\nOver the past year, Congress has allocated trillions of dollars of relief money to respond to the pandemic and economic crisis. While more remains to be done, the American people must be able to trust their government to make responsible, unbiased decisions about their tax dollars.\r\nUnfortunately, as is too often the case, their faith in government has not been rewarded. The fact is that millions of relief dollars have gone right back into the hands of members of Congress who wrote and voted for the relief packages.\r\nWhen the Paycheck Protection Program was rolled out, many small businesses were denied relief. Meanwhile, auto dealerships, franchises and family businesses with ties to some of the wealthiest members of Congress received millions of dollars in PPP loans. Nearly all of them were able to get relief before the first round of funding ran out.\r\nThis isn't a new phenomenon. For decades, the same members of Congress who write and pass bills, and oversee their implementation, have collected millions in federal farming subsidies without requirements for these payments to be reported to taxpayers.\r\nThe worst part is, the only way Congress or the public can learn about these insider dealings is from news reports. It's unacceptable. We need transparency. We need the STOCK Act 2.0.\r\nI passed the original STOCK Act in the Senate in 2012, following investigative reports revealing that members of Congress were making investments using nonpublic information. In one instance, lawmakers who received closed-door briefings on the 2008 financial crisis from the Treasury secretary and chair of the Federal Reserve traded using that information. In another egregious example, during the debate over the Affordable Care Act, then-House Minority Leader John Boehner bought health insurance stock, while leading the opposition to the public option.\r\nThe STOCK Act makes it illegal for members of Congress and government officials to buy or sell stocks based on information learned in committee hearings or other non-public briefings and requires high-ranking officials to quickly disclose financial transactions. In short, it says that no one in government should be able to profit from inside information.\r\nMy bill, the STOCK Act 2.0, will do the same for federal loans, grants, contracts, subsidies and other types of items of value. The STOCK Act 2.0 will require that whenever a member of Congress, a high-ranking staff member in a position to make policy, the president, the vice president, or other executive branch officials apply for or receive a benefit of value from the government, they must report it in the same way they would report the sale of a stock. Those reports would be added to a public website where the information is easily accessible, searchable and downloadable.\r\nI believe public officials should be accountable to you for their actions. But not everyone shares my view. I can only assume that's why several of the members of Congress who cashed in on PPP loans voted against legislation that would have required public disclosure of the program's recipients.\r\nThese transactions shouldn't happen in the dark. Sunlight is an extremely effective antiseptic and the STOCK Act 2.0 will provide it.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://www.majorityleader.gov/content/house-democrats%E2%80%99-deliver-people-116th-congress", "House Democrats\u2019 Deliver For the People in the 116th Congress", "2020-12-31", "2020", "2020-12", "Democrat", "House", "MD", "Steny Hoyer", "H000874", "www.majorityleader.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Throughout the 116th Congress, House Democrats have delivered on our promises and passed legislation For The People. From a comprehensive government reform package and voting rights legislation to bills to raise wages, address climate change, and more, House Democrats passed legislation supported by the overwhelming majority of Americans. When the COVID-19 pandemic began in early 2020, House Democrats took action to ensure that the House could continue do its work for the people while keeping Americans safe by implementing remote voting and virtual committee proceedings. \n  \nADDRESSING THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC  \n\nSince the onset of this pandemic, House Democrats have acted swiftly to address its catastrophic impacts on both the economy and on public health. The House has passed major legislation including: \n \n\tH.R.6074, Coronavirus Preparedness and Response Supplemental Appropriations Act, 2020 [03/04/2020]\n\tH.R.6201, Families First Coronavirus Response Act [03/11/2020]\n\tH.R. 784, Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act [03/28/20]\n\tH.R. 266, Paycheck Protection Program and Health Care Enhancement Act [04/23/20]\n\tH.R. 6800, Heroes Act [05/15/20]\n\tH.R.7301, Emergency Housing Protections and Relief Act [06/29/20]\n\tH.R. 7027, Child Care Is Essential Act [06/29/20]\n\tH.R. 7327, Child Care For Economic Recovery Act [06/29/20]\n\tH.R. 925, Updated Heroes Act [10/1/20]\n\tH.R.133, House Amendment to the Senate Amendment to H.R. 133, the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2021 [12/27/2020]\n \nEXPANDING ACCESS TO HEALTH CARE  \n\nFrom defending the Affordable Care Act in court to passing legislation to strengthen and expand access to health care, House Democrats have worked to ensure every American has quality, affordable health care. Bills that the House has passed on this issue include: \n \n\tH.R.986, Protecting Americans with Preexisting Conditions Act of 2019 [05/09/2019]\n\tH.R.987, Strengthening Health Care and Lowering Prescription Drug Costs Act (A Package of 7 Bills) [05/16/2019]\n\tH.R.3, Elijah E. Cummings Lower Drug Costs Now Act [12/12/2019]\n\tH.R.1425, Patient Protection and Affordable Care Enhancement Act [06/29/2020]\n\tH.R.2468, School-Based Allergies and Asthma Management Program Act [09/29/2020]\n \nEXPANDING ECONOMIC OPPORTUNITY  \n\nHouse Democrats have worked hard to ensure the economy can work for all Americans, not just a select few. Below are bills that the House has passed to expand economic opportunity for the people by spurring job growth and eliminating economic disparities:\n \n\tH.R.7, Paycheck Fairness Act [03/27/2019]\n\tH.R.582, Raise the Wage Act [07/18/2019]\n\tH.R.5430, United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement Implementation Act [01/29/2020]\n\tH.R.2474, Protecting the Right to Organize Act of 2019 [02/06/20]\n\tH.R. 2, Moving Forward Infrastructure Act [07/01/20]\n\tH.R.4447, Clean Economy Jobs and Innovation Act [09/24/20]\n\tH.R. 4863, United States Export Finance Agency Act of 2019 [11/15/20]\n\tH.R.8294, National Apprenticeship Act of 2020 [11/20/2020]\n \nFIGHTING TO STRENGTHEN CIVIL RIGHTS   \n\nThis year our country faced a summer of racial reckoning sparked by injustice and Americans called overwhelmingly for systemic change. House Democrats will continue to take a stand and fight to uphold the civil rights of every American. This Congress, bills to address civil rights included: \n \n\tH.R.1636, Commission on the Social Status of Black Men and Boys Act [04/12/2019]\n\tH.R.5, Equality Act [05/17/2019]\n\tH.R.4, Voting Rights Advancement Act of 2019 [12/06/2019]\n\tH.J.Res.79, Removing the Deadline for the Ratification of the Equal Rights Amendment [02/13/2020]\n\tH.R.35, Emmett Till Antilynching Act [02/26/2020]\n\tH.R.5581, Access to Counsel Act of 2020 [03/05/2020]\n\tH.R.7120, George Floyd Justice in Policing Act of 2020 [06/25/2020]\n\tH.R. 51, Washington, D.C. Admission Act [06/26/2020]\n\tH.R. 7573, Legislation to remove the bust of Chief Justice Roger B. Taney and remove Confederate statues and other reminders of slavery and segregation from the U.S. Capitol [07/22/2020]\n\tH.R.2694, Pregnant Workers Fairness Act [09/17/2020]\n\tH.R.3884, Marijuana Opportunity Reinvestment and Expungement (MORE) Act [12/04/2020]\n \nACTING FOR A CLEANER ENVIRONMENT  \n\nProtecting the air we breathe and water we drink is a top priority for House Democrats. A clean environment is essential to public health. The House also passed numerous bills conserving special places and making it easier for current and future generations to enjoy. Legislation that the House passed this year to protect the environment include: \n \n\tH.R.9, Climate Action Now Act [05/02/2019]\n\tH.R.1941, CoastalandMarineEconomiesProtectionAct [09/11/19]\n\tH.R.205, Protecting and Securing Florida's Coastline Act [09/11/19]\n\tH.R. 1146, Arctic Cultural and Coastal Plain Protection Act [09/12/19]\n\tH.R.535, PFAS Action Act of 2019 [01/10/2020]\n\tH.R.1957, Great American Outdoors Act [07/24/2020]\n\tS. 3051, America's Conservation Enhancement (ACE) Act [10/01/20]\n\tHR 7575, the Water Resources Development Act of 2020, Act [12/09/20]\n \nADDITIONAL MAJOR LEGISLATION\n  \nAdditional legislation that the House has passed this Congress include: \n \n\tH.R.8, Bipartisan Background Checks Act of 2019 [02/27/2019]\n\tH.R.1, For the People Act of 2019 [03/08/2019]\n\tH.R.1585, Violence Against Women Reauthorization Act of 2019 [04/04/2019]\n\tH.R.1644, Save the Internet Act of 2019 [04/10/2019]\n\tH.R.6, American Dream and Promise Act of 2019 [06/04/2019]\n\tH.R.2722, Securing America's Federal Elections (SAFE) Act [06/27/2019]\n\tH.R.4617, Stopping Harmful Interference in Elections for a Lasting Democracy Act, [10/23/2019]\n\tH.R.777, Debbie Smith Reauthorization Act of 2019, [12/20/2019]\n\tH.R.3621, Comprehensive CREDIT Act of 2020 [01/29/2020]\n\tH.R.1980, Smithsonian Women's History Museum Act [02/11/2020]\n\tFY2020 appropriations bills: 10 out of 12 appropriations bills to fund the government [06/26/20]\n\tH.R. 2486, NO BAN Act [07/22/20]\n\tFY2021 appropriations bills: 10 out of 12 appropriations bills to fund the government [07/26/20]\n\tH.R.2420, National Museum of the American Latino Act [07/27/2020]\n\tH.R.8015, Delivering for America Act [08/22/2020]\n\tS.578, ALS Disability Insurance Access Act of 2019 [12/08/2020]\n\tH.R. 6395, National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2021 [12/28/2020]\n \nClickhereto read the PDF.Follow Leader Hoyer onFacebook,Twitter, andInstagram.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://www.majorityleader.gov/content/memo-media-democratic-house-majority-116th-congress-record-results-people", "MEMO TO MEDIA: Democratic House Majority in the 116th Congress: A Record of Results For the People", "2020-12-31", "2020", "2020-12", "Democrat", "House", "MD", "Steny Hoyer", "H000874", "www.majorityleader.gov", null, null, "legacy", "To:Editors, Editorial Writers, Reporters\nFrom: House Majority Leader Steny H. Hoyer\nRe: House Democrats' Record of Results in the Majority in the 116th Congress\nDate: December 31, 2020Overview In 2018, House Democrats ran on a platform of governing responsibly For the People and addressing the most pressing challenges facing our country. We won the House Majority for the 116th Congress on pledges to clean up government, defend access to affordable health care, lower prescription drug costs, and support policies that create jobs and bring greater economic security to American workers and their families. Over the past two years, House Democrats have resoundingly delivered on each of these promises. Governing Responsibly For the People From opening day of the 116th Congress, the Democratic House Majority has worked to govern responsibly for the people we serve, renew their faith in government, and put power back in the hands of the American people. This began with passage of H.R. 1, the For The People Act, comprehensive government reform legislation that makes it easier for Americans to vote, puts in place national redistricting reform, makes our campaign finance system more accountable and transparent, and institutes stronger ethics rules for public officials. Democrats also began governing with an ironclad commitment to ensuring that the House would no longer be responsible for the kind of damaging government shutdown that the previous Republican Majority and President Trump left us when the 116th Congress began. Among the first actions of our new Majority was to pass legislation ending the Trump-Republican shutdown and restoring critical services to the American people. Later, we secured a two-year agreement on funding levels that helped avoid another shutdown and provide greater certainty to federal agencies in preparing their budget requests. In the two years since, the Democratic-led House passed legislation to fund nearly all of government before the end of July, well in advance of the end of the fiscal year, doing its part to keep government open, with bills that invested in our nation's immediate needs as well as its long-term growth and security. This year, while the Senate failed to consider even a single appropriations bill in committee and slowed down the process considerably, the House passed an omnibus funding measure on December 21 to ensure that the next Congress will not convene under the cloud of a shutdown but ready to get to work on appropriations for Fiscal Year 2022. Recognizing that the people's representatives must be able to do their job For the People, even in a pandemic, the House adopted H.Res. 965 in May to ensure that committees could work remotely and that Members could vote by proxy on the Floor using a secure and verifiable system. Under the provisions of that resolution, the House continued its pace of work and passed major legislation through the summer, autumn, and winter while protecting the safety of Capitol Hill workers, staff, Members, and constituents in districts across the country. Defending Access to Health Care & Lowering Prescription Drug Costs Keeping our promises to the American people, the Democratic House Majority in the 116th Congress has passed several major pieces of legislation to protect Americans' access to high-quality, affordable health care and to lower prescription drug prices. In 2019, after amending the House rules to allow for a robust defense of the Affordable Care Act in court, we passed H.R. 986 to safeguard coverage for those with pre-existing conditions. This year, we passed H.R. 1425, the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Enhancement Act, to strengthen the health care reforms Democrats enacted ten years ago by encouraging states to expand Medicaid coverage and undoing much of the sabotage of our health insurance markets in which the Trump Administration engaged over the past four years. Building on that progress, the House took action this month on H.R. 3630, the No Surprises Act, to protect patients from surprise bills by removing them from the fight between insurers and providers and implementing a fairer process for the resolution of disputes. House Democrats also passed H.R. 987, a package of seven bills, to lower prescription drug costs and H.R. 3, the Elijah E. Cummings Lower Drug Costs Now Act, last year. These bills reflect Americans' wide support for making it easier for Medicare to negotiate lower drug prices, particularly for insulin and other life-sustaining medications, and reducing out-of-pocket caps for patients. H.R. 3 would, additionally, allow private insurers to cover the cost of medications at the same lower prices negotiated by Medicare  and it would reinvest more than $500 billion of savings in Medicare for dental, hearing, and vision benefits as well as opioid addition treatments and research. Making Our Economy Work For the People Over the past two years, House Democrats have passed legislation to strengthen our economy and help our workers and businesses Make It In America. In addition to voting to raise the minimum wage gradually to $15 an hour last year  and provide a pay raise for up to 33 million Americans  we also passed H.R. 7, the Paycheck Fairness Act, to ensure that women receive equal pay for equal work. Additionally in 2019, the House passed H.R. 1994, the SECURE Act, to make it easier for workers to save for retirement, as well as H.R. 397, the Butch Lewis Act, to protect the retirement savings of millions who contributed to multi-employer pension funds. Taking action to safeguard consumers, the Democratic House Majority also passed H.R. 1500, the Consumers First Act, to help prevent financial scams and other predatory activity targeting Americans. Recognizing that global trade and exports are critical to the growth of good jobs here at home, the House worked with the Senate to enact a seven-year reauthorization of the U.S. Export-Import Bank, which helps American businesses compete on a level playing field in foreign markets. When President Trump presented his U.S.-Mexico-Canada trade agreement to Congress, the Democratic House Majority won the fight for critical changes that protect American workers, ensure the agreement is enforceable, promote our exports, and attract new investment to our country that creates good jobs. This year, we followed those action with passage of H.R. 2474, the Protecting the Right to Organize (PRO) Act, which affirms workers' right to organize and bargain collectively for better pay and benefits. In July, the House approved a major infrastructure bill, H.R. 2, to move America forward by investing billions of dollars in repairs, upgrades, and new networks to connect American businesses, workers, and consumers and facilitate exports that drive economic growth. In September, we passed H.R. 4447, the Clean Economy Jobs and Innovation Act, which will help American manufacturers seize new opportunities to take the lead in the new global clean-energy economy, creating millions of good jobs for our workers. Also that month, the House approved H.R. 2694, the Pregnant Workers Fairness Act, to ensure that women who are pregnant are not discriminated against in the workplace. In November, the House passed H.R.8294, the National Apprenticeship Act, to create nearly one million additional apprenticeship opportunities by 2025 and help more of our people make it in America. In December, the House and Senate reached agreement on a historic energy package that will incorporate many of the provisions of H.R. 4447 and go a long way toward promoting job creation through American leadership in clean-energy innovation.  Meeting the Challenges of a Global Pandemic From the earliest days of COVID-19 becoming a global pandemic, the Democratic-led House took the initiative to protect the American people. On March 4, the House passed H.R. 6074, the Coronavirus Preparedness and Response Supplemental Appropriations Act, investing an initial $8.3 billion to help federal agencies take steps to meet this new and uncertain threat. Just days later, as our nation gained a better understanding of the scope of the pandemic's challenge, the House took a further step, joining the Senate in enacting H.R. 6201, the Families First Coronavirus Response Act. This legislation ensured that Americans would not have to pay out of pocket for COVID-19 testing and could take paid sick leave to care for themselves or loved-ones who contract the disease. On March 28, the House took yet another major action by passing H.R. 784, the CARES Act, to fund additional testing and research into treatments and vaccines while addressing the economic impacts of the pandemic. The CARES Act created the Paycheck Protection Program to help small businesses keep their workers on payroll, provided for emergency expanded unemployment benefits, and distributed direct stimulus payments to American households.  When it became clear that Americans were going to need more help than what was included in the CARES Act, the House passed H.R. 266, the Paycheck Protection Program and Health Care Enhancement Act, in April, followed by H.R. 6800, the Heroes Act, in May. The Heroes Act would have sent direct assistance to state and local governments to help them keep teachers, law enforcement, sanitation workers, and other critical public employees from being laid off during the pandemic. It would also have extended the emergency unemployment benefits and provided more funding for hospitals and public health facilities on the front lines of the pandemic. After the Republican-led Senate refused to vote on the Heroes Act for months and allowed the expanded emergency unemployment benefits to expire, the House passed an updated version of the Heroes Act in October in an effort to compromise. Again, Republicans did nothing. On December 21, the House and Senate reached agreement and passed a COVID-relief package that included expanded unemployment benefits, direct stimulus payments to Americans, relief for renters, and additional funding for global vaccination efforts, among many important provisions. A week later, the House passed the H.R. 9051, the CASH Act, to increase the amount of the stimulus payments to $2,000. On June 26, the House passed three bills to help prevent evictions and foreclosures and to keep child-care workers from losing their incomes during the pandemic. H.R. 7301, H.R. 7027, and H.R. 7327 were all critical components of House Democrats' robust response to COVID-19 and the economic hardships it brought to millions of Americans. Answering the Call for Justice, Civil Rights, and Equality One of the early pieces of legislation the House passed in the 116th Congress was H.R. 5, the Equality Act, banning discrimination against LGBTQ Americans nationwide. This long-overdue legislation would end legal discrimination in housing, education, employment, finance, and other areas. It would also prohibit denying individuals the right to use facilities according to one's gender identity. This year, the House passed H.J. Res. 79 to affirm our view that the Equal Rights Amendment has been duly ratified, banning discrimination on the basis of sex. In February of this year, the House passed H.R.35, the Emmett Till Antilynching Act, at long last making lynching a federal hate crime. After the horrific killings of George Floyd, Breonna Taylor, and other African Americans at the hands of law enforcement acting improperly, the Democratic House Majority took swift action, passing H.R. 7120, the George Floyd Justice in Policing Act. This legislation included major reforms to root out systemic bias in police departments, including bans on chokeholds and no-knock warrants. To address persistent inequalities that have become serious barriers to justice and opportunity, the House passed H.R. 3884, the MORE Act, to decriminalize recreational marijuana and create a process by which those who had been convicted of nonviolent cannabis offenses can have their records expunged. The Democratic House Majority in the 116th Congress has made protecting the right to vote one of the centerpieces of our agenda, recognizing that too many eligible voters are still denied the ability to participate in our elections. In the first weeks of our Majority, the House passed H.R. 1, the For the People Act, which included key voting rights provisions. Among them were automatic voter registration, the restoration of voting rights for those who paid their debts to society, and a prohibition on nefarious practices like the purging of voter rolls and discriminatory voter-ID rules. Later in 2019, the House passed H.R. 4, the John Lewis Voting Rights Advancement Act, to restore the full protections of the landmark 1965 Voting Rights Act, part of which had been struck down by the Supreme Court in 2013. The House also took the long-overdue action of voting to admit the District of Columbia as a state and secure full representation for its 700,000 residents.  The Democratic House Majority has been working since day-one to secure the right to vote against threats both at home and from abroad. Responding to efforts by Russia and other adversaries to interfere with and undermine our democracy in 2016, the House passed H.R. 2722, the SAFE Act, and H.R. 4617, the SHIELD Act, last year. After the COVID-19 pandemic created new challenges to voting in person, the House passed H.R. 8015, the Delivering for America Act, to provide the U.S. Postal Service with emergency funding to handle the expected record number of mail-in ballots for the 2020 election. That legislation also would have reversed the Trump Administration's efforts to slow down mail delivery in an effort to prevent ballots from being received in time to be counted. Last year, when news emerged of President Trump's attempts to solicit foreign interference in the 2020 election and subvert our democracy, the Democratic-led House investigated and, upon finding clear evidence of his abuse of power and obstruction of Congress, approved articles of impeachment. Though the Senate failed to do its job and uphold the Constitution, House committees have continued to conduct thorough oversight of the Trump Administration and hold it accountable to the American people.  Addressing the Global Climate Crisis & Preserving America's Natural Bounty Throughout the 116th Congress, the Democratic House Majority has made it a priority to push back against the Trump Administration's refusal to recognize the global climate crisis, which placed the health and economic security of our children and grandchildren at grave risk. Beginning with the creation of a Select Committee on the Climate Crisis and with passage of H.R. 9, the Climate Action Now Act, in May 2019, the House made it clear that it supports rejoining the Paris Climate Agreement and restoring its ambitious goals. Last year, the House passed a number of bills aimed at conserving public lands and protecting vulnerable ecosystems, such as the John Dingell Conservation, Management, and Recreation Act, which created an independent and sustainable funding source for the Land and Water Conservation Fund. We also approved H.R. 1941, the Coastal and Marine Economies Protection Act, to ban drilling off the Atlantic and Pacific coasts, and H.R. 205, the Protecting and Securing Florida's Coastline Act, to do the same in certain parts of the Gulf of Mexico. They were accompanied by passage of H.R. 1146, the Arctic Cultural and Coastal Plain Protection Act, to prohibit fossil fuel exploration in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge (ANWR). The House also secured bipartisan agreement to enact legislation amending the Stafford Act to help communities in Puerto Rico, the U.S. Virgin Islands, and the mainland United States rebuild stronger in the aftermath of natural disasters. This year, we built on that work by passing H.R. 535, the PFAS Action Act, to help remove some of the most toxic pollutants from our water and partnering with the Senate to enact a major reauthorization of the Water Resources Development Act (WRDA). We were also able to secure agreement to enact the America's Conservation Enhancement (ACE) Act and the landmark H.R. 1957, the Great American Outdoors Act. Protecting Dreamers & Keeping Families Together House Democrats have worked hard this Congress to meet our responsibility to the Dreamers who were brought here as children and often have no memory of living in a country other than the United States. At risk of being deported to unfamiliar lands and separated from their family members who are American citizens, these Dreamers have been looking to Congress for help, particularly after President Trump tried to end the DACA program. In June 2019, the House passed H.R. 6, the American Dream and Promise Act, which would not only provide peace of mind and a pathway to citizenship for Dreamers but do the same for refugees holding T.P.S. and D.E.D. status. The House also took action to extend T.P.S. status for those fleeing tyranny, violence, and economic hardship in Venezuela resulting from the Maduro regime. Also in 2019, the House responded to revelations of inhumane conditions at immigrant detention facilities by passing three bills requiring better care and medical treatment for detainees: H.R. 3239, H.R. 3670, and H.R. 3525. This year, we passed H.R. 5581, the Access to Counsel Act, to ensure that refugees brought before immigration courts seeking asylum have access to an attorney. And, in response to President Trump's shameful, discriminatory travel ban targeting Muslim-majority countries, we passed H.R. 2214, the NO BAN Act, to restrict the President's authority to impose blanket travel bans based on one's nation-of-origin. Caring for America's Veterans The Democratic House Majority has worked hard to ensure that the 116th Congress is meeting its commitment to those who served our country. Last year, we passed several major bills to ensure that veterans can access high-quality health care close to home, to reduce veteran suicide and homelessness, and to improve access to education and training for in-demand job skills. We also passed legislation expanding health care benefits for those exposed to Agent Orange. The House took action to make it easier for veterans with young children to access care at V.A. facilities through H.R. 840, the Veterans Access to Child Care Act. In addition, we approved H.R. 3224, the Deborah Sampson Act, in November 2019 to ensure that women veterans can access high-quality medical care at V.A. facilities without undue barriers. This month, the House secured agreement with the Senate to send H.R. 7105 to the President's desk, which includes H.R. 840 and H.R. 3224 along with additional provisions to increase benefits for women veterans and Native American veterans while addressing veteran homelessness. Specifically, it will help lower incidents of sexual assault at V.A. facilities, fund new health spaces dedicated to women's health care, and require every V.A. health care facility to hire a dedicated women's health provider. The bill creates an advisory committee to ensure that the V.A. considers the unique challenges facing veterans living on tribal lands, and it mandates additional reporting of COVID-19 cases occurring at state-run veterans' homes. In 2019, the House demonstrated how America keeps its promises to those who serve our country and its communities. We eliminated the tax increase that Republicans imposed on Gold Star families as part of their 2017 tax scam, reaffirming our nation's support for those who lost loved-ones in service under our flag. We also reauthorized the 9/11 Victims Compensation Fund to ensure that first responders and others with health complications from the September 11, 2001, attacks can afford the treatment and care they need. Keeping Americans Safe at Home and Abroad For the past two years, the Democratic-led House has been doing its job responsibly to protect Americans from harm both at home and around the world. In both 2019 and 2020, we passed defense authorization bills that were bipartisan and reflect a commitment to our troops and the values they uphold. The House also passed a war powers resolution in 2019 to promote an end to the violent civil conflict in Yemen that has become one of the world's worst humanitarian crises. We also passed the Protect Against Conflict by Turkey Act in November 2019 to sanction Turkish officials responsible for the country's incursion into Kurdish-held territory in Syria after President Trump abandoned our allies there. The Democratic House Majority has also continued to stand up for press freedom, voting on H.R. 2037, the Saudi Arabia Human Rights and Accountability Act, to disapprove of arms sales to Saudi Arabia after its murder of journalist Jamal Khashoggi. We also sanctioned China for its crackdown on freedom of expression and democracy in Hong Kong in 2019 and this year enacted legislation sanctioning Beijing officials for the human rights abuses directed at China's Muslim Uighur minority. At home, House Democrats in the 116th Congress have worked to provide for safer and more secure communities. We passed H.R. 8, the Bipartisan Background Checks Act, in February 2019, responding to an epidemic of mass shootings ignored by the previous Republican Majority. That April, the House reauthorized the Violence Against Women Act for five years with key improvements to ensure that law enforcement can protect victims and protect women living on Native American sovereign lands, and encourage men and boys to play a role in preventing domestic violence and assault. Later in the year, we passed the Debbie Smith Act to help close the backlog of rape kit processing and secure justice for victims while deterring these horrific crimes. Reflecting the Nation We Represent With the most-diverse and most-female House Majority in history, Democrats were proud to lead a House that not only represents the American people responsibly but is focused on righting historical injustices and ensuring that all voices are heard in our democracy and in the story of our country. That's why we passed H.R. 1636 last year to create a Commission on the Social Status of Black Men and Boys, which would explore ways to remove persistent inequalities and to address bias that denies opportunities to African Americans. This year, the House passed H.R. 7573 to remove the bust of Chief Justice Roger B. Taney, the author of the horrific 1857 Dred Scott v. Sandford decision, from the U.S. Capitol's Old Supreme Court Chamber. That legislation would also remove statues from the U.S. Capitol building of individuals who served the Confederacy during the Civil War and promoted slavery in the years that preceded it. Also in 2020, the House passed H.R. 1980 and H.R. 2420, which would create a Smithsonian Women's History Museum and a National Museum of the American Latino, respectively. We also expressed the House's strong and unwavering opposition to anti-Semitism, Islamophobia, and racial hatred of all forms. Preparing for the 117th Congress The past two years have been a busy period of activity in the House, with our Democratic Majority working tirelessly to deliver on our promises. The legislation we passed  and our belief in governing responsibly  are a blueprint for what the House and the new Biden-Harris Administration can achieve to help Americans get ahead through access to opportunities, to ensure that our economy can build back better from COVID-19, to keep our country safe and secure, and to restore the soul and character of our nation as we work to heal divisions. House Democrats are ready to work with the next President to enact bills, like those we passed in the 116th Congress, that achieve our goals.  Even with all of the work we did over the past two years, more than 450 bipartisan House-passed bills were never acted on by the Republican Senate. The composition and outlook of the Senate in the 117th Congress will be critical to securing key victories for the American people, and House Democrats will do everything in our power to continue governing responsibly and seeking opportunities to reach agreements that enact our agenda and deliver For the People.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://www.menendez.senate.gov/newsroom/press/menendez-statement-on-the-passing-of-monroe-mayor-gerald-tamburro", "Menendez Statement on the Passing of Monroe Mayor Gerald TamburroRead More", "2020-12-31", "2020", "2020-12", "Democrat", "House", "NJ", "Robert Menendez", "M000639", "www.menendez.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "WASHINGTON,\r\nD.C.  U.S. Senator Bob Menendez today released the following statement on\r\nthe passing of Monroe Township Mayor Gerald Tamburro: I was saddened\r\nto hear of the passing of Mayor Gerald Tamburro, who was an exceptional public\r\nservant and friend to so many across the state. He was fiercely dedicated to\r\nthe families of Monroe and worked every single day to ensure they had the\r\nresources to thrive. He will be greatly missed by the entire community but will\r\nbe remembered for his unwavering commitment to the people he loved to serve.My prayers are\r\nwith his family and friends and hope they will find comfort in the fact that\r\nJerry is now reunited with his beloved late wife Carole. ###", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://www.speaker.gov/newsroom/123120", "Pelosi Appoints Rear Admiral Margaret Grun Kibben First Woman to Serve as Chaplain of the U.S. House of Representatives", "2020-12-31", "2020", "2020-12", "Democrat", "House", "CA", "Nancy Pelosi", "P000197", "www.speaker.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Washington, D.C.  Speaker Nancy Pelosi today announced her appointment of Rear Admiral Margaret Grun Kibben as House Chaplain, following the House retirement of Father Pat Conroy. Kibben will be the first woman to serve as Chaplain in either chamber of Congress.\nIt is my honor to announce the appointment of Rear Admiral Margaret Grun Kibben to serve as Chaplain of the United States House of Representatives: the first woman to serve in this historic position, which has been enshrined in our Democracy since the First Congress in 1789, said Speaker Pelosi. Kibben brings decades of decorated experience in the military and the ministry, as a retired Rear Admiral who served as the U.S. Navy's Chief Chaplain and the chaplain of the Marine Corps. Her integrity, experience and patriotism will serve the Congress and the Country well, as she ministers to the needs of Members. This historic appointment was made possible by the values-based leadership of Congressman Emanuel Cleaver, and I thank him and all Members of the bipartisan group leading the search  Representatives Eshoo, Price, Connolly, Moolenaar, Luetkemeyer, McMorris Rodgers and Stauber  for their successful work. Their recommendation was accepted by Leader McCarthy and me.\nThe service of Father Pat Conroy has been a blessing to Members on both sides of the aisle, continued Speaker Pelosi. Throughout his service, Father Pat fulfilled the calling of St. Ignatius of Loyola: for the greater glory of God.' His service has been a spiritual and moral anchor for Members, grounding our institution in the values of faith and country and reminding our Members of our responsibilities to our great nation and constituents. All Members wish Father Pat well as he enjoys his well-deserved retirement from the House.\nRear Adm. Margaret Kibben entered active duty in 1986 through the Navy's Theological Student Program. She holds a Bachelor of Arts from Goucher College, a Master of Divinity and Doctor of Ministry from Princeton Theological Seminary and a Master's in National Security and Strategic Studies from the Naval War College. In her final active duty assignment in the Navy, Kibben was the U.S. Navy's 26th Chief Chaplains. Prior to this assignment, Kibben served as the 18th Chaplain of the Marine Corps. Kibben served as the senior chaplain in Afghanistan. Her Navy assignments include the U.S. Naval Academy, the Chaplain Corps Resource Board, command chaplain aboard USS San Diego (AFS 6) and Fleet Chaplain, U. S. 3rd Fleet. With the U.S. Marine Corps, Kibben served as chaplain for Headquarters and Service Battalion, Security Battalion, the Brig, Marine Corps Air Facility and HMX-1, Marine Corps Base Quantico and 2nd Force Service Support Group, Camp Lejeune. Kibben's personal awards include the Distinguished Service Medal, Legion of Merit (two awards), Bronze Star, Meritorious Service Medal (three awards) and Navy Commendation Medal (three awards).", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://www.speaker.gov/newsroom/123120-0", "Pelosi Statement on House Filing Amicus Brief in Gohmert v. Pence", "2020-12-31", "2020", "2020-12", "Democrat", "House", "CA", "Nancy Pelosi", "P000197", "www.speaker.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Washington, D.C.  Speaker Nancy Pelosi issued this statement after the House of Representatives filed an amicus brief in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Texas in the case of Gohmert v. Pence, which attempts to unconstitutionally grant the Vice President the power to personally choose presidential electors, against the results of the popular vote and the certified Electoral College results: \nPresident-elect Joe Biden and Vice President-elect Kamala Harris decisively won the 2020 election, with a record number of votes and an historic margin of victory. Yet, President Trump and Republicans in Congress have refused to respect the will of the American people and instead have spread dangerous conspiracy theories and brought over fifty extreme, failed lawsuits in a brazen attempt to overturn the certified results of the 2020 election.\nThe Gohmert lawsuit has zero legal merit and is yet another sabotage of our democracy.\nThere is no doubt that, despite this desperate unpatriotic charade, on January 6, Joe Biden will be confirmed by the acceptance of the vote of the Electoral College as the 46th President of the United States.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://anthonybrown.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=1139", "House Armed Services Vice Chair Anthony Brown: \u201cDr. Kathleen Hicks is Breaking Barriers in the National Security Space and is Committed to Doing the Same for Others\u201d", "2020-12-30", "2020", "2020-12", "Democrat", "House", "MD", "Anthony Brown", "B001304", "anthonybrown.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "WASHINGTON, D.C.  House Armed Services Committee Vice Chair Anthony G. Brown (MD-04), a 30-year Army veteran, released the following statement regarding President-elect Joe Biden's nomination of Dr. Kathleen Hicks to become Deputy Secretary of Defense:\r\nIn Dr. Kathleen Hicks, President-elect Joe Biden and Secretary of Defense designate Lloyd Austin have chosen an experienced and forward thinking Deputy Defense Secretary. Serving in what is widely viewed as the Chief Operating Officer, her nomination strengthens civilian oversight of the Pentagon and will restore stability to the daily operations of the Department of Defense. Her work in national security policy both inside and outside of government has allowed her to not only understand the inner workings of the Pentagon, but also develop necessary frameworks for reform. She has the necessary depth of policy knowledge to lead uniformed and civilian public servants in countering the most complex set of national security threats our country has ever faced.\r\nDr. Kathleen Hicks is breaking barriers in the national security space and is committed to doing the same for others. I've personally discussed with Dr. Hicks the importance of building diversity throughout the defense community. She is an advocate for greater inclusion as a means for strengthening our country and making us safer. I look forward to working with Dr. Hicks alongside Gen. Austin to bolster our national security, restore American leadership and ensure Americans from all backgrounds can serve and protect the country they love.\r\n\r\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://bonamici.house.gov/media/in-the-news/increasing-pentagon-spending-when-people-are-going-hungry-madness", "Increasing Pentagon Spending When People Are Going Hungry Is Madness", "2020-12-30", "2020", "2020-12", "Democrat", "House", "OR", "Suzanne Bonamici", "B001278", "bonamici.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "In addition to Khanna, the Democrats who cast no votes were: California's Mark DeSaulnier, Jimmy Gomez, Jared Huffman, and Barbara Lee; Hawaii's Tulsi Gabbard; Illinois's Chuy Garcia; Oregon's Earl Blumenauer and Suzanne Bonamici; Massachusetts's Joe Kennedy, Jim McGovern, and Ayanna Pressley; Michigan's Rashida Tlaib; Minnesota's Ilhan Omar; New York's Yvette Clarke, Adriano Espaillat, Grace Meng, and Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez; Washington's Pramila Jayapal; and Wisconsin's Mark Pocan.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://case.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=403", "Case Releases End Of 116th Congress Report To Hawai\u2019i", "2020-12-30", "2020", "2020-12", "Democrat", "House", "HI", "Ed Case", "C001055", "case.house.gov", "case", "https://case.house.gov/news/documentquery.aspx?DocumentTypeID=27&Page=28", "scraper", "(Honolulu, HI) \u2013 U.S. Congressman Ed Case (HI-01) today released his 116th Congress End-Of-Term Report back to Hawai\u2019i on his activities and efforts throughout the two-year 116th Congress (January 3, 2019 - January 3, 2021).\n\n\u201cIn January 2019, as I returned to Capitol Hill for my third full term representing Hawai\u2019i in the U.S. House of Representatives, the country was mired in what soon became the longest federal government shutdown in our history,\u201d said Case.\n\n\u201cAs I end the 116th and am sworn into the 117th Congress this Sunday, we continue to confront the far-worse crisis of COVID-19. \u201cThese are truly difficult times, when we desperately need our institutions of government to function as our founders intended.\n\n\u201cAnd a critical part of functioning government is staying in very close touch with those we represent, reporting back and seeking guidance wherever and however we can.\u201d\n\nIn his report, Case summarizes his activities in the 116th in his three areas of focus: leading on national issues; helping Hawai\u2019i; and helping constituents.\n\n\u201cI hope my report will provide those I serve with some sense of where I\u2019ve been in the 116th and where I\u2019m going in the 117th as we all chart the best path forward for our county and Hawai\u2019i over the next two years and beyond\u201d, said Case.\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-06-28T00:42:23Z"], ["https://castor.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=403469", "Rep. Castor Announces $1.4M to Tampa Residents through 2020 Constituent Services, $1.5B Secured in Federal Grants, $2.7B in PPP Assistance", "2020-12-30", "2020", "2020-12", "Democrat", "House", "FL", "Kathy Castor", "C001066", "castor.house.gov", "castor", "https://castor.house.gov/news/documentquery.aspx", "scraper", "U.S. Rep. Kathy Castor (FL14) announced today her office worked to deliver nearly $1.6 million to veterans, seniors, small businesses and families in 2020; almost $1.5 billion in federal grants to create jobs, invest in education and infrastructure, mitigate impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic, and support the important work of local partners; and $2.7 billion in Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) loans for Tampa businesses.\n\n\u201cEvery day, my Tampa constituent services team, Tery Sanchez, Steven Angotti, Tania Fernandez and Damaris Gonzalez \u2013 with the help of the entire Castor Team \u2013 work tirelessly to cut through red tape and bureaucracy on behalf of families and neighbors across the Tampa area. During the COVID-19 pandemic, their expertise has been critical to ensuring that veterans receive the benefits they have earned and to guarantee that survival stimulus payments, Social Security, Medicare are delivered on time. Due to the unprecedented challenge accessing Florida\u2019s flawed unemployment system, I am especially grateful for their efforts in coordinating with local and state representatives to ensure that everyone who needs support is connected to every available resource.\n\n\u201cMy team tackles complex cases and works diligently with agencies and non-profit partners to serve all of our neighbors. This year we handled more than 1,800 individual cases and recovered nearly $1.6 million in federal benefits. Tampa families are facing unique and time-sensitive issues due to the coronavirus, and my team\u2019s top priority remains serving our neighbors with respect and care.\u201d\n\nGrants\n\nIn FY2020, Florida\u2019s 14th Congressional District in Tampa and Hillsborough County received 727 grant awards totaling $1,497,650,722.\n\n\u201c2020 brought unprecedented challenges to our community as workers in vital industries such as tourism, travel and hospitality took a hit from the virus and our frontline medical workers worked overtime to serve those who contracted COVID-19. The $1.5 billion in grant monies that came to Tampa this year have been a lifeline for our hospitals, small businesses, schools, renters and more. Federal aid has a been a major shot in the arm to our local economic engines and will serve to bolster businesses and services that we all count on through tough times and also boost good-paying jobs in our region as we work towards a strong economic recovery.\n\n\u201cThrough passage of the CARES Act, which dedicated $150 billion to the Local Government Coronavirus Relief Fund, Hillsborough County received $257 million in federal aid. I worked alongside county commissioners and the county administrator while they developed the plan to ensure that the emergency aid was consistent with the needs our neighbors and the Congressional intent for use of these funds.\n\n\u201cMuch needed resources went to over 6,000 local businesses, rental assistance for over 5,500 Hillsborough families, workforce training, public health support for contact tracing, $30M to the City of Tampa, and funds to support the Crisis Center of Tampa Bay, Feeding Tampa Bay, Metropolitan Ministries and other local organizations directly helping so many of our neighbors in need. With the passage of a fifth coronavirus aid package, I will continue to partner with our local frontline agencies as we work towards rebuilding a local economy that leaves nobody behind and also prioritizes the health and wellbeing of our neighbors.\u201d\n\nSee here for information from the county for a listing of detailed help from our partnership. The CARES Act is a $2 trillion coronavirus relief package for states and local communities passed by Congress and signed into law on March 27, 2020.\n\nAmong the federal grants that U.S. Rep. Castor championed this year, nearly $50 million in Department of Transportation\u2019s Better Utilizing Investment to Leverage Development (BUILD) grants will be used to lift our neighborhoods, increase connectivity, and improve our streets. The Tampa Bay Women\u2019s Centre received a $420,000 Small Business Administration grant to help female entrepreneurs and business owners with training, education, and counseling as they navigate the impacts of COVID-19. In April, almost $10 million in Department of Housing and Urban Development grants were allocated to help the City of Tampa and Hillsborough county support nonprofit partners, housing and homeless prevention.\n\nPaycheck Protection Program\n\n\u201cEstablished by the CARES Act, the Paycheck Protection Program has provided over 19,000 loans in our district totaling up to $2.7 billion. Of which, 16,681 were to the truly small businesses that received loans of less than $150,000 totaling $497,969,977. PPP has been a lifeline to workers in our community during the pandemic through speeding emergency resources to small businesses in Tampa Bay to keep them afloat during the pandemic, and keep employees paid and connected to health care coverage.\u201d\n\nResidents in Florida Congressional District 14 can call U.S. Rep. Castor\u2019s Tampa office at 813-871-2817 or visit www.castor.house.gov for assistance.\n\n###\n\n*Updated 01/01/2021", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-06-28T00:42:23Z"], ["https://fudge.house.gov/press-statements?ID=0D82107A-05DE-4F19-8383-E10E558A4C21", "Rep. Fudge Announces 2020 Winners of the 11th District Congressional App Challenge", "2020-12-30", "2020", "2020-12", "Democrat", "House", "OH", "Marcia Fudge", "F000455", "fudge.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Facebook Icon\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\r\n\t\r\n\t\r\n\t\tGoogle Plus Icon\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\r\n\t\r\n\t\r\n\t\tInstagram Icon\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\t\r\n\t\t\t\r\n\t\t\t\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\r\n\t\r\n\t\r\n\t\tLinkedIn Icon\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\r\n\t\r\n\t\r\n\t\tTwitter Icon\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\r\n\t\r\n\t\r\n\t\tYouTube Icon\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\r\n\t\r\n\t\r\n\t\tVimeo Icon\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\r\n\t\r\n\t\r\n\t\r\n\t\tClients Icon\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\r\n\t\r\n\t\r\n\t\tEmail icon\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\r\n\t\r\n\t\r\n\t\tMap Icon\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\r\n\t\r\n\t\r\n\t\tPrint Icon\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\r\n\t\r\n\t\r\n\t\tQuote Icon\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\t\r\n\t\t\t\t\r\n\t\t\t\t\r\n\t\t\t\t\r\n\t\t\t\t\r\n\t\t\t\r\n\t\t\t\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\r\n\t\r\n\t\r\n\t\ticon_share\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\r\n\t\r\n\t\r\n\t\r\n\t\r\n\t\tCarousel Arrow - Left\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\r\n\t\r\n\t\r\n\t\tCarousel Arrow - Right\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\r\n\t\r\n\t\r\n\t\r\n\t\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\t\r\n\t\r\n\t\r\n\t\r\n\t\t\t\r\n\t\t\t\t\r\n\t\t\t\t\r\n\t\t\t\t\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\r\n\t\t\t\r\n\t\t\r\n\r\n\r\n\t\r\n\t\r\n\t\t\t\r\n\t\t\t\t\r\n\t\t\t\t\r\n\t\t\t\t\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\r\n\t\t\t\r\n\t\t\r\n\r\n\r\n\t\r\n\t\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\t\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\r\n\t\r\n\t\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\t\r\n\t\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\t\r\n\t\t\t\r\n\t\t\t\r\n\t\t\t\r\n\t\t\t\t\r\n\t\t\t\t\tHome\r\n\t\t\t\t\r\n\t\t\t\r\n\t\t\t\t\r\n\t\t\t\t\tNews\r\n\t\t\t\t\r\n\t\t\t\r\n\t\t\t\t\r\n\t\t\t\t\tPress Statements\r\n\t\t\t\t\r\n\t\t\t\r\n\t\t\t\r\n\t\t\t\r\n\t\t\t\t\r\n\t\t\t\t\r\n\t\t\t\t\t Print", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://lee.house.gov/news/press-releases/coin-redesign-act-celebrating-prominent-american-women-and-others-passes-both-chambers-of-congress", "Coin Redesign Act Celebrating Prominent American Women and Others Passes Both Chambers of Congress", "2020-12-30", "2020", "2020-12", "Democrat", "House", "CA", "Barbara Lee", "L000551", "lee.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "12.30.20\n\t\t\t Coin Redesign Act Celebrating Prominent American Women and Others Passes Both Chambers of Congress \n\t\t\tWashington, D.C. Representatives Barbara Lee (D-CA), Anthony Gonzalez(R-OH), and Bonnie Watson Coleman (D-NJ) today joined Senators Catherine CortezMasto(D-NV) and Deb Fischer (R-NE)in celebrating the their bipartisan legislation, the Circulating Collectible Coin Redesign Act of 2020, passing both chambers of Congress.  \r\nH.R. 1923, the Circulating Collectible Coin Redesign Act of 2020 allows the Department of the Treasury and U.S. Mint to mint and issuenewquarter-dollar coins. The first series of quarters in this program commemorates the centennial of the ratification of the 19th Amendment granting some women the right to vote. The design on the reverse of those quarters will represent prominent American women in a range of fields, including but not limited to suffrage, civil rights, abolition, government, and humanities. This series will also include women from ethnically, racially, and geographically diverse backgrounds. \r\nThe 114th Congress created a United StatesSemiquincentennialCommission to facilitate activities in 2026 to commemorate the 250th anniversary of the founding of the United States. This bill allows for the issuance offivedifferent designs emblematic of the United States'Semiquincentennial, including one dedicated to the contributions made by women to our nation's founding or a monumental moment in American History.Additionally, from 2027-2030,quarter dollars willcommemorate sports played by American youthandhalf-dollar commemoratingParalympicsports. \r\nWomen have played a critical role in shaping this country since its founding but have often been excluded or gone unrecognized. This bill is an important step in recognizing the contributions women have made in furthering civil rights and making our country a more equitable place. This bill's passage also coincides with the centennial of the 19th Amendment which gave some women the right to vote,said Congresswoman Lee.When women gathered in Seneca Falls in July 1848, it was to give white women the right to vote  no Black women were invited to participate. As we commemorate women's suffrage and celebrate the first series of coins in the package to depict prominent American women, it is also my hope that diverse American women will be chosen and depicted, celebrating our nation's leaders, thinkers, and innovators.  \r\n\r\nSome of the greatest and most influential figures in our nation's history have been women, although these voices and stories have too often gone untold. In this centennial anniversary of the 19th Amendment, it is fitting that we take this opportunity to highlight the role women have played in shaping our great nation and ensure their inclusion in the fabric of our nation's story,said Congressman Gonzalez.I am excited to see this legislation head to the President's desk to be signed into law. \r\n\r\nI'm proud to see this legislation honoring the 100th anniversary of the 19th Amendment and recognizing the many American women who have contributed to the fight for suffrage and civil rights, science, government, and the arts pass the House of Representatives,said Senator CortezMasto.While our nation still has steps to take in honoring the right to vote for women of color, the 19th Amendment has firmly established every woman's right to vote for the last 100 years and has brought women into the halls of power across our country. And by ensuring that prominent women are featured in the U.S. Mint'sSemiquincentennial, we are recognizing our history and inspiring future generations of young women to dream big. From business boardrooms to research labs to state legislatures, like Nevada's first majority-women legislature, this bill recognizes the decades of contributions women have made and will make to our shared history. \r\nI am happy that we were able to work together in a bipartisan, bicameral way to pass this legislation,said Senator Fischer.These coins will pay tribute to the women heroes and trailblazers who have played a major role in our nation's history. Their leadership, stories, and sacrifices are going to inspire generations of women to come. \r\n\r\nAs a member of the U.S.SemiquinentennialCommission, I am thrilled to see us take steps to prepare for the celebration of our 250th Independence Day and especially excited to ensure that celebration includes not just the founding fathers we so often think of, but more diverse contributions made to our nation's founding. The inclusion of women is vital, and so it is fitting that we make sure a woman is included on the coins we'll circulate to mark the occasion,said Congresswoman Watson Coleman.For so long, we've allowed a pervasive narrative that women, Black, indigenous and other people of color are new to leading. The truth is, we've been doing it since the dawn of time, but with little recognition. With measures like these we pay a small amount of what's due and inspire everyone to dream big. \r\n\r\nSince our institution's founding in 1792, the men and women of the United States Mint have taken great pride in rendering the story of our nation in enduring examples of numismatic art,said United States Mint Director David J. Ryder.We look forward to honoring the many contributions of women in American history, as well as celebrating the 250thAnniversary of our Great Nation and the shared pastimes that are important to all of us.\r\n\r\n\"As we commemorate the Suffrage Centennial in 2020 and the 250th anniversary of our country's founding in 2026, I can't think of a better way of righting our history than to include historical American women,said Rosie Rios, 43rd Treasurer of the United States.I would like to thank Congresswoman Barbara Lee and her office for taking a leadership role in partnering to craft this legislation and continue the journey of having women represented on our currency and coins, something that is used every day around the world. By seeing ourselves honored and valued in our history, our daughters and sons can be inspired to also see their own future.\" \r\n\r\nThis bill will include the following package of coins: \r\n\r\n \r\nFrom 2022-2025, up to 5 quarters annually depicting prominent American women;\r\nIn 2026, up to 5 quarters commemorating the USSemiquincentennial(250th) anniversary,including one quarter design featuring women;\r\nAll circulating coins (obverse and reverse) will be redesigned for 2026 for the celebration;\r\nFrom 2027-2030, a series of 5 quarters annually honoring American youth sports and a half-dollar design depicting a sport in the Paralympics;\r\nGives authority for permission for the Mint to design and strike Olympic medals. \r\n \r\n\r\nThis year marks the 100th anniversary of the 19th Amendment, guaranteeing women's constitutional right to vote. 68 million women can vote today because of the work of the women's suffrage movement and this bill honors these efforts.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://luria.house.gov/media/press-releases/congresswoman-luria-votes-support-small-businesses-covid-19-relief-package", "Congresswoman Luria Votes to Support Small Businesses in COVID-19 Relief Package", "2020-12-30", "2020", "2020-12", "Democrat", "House", "VA", "Elaine Luria", "L000591", "luria.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "WASHINGTON, D.C. Today, Congresswoman Elaine Luria highlighted several small business wins within the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2021 and Emergency Coronavirus Relief package, which the President recently signed into law.\nI am glad the COVID relief package included significant aid for small businesses and our workforce during this challenging time,said Congresswoman Luria.Small businesses are the engines of our local economy, and they continue to experience catastrophic losses.This package will provide a lifeline to small business owners and help workers stay employed across Coastal Virginia and our nation.\nThis bipartisan, bicameral deal provides important funding and provisions for small businesses, including:\n $284 billion for a second round of the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) through March 31, 2021;\n\t$20 billion for emergency Economic Injury Disaster Loan grants and extension of the covered period for emergency EIDL grants to December 31, 2021;\n\t$15 billion in grants for eligible live event venue operators, an industry that has lost nearly 90% of their revenue;\n\tExpansion of expense eligibility under the PPP to include personal protective equipment and supplier costs;\n\tClarification that forgiven PPP expenses like rent and payroll are tax-deductible; and,\n\tModifications to the Employee Retention Tax Credit by increasing the credit rate from 50%-70%.\n As a former small business owner, Congresswoman Elaine Luria has been a staunch advocate for locally owned small businesses during this economic crisis. Previously, shevoted for the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act, which established the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP). Although the PPP was a necessary step to assist small business owners, it was not perfect, which is why the Congresswomanadvocated for bipartisan initiativesto allow business owners to use PPP loans over longer time periods, to provide flexibility for businesses struggling to meet the SBA's requirement that 75% of loan proceeds go toward payroll costs, and to increase the SBA's transparency.\nCongresswoman Elaine Luria represents Virginia's 2nd Congressional District. She serves on theHouse Armed Services Committee, where she is theVice Chair of the Seapower and Projection Forces Subcommittee, and theHouse Committee on Veterans' Affairs, where she serves asChair of the Disability Assistance and Memorial Affairs Subcommittee.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://mcbath.house.gov/press-releases?ID=D5591622-5DC2-41BC-BDE5-CA8FB264B275", "Rep. Lucy McBath Announces Winners of the 2020 Congressional App Challenge", "2020-12-30", "2020", "2020-12", "Democrat", "House", "GA", "Lucy McBath", "M001208", "mcbath.house.gov", "mcbath", "https://mcbath.house.gov/press-releases", "scraper", null, 0, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z"], ["https://mceachin.house.gov/media/press-releases/mceachin-blasts-gop-lawmakers-pledge-challenge-biden-victory-during-congress", "McEachin Blasts GOP Lawmakers for Pledge to Challenge Biden Victory During Congress Certification", "2020-12-30", "2020", "2020-12", "Democrat", "House", "VA", "A. McEachin", "M001200", "mceachin.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "WASHINGTON, D.C.Congressman A. Donald McEachin (VA-04)today released the following statement afterPolitico reportedthat Sen. Josh Hawley (MI-R) pledged to challenge President-elect Joe Biden's victory in Pennsylvania and possibly other states on Jan. 6, when Congress is set to certify the results of the 2020 election:\n\n\"After multiple recounts, state certifications and the Electoral College vote, it is reckless and disrespectful to American voters that a U.S. Senator is entertaining challenging the results of a free and fair election,\"said Congressman McEachin.\"Even Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell has congratulated President-elect Biden and Vice President-elect Harris on their victory in November. The American people have spoken It is time for Senator Hawley and his Republican colleagues to put what's best for our country ahead of their personal politics and end this wanton obstruction of a peaceful transfer of power to the duly-elected Biden-Harris administration.\"", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://meng.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/meng-helps-make-housing-co-ops-eligible-for-coronavirus-relief-funds", "Meng Helps Make Housing Co-ops Eligible for Coronavirus Relief Funds", "2020-12-30", "2020", "2020-12", "Democrat", "House", "NY", "Grace Meng", "M001188", "meng.house.gov", "meng", "https://meng.house.gov/media-center/press-releases", "scraper", "QUEENS, NY \u2013 U.S. Rep. Grace Meng (D-Queens) announced today that she helped make housing cooperatives eligible to participate in the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP), which is the Small Business Administration's (SBA) signature coronavirus relief initiative to assist struggling small businesses during the national health crisis. This change was included in the $900 billion coronavirus relief package that was signed into law on December 27.\n\nIn March, the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act created PPP which provides forgivable loans provided certain conditions are met, but SBA subsequently rendered housing co-ops ineligible to participate in the program. Since then, Meng worked with her congressional colleagues and the President's Co-op & Condo Council to reverse this omission.\n\n\"Financial relief is finally available to housing cooperatives in Queens that have faced declining revenues and increasing costs during COVID-19. I am relieved that they will soon be able to participate in the Paycheck Protection Program and get the assistance they need,\" said Meng. \"COVID-19 has placed an unprecedented strain on the affordable cooperative housing units in New York City alone. Leaving out co-ops from PPP was a disservice to them despite their economic hardship. I was proud to press the Administration on this issue, and to help secure language in the Heroes Act and Heroes Act 2.0, which passed the House in May and October, respectively. While the Senate Republicans needlessly held up for months any relief for working families, I am glad that we finally secured eligibility for co-ops in the recent coronavirus relief package. Cooperatives remain a critical source of affordable housing for Queens and New York families and they must be made whole in the midst of this unprecedented public health and economic crises. Opening up the PPP to these entities will give them this lifeline. I want to thank my congressional colleagues and the President's Co-op & Condo Council for their partnership on this issue. I encourage all to apply once the program resumes, and I will continue to push for more assistance to help families and workers in Queens in the coming months.\"\n\n\"NCBA CLUSA greatly appreciates the leadership of Congresswoman Meng to provide much needed certainty for housing cooperatives to participate in the Paycheck Protection Program,\" said Doug O'Brien, President and CEO of the National Cooperative Business Association CLUSA International. \"Housing co-ops, like all cooperatives, are businesses owned and controlled by their member owners. Like other small businesses weathering the ongoing impacts of the pandemic, these co-ops keep employees on payroll for critical ongoing operations such as maintenance, safety, and other essential needs vital to the member-owners. The co-op community is grateful for leaders in Congress like Congresswoman Meng, who understands the important role that housing co-ops play in their communities and the local economy. We applaud the efforts of Congresswoman Meng who, alongside members of the NY delegation including Chairwoman Vel\u00e1zquez and Leader Schumer, have tirelessly worked on this issues since the Paycheck Protection Program launched in April.\"\n\n\"The inclusion of co-ops eligibility for forgivable PPP loans in the stimulus package will have a profound impact on the co-op community. The many co-op groups partnering with Congresswoman Meng on this important issue was a model of how good government is supposed to work,\" said Geoffrey Mazel, Esq., Legal Advisor, President's Co-op & Condo Council (PCCC).\n\nIn April, Meng and Rep. Suozzi led members of the New York congressional delegation in a letter to Treasury Secretary Mnuchin and SBA Administrator Carranza urging them to make co-ops and condominiums eligible to participate in PPP.\n\nIn May, Meng along with Senator Schumer, Reps. Vel\u00e1zquez and Engel, and other New York lawmakers called on SBA to clarify guidance on PPP eligibility for co-ops.\n\nThe House passed the Heroes Act in May and the updated Heroes Act 2.0 in October that expanded PPP eligibility to include co-ops.\n\nPPP provides forgivable loans if 60 percent is used for payroll and 40 percent is used for non-payroll expenses like rent, mortgage interest payments, or utilities. The program closed on August 8 despite over $130 billion remaining.\n\nThe $900 billion coronavirus relief measure reopens PPP and expands eligible expenses to also include personal protective equipment, supplier costs, and business operations software and human resources needs.", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-06-28T00:42:23Z"], ["https://ohalleran.house.gov/newsroom/in-the-news/blue-dogs-urge-biden-prioritize-bipartisan-legislation-pandemic-response", "Blue Dogs Urge Biden to Prioritize Bipartisan Legislation for Pandemic Response, Recovery", "2020-12-30", "2020", "2020-12", "Democrat", "House", "AZ", "Tom O'Halleran", "O000171", "ohalleran.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "WASHINGTON  Members of the Democratic Blue Dog Coalition sent a letter to President-elect Joe Biden Tuesday requesting that he prioritize bipartisan legislation dealing with novel coronavirus pandemic response and recovery.\nThe letter highlighted the coalition's policy priorities for the 117th Congressional session, including fiscal responsibility, pandemic crisis relief, job creation, government reform and holding foreign adversaries accountable, according to the text of the letter.\nWe firmly believe that in order to make lasting progress, Congress must pursue bipartisan policies that can be implemented, while prioritizing those that pertain to the pandemic response and the economic recovery, the text of the letter read. The American people have sent a clear message: Democrats and Republicans must govern together responsibly.\nThe letter was signed by all members of Blue Dog Coalition, listed as follows: Reps. Stephanie Murphy, D-Fla., Tom O'Halleran, D-Ariz., Lou Correa, D-Calif., Anthony Brindisi, D-N.Y., Kurt Schrader, D-Ore., Sanford Bishop, D-Ga., Ed Case, D-Hawaii, Henry Cuellar, D-Texas, Charlie Crist, D-Fla., Jared Golden, D-Maine, Vicente Gonzalez, D-Texas, Josh Gottheimer, D-N.J., Brad Schneider, D-Ill., Mikie Sherrill, D-N.J., and Mike Thompson, D-Calif.\nIn the letter, the coalition requests that any COVID-19 crisis relief measures signed by Biden contain stronger oversight measures to ensure taxpayer dollars are going to the right places. Further, the coalition noted the need for Congress to take measures to reform the redistricting process, strengthen inspectors general, increase federal transparency and incentivize Congress to pass budget and appropriations bills punctually.\nTo build upon already-passed coronavirus relief legislation, the coalition requested that any new bills pertaining to pandemic response include significant investments in health care, clean energy, education, job training, small businesses, manufacturing and infrastructure in order to sustain middle-class growth in the long-term.\nAdditionally, the Blue Dogs' letter addressed the unsustainable fiscal path taken to swiftly address pandemic relief during the 116th Congressional session. The coalition seeks to tackle the ballooning national debt by exclusively pursuing balanced, bipartisan measures in any upcoming relief measures.\nThe 117th Congress is going to be narrowly divided, with a slim Democratic majority in the House, and, at best, a narrow Senate majority, the text of the letter continued. Our nation faces major challenges as we emerge from the COVID-19 pandemic, and Americans are sick of Congress playing partisan games. Pursuing partisan legislation that cannot make it to your desk for your signature will not only hinder our nation's recovery, it will further feed into the divides in our country. Now more than ever we must demonstrate to the American people that cooler heads can prevail and that government can indeed work for all Americans.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://plaskett.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=3728", "CONGRESSWOMAN STACEY E. PLASKETT ANNOUNCES $17 MILLION GRANT FROM FEMA FOR THE VIRGIN ISLAND TERRITORIAL EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT AGENCY", "2020-12-30", "2020", "2020-12", "Democrat", "House", "VI", "Stacey Plaskett", "P000610", "plaskett.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "For Immediate Release Contact: Michael J. McQuerry  \r\nDecember 30, 2020 202-215-8524\r\nPRESS STATEMENT\r\nCONGRESSWOMAN STACEY E. PLASKETT ANNOUNCES $17 MILLION GRANT FROM FEMA FOR THE VIRGIN ISLAND TERRITORIAL EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT AGENCY\r\nWashington, D.C.  Congresswoman Stacey E. Plaskett released the following statement regarding a grant totaling $17 million for the Virgin Islands Territorial Emergency Management Agency:\r\nToday, I am pleased to announce a grant from the U.S. Department of Homeland Security's Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA). The grant is for $17,417,560.24 in federal funding to the Virgin Islands Territorial Emergency Management Agency for state management costs. State Management costs, which essentially cover the costs of managing or administering the programs which are not covered by the percentage allowance, include all other direct grant administration costs' of the grantee. These costs generally represent regular time salaries and approved equipment purchases and are not intended to fund overtime, per diem, and other costs already covered by statutory administrative costs.\r\nThis important grant will benefit the Virgin Islands tremendously with our ongoing rebuilding efforts and making the Virgin Islands whole again. The United States government and the international community has an obligation to work with the affected local governments to restore infrastructure, provide critical humanitarian assistance, and help rebuild our islands.\r\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://ruiz.house.gov/media-center/e-newsletters/dr-ruiz-celebrates-2019-and-looks-ahead-2020", "Dr. Ruiz Celebrates 2019 and Looks Ahead to the New Year", "2020-12-30", "2020", "2020-12", "Democrat", "House", "CA", "Raul Ruiz", "R000599", "ruiz.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "I am thrilled with all that we have accomplished this year tolower out-of-pocket health care costs,stand up for our veteransand law enforcement officers, and advocate for our seniors!\nAs we look ahead to 2020, we must continue to build on what we've accomplished. Here are some of the reasons why I'm celebrating 2019:\n We cut through the red tape:Our office helped close more than 500 constituent cases to help our friends, families, and neighbors get the benefits they deserve and secure more than $2 million from Social Security, Medicare, the VA, and the IRS.\n\t\t\n\tWe stood up for our veterans:The president has signed into law two of my provisions to address our military's use of toxic burn pits. My bill, the Burn Pits Registry Enhancement Act passed the House earlier this year, andmy two amendments included in this year's NDAAwere signed into law just this month.\n\t\t\n\tWe fought for humanity at our borders:The House passed my bill, theHumanitarian Standards for Individuals in CBP Custody Act, to restore humanity to our treatment of migrants under CBP's custody and responsibility.\n\t\t\n\tWe supported local law enforcement:With local law enforcement collaboration, my amendment to this year's Consolidated Appropriations Act more than doubled our nation's funding for mental health services for law enforcement agencies.\n\t\t\n\tWe stood up against abuse of taxpayer dollars:My legislation, thePublic Service Integrity Act, wouldensure our elected officials never use their office to enrich themselves and passed thepassed the House as part of theFor the People Act.\n I hope you had an outstanding 2019, and I wish you peace and prosperity in 2020!\nI look forward to continuing to work hard next year to lower health care costs,grow our local economy with American jobs, and strengthen our critical infrastructure.\nSincerely, Raul Ruiz, M.D.  Member of Congress", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://ruiz.house.gov/media-center/e-newsletters/dr-ruiz-looks-back-2020", "Dr. Ruiz Looks Back on 2020", "2020-12-30", "2020", "2020-12", "Democrat", "House", "CA", "Raul Ruiz", "R000599", "ruiz.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Dear Friends,\n\nAs we look back on what a year 2020 has been, it's important to remember the good things that give us joy and hope for the future. Today, I'm reflecting on all that we have overcome and achieved this past year, and looking forward to what 2021 will bring.\n\nYear in Review: Looking Back on the 116th Congress\nThis Congress, we made incredible progress for our veterans, helped expand access to crucial health care services, and helped grow American jobs. Here are just a few legislative wins from the 116th Congress:\n The Medicaid Services Investment and Accountability Act became law.This bill will strengthen the Medicaid program for children with complex medical needs, seniors, and people with disabilities.\n\tThe Easy Medication Access and Treatment for Opioid Addiction Act became law.This legislation will fight the opioid epidemic by helping patients begintheir road to recovery, increase access to care, and save lives.\n\tThe Beneficiary Enrollment Notification and Eligibility Simplification (BENES) Actbecame law. Language from my bill, the BENES Act, was signed into law to help reduce gaps in coverage for seniors who sign up for Medicare Part B.\n As your representative, I am committed to helping you cut through the red tape. I am thrilled my office helped over 1,200 constituents resolve their cases with federal agencies this year. Clickhereto learn more about real results for seniors, veterans, and CA-36 residents.\nI am ready to take on 2021  a year that promises to bring new opportunities, obstacles, and hope. Join me as I continue our look back on the year by following my posts onFacebook,Twitter, andInstagramusing #YearInReview.\nI wish you and your family a happy holiday season, and I look forward to serving you in the New Year and the 117th Congress!\nSincerely,    \n\tRaul Ruiz, M.D.  \n\tMember of Congress\n\nIn Case You Missed It:\n Are you a CA-36 resident interested in serving in the Biden-Harris Administration? Find out how to applyhere.\n\tHave questions about the COVID-19 vaccine?Here's what you need to know.\n\tIf you have a background in health care, California needs your help battling COVID-19. Find out about joining the California Health Corpshere.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://trahan.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=1922", "Congresswoman Lori Trahan Issues End of Term Report", "2020-12-30", "2020", "2020-12", "Democrat", "House", "MA", "Lori Trahan", "T000482", "trahan.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "LOWELL, MA Today,Congresswoman Lori Trahan (MA-03)released her term in review report detailing key victories she secured for residents of Massachusetts' Third District during her first two years in Congress.\r\nWhen I took office in January 2019, it was with the promise that the concerns of hardworking families across Massachusetts' Third District would always come first,Congresswoman Trahan said. Each day, that promise drives my work in the U.S. Capitol and in our community. As this report details, we've accomplished a tremendous amount over the past two years. However, there is still much work to be done, and I look forward to continuing to deliver for Massachusetts families, workers, and small businesses as we navigate this pandemic and beyond.\r\nThe report details Congresswoman Trahan's first term by the numbers, including a breakdown of her accessibility to constituents, her team's ability to successfully assist folks in need of help with a federal agency, and her performance on key legislative scorecards. It also lists solutions Trahan prioritized in response to problems experienced by folks she represents, including addressing COVID-19, strengthening education, tackling the opioid crisis, protecting the environment, and more.\r\n  \r\nThe report can be accessed by clickingHERE. ###", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://wassermanschultz.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=2555", "Wasserman Schultz on Reauthorization, Increased Funding of the EARLY Act", "2020-12-30", "2020", "2020-12", "Democrat", "House", "FL", "Debbie Wasserman Schultz", "W000797", "wassermanschultz.house.gov", "wassermanschultz", "https://wassermanschultz.house.gov/news/documentquery.aspx", "scraper", "Washington DC \u2013 U.S. Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz (FL-23) released the following statement after her legislation, the Education and Awareness Requires Learning Young Act, or EARLY Act Reauthorization of 2020, became law this week with the President\u2019s signing of the larger government spending and COVID-19 relief package:\n\n\u201cFor young women and those of certain ethnic and racial populations, breast cancer can be even more deadly because it is often more aggressive and too frequently caught later than it should be. The EARLY Act of 2020, which reauthorizes the law that I sponsored and passed in 2010 after overcoming my own battle with breast cancer, increases funding and ensures that young women\u2019s breast health awareness, education and grant programs are funded through the EARLY Act at an increased level of $9 million annually from 2022 through 2026. This vital funding will expand the effective Bring Your Brave and Health Care Provider education and awareness programs implemented by the Centers for Disease Control and fund additional grants to young women\u2019s and higher risk women\u2019s breast cancer organizations. By reauthorizing the EARLY Act, we continue the vital work of educating young and higher risk women about their breast health and help focus their attention to this deadly disease. Among other things, this legislation will fund grants and support initiatives educate and provide help to young and high-risk women, collect family histories and educate health care providers. I know first-hand this law and funding is needed, because I was a young woman who was unaware of my risk and after my breast cancer diagnosis at 41, was diagnosed with the BRCA2 gene mutation. Today, I am still cancer-free because my cancer and my genetic risk were caught early and I am committed to helping high risk and young women acquire the knowledge and resources they need to not just survive, but thrive. The earlier that cancer cases are identified, the better the chances of survival. That is just what the EARLY Act will continue to do: save women\u2019s lives.\u201d", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-06-28T00:42:23Z"], ["https://www.brown.senate.gov/newsroom/press/release/brown-senate-floor-2000-direct-payments-ohioans", "Brown Takes to Senate Floor to Demand Swift Senate Action on $2,000 Direct Payments for Ohioans", "2020-12-30", "2020", "2020-12", "Democrat", "House", "OH", "Sherrod Brown", "B000944", "www.brown.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Download Production Quality Video HERE WASHINGTON, D.C.  Today, U.S. Senator Sherrod Brown (D-OH) took to the Senate floor as he continues to call for a quick Senate vote on increasing direct payments to Ohioans struggling amid the COVID-19 pandemic from $600 to $2,000. The House passed legislation on Monday increasing the amount to $2,000, and the legislation has the support of Senators in both parties and President Trump. Brown is calling on Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY) to take quick action on the House-passed legislation. It's pretty simple: the best way to help Ohio workers and families is to put more money in their pockets  not in the bank accounts of the largest corporations and the biggest banks, hoping it will trickle down. We need to invest directly in the people who make this country work, said Brown. Brown's remarks, as prepared for delivery can be found below:  There is one simple question before the Senate this week: are we going to put more money in people's pockets? The American people made it clear in this election that they want a government that's on their side. This is our chance to deliver for them  to show the people we serve that we can make a real difference in their lives. It's pretty simple: the best way to help Ohio workers and families is to put more money in their pockets  not in the bank accounts of the largest corporations and the biggest banks, hoping it will trickle down. We know it never does. CEOs just pay themselves instead. We need to invest directly in the people who make this country work. It helps people pay the bills, stay in their homes, and get through this downturn. And it injects money into local economies that desperately need it  the more money people have, the more they can spend at small businesses that are hurting right now. We know this works  it did in the spring. We came together, across the aisle, and we passed the CARES Act, with expanded UI and direct stimulus checks. We kept 13 million people out of poverty, and we gave millions more peace of mind, with a bit of a cushion to weather this crisis. The bill we passed last week was a good step in that direction  but we can make it even stronger. Back in March, my original plan called for bigger checks for more people  $2,000 per person, adults and children. And we called for them to be sent automatically throughout the year, every quarter, as long as we remained in a public health emergency. It's clear now, that's what we should have done  no one could predict how long this crisis would last, and today, we still aren't certain when everyone will be vaccinated and when the economy will return to full strength. We don't have to sit idly by and wonder how bad it could get. We are the strongest, richest country on earth  we have the resources to do something about it. We just need leadership willing to use every tool we have. If they refuse to support this, Leader McConnell and Senate Republicans will make it painfully clear for the American people whose side they're on. They had no problem pouring money into corporations' coffers with their tax cut, and blowing up the deficit. They were all too happy to let the government shovel loans to the biggest banks and companies. But in the middle of the worst crisis of our lifetimes, faced with the chance to give money directly to ordinary Americans, they claim we can't afford it. That's a lie. Again, we are the richest country on earth. I remember what the economist Bill Spriggs told the Banking and Housing Committee in September  we didn't win WWII by worrying about whether or not we could afford it. We were in a global crisis and we marshalled all of our vast resources and talent to rise to meet it  and then we grew the economy from the middle class out, and we paid down the debt with rising wages. And if we've learned anything from this crisis, it should be that we can do the same again. Americans are tired of being told we can't. That's the only answer Leader McConnell and Congressional Republicans ever have for most people's problems  we can't help you, we can't solve problems, you're on your own. Let's aim higher. Let's deliver for the people we serve. Let's put $2,000 in their pockets  money that will make such a difference for so many families. It will help a mother worried about how she'll pay back rent. It will keep a laid-off restaurant worker from turning to a payday lender. It will allow a father to buy a new computer, so his kids are better able to learn online. There are millions of real people  people we swore an oath to serve  who would breathe a little easier this New Years, if we pass this. So let's be very clear about the decision before the Senate: are you going to give the people you serve $2,000, or are you going to stand in the way? It's that simple. Let's come together, let's pass this, and let's make a real difference in people's lives. ###", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://www.brown.senate.gov/newsroom/press/release/portman-brown-bipartisan-legislation-rename-nasas-plum-brook-station-test-facility-neil-armstrong", "Portman, Brown Announce Bipartisan Legislation to Rename NASAs Plum Brook Station Test Facility After Neil Armstrong Signed Into Law", "2020-12-30", "2020", "2020-12", "Democrat", "House", "OH", "Sherrod Brown", "B000944", "www.brown.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "WASHINGTON, DC  Today, U.S. Senators Rob Portman (R-OH) and Sherrod Brown (D-OH) announced that President Trump has signed into law their bipartisan legislation to rename NASA's Plum Brook Station, the agency's test facility in Sandusky, Ohio, after Neil Armstrong. Portman and Brown introduced the legislation last year. Plum Brook is part of the NASA Glenn Research Center. Ithouses unique world-class facilities that conduct critical and innovative ground tests for the international aerospace community. From his service as a Navy fighter pilot, to his courageous experiments as a test pilot, to his space exploration and first step on the surface of the Moon, Neil Armstrong left an indelible mark in mankind's history of flight.In all his accomplishments, he considered himself first and foremost a test pilot who pushed the boundaries of what was possible in the air and in space, Senator Portman said. Neil was a humble and patriotic Ohioan who believed the honor of serving his country was a reward in and of itself. That's why, when I asked him the year before he passed away whether he wanted me to pursue naming Plum Brook after him, he demurred. But he was a strong supporter of Plum Brook Station and the important simulations and testing being done there, and I believe it is precisely because of his humility, coupled with his unparalleled accomplishments, that the renaming is appropriate.In consultation with his family and NASA, Senator Brown and I introduced this legislation last year and I applaud President Trump for signing this legislation into law as a fitting tribute to Armstrongs amazing accomplishments in air and in space. Before Neil Armstrong became the first person to step foot on the moon, he was an up-and-coming test pilot in northeast Ohio at what is now known as the NASA John H. Glenn Research Center. I'm pleased to join Sen. Portman in honoring Ohio-native Neil Armstrong by renaming NASA Glenn's Plum Brook Station in Sandusky for a man who inspires future Ohioans to continue our state's tradition of breaking barriers in space,said Senator Brown, who nowoccupiesthe late Ohio Senator and astronaut John Glenn's old office in Washington, DC. NOTE: In July of 2019, in advance of the 50th anniversary of the Apollo 11 moon landing, Portman and Brown announced their intention to rename the facility. Prior to the 50th anniversary of the Apollo 11 moon landing, Portman paid tribute to his friend, Ohio-native Neil Armstrong in a video, as well as on the Senate floor. In August of 2019, Portman accompanied NASA Administrator Jim Bridenstine in a visit to NASA's Glenn Research Center at Lewis Field in Cleveland and Plum Brook Station in Sandusky to view progress on the agency's Artemis Program -- its multi-year plan to return American astronauts to the Moon and eventually send manned missions to Mars. ###", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://www.coons.senate.gov/news/press-releases/senator-coons-returns-to-washington-to-override-ndaa-veto", "Senator Coons returns to Washington to override NDAA veto", "2020-12-30", "2020", "2020-12", "Democrat", "House", "DE", "Christopher Coons", "C001088", "www.coons.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "WILMINGTON, Del.  U.S. Sen. Chris Coons (D-Del.), a\r\nmember of the Senate Appropriations and Foreign Relations Committees, returned\r\nto Washington today for a vote to override President Donald Trump's veto of the\r\nNational\r\nDefense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2021. \"I expect we will override President Trump's veto of\r\nthe military bill,\" Sen. Coons said, \"which means several good things\r\nfor Delawareans and the country writ large including a pay increase for our\r\ntroops and more investment in cybersecurity, both steps that we should be taking\r\nto reward the sacrifice of our military and keep our country safe.\" The override of a\r\nveto, the process by which each chamber of Congress votes for\r\na second time on a bill rejected by the president, requires a two-thirds vote\r\nin each the Senate and House of Representatives. Congress has historically overridden fewer than\r\n10% of all presidential vetoes. The Senate is scheduled to convene and resume consideration of\r\nthe veto message on the NDAA for FY21 at noon tomorrow. The final override will\r\nget a vote sometime in the next few days. To check the Senate's schedule and watch live floor proceedings,\r\nvisit www.senate.gov/floor/.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://www.durbin.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/durbin-calls-on-mcconnell-to-bring-2000-direct-payment-measure-to-the-floor-for-a-vote", "Durbin Calls on McConnell to Bring $2,000 Direct Payment Measure to the Floor for a Vote", "2020-12-30", "2020", "2020-12", "Democrat", "House", "IL", "Richard Durbin", "D000563", "www.durbin.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "12.30.20\n\t\t\t Durbin Calls on McConnell to Bring $2,000 Direct Payment Measure to the Floor for a Vote \n\t\t\t\n\t\t\tWASHINGTON  In a speech on the Senate floor, U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) today called on Senate Republicans to support the House-passed CASH Act, a measure that would increase direct payments from $600 to $2,000 for individuals earning less than $75,000 per year. The measure passed the House yesterday by a vote of 275-134, with 44 House Republicans supporting the bill. Durbin also spoke about his frustration with President Donald Trump's delay in signing the final COVID-19 emergency relief package, which passed Congress last week.\r\nUnfortunately, the President delayed in signing the bill and creating needless uncertainty in America, particularly among the unemployed and others suffering from this economic and health crisis,Durbin said. One of the most widely discussed measures of the COVID-19 relief bill was the second round of economic impact payments. Just yesterday, the House of Representatives passed the CASH Act the head of the Federal Reserve, Chairman Powell, has really instructed us to keep the foot on the accelerator so that our economy doesn't slump into a recession. At a time when so many American families are laid off, unemployed, and simply struggling to get by, there is nothing more invigorating to the economy than to have a cash infusion.\r\nDurbin continued,By passing this enhanced measure, we could restore the American public's confidence in Washington, and the fact that we are listening and working together on a bipartisan basis to respond. This measure that passed the House of Representatives has the support of the President, Speaker Pelosi, House Democrats, as well as many House Republicans. Leader Schumer and my Senate Democratic colleagues support it. So I hope Senator McConnell, the Republican Leader, and his colleagues in the Republican caucus will join us to pass this bill quickly this week.\r\nIn his speech on the Senate floor, Durbin also reiterated his disappointment that funding for state and local governments was not included in the final COVID-19 emergency relief package.\r\nOne of the most important items that Congress failed to reach an agreement on was funding for state and local governments. States and localities are struggling due to increased costs and decreased revenues due to the pandemic. By this summer, my home state of Illinois will have lost more than $5 billion in revenues. I can tell you that that's going to cause pain and cutbacks,Durbin said. I certainly hope that the next President, who will be sworn in on January 20, will take this up as one of his highest priorities.\r\nVideo of Durbin's remarks on the Senate floor isavailablehere.\r\nAudio of Durbin's remarks on the Senate floor is availablehere.\r\nFootage of Durbin's remarks on the Senate floor is availableherefor TV Stations.\r\n-30-\r\n\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\n\t   \n\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t \n\t\t\n\t\t\tPrint\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\tEmail\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\tTweet\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\n\t \n\t\n\t\n\n \n\t\n    \n   \n    \n    \t\n    \t\n\t    \t  \n\t\t    \n\t\t    \tPrevious Article\n\t\t    \n\t\t    \n\t\t    \tNext Article", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://www.gillibrand.senate.gov//news/press/release/schumer-gillibrand-announce-over-22-million-in-federal-funding-for-northwell-health-incs-covid-19-response-and-emergency-management", "Schumer, Gillibrand Announce Over $22 Million In Federal Funding For Northwell Health Inc.\u2019s COVID-19 Response And Emergency Management", "2020-12-30", "2020", "2020-12", "Democrat", "House", "NY", "Kirsten Gillibrand", "G000555", "www.gillibrand.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "December 30, 2020\n\t\t\t Schumer, Gillibrand Announce Over $22 Million In Federal Funding For Northwell Health Inc.'s COVID-19 Response And Emergency Management \n\t\t\t\n\t\t\tU.S. Senate Minority Leader Charles E. Schumer and U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand today announced $22,207,274.93 in federal funding forNorthwellHealth Inc. in New York City. The funding was allocated through the U.S. Department of Homeland Security's Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) and will be used to coverprevious COVID-19 response and operational costs. Specifically, the funding will be used tocover the costs of cleaning suppliesfor facility sanitization,medical supplies and PPE includingmasks, gloves, gowns, coveralls, face shields, shoe covers and testing supplies.\r\n\r\nI'm proud to deliver these vital federal funds to help cover the massive costs of increased protective measures needed to safely care for COVID-19 patients throughout the pandemic,saidSenator Schumer. We must continue to support our local hospitals and health centers as we work to mitigate the spread of coronavirus and recover from this health and economic crisis. I will continue to prioritize the safety of our healthcare workers and facilities when fighting for federal funding.\r\n\r\nNew York City's frontline workers, hospitals, and health centers continue to be stretched thin by the surge of COVID-19 cases and need immediate federal aid,saidSenator Gillibrand.This federal funding will provideNorthwellHealth Inc. with the PPE and equipment needed to increase the safety of both patients and providers, and help mitigate further spread of COVID-19. I'm proud to fight for funding that will help New York's health care professionals keep our communities safe during this unprecedented health crisis. \r\nNorthwellHealth, Inc. is New York's largest healthcare provider, employing over 74,000 employees in over 800 hospitals and healthcare centers.NorthwellHealth Inc. played a critical role in executing New York State's COVID-19 testing plan early in the pandemic and has provided resources and support including medical supply distribution, medical care for management control, and reduction of immediate threats to public health and safety. This Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) funding is authorized under Section 403 of the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act.\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\n\t  \n\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t \n\t\t\n\t\t\tPrint\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\tEmail\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\tTweet\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\n\t \n\t\n\t\n\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n    \n\t\n\t\n    \n    \n    \n    \t\n    \t\n\t    \t  \n\t\t    \n\t\t    \tNext Article\n\t\t    \n\t\t    \n\t\t    \tPrevious Article", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://www.manchin.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/manchin-votes-to-move-forward-to-override-president-trumps-veto-of-defense-bill", "Manchin Votes To Move Forward To Override President Trump's Veto Of Defense Bill", "2020-12-30", "2020", "2020-12", "Democrat", "House", "WV", "Joe Manchin", "M001183", "www.manchin.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "December 30, 2020\n\t\t\t Manchin Votes To Move Forward To Override President Trump's Veto Of Defense Bill \n\t\t\t\n\t\t\tWashington,\r\nDC  U.S. Senator Joe Manchin (D-WV) voted to move forward in the process to\r\noverride President Trump's veto of the Fiscal Year (FY) 2021 National Defense\r\nAuthorization Act (NDAA). The Senate voted 80-12 in favor of moving forward in\r\nthe process to override President Trump's veto. Senator Manchin condemned\r\nPresident Trump's reckless decision to veto the vital legislation last week. \r\n\r\n\r\n\r\nThis evening, the Senate overwhelmingly voted\r\nto move forward in the process to override President Trump's reckless and\r\nselfish veto of the FY21 NDAA. This is the first\r\nstep in ensuring our servicemembers receive the support they need to\r\nprotect America from threats at home and abroad. The NDAA has passed with\r\noverwhelming bipartisan support for six decades and while the override is not final yet, I am relieved the\r\nSenate can come together to support our servicemembers and their families and\r\nensure America and our allies are secure and protected.  \n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\n\t  \n\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t \n\t\t\n\t\t\tPrint\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\tEmail\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\tTweet\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\n\t \n\t\n\t\n\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n    \n\t\n\t\n    \n    \n    \n    \t\n    \t\n\t    \t  \n\t\t    \n\t\t    \tNext Article\n\t\t    \n\t\t    \n\t\t    \tPrevious Article", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://www.speaker.gov/newsroom/123020", "Pelosi Announces Creation of Select Committee on Economic Disparity & Fairness in Growth", "2020-12-30", "2020", "2020-12", "Democrat", "House", "CA", "Nancy Pelosi", "P000197", "www.speaker.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Washington, D.C.  Speaker Nancy Pelosi issued this statement announcing the creation in the 117th Congress of the new Select Committee on Economic Disparity and Fairness in Growth:\nAs House Speaker, I am proud to announce the creation of the new, bipartisan Select Committee on Economic Disparity and Fairness in Growth, which will be an essential force in Congressional Democrats' action to combat the crisis of income and wealth disparity in America. It is molded after the mission of the Temporary National Economic Committee, founded by President Roosevelt and the Congress after the Great Depression to study and combat the concentration of wealth in America and its role in triggering economic collapse.\nAs President Roosevelt said before founding this Committee, The liberty of a democracy is not safe if the people tolerate the growth of private power to a point where it becomes stronger than their democratic state itself the liberty of a democracy is not safe if its business system does not provide employment and produce and distribute goods in such a way as to sustain an acceptable standard of living.'\nThe past several decades have shown with devastating clarity the marked imbalance between the financial fortunes of CEOs and workers. The reverence of those who amass profits by stagnating wages has seriously undermined the lives and livelihoods of many Americans, while slowing economic growth in our country. This year, the disturbing, dangerous trend of economic disparity has also been accelerated by the coronavirus economic crisis.\nThe devaluing of work has had a negative impact on consumer confidence, job creation and economic growth. And the situation of families no longer believing that their children will have a brighter future than they is seriously damaging and demoralizing to our society.\nThat is why we are creating this Select Committee, which will be a resource to the Congress to make policy related to economic fairness, access to education and workforce development. Working with the Committees of Jurisdiction, the Select Committee will study and recommend proposals to make our economy work for everyone, powering American economic growth while ensuring that no one is left out or left behind in the 21st Century Economy.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://www.speaker.gov/newsroom/123020-0", "Transcript of Pelosi Weekly Press Conference Today", "2020-12-30", "2020", "2020-12", "Democrat", "House", "CA", "Nancy Pelosi", "P000197", "www.speaker.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Washington, D.C.  Speaker Nancy Pelosi held her weekly press conference today in the Capitol Visitor Center. Below are the Speaker's remarks: \nSpeaker Pelosi. Good morning. Welcome to the last weekly of this year  of this year, of this session of Congress and of this Congress. Until next week, when we'll be in a new Congress. I wish you a Happy New Year as we go forward.\nSadly, the Congress received the news last evening of the passing of a new Member of Congress, Luke Letlow from Louisiana, due to be sworn in this Sunday, but taken by the coronavirus yesterday. He leaves his wife and two babies, and we extend great sympathy to his family. So sad. Forty-one years old, coronavirus, blood clot complication. Could happen to anyone. And it has happened to nearly 350,000 Americans.\nMany of those deaths could have been avoided. As we go forward, we must, we must make sure that we are scientific and determined to crush the virus in whatever form it takes. In the meantime, though, let us extend deepest sympathy to their family and to to those little babies who have lost their daddy.\nSo, here we are in time, as I mentioned, the last meeting of the year for us. Let's just talk about the last week or so. In the last week or so, we sent to the President the legislation, it took some time for it to be enrolled because it was a lot  a big bill. He received it on Christmas Eve, 3:30 in the afternoon. He did sign it on Sunday evening and we were very pleased with that because it had very strong bipartisan vote in the House and in the Senate.\nIn the course of, though, of that week, the President announced his support for the $2,000 direct payment, which we madly embraced, and said, We join with the President in supporting this,' came in on Christmas Eve, were blocked by the Republicans for having a Unanimous Consent to bill  bring up that legislation. But on Monday, in regular session, we brought it forth and it passed with strong bipartisan support. We were very pleased then to send that over to Mitch McConnell and the Senate.\nThe President of the United States has expressed his support for the $2,000. The Democrats and Republicans in the House have passed that legislation. Who is holding up that distribution to the American people? Mitch McConnell and the Senate Republicans.\nDemocratic Leader Schumer, yesterday, asked for Unanimous Consent to bring it up in the Senate, which was blocked by Mitch McConnell and the Republicans in the Senate. In blocking it, they are in denial of the hardship that the American people are experiencing now. Health wise, financially, in every way. Their lives and livelihood in many cases are on the brink. So, they're in denial of that need in denying this benefit.\nI do hope that in the days ahead  we only have a few days left in this session  that they will see the light and understand what the suffering  the suffering that is going on in our country.\nNow, I've said before, it's amazing to see the patience that some people have with other people's suffering. These Republicans in the Senate seem to have an endless tolerance for other people's sadness. We urge Mitch McConnell to stop his obstruction and to bring that legislation to the Floor of the Senate. And we urge Republicans in the Senate to encourage him to do so.\nIt's really important to note though how important this money in the pockets of American people are. If they have the resources, they spend it. They inject demand into the economy. That is job-creating. It's important to note that with the bill that we passed last week, that the President signed  that we sent over last week and that the President signed on Sunday evening, brought us up to a, nearly a trillion dollars for small businesses in our country  a trillion and just about $950 billion, and we support that. We know that small businesses are the lifeblood of our economy. The most optimistic thing you can do is to start a small business, your hopes and dreams, your ideas, your vision.\nBut for those small businesses to take advantage of that money, they have to have customers. It's not enough to keep the doors open if nobody's walking through. And that's why these direct payments are so necessary. \nAnd for those small businesses to thrive, they must have services provided by state and local government. Our health care providers, our heroes: health care providers, transportation, sanitation, first responders, police and fire, our teachers, our teachers, our teachers. And that's why in this next session of Congress, in the new Congress with the new President, we must pass legislation that not only honors our heroes, but recognizes the services that they provide enable our lives to function, our businesses to thrive, our economy to prosper and our people to be healthy. So, that will be a very important part of what we do next. \nBut you would think that there would at least be the immediate recognition that the money in the pockets of the American people helps those small businesses thrive. Just for  I've had the poster here before. It's a bigger number now than before: about $950 billion, nearly a trillion dollars to small business. $160 billion, $160 billion to state and local government. 950, 160. State and local government: health care workers, police and fire, teachers, sanitation, transportation, food workers. 160, 950.\nBut we need more here to exploit the opportunity that is here. And, in the meantime, this $2,000 will go a long way, not only to sustain the financial security of America's working families, but will help small business to thrive as well. So, these things are all connected\nAt the same time, as we had a good day on Monday passing, in bipartisan fashion, the CASH Act. The CASH Act, Caring for Americans with Supplemental Help  Caring for Americans with Supplemental [Help], the CASH Act. We also, that day, had an overwhelming vote to override the President's veto of the National Defense Authorization Act, the NDAA. Overwhelming, overwhelming vote: [322]-87. One hundred and nine Republicans voted to override the President's veto. We hope that the Senate will follow suit. They had a big, strong vote in the Senate in favor of this bill. Hopefully, they will stand by their votes there and sustain the veto, excuse me, overturn the veto of the President. We'll see. Okay, so that's what happened in the past week. \nIn the past week, we have also seen reports of the vaccine distribution not measuring up to what we need to have a fair, equitable distribution of the vaccine that is free. I support what President-elect Joe Biden said yesterday, that in his Administration, the 100 million vaccinations in a short period of time, that he would engage the national Defense Production Act to make sure that we not only have the vaccines, but the means to make the inoculation. It's one thing to be in the lab, another thing to be in the arm. \nThere's a lot in between in terms of logistics, in terms of administration, in terms of materials. And one of the things that is holding up the further vaccinations in the country is this Administration, the Trump Administration's lack of cooperation on the distribution of syringes and other things that go into that, and holding up some of the vaccine as well. \nSo, this has to be done better. This has to be done better. And let's hope in the last few weeks of the Trump Administration, that they will follow the science, that they will make the vaccines available, that they will make the syringes and other materials available, so that you can have many more people vaccinated even before the inauguration.\nThis vaccine  this pandemic is horrible. I mean, in every way, the lives and livelihoods of the American people are affected by it in a massive way. However, it has also pulled back the curtain to reveal further disparities in our economy and in our society. They have become  come into sharper focus because of the pandemic. And that is why I have asked the Rules Committee that we will be taking up the new rules package on Monday, or Sunday night if the schedule allows, but following the vote for Speaker, I will have them announce in the next day or so, when they put forth the rules package, a Select Committee on Economic Disparity and Fairness in Growth.\nAs we go into this new Congress, we have to have a scientific start on crushing the virus. We have to honor heroes, state and local government, and we have to put money into the pockets of the American people. Hopefully, we can do this on this side of the weekend, rather than waiting until later, the third point, direct payments. That has always been our goal: crush the virus, honor our heroes, money in the pockets of the American people.\nClearly, the disparities in income and equity in our country are vast. We've known that. They've only gotten worse, and the pandemic, again, puts it in sharper focus. And that's why I'm proud to announce the creation of a new bipartisan Select Committee on Economic Disparity and Fairness in Growth, which will be a central force for the Congress to combat the crisis of income and wealth disparity in America.\nOur Members are full of exuberance and many suggestions, on both sides of the aisle. Yesterday, some proposed to me, $2,000 a month as this  as we go through this bad time. Others, Congresswoman Jayapal, has a wage guarantee legislation. Others have,Congresswoman Murphy, has the income  the [Employee] Retention Tax Credit, which is in  which is in the bills that the President just signed, somewhat. \nBut there are others: sovereign wealth funds to give the profit  the benefit  the income to poor families in America, other bonding issues to try to address the fact that the middle class is the backbone of our democracy. When that is weakened, so is our democracy. So, this is to address not only the middle class, but those who aspire to the middle class. But the disparity has only grown and so I, as a model for this, as you may recall, when we did Mr. Clyburn's committee, we used the Truman Committee as a reference to how to save money, save lives.\nThis is something that  it's modeled after the mission of the Temporary National Economic Committee founded by President Roosevelt and the Congress after the Great Depression to study and combat the concentration of wealth in America and its role in triggering economic collapse. This is what President Roosevelt said at the time. He said, The liberty of a democracy is not safe if the people tolerate the growth of private power to a point where it becomes stronger than their democratic state itself the liberty of a democracy is not safe if its business system does not provide employment and produce and distribute goods in a way as to sustain an acceptable standard of living.' \nThat is why we are creating this Select Committee, which will be a resource to the Congress to make policy related to economic fairness, access to education and workforce development, et cetera. And, again, we'll work with the committees of jurisdiction. This is not a legislative committee. It is a committee to make recommendations. The committees of jurisdiction, have all done a great job, our Education and Labor Committee, Ways and Means Committee, Energy and Commerce Committee, Financial Services, the list  they have done a great job in trying to address these concerns legislatively. We need a bigger spotlight on the problem, and on some of the solutions so that we can all participate in the very worthy suggestions that are made. And again, we will empower American economic growth, while ensuring that no one is left behind in the 21st century economy that we are putting forth. \nSo, we have a  we're very excited about our new President-elect, and that in three weeks, we will have a new president. It's pretty exciting, President and Vice President making history, that we have the gavel, that we have held the Congress. We look forward to what's happening in Georgia on Tuesday. So, every day is action packed. But I just wanted to review some of what happened in the past week to take us to this point.\nThis point, $2,000 direct payment to the American people being held up by Mitch McConnell, the same person who put $160 billion tax break for the wealthiest people and firms in America in the CARES Act. $160 billion in the CARES Act for the wealthiest in our country, refusing $2,000 to those who need it most, the same Republicans in the Congress who eagerly passed the tax bill that gave 83 percent of the benefits to the top one percent, taking us well into debt. Nearly $2 trillion for our children to pay off so that they could have a tax break for the wealthy with a mythology that it would trickle down. And it has not, nor has it ever. Mitch McConnell, remove the obstacle that you have the American people having the opportunity to have that direct payment, and do it now. \n* * *\nAny questions? Yes ma'am.\nQ: Madam Speaker, do you plan to seat Ms. Miller-Meeks on Sunday, and are you confident that you're going to have a Dem Majority present?\nSpeaker Pelosi. Yes, and yes, definitely. Yes. \nQ: On the stimulus checks, we're hearing on the Senate side that time is running out. Are you going to commit to bringing this idea back, the $2,000 checks, next week if it does die in this Congress? \nSpeaker Pelosi. Well, let us  let us be hopeful that it can happen this week, because the sooner it happens, the sooner the checks go out. So, we're not giving up on it. The President of the United States, Donald Trump, is advocating for it. The Congress, in a bipartisan way in the House, has voted for it. It would have bipartisan support in the Senate if Mitch McConnell would only allow it to come to the Floor, instead of being an obstruction to those checks going to the American people.\nQ: One additional question, we're just hearing from Josh Hawley that he's going to object on January 6th and force a debate on Electoral College votes. Could you comment on that move from the Republican? \nSpeaker Pelosi. I have no doubt that on next Wednesday, a week from today, that Joe Biden will be confirmed by the acceptance of the vote of the Electoral College as the 46th President of the United States. \nYes, ma'am.\nQ: Madam Speaker, an overview from you: you've kept your Caucus together with a fighting spirit this year through very hard times. Did the events of 2020 help keep your Caucus cohesion? And secondly, what are your thoughts on a slimmer Majority next year, next week? \nSpeaker Pelosi. Well, we are very excited about having won the House. We have the gavel, the Speaker's gavel. We also have 132 other gavels of chairs and subcommittees, and they are again, many of them in the hands, this past term of Freshmen and newer Members of Congress. And we're excited about that. Eighteen Freshmen had gavels, that was historic. There has been nothing even close to that before. \nThe  I have every confidence. Our Caucus is unified around our common ethical belief in our responsibility to America's working families. That's what brings us together. Of course, we have our differences in approach, and some other ideas. And that's our vitality. I would not want to be a leader of a party that was rubber stamp, lockstep. That's called Republicans. We, the Democratic Party, are democratic in every way, including respecting the views of all in our Caucus.\nSo, I have  I have great confidence that on an agenda that is there for America's working families, we will have the unity that we need to proceed under the leadership of Joe Biden, Kamala Harris, the Biden-Harris Administration, and hopefully with the Democratic Senate. We'll see what next week brings.\nOkay, thank you all. Thank you all very much.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://www.speaker.gov/newsroom/123020-1", "Dear Colleague on End of 116th Congress", "2020-12-30", "2020", "2020-12", "Democrat", "House", "CA", "Nancy Pelosi", "P000197", "www.speaker.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Dear Democratic Colleague,\nAs we prepare to close the 116th Congress, I write to express my deep appreciation for the unity of House Democrats in fighting For The People. It is with great optimism that we prepare for a new Congress and a new Administration.\nCongress has passed and the President has signed a coronavirus relief bill to help fight the virus and put money in the pockets of the American people, but much more needs to be done to honor our heroes at the state and local level. Supporting them will facilitate making the much-anticipated vaccine more readily and fairly available.\nWe must join in the Biden-Harris Administration's Build Back Better initiative for job creation and economic opportunity, including its protections of our planet. The pandemic has pulled back the veil of inequality, sharpening our focus on the disparities that rage in our economy and our society. In our work, we must promote justice in the economy, in health care, in law enforcement and in the environment.\nAs we go forward, we do so with pride in the work of our Caucus, Committee Chairs and Committee Members and with confidence that we will get the job done. It is imperative that we do so connecting with the hopes and dreams of our constituents and with prayers for a better future for all.\nThanks for your leadership and your friendship.\nBest wishes for a Happy New Year.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://gomez.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=2182", "Rep. Jimmy Gomez, House Colleagues, Demand Immediate Trump Administration Withdrawal Of Any New Oil And Gas Leases Off California Coast", "2020-12-29", "2020", "2020-12", "Democrat", "House", "CA", "Jimmy Gomez", "G000585", "gomez.house.gov", "gomez", "https://gomez.house.gov/news/documentquery.aspx?DocumentTypeID=27", "scraper", "WASHINGTON, D.C. \u2013 In an effort to head off last minute lame-duck Trump Administration efforts to expand offshore oil and gas drilling along the California coast, Congressman Jimmy Gomez (CA-34), today, joined a letter with 21 House colleagues from the California Delegation in expressing their strong opposition to any expansion of oil and gas drilling off the coast of California.\n\nIn a letter to Department of Interior Secretary David Bernhardt, co-led by Representatives Alan Lowenthal (CA-47), Salud Carbajal (CA-24), Jared Huffman (CA-2), and Mike Levin (CA-49), the Members demand the outgoing Trump Administration immediately withdraw any new oil and gas leasing off California from consideration in any future federal program.\n\n\u201cThe inevitable onshore and offshore risks associated with offshore drilling impact public health, the environment, and our climate,\" wrote the lawmakers. \"For these reasons, every single coastal governor along the Atlantic and Pacific coasts, Republican and Democrat alike, has stood in opposition to offshore drilling. In coastal communities, where livelihoods are built around fishing, tourism, and recreation, it is critically important to guard against oil leaks or spills that could harm these ocean dependent economies and fragile marine ecosystems.\u201d\n\nThe letter also points out that just three months ago President Trump, in response to loud outcry from coastal communities across the nation, issued a ten-year moratorium on offshore drilling in waters off Florida, Georgia, and South Carolina.\n\nThe letter highlights California\u2019s intimate history with off shore oil drilling impacts, most notably the 1969 oil spill off the coast of Santa Barbara, California, which at the time was the largest oil spill in the United States. This tragedy killed thousands of marine mammals, fish, and birds, and oil washed up on the beaches for hundreds of miles along Central and Southern California. In the 50 years since, there have been no new oil and gas leases in California state waters and no federal leases off California for more than 35 years.\n\nThe Members also highlight that the BP Deepwater Horizon disaster just 10 years ago highlights that offshore oil drilling is no safer today than it was in 1969.\n\nWhile it is unlikely that the Trump Administration would be able to formalize any new leases before the Biden Administration takes office on January 20, the Members conclude their letter by demanding Secretary Bernhardt put an immediate halt during the Trump Administration\u2019s remaining time in office to any consideration of new oil and gas leasing off California.\n\nClick here to read the full text of the letter.\n\nThe letter was led by Congressmen Alan Lowenthal (CA-47), Salud Carbajal (CA-24), Jared Huffman (CA-2), and Mike Levin (CA-49). In addition, the letter was cosigned by Congressmembers Mike Thompson (CA-5), Doris O. Matsui (CA-6), Ami Bera (CA-7), Jerry McNerney (CA-9), Mark DeSaulnier (CA-11), Barbara Lee (CA-13), Ro Khanna (CA-17), Anna G. Eshoo (CA-18), Jimmy Panetta (CA-20), Julia Brownley (CA-26), Adam B. Schiff (CA-28), Grace Napolitano (CA-32), Ted W. Lieu (CA-33), Karen Bass (CA-37), Maxine Waters (CA-43), Nanette Diaz Barrag\u00e1n (CA-44), and Juan Vargas (CA-51).", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-06-28T00:42:23Z"], ["https://adamsmith.house.gov/news/press-releases/rep-smith-introduces-bill-provide-automatic-rental-assistance-families-response", "Rep. Smith Introduces Bill to Provide Automatic Rental Assistance to Families in Response to Recessions and Natural Disasters", "2020-12-29", "2020", "2020-12", "Democrat", "House", "WA", "Adam Smith", "S000510", "adamsmith.house.gov", "adamsmith", "https://adamsmith.house.gov/news/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON, D.C. - Representative Adam Smith (D-Wash.) introduced the Crisis Housing Act which would establish a new automatic housing assistance program to provide emergency rental assistance vouchers to households during natural disasters or economic recessions.\n\n\"When responding to an unforeseen disaster like a pandemic, hurricane, or economic recession, families cannot wait in uncertainty for a relief bill to pass in Congress,\" said Congressman Adam Smith. \"As we have seen with the COVID-19 pandemic, the need for rental assistance skyrockets in times of economic downturns, and we need a system that can rapidly deploy support to ensure vulnerable families at risk of displacement continue to have access to stable housing. Housing insecurity affects far too many families as is, and this bill would provide an automatic safety net to those most in need during a crisis.\"\n\nEven before the COVID-19 outbreak, the United States had an affordable housing crisis, which puts more families on the brink of displacement. The pandemic has further highlighted the heightened vulnerability of families in the case of economic crises in the future. There is currently no housing support program that is automatically triggered when a natural or economic disaster occurs, and this bill would remedy that gap.\n\nThe Crisis Housing Act would automatically provide low-income families and individuals with rental assistance from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) when either: the Stafford Act is invoked during a natural disaster, or when the state unemployment rate suddenly increases by a specific amount.\n\nThis legislation is the House companion bill to the Crisis Housing Act introduced in the Senate by U.S. Senators Brian Schatz (D-Hawai\u2018i) and Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.). You can read a one-pager of the bill here and the full bill text here.\n\nStatements of Support:\n\n\"One of the fundamental lessons of this pandemic is how important housing assistance is in a crisis or disaster,\" said Stephen Norman, Executive Director of the King County Housing Authority. \"The speed at which aid can be provided is critical. Representative Smith's bill is a common sense approach that lays the groundwork, before a crisis, for the government to respond quickly. He should be commended for paying attention to a nuts and bolts issue in federal policy that will make a real difference in people's lives when assistance is needed.\"\n\n\"Disasters often hit the lowest income households hardest, yet these same families struggle to receive the housing assistance they need afterwards. The result is often a predictable and entirely preventable rise in eviction and homelessness rates,\" said Diane Yentel, President and CEO of the National Low Income Housing Coalition. \"If passed, the Crisis Housing Act would play a critical role in providing safe, accessible, and affordable homes to individuals with the greatest needs after a disaster by providing longer-term, flexible, rental assistance - helping them safely recover without the fear of being rendered homeless.\"\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-06-28T00:42:23Z"], ["https://adamsmith.house.gov/press-releases?ID=3C6B2B21-E42D-46EE-A400-F9AF5867FF5B", "Rep. Smith Introduces Bill to Provide Automatic Rental Assistance to Families in Response to Recessions and Natural Disasters", "2020-12-29", "2020", "2020-12", "Democrat", "House", "WA", "Adam Smith", "S000510", "adamsmith.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "WASHINGTON, D.C.  Representative Adam Smith (D-Wash.) introduced the Crisis Housing Act which would establish a new automatic housing assistance program to provide emergency rental assistance vouchers to households during natural disasters or economic recessions.\r\nWhen responding to an unforeseen disaster like a pandemic, hurricane, or economic recession, families cannot wait in uncertainty for a relief bill to pass in Congress, said Congressman Adam Smith. As we have seen with the COVID-19 pandemic, the need for rental assistance skyrockets in times of economic downturns, and we need a system that can rapidly deploy support to ensure vulnerable families at risk of displacement continue to have access to stable housing. Housing insecurity affects far too many families as is, and this bill would provide an automatic safety net to those most in need during a crisis.\r\nEven before the COVID-19 outbreak, the United States had an affordable housing crisis, which puts more families on the brink of displacement. The pandemic has further highlighted the heightened vulnerability of families in the case of economic crises in the future. There is currently no housing support program that is automatically triggered when a natural or economic disaster occurs, and this bill would remedy that gap.\r\nThe Crisis Housing Act would automatically provide low-income families and individuals with rental assistance from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) when either: the Stafford Act is invoked during a natural disaster, or when the state unemployment rate suddenly increases by a specific amount.\r\nThis legislation is the House companion bill to the Crisis Housing Act introduced in the Senate by U.S. Senators Brian Schatz (D-Hawaii) and Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.). You can read a one-pager of the billhere and the full bill texthere.\r\nStatements of Support:\r\nOne of the fundamental lessons of this pandemic is how important housing assistance is in a crisis or disaster, said Stephen Norman, Executive Director of the King County Housing Authority. The speed at which aid can be provided is critical. Representative Smith's bill is a common sense approach that lays the groundwork, before a crisis, for the government to respond quickly. He should be commended for paying attention to a nuts and bolts issue in federal policy that will make a real difference in people's lives when assistance is needed.\r\nDisasters often hit the lowest income households hardest, yet these same families struggle to receive the housing assistance they need afterwards. The result is often a predictable and entirely preventable rise in eviction and homelessness rates,said Diane Yentel, President and CEO of the National Low Income Housing Coalition.If passed, the Crisis Housing Act would play a critical role in providing safe, accessible, and affordable homes to individuals with the greatest needs after a disaster by providing longer-term, flexible, rental assistance  helping them safely recover without the fear of being rendered homeless.\r\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://axne.house.gov/media/press-releases/rep-axne-leads-inquiry-use-debit-cards-next-round-economic-impact-payments", "Rep. Axne Leads Inquiry on Use of Debit Cards for Next Round of Economic Impact Payments", "2020-12-29", "2020", "2020-12", "Democrat", "House", "IA", "Cynthia Axne", "A000378", "axne.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Today, Rep. Cindy Axne (IA-03) led a letter to the U.S. Department of Treasury and the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) seeking information about plans to use debit cards to distribute the second round of Economic Impact Payments (EIPs) approved by Congress last week.\nThe letter, signed by 10 of Rep. Axne's colleagues on the House Financial Services Committee, asks the Treasury Department to clarify if they plan to use debit cards to distribute this round of EIPs and urges changes to the program in the event that they are used again.\nNow that Congress has passed, and the President has signed into law, a second round of similar direct payments, we would like to know whether you plan on distributing some of these via debit card again, the members wrote. If so, we ask that you explain how you plan to improve communication, ensure there are no fees for the user, and simplify the agreement they have to sign, removing any mandatory arbitration clauses.\nRep. Axne and her colleagues seek three areas of improvement in the event that debit cards are used for the second round of EIPs:\n Better Communication:The members encouragesignificant improvements in communicatingthe plans for debit cards to the general public to avoid skepticism and potential disposal of cards, which was widely reportedafter the Treasury failed to tell people these cards were a possibilityin the first tranche of payments thisspring.\n\tComplete Elimination of Fees:As the debit cards are set up to provide Americans with the full amount of their EIP as approved by Congress and the President, Rep. Axne and her colleagues urge the Treasury Department and IRS to eliminate any fees associated with using or transferringa card'sbalance.\n\tSimplification of the Cardholder Agreement: The debit cards used in the first round of EIPs contained a dense and confusing cardholder agreement, including an arbitration clause that prevents card recipients from forming a class action suit in the case of similar problems with the card. The members demand that any potential second round of debit cards be given a revised cardholder agreement, without any arbitration clauses, that can be easily understood by card recipients.\n These and other concerns were raised by Iowa cardholders to Rep. Axne in the first round of EIP debit cards.\nRep. Axne sought similar changes to the first round of debit cards in May, including seeing the IRS and Treasury remove the fee for first-time replacements of the debit card after poor communication.\nThe letter was signed by Reps. Sean Casten (IL-06), Madeleine Dean (PA-04), Bill Foster (IL-11), Vicente Gonzalez (TX-15), Denny Heck (WA-10), Wm. Lacy Clay (MO-01), Al Lawson (FL-05), Stephen Lynch (MA-08), Rashida Tlaib (MI-13), and Jennifer Wexton (VA-10)  andthe full text of the letter can be found here:\nDear Secretary Mnuchin and Commissioner Rettig,\nWe write to urge improvements as you distribute the upcoming second round of direct payments to Americans which was included in the Coronavirus relief package signed into law on Sunday.\nMany of us previously wrote in May to share concerns with how those direct payments were distributed by debit card, and to urge changes in that program. The direct payments from the CARES Act supported more than 150 million Americans1 who received them, but many of our constituents had concerns after receiving prepaid debit cards with their Economic Impact Payment (EIP). Since the Treasury Department and Internal Revenue Service (IRS) had not alerted the public that they would be sending stimulus payments via debit card, recipients were often surprised, confused, and some even threw these away, thinking it was a fraud. Those who did use them could be charged fees simply to get the aid Congress intended and were forced into agreeing to arbitration to resolve any issues.\nNow that Congress has passed, and the President has signed into law, a second round of similar direct payments, we would like to know whether you plan on distributing some of these via debit card again, and request the following improvements in the event of additional direct payments via debit card.\nCommunication about EIP cards must be improved\nWe recognize that having seen this in May, many people will be more aware of the possibility they'll receive their payment on a debit card. However, we ask that you also directly provide more clear information about the cards to those receiving them. That should include a clear explanation that this card is their direct payment, the amount of that rebate, and how to quickly transfer this to a bank account or receive a check. We hope better communication will reduce confusion and prevent people cutting up their debit cards again because they believed this was a scam.\nThe cards should come with no fees for the recipient\nThe debit cards sent in May could cost our constituents a significant amount to use.2 While in-network ATM withdrawals were free, those ATMs are almost exclusively in larger towns and metropolitan areas, forcing people to either pay a fee or drive more than an hour to access their EIP. Waiving fees on the first ATM withdrawal out of network ATM is a positive step, but does nothing for additional withdrawals, nor does it include any fees charged by the ATM owner, or fees to check your balance. In addition, the transaction size limits will make it difficult for a family to simply get their money off the card and into a bank account.\nThese cards are intended to provide support for Americans during COVID-19, and any fees are likely to simply add insult to injury. We recognize that the card provider needs to cover its costs, but believe that the people trying to receive these cards should not have to pay fees regardless of where they live. We appreciate you taking action to waive the fee for the first replacement card, and would encourage you to remove all costs to use these cards.\nIf you are unable or unwilling to fully eliminate the fees, we ask that the lengthy fee schedule be dramatically simplified, and that transaction size limits be adjusted to allow people to easily transfer the full amount of their rebate off of the card immediately.\nThe EIP card agreement should be simplified\nThe EIP card agreement which came with the first cards3 was more than 8 pages of dense text, which can be intimidating to Americans who were expecting a simple check. We heard from numerous constituents calling with complaints and questions, including being unsure of how to even find out how much money they had just received. This agreement should be simplified as much as possible or come with a summary document to better explain the terms for those who had no idea they were getting a credit card.\nFurther, the cardholder agreement included a mandatory arbitration clause, requiring that any disputes be resolved through individual (not class-action) arbitration. Americans in the most urgent need of this aid, who must immediately access their payment through the debit card will be forced into arbitration, often without even knowing the implications.\nIn addition, the arbitration clause prevents people with the same dispute from forming a class. Not only does this practice hurt those with less financial and legal resources in virtually all situations, it makes even less sense in this case. With 4 million people receiving very similar EIP cards, it is very likely that if there are issues, many people are having the same problem, making class action simply a more efficient way to resolve disputes.\nWe urge you to simplify the agreement for anyone receiving an EIP card to reduce confusion, and specifically request that you remove any mandatory arbitration clause from future agreements.\nWe appreciate the important work you did this spring in getting Economic Impact Payments out to Americans quickly. While we appreciate the value prepaid debit cards provide to those without checking accounts, and understand that sending these cards is a part of attempting to get payments out faster, we would urge additional consideration of how to ensure the cards are providing the benefits they are intended to.\nWe understand that no further cards were sent after our letter in May, but would request a written response to our letter, explaining whether you intend to send prepaid debit cards again. If so, we ask that you explain how you plan to improve communication, ensure there are no fees for the user, and simplify the agreement they have to sign, removing any mandatory arbitration clauses.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://bonamici.house.gov/media/in-the-news/community-invited-discuss-equitable-vaccine-distribution-experts-elected-officials", "Community Invited to Discuss Equitable Vaccine Distribution with Experts, Elected Officials", "2020-12-29", "2020", "2020-12", "Democrat", "House", "OR", "Suzanne Bonamici", "B001278", "bonamici.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "The discussion features greetings from US Congresswoman Suzanne Bonamici, and US Senator Ron Wyden. Speakers include: Susheela Jayapal, Multnomah County Commissioner; Patrick Allen, Oregon Health Authority Director; Pam Treece, Washington County Commissioner; and Jessica Guernsey, Multnomah County Health Department Public Health Director. Moderators for the discussion are Juwairyah Syed, Chair of the OIA STEM Program, and Ronault Polo Catalani, Creative Writer and Founder of New Portland Foundation.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://carbajal.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=771", "Carbajal, Colleagues Demand Immediate Trump Administration Withdrawal Of Any New Oil And Gas Leases Off California Coast", "2020-12-29", "2020", "2020-12", "Democrat", "House", "CA", "Salud Carbajal", "C001112", "carbajal.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Santa Barbara, CA  In an effort to head off last minute efforts by the Trump Administration to expand offshore oil and gas drilling along the California coast, Rep. Carbajal joined a letter with 21 House colleagues from the California Delegation in expressing their strong opposition to any expansion of oil and gas drilling off the coast of California. In a letter to Department of Interior Secretary David Bernhardt, co-led by Representatives Salud Carbajal (CA-24), Alan Lowenthal (CA-47), Jared Huffman (CA-2), and Mike Levin (CA-49), the Members demand the outgoing Trump Administration immediately withdraw any new oil and gas leasing off California from consideration in any future federal program. The Members wrote, The inevitable onshore and offshore risks associated with offshore drilling impact public health, the environment, and our climate. For these reasons, every single coastal governor along the Atlantic and Pacific coasts, Republican and Democrat alike, has stood in opposition to offshore drilling. In coastal communities, where livelihoods are built around fishing, tourism, and recreation, it is critically important to guard against oil leaks or spills that could harm these ocean dependent economies and fragile marine ecosystems. The letter also points out that just three months ago President Trump, in response to loud outcry from coastal communities across the nation, issued a ten-year moratorium on offshore drilling in waters off Florida, Georgia, and South Carolina. The letter highlights California's intimate history with off shore oil drilling impacts, most notably the 1969 oil spill off the coast of Santa Barbara, California, which at the time was the largest oil spill in the United States. This tragedy killed thousands of marine mammals, fish, and birds, and oil washed up on the beaches for hundreds of miles along Central and Southern California. In the 50 years since, there have been no new oil and gas leases in California state waters and no federal leases off California for more than 35 years. The Members also highlight that the BP Deepwater Horizon disaster just 10 years ago highlights that offshore oil drilling is no safer today than it was in 1969.  While it is unlikely that the Trump Administration would be able to formalize any new leases before the Biden Administration takes office on January 20, the Members conclude their letter by demanding Secretary Bernhardt put an immediate halt during the Trump Administration's remaining time in office to any consideration of new oil and gas leasing off California. Click here to read the full text of the letter.  The letter was led by Congressmen Alan Lowenthal (CA-47), Salud Carbajal (CA-24), Jared Huffman (CA-2), and Mike Levin (CA-49). In addition, the letter was cosigned by Congressmembers Mike Thompson (CA-5), Doris O. Matsui (CA-6), Ami Bera (CA-7), Jerry McNerney (CA-9), Mark DeSaulnier (CA-11), Barbara Lee (CA-13), Ro Khanna (CA-17), Anna G. Eshoo (CA-18), Jimmy Panetta (CA-20), Julia Brownley (CA-26), Adam B. Schiff (CA-28), Grace Napolitano (CA-32), Ted W. Lieu (CA-33), Jimmy Gomez (CA-34), Karen Bass (CA-37), Maxine Waters (CA-43), Nanette Diaz Barragn (CA-44), and Juan Vargas (CA-51).\r\n ###", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://delbene.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=2689", "DelBene Announces 2020 Congressional App Challenge Winner", "2020-12-29", "2020", "2020-12", "Democrat", "House", "WA", "Suzan DelBene", "D000617", "delbene.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "DelBene Announces 2020 Congressional App Challenge Winner \r\n   \r\n    \r\n       \r\n      \r\n  \r\n    \r\n      f \r\n      t \r\n      #\r\n      e\r\n      \r\n      \r\n    \r\n    \r\n      \r\n        Kirkland, WA,\r\n        December 29, 2020\r\n      \r\n       \r\n    \r\n  \r\n  \r\n  \r\n  \r\n  \r\n  \r\n  \r\n    \r\n      \r\n      \r\n      Congresswoman Suzan DelBene (WA-01) today announced the winner of the 2020 Congressional App Challenge from Washington's 1st Congressional District. The winning app, called Distancing Camera, was created by Pierce Zhang, Sidharth Ganesh, and Trung Pham of Tesla STEM High School.\r\nTheir app is designed to make social distancing easier by warning users if others are too close. The app uses a phone's camera to measure the distance between the phone and other people or the distance between two people in its view. The app alerts the user if social distancing is being violated in either case. A demo of Distancing Camera can be found here.\r\nAs a tech leader before coming to Congress, I know firsthand that innovation requires creative entrepreneurs, said DelBene. I am immensely proud of the students from Washington's 1st Congressional District for their ingenuity, and I thank all those who entered this year's App Challenge for their willingness to share their hard work with us. This year's winner designed and created a useful tool with timely application to the current public health crisis. Congratulations on all your hard work.\r\nThe winning app was selected by a panel of impartial judges. Distancing Camera will now go on display in the U.S. Capitol for one year, along with winning apps from other congressional districts.\r\nDelBene has been a Co-chair of the Congressional App Challenge since 2018.\r\n    \r\n  \r\n  \r\n  \r\n    \r\n      f \r\n      t \r\n      #\r\n      e", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://khanna.house.gov/media/in-the-news/19-house-democrats-join-ro-khanna-voting-against-bloated-military-budget", "19 House Democrats Join Ro Khanna in Voting Against Bloated Military Budget", "2020-12-29", "2020", "2020-12", "Democrat", "House", "CA", "Ro Khanna", "K000389", "khanna.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Just 20 House Democrats opted to break with their party and their Republican counterparts late Monday to vote against overriding President Donald Trump's veto of the National Defense Authorization Act, a sprawling bill that greenlights over $740 billion in military spending for fiscal year 2021.\nRep. Ro Khanna (D-Calif.), one the few House Democrats who voted against overriding the president's NDAA veto,applaudedhis colleagues for having the courage tonight to vote no on the bloated defense budget.\nThey are changing the culture of endless war and calling for more investment instead in the American people, said Khanna.\nThe veto override ultimately succeeded in the House by a322-87margin and now heads to the Senate, where Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) and other members of the Democratic caucus arethreatening to hold upthe NDAA in an effort to force a vote on $2,000 direct payments.\n\nHere are the 20 Democrats who voted against overriding Trump's NDAA veto: Reps. Earl Blumenauer (Ore.), Suzanne Bonamici (Ore.), Yvette Clarke (N.Y.), Mark DeSaulnier (Calif.), Adriano Espaillat (N.Y.), Tulsi Gabbard (Hawaii), Jess Garca (Ill.), Jimmy Gomez (Calif.), Jared Huffman (Calif.), Pramila Jayapal (Wash.), Joe Kennedy (Mass.), Ro Khanna (Calif.), Barbara Lee (Calif.), Jim McGovern (Mass.), Grace Meng (N.Y.), Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (N.Y.), Ilhan Omar (Minn.), Mark Pocan (Wis.), Ayanna Pressley (Mass.), and Rashida Tlaib (Mich.).\nNearly 70 House Republicans also voted against the veto override, but more out ofallegiance to the presidentthan opposition to out-of-control military spending.\nTrump vetoed the NDAA last week not because of the bloated military budget, but rather because he objected to the exclusion of a repeal of Section 230 of the Communications Decency Act and inclusion of a provision ordering the Pentagon to rename military installations named after Confederate generals.\nIn aninterviewonDemocracy Now!ahead of Monday's vote, Khanna said that while Trump's reasons for opposing the NDAA don't align with progressive objections, the bottom line is, $740 billion is way too much defense spending.\nWe're spending money on the modernization of nuclear weapons. And we can't find money to get food in to people who need it? Khanna said. We can't find money to get more rental assistance for folks who are going to face evictions? We can't find money to get $2,000 into the pockets of Americans? The priorities are wrong, and so I'm not going to vote to override his veto.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://lawson.house.gov/media/press-releases/rep-lawson-returns-more-than-24-million-to-north-florida-families", "Rep. Lawson Returns More than $2.4 Million to North Florida Families", "2020-12-29", "2020", "2020-12", "Democrat", "House", "FL", "Al Lawson", "L000586", "lawson.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "December 29, 2020\n\t\t\t Rep. Lawson Returns More than $2.4 Million to North Florida Families \n\t\t\tWASHINGTON DC U.S. Rep. Al Lawson (FL-05) announced that this year, his office has helped to return more than $2.4 million owed to the citizens of Florida's Fifth Congressional from the federal government.\r\nSince January 2020, his office worked to close more than 200 cases and ensured that North Florida residents receive their long-awaited financial reimbursement from several federal agencies. A few of the top agencies include the Social Security Administration, Internal Revenue Service, FEMA and Veterans Affairs. \r\nThere are many reasons as to why a person's case may become stagnant, but my team and I have worked hard to break the federal logjam and help citizens of our community get their cases reactivated, back on track or even expedited, Rep. Lawson said.\r\nJacksonville native Brian Salter was involuntarily separated from his job with the Navy after 14 years of service. He reached out to Rep. Lawson's office because after a year without separation pay, he was still not being helped. His staff placed multiple inquiries to the Navy, to the Defense Finance and Accounting Service (DFAS), and the Board of Corrections, and were able to get Salter's case reviewed and approved quickly. Salters was awarded 14 years' worth of back separation pay.\r\nSince I was involuntarily separated with an honorable discharge, I was entitled to Involuntary Separation Pay, Salter said. I was supposed to receive those funds immediately  within a week or two after separation from active duty service. I turned to Congressman Al Lawson for help. Sherry, my caseworker, fought for me for 18 months. I don't think I would have been able to get this pay if it wasn't for her sheer tenacity and dedication to my case. I cannot express my gratitude enough. I am happy I turned to Congressman Lawson's office for help with my case.\r\nIndividuals seeking help with a federal agency  such as backlogged veterans' benefits, stalled tax refunds, issues with social security, the postal service or the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services, should call my office at 904-354-1652 (Jacksonville), 850-558-9450 (Tallahassee)or visithttps://lawson.house.gov/services/help-with-a-federal-agency.\r\nTotal Number of Cases: 200\r\nGrand Total Amount Saved: $2,467,927 \n\t\n\t  \n\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\n\t    \t  \n\t\t    \n\t\t    \tPrevious Article", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://lowenthal.house.gov/media/press-releases/congressman-lowenthal-colleagues-demand-immediate-trump-administration", "Congressman Lowenthal, Colleagues, Demand Immediate Trump Administration Withdrawal Of Any New Oil And Gas Leases Off California Coast", "2020-12-29", "2020", "2020-12", "Democrat", "House", "CA", "Alan Lowenthal", "L000579", "lowenthal.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "In an effort to head off last minute lame-duck Trump Administration efforts to expand offshore oil and gas drilling along the California coast, Congressman Alan Lowenthal (CA-47), today, led a letter with 21 of his House colleagues from the California Delegation in expressing their strong opposition to any expansion of oil and gas drilling off the coast of California. In a letter to Department of Interior Secretary David Bernhardt, co-led by Congressmen Salud Carbajal (CA-24), Jared Huffman (CA-2), and Mike Levin (CA-49), the Members demand the outgoing Trump Administration immediately withdraw any new oil and gas leasing off California from consideration in any future federal program. The Members wrote, The inevitable onshore and offshore risks associated with offshore drilling impact public health, the environment, and our climate. For these reasons, every single coastal governor along the Atlantic and Pacific coasts, Republican and Democrat alike, has stood in opposition to offshore drilling. In coastal communities, where livelihoods are built around fishing, tourism, and recreation, it is critically important to guard against oil leaks or spills that could harm these ocean dependent economies and fragile marine ecosystems. The letter also points out that just three months ago President Trump, in response to loud outcry from coastal communities across the nation, issued a ten-year moratorium on offshore drilling in waters off Florida, Georgia, and South Carolina. The letter highlights California's intimate history with off shore oil drilling impacts, most notably the 1969 oil spill off the coast of Santa Barbara, California, which at the time was the largest oil spill in the United States. This tragedy killed thousands of marine mammals, fish, and birds, and oil washed up on the beaches for hundreds of miles along Central and Southern California. In the 50 years since, there have been no new oil and gas leases in California state waters and no federal leases off California for more than 35 years. The Members also highlight that the BP Deepwater Horizon disaster just 10 years ago highlights that offshore oil drilling is no safer today than it was in 1969. While it is unlikely that the Trump Administration would be able to formalize any new leases before the Biden Administration takes office on January 20, the Members conclude their letter by demanding Secretary Bernhardt put an immediate halt during the Trump Administration's remaining time in office to any consideration of new oil and gas leasing off California. Click here to read the full text of the letter. The letter was led by Congressmen Lowenthal, Salud Carbajal (CA-24), Jared Huffman (CA-2), and Mike Levin (CA-49). In addition, the letter was cosigned by Congressmembers Mike Thompson (CA-5), Doris O. Matsui (CA-6), Ami Bera (CA-7), Jerry McNerney (CA-9), Mark DeSaulnier (CA-11), Barbara Lee (CA-13), Ro Khanna (CA-17), Anna G. Eshoo (CA-18), Jimmy Panetta (CA-20), Julia Brownley (CA-26), Adam B. Schiff (CA-28), Grace Napolitano (CA-32), Ted W. Lieu (CA-33), Jimmy Gomez (CA-34), Karen Bass (CA-37), Maxine Waters (CA-43), Nanette Diaz Barragn (CA-44), and Juan Vargas (CA-51).", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://luria.house.gov/media/press-releases/congresswoman-luria-votes-secure-vital-energy-and-infrastructure-priorities", "Congresswoman Luria Votes to Secure Vital Energy and Infrastructure Priorities in Government Spending Bill", "2020-12-29", "2020", "2020-12", "Democrat", "House", "VA", "Elaine Luria", "L000591", "luria.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "WASHINGTON, D.C. Today, Congresswoman Luria highlighted several critical energy and water wins for Coastal Virginia that were included in the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2021 and Emergency Coronavirus Relief package, which the President recently signed into law.\n  \n\tI am pleased that the Fiscal Year 2021 government funding bill included significant funding to support clean energy, improve our waterways, and invest in environmental cleanup efforts,said Congresswoman Luria.This package will create jobs, improve Coastal Virginia's infrastructure, and allow our economy and environment to thrive for future generations.\nThis bipartisan, bicameral deal providesrobust funding for critical energy and water development priorities advocated for by Congresswoman Luria, including:\n Provisions from the Nuclear Energy Leadership Act, which authorizes an advanced reactor technology program and establishes a nuclear energy university program;\n\t$1.5 billionto improve our nuclear reactor fleet, including $250 million for an advanced nuclear reactor program;\n\t$156 million to support efforts to secure our nation's energy infrastructure through investments in cybersecurity protections and energy resiliency;\n\t$7.8 billion for the Army Corps of Engineers construction projects and navigation maintenance; and,\n\t$113 million for the Inland Waterways Trust Fund, which funds construction and maintenance expenses for navigable waterways.\n The legislation also directs the Army Corps of Engineers to conduct ecosystem restoration projects and flood and storm damage reduction projects. Additionally, it directs the Department of Energy to optimize Nuclear Physics user facilities, which includes the Thomas Jefferson National Accelerator Facility (JLab) in Newport News, Virginia. Directing the Department of Energy to optimize user facilities will ensure investment in JLab's research and scientific discoveries.\nCongresswoman Elaine Luria represents Virginia's 2nd Congressional District. She serves on theHouse Armed Services Committee, where she is theVice Chair of the Seapower and Projection Forces Subcommittee, and theHouse Committee on Veterans' Affairs, where she serves asChair of the Disability Assistance and Memorial Affairs Subcommittee.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://mceachin.house.gov/media/press-releases/mceachin-urges-additional-covid-19-relief-votes-increase-direct-payments-assist", "McEachin Urges Additional COVID-19 Relief, Votes to Increase Direct Payments to Assist Struggling Virginia Families", "2020-12-29", "2020", "2020-12", "Democrat", "House", "VA", "A. McEachin", "M001200", "mceachin.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "WASHINGTON, D.C.Congressman A. Donald McEachin (VA-04)released the following statement after voting for House passage of H.R. 9051, the Caring for Americans with Supplemental Help (CASH) Act, legislation which would raise recently enacted economic impact statements from $600 to $2,000:\n\nWhile it is good news that help is finally on its way to the Commonwealth of Virginia, the stopgap package signed into law on Sunday cannot mark the end of our efforts to provide relief for all of the struggling families, workers, and small businesses that have had to wait months for federal support,said Congressman McEachin.Even President Trump recognizes we can and must do more to help Virginians and Americans across the country stay afloat during this crisis. I urge the Senate to join my House colleagues and I in voting quickly to increase direct relief payments to $2,000 and put more money in the pockets of Virginians impacted by this pandemic.\n\nBACKGROUND\n\nThe CASH Act builds on the direct relief payments provided for Americans in H.R. 133, the Omnibus Appropriations and Emergency Coronavirus Relief package, which was signed into law on Sunday.\n\nA product of bipartisan, bicameral negotiations, the government funding bill consisted of all 12 Fiscal Year 2021 appropriations bills, as well as coronavirus relief and authorizations. As part of the emergency relief and omnibus package, Congressman McEachin secured provisions consistent with his legislative priorities, including:\n\nInfrastructure Investments\n Grants a cost adjustment to allow work to continue on the Deep Creek Bridge in Chesapeake to address traffic concerns;\n\tAuthorizes over $102 million in federal funds for construction of the North Landing Bridge Replacement; and\n\tIncludes a provision for the construction of a new Long Bridge on the Potomac River, which will double the capacity of rail crossing between Virginia and D.C.\n \nAppropriations and Other Funding\n Funding for an additional Virginia-class submarine;\n  Over $87 million for the Chesapeake Bay Program;\n\t$65 million to the Federal Communications Commission to create broadband data maps required under the Broadband DATA Act, which included Congressman McEachin'sMAPS Act;\n\tFunding for several programs advocated by Congressman McEachin in hislettersto House and Senate leadership, including: $3.75 billion for the Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP); $90 million for Diesel Emissions Reductions grants; $125 million for Low or No Emissions program; and $1.21 billion for Superfund; and\n\t$638 million to Health and Human Services to create a new low-income water assistance program to help households with water utility bills, which follows Congressman McEachin's push for a national water shutoff moratorium during the pandemic.\n \nLegislation Championed by Congressman McEachin\n Inclusion of H.R. 5534, the Comprehensive Immunosuppressive Drug Coverage for Kidney Transplant Patients Act. \n \nOverall, the spending package contains $900 billion in emergency coronavirus relief to protect the lives and livelihoods of the American people. Among its provisions, the bill provides:\n\n Billions in urgently need funds to accelerate the free and equitable distribution of safe vaccines to crush the virus;\n\t$13 billion in increased SNAP and child nutrition benefits to help relieve the COVID hunger crisis;\n\tA new round of direct payments worth up to $600 per adult and child  up to $2,400 for a family of four, depending on income;\n\tA $300 per week UI enhancement for Americans out of work;\n\t$25 billion in critically-needed rental assistance for families struggling to stay in their homes and an extension of the eviction moratorium;\n\t$284 billion for first and second forgivable PPP loans and $20 billion for targeted EIDL Grants which are critical to many smaller businesses on Main Street;\n\t$82 billion in funding for colleges and schools and $10 billion for childcare assistance to help get parents back to work and keep childcare providers open; and\n\tAn additional $3.36 billion for a total of $4 billion for GAVI, the international vaccine alliance, recognizing that we are not truly safe until the whole world is safe from the coronavirus", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://neal.house.gov/2020/12/29/news-documentsingle-aspx-documentid-2043/", "Chairman Neal Statement on House Passage of the CASH Act", "2020-12-29", "2020", "2020-12", "Democrat", "House", "MA", "Richard E. Neal", "N000015", "neal.house.gov", "neal", "https://neal.house.gov/category/press-releases/", "scraper", "Washington, DC\n\nToday, Ways and Means Committee Chairman Richard E. Neal (D-MA) released the following statement after the House of Representatives passed the Caring for Americans with Supplemental Help (CASH) Act of 2020:\n\n\u201cHouse Democrats have always favored sending more substantial relief to struggling families, and the CASH Act does just that. Increasing the second round of economic impact payments to $2,000 will make a real difference for Americans experiencing extreme financial hardship. Now that the House has approved these larger checks, it is up to Senate Republicans to do the same.\n\n\u201cEven if the CASH Act does pass the Senate and becomes law, it must not be the last COVID relief we provide to workers and families. The pandemic will not suddenly disappear when the calendar turns to 2021, and the economy will not immediately make a full recovery. Congress will need to work with the Biden Administration to create new jobs, successfully address the public health crisis, and ensure that Americans have the support they require to get back on their feet.\u201d\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-06-28T00:42:23Z"], ["https://ohalleran.house.gov/newsroom/in-the-news/o-halleran-says-900-billion-relief-bill-will-benefit-tribal-lands", "OHalleran says $900 billion relief bill will benefit tribal lands", "2020-12-29", "2020", "2020-12", "Democrat", "House", "AZ", "Tom O'Halleran", "O000171", "ohalleran.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "FLAGSTAFF, Ariz.  U.S. Rep. Tom O' Halleran voted to approve funding for the $900 billion coronavirus aid bill. The measure passed the House of Representatives and Senate, and President Donald Trump signed the bill Dec. 27.\nThe measure approves sending $600 to every adult and every child; a family of five would get $3,000. People would get less if an individual made $75,000 or more and couples would get less if they made $150,000 or more.\nThe bill would also help with funding for businesses and the unemployed.\nTrump had threatened to veto the bill and delayed signing it because he said he wanted $2,000 per person instead of $600.\nThe House of Representatives voted 327-85 and 359-53 in two separate bills for the coronavirus aid funding. The Senate combined the two and approved the measure by a 92-6 vote.\nO'Halleran, who represents Arizona Congressional District One, which includes the Navajo and Hopi nations, said that if Trump had vetoed the coronavirus funding effort that Congress had enough votes to override his veto.\nIt would not be constructive for the American people, he said.\nAccording to O'Halleran, Democratic leadership was originally attempting to get $2,000 per person in order to help businesses and individuals.\nThere are too many people out of work. The coronavirus had a profound impact on the economy, he said. We've had several hard months.\nO'Halleran said it has been difficult to get Republican leadership to vote on the Heroes Act when Democrats were proposing $2,000 per person.\nTrump had also threatened to shut down the government if he didn't get the increase in funding for the relief bill.\nO'Halleran said the Trump administration has made no indication until this point that they wanted more money per individual. He said the Republican leadership in Congress would not even agree to the $600 per person until they entered the negotiation talks.\nPeople have suffered longer because the Senate and the President wouldn't act, he said.\nU.S. Sen. Mark Kelly (D-AZ), a recently elected Arizona Democrat, said in a news release that he voted for the measure.\nThis emergency relief will protect jobs and bolster our economy by helping those who need it most right now  individuals who have lost their jobs as a result of the pandemic, small businesses working to make payroll, and families behind on rent or unable to put food on the table, he said.\nKelly stated that Arizona's tribal communities have been hit especially hard by the pandemic and have battled the virus with too little help from the federal government.\nThrough work across the aisle with Sen. Lisa Murkowski (R-AK) and others, we were able to ensure that there is dedicated funding for tribal health care, education, broadband and other needed relief to continue fighting this pandemic, he said.\nIn addition to the $600 per person, the bill also extends the timeline for tribal governments to spend coronavirus relief funds, giving the tribes more time to plan how the funding will be spent.\nThe bill will also help with an agreement of water coming from Mexico to Utah to help with water issues.\nThe bill will also appropriate $3.4 billion more funds for the Indian Health Service, appropriate $1 billion for sanitation and water delivery to reservations, supply more funding for broadband on reservations to help students with their educational needs, add $300 per week for those on unemployment in addition to unemployment benefits people receive from the states, add 15 percent for people receiving funding for food and gives $75 billion for Bureau of Indian Education schools.\nO'Halleran said this funding is in addition to normal funding, not in replace of it.\nO'Halleran stated the final bills passed by Congress was a bipartisan agreement as the Democrats wanted $2,2 trillion in the overall spending bill, but settled for $1.3 trillion in the negotiations.\nHe said more funding for vaccines are needed as the government approved spending $400 million on the vaccines which is enough for 200 million of the 303 million people in America.\nAccording to O'Halleran, Pfizer offered the government another 100 million vaccines, but the Trump administration didn't want to purchase it.\nWe need vaccines faster. During an emergency you don't act based on what you hope happens. This was not the way to address it, he said.\nO'Halleran said he is concerned about the deficit, but the alternative to not funding the coronavirus relief package was worse, since it would leave people out on the street and hungry.\nIf the coronavirus goes up, we need to address it, he said.\nO'Halleran is particulary concerned about restaurants since 110,000 restaurants across the country have closed down.\nOne bill that would help enormously, he said, is an infrastructure bill that has been sitting in the Senate for several years. Infrastructure means fixing bridges and roads, and would create a lot of jobs. He said much of the proposed $1.5 trillion would go for projects on rural tribal lands.\nAdditionally, O'Halleran applauded the recent appointment of Deb Haaland (D-N.M.) to Secretary of the Interior.\nO'Halleran serves on the agriculture and energy and commerce committees and will work with Haaland on Native American, forest service and national park issues.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://ruiz.house.gov/media-center/in-the-news/trump-signs-spending-bill-could-send-millions-dollars-salton-sea", "Trump Signs Spending Bill That Could Send Millions of Dollars to the Salton Sea", "2020-12-29", "2020", "2020-12", "Democrat", "House", "CA", "Raul Ruiz", "R000599", "ruiz.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "President Donald Trump on Sunday signed a roughly $900 billion stimulus package meant to tackle both COVID-19 relief as well as federal spending. Tucked in the 5,593-page-long law, courtesy of Southern California Democrats, are provisions that hold the potential to unlock millions of dollars of new federal spending to address the Salton Sea.\nThe bill notably modifies the Water Resources Development Act by authorizing the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to expedite a study on the feasibility of constructing a perimeter lake around the Salton Sea. It's one of the large-scale plans floated to address the lake's woes, and this move could speed up the process.\nThe law also includes more than $150 million for the Army Corps to carry out such studies on water issues at the Salton Sea and elsewhere.\n\"I am proud of the results delivered to my constituents,\"Rep. RaulRuiz, D-Calif., said in a statement announcing Congress' passage of the appropriations bill. Alongside Rep. Juan Vargas, D-Calif.,Ruizand his officedrafted the bill's Salton Sea language.\nTrump sat on the bill for several days when he sided with Democrats in wanting to provide larger relief checks to Americans. Senate Republicans ultimately prevailed in blocking the move, and Trump signed the bill without getting more money out to taxpayers.\nAs the Salton Sea recedes, the region loses thousands of acres of vibrant migratory bird habitat and is left with a sandy mixture called \"playa,\" which is laden with pesticides and other toxic runoff from agriculture in the Imperial and Coachella valleys. Once airborne, that dust can harm human health, but the state and federal governments have been slow to implement solutions.\nAccording to the Pacific Institute, a think tank, the Salton Sea's level hasdropped nearly 10 feet since a water transfer was signed in 2003, sending water away from nearby farm fields thatdrain into California's largest lake.\nThe Salton Sea legislation and directives passed by Congress come at the end of a difficult year that brought much greater visibility to the challenges faced in the Salton Sea region, particularly public health challenges faced by disadvantaged communities, Altrena Santillanes, secretary of the Torres Martinez Desert Cahuilla Indians tribal council and a director on the Salton Sea Authority's board, said in a statement.\nWe look forward to working with our Congressional delegation and the next administration to quickly mobilize federal action at the Salton Sea in the coming year,\" she added.\nWhile the state has so far allocated roughly $350 million to address the Salton Sea, spending about $53 million of that, the federal government has spent only about $20 million to date. The COVID-19 relief bill includes $559 million \"for water resource projects and direction to the Bureau of Reclamation to consider Salton Sea projects for funding,\" according toRuiz'soffice.\nAs G. Patrick O'Dowd, executive director of the Salton Sea Authority, sees it, there's still \"work to do to get the appropriations.\" But, the big win for the lake comes in pushing the Army Corps to complete its perimeter lake analysis.\n\"If the Corps has an acceptable perimeter lake study, that puts them in a position to fund the full project,\" he said.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://sannicolas.house.gov/media/press-releases/house-overrides-veto-defense-spending-bill", "House overrides veto of defense spending bill", "2020-12-29", "2020", "2020-12", "Democrat", "House", "GU", "Michael San Nicolas", "S001204", "sannicolas.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "For Immediate Release\nHouse overrides veto of defense spending bill\nThe 2021 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) vetoed by President Trump has secured an override vote in the House of Representatives, with a vote of 332 yea and 87 nay.\nThe 2021 NDAA now goes before the Senate for an override vote tomorrow.\n\"With an overwhelming show of bi-partisan support in the House, it appears an override vote is likely to follow through in the Senate, and as such we are cautiously optimistic that the 2021 NDAA will be enacted into law securing over $600 million in additional defense spending on Guam and H-2B access for Guam civilian construction projects,\" states Congressman San Nicolas.\n<End>", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://schrier.house.gov/media/press-releases/rep-schrier-s-vaccines-act-and-bill-protect-salmon-signed-law", "Rep. Schriers VACCINES Act and Bill to Protect Salmon Signed into Law", "2020-12-29", "2020", "2020-12", "Democrat", "House", "WA", "Kim Schrier", "S001216", "schrier.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "ISSAQUAH, WA  CongresswomanKim Schrier, M.D. (WA-08) announced today that her VACCINES Act and a bill to protect salmon were included in the government funding and COVID-19 relief package that was signed into law by the President on Sunday.\nI am proud to have had eight bills signed into law during my first term in office, including two bills this week, said Rep. Schrier. Vaccines were one of the greatest medical accomplishments of the 20th century and remain one of our greatest public health tools to prevent devastating diseases. My VACCINES Act is more important than ever. As we roll out the COVID-19 vaccines, we need to address misinformation about immunizations and increase confidence in the vaccines in order to stop this virus.\nIn addition to theVACCINES Act (Vaccine Awareness Campaign to Champion Immunization Nationally and Enhance Safety Act), Rep. Schrier had a second bill get signed into law with the government funding package. HR 7657, introduced with Rep. Rick Larsen, will ensure projects benefiting salmon and steelhead receive equal consideration under a federal law.\nThe package also included provisions to help families and small businesses struggling to weather the economic impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic. These provisions will:\n Provide up to $600 stimulus checks for individuals earning up to $75k and phasing out at $87k. Married filers with incomes up to $150k would receive $1,200, which phases out at incomes of $174k. Individuals with children will receive $600 per child.\n\tIncrease unemployment benefits by an additional $300 per week through March 2021, including for the self-employed, independent contractors, and individuals who have exhausted their state benefits\n  Support small businesses with $284 billion for a second round of forgivable PPP loansfor businesseswith more than a 25% drop in revenue\n\tEnsure businesses can still deduct expenses on their taxes if paid for using PPP and EIDL funds\n\tSimplify PPP loan forgiveness application to one page for PPP loans under $150k\n\tExpand Employee Retention Tax Credit from max $10k/employee to $40k/employee\n Additionally, the package increased funding to agriculture and nutrition programs. These include:\n $1.5 billion that can be used to carry out provisions similar to Rep Schrier'sFarmers Feeding Families Actto purchase and distribute agriculture products to individuals in need\n\t$13 billion in increased SNAP and child nutrition benefits\n\tAdditional Coronavirus Food Assistance Program (CFAP) payments\n\t$100 million in additional funding to support specialty crop farmers", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://schrier.house.gov/media/press-releases/rep-schriers-vaccines-act-and-bill-protect-salmon-signed-law", "Rep. Schrier\u2019s VACCINES Act and Bill to Protect Salmon Signed into Law", "2020-12-29", "2020", "2020-12", "Democrat", "House", "WA", "Kim Schrier", "S001216", "schrier.house.gov", "schrier", "https://schrier.house.gov/media/press-releases", "scraper", "ISSAQUAH, WA \u2013 Congresswoman Kim Schrier, M.D. (WA-08) announced today that her VACCINES Act and a bill to protect salmon were included in the government funding and COVID-19 relief package that was signed into law by the President on Sunday.\n\n\"I am proud to have had eight bills signed into law during my first term in office, including two bills this week,\" said Rep. Schrier. \"Vaccines were one of the greatest medical accomplishments of the 20th century and remain one of our greatest public health tools to prevent devastating diseases. My VACCINES Act is more important than ever. As we roll out the COVID-19 vaccines, we need to address misinformation about immunizations and increase confidence in the vaccines in order to stop this virus.\"\n\nIn addition to the VACCINES Act (Vaccine Awareness Campaign to Champion Immunization Nationally and Enhance Safety Act), Rep. Schrier had a second bill get signed into law with the government funding package. HR 7657, introduced with Rep. Rick Larsen, will ensure projects benefiting salmon and steelhead receive equal consideration under a federal law.\n\nThe package also included provisions to help families and small businesses struggling to weather the economic impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic. These provisions will:\n\nProvide up to $600 stimulus checks for individuals earning up to $75k and phasing out at $87k. Married filers with incomes up to $150k would receive $1,200, which phases out at incomes of $174k. Individuals with children will receive $600 per child.\n\nIncrease unemployment benefits by an additional $300 per week through March 2021, including for the self-employed, independent contractors, and individuals who have exhausted their state benefits\n\nSupport small businesses with $284 billion for a second round of forgivable PPP loans for businesses with more than a 25% drop in revenue\n\nEnsure businesses can still deduct expenses on their taxes if paid for using PPP and EIDL funds\n\nSimplify PPP loan forgiveness application to one page for PPP loans under $150k\n\nExpand Employee Retention Tax Credit from max $10k/employee to $40k/employee\n\nAdditionally, the package increased funding to agriculture and nutrition programs. These include:", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-06-28T00:42:23Z"], ["https://spanberger.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=3434", "President Signs into Law Spanberger\u2019s Legislation to Name a Midlothian Post Office After World War II Code Breaker Dorothy Bruce", "2020-12-29", "2020", "2020-12", "Democrat", "House", "VA", "Abigail Spanberger", "S001209", "spanberger.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "WASHINGTON, D.C. President Donald Trump has signed into law U.S. Representative Abigail Spanberger's legislation to name a Chesterfield County post office after World War II code breaker and former Midlothian resident Dorothy Braden Bruce.\r\nDorothy Bruce was recruited by the U.S. military during World War II to serve in a top-secret group of code-breaking women. Sworn to secrecy, Dorothy's unit worked to disclose the locations of Japanese ships in the Pacific, identify and intercept enemy supply movements, and protect the lives of American servicemembers. Bruce passed away at the age of 99 last year.\r\nWith Spanberger's legislation now law, the U.S. Post Office facility located at 1201 Sycamore Square Drive in Midlothian will be renamed the Dorothy Braden Bruce Post Office Building. Spanberger's bipartisan bill was cosponsored by Virginia's entire U.S. House delegation.\r\nWe thank Congresswoman Spanberger for her skill in achieving enactment of a public law dedicating the Sycamore Square Post Office to our mother, Dorothy Braden Bruce, said Nancy Robertson, Jim Bruce, and Virginia Evans  Children of Dorothy Braden Bruce. We also thank author Liza Mundy for revealing the secret story of women code breakers in WWII, a story almost lost to history. Even at age 97, our mother's remarkable memory helped Liza interpret and validate declassified archive records and bring to life the challenges and successes of these 10,000 women code breakers who kept their secret for nearly 70 years. There is no monument to these young women, handpicked and secretly summoned to hasten the end of WWII, saving the lives of thousands of Americans. We are grateful that this public building is a part of that remembrance.\r\nFor decades, the pioneering and lifesaving efforts of women codebreakers were kept a secret, and American heroes like Dorothy never knew if their efforts would be recognized in history books or even remembered by future generations. With the Dorothy Braden Bruce Post Office Building' now a reality, Virginians who look to live a life in service to their country, particularly young women and girls, will have the opportunity to gain inspiration from a remarkable life of service, honor, and determination, said Spanberger. I look forward to visiting this facility and celebrating this historic moment in the near future, and it is my true honor to help preserve the legacy of Dorothy Bruce and her contributions to our Commonwealth and our country.\r\nAhead of the bill's passage in the U.S. House in September 2020, Spanberger spoke on the House floor to honor Dorothy's life. Click here to watch her full remarks.\r\nBACKGROUND\r\nAs a cryptanalyst with the U.S. Army Signal Corps' Signal Intelligence Service, Dorothy Bruce was one of thousands of American women serving as codebreakers throughout World War II. Dorothy's story is featured in the bestselling book Code Girls: The Untold Story of the American Women Code Breakers of World War II by Liza Mundy.\r\nAccording to Mundy in a 2017 interview with the Chesterfield Observer, the contributions of women like Bruce were key factors in delivering an Allied victory in the Pacific:\r\nWhile it might not sound as significant as cracking the Enigma machine, Mundy says it's one of the three most important Allied codebreaking efforts of the conflict, up there with the sinking of Nazi U-boats or intelligence gained ahead of the crucial Battle of Midway.\r\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://www.bennet.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/press-releases?id=C2D367A1-D84A-4853-8164-97B1655AF029", "Bennet Visits Broomfield FISH, Thanks Volunteers for Supporting Food Insecure Families", "2020-12-29", "2020", "2020-12", "Democrat", "House", "CO", "Michael Bennet", "B001267", "www.bennet.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Washington, D.C. Yesterday,Colorado U.S. Senator Michael Bennet toured Broomfield Fellowship In Serving Humanity (FISH) with Executive Director Dayna Scott and Volunteer Coordinator Sharin Oliver to learn more about the organization and thank volunteers for supporting food insecure families during a moment of great need.\r\n\r\nFrom Left to Right: U.S. Senator Michael Bennet, Executive Director Dayna Scott, Volunteer Lucia Fang\r\nDownload photos from the visitHERE.\r\nI'm grateful to Broomfield FISH for providing Coloradans in need with access to fresh, nutritious food and other services, includingrent, utility, and transportation assistance,saidBennet.No Coloradan could have predicted this crisis, and we can't expect them to endure it alone. The most recent COVID relief package includes a provision Congressman Joe Neguse and I worked on to increase the maximum SNAP benefit by 15 percent. It will help more Coloradans put nutritious food on the table. While I'm glad President Trump signed the COVID reliefinto law, this is not the end of our responsibility. When the Senate returns in January, we must be prepared to act again to provide the necessary relief to overcome this crisis.\r\nMore people than ever are facing hunger and visiting food pantries, many for the first time. We're grateful for Senator Bennet's continued support and his leadership on addressing food insecurity for households in Broomfield County, Colorado, and across the country,said DaynaScott, Executive Director of Broomfield FISH Food Bank and Family Resource Center.\r\nFeeding America projects that overall food insecurity could rise by 57 percent in BroomfieldCounty by the end of 2020, with child food insecurity increasing by 94 percent. Since March, FISH has served more than 12,000 people in Broomfield County, which is more than one in seven residents.\r\nBennet has been working to increase resources for food insecure families since before theCoronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19)pandemic started. AprovisionfromBennet'sproposal withU.S.Congressman Joe Neguse(D-Colo.)to increase the maximumSupplemental Nutrition Assistance Program(SNAP)benefit by 15 percent wasincludedin the COVID-19relief package PresidentDonaldTrump signed into law on Sunday. This benefit increase will support families that Broomfield FISH serves and other food insecure families across Colorado and the country through June 2021.\r\nWhile this is a welcome short-term solution, Bennet and Neguse will continue to push Congress to pass theirFood for Families in Crisis Actto expand and strengthen SNAPfood assistanceby:\r\n \r\nIncreasing the maximum SNAP benefit by 15 percent, providing additional funding for the Food Distribution Program on Indian Reservations, and eliminating work requirements during recessions.\r\nTying the 15 percent increase in the maximum SNAP benefit to the economy, rather than an arbitrary date assigned by Congress.\r\nEnsuring the use of broad-based categorical eligibility so that more vulnerable families can access SNAP benefits, even outside of a crisis.\r\n \r\nAdetailed description of the plan is availableHERE.Draft legislative text is availableHERE.\r\nBroomfield FISH was founded in 1963 by a group of women from six local churches who began collecting and distributing food to those in need. In 2001, the organization became a 501(c)(3) nonprofit. It has since expanded services to include a variety of resources and programs designed to help people become more self-sufficient. These programs include rent and utility assistance, transportation assistance, and one-on-one mentoring.\r\nIn 2018, FISH joined the Colorado Family Resource Center Association and became the only Family Resource Center (FRC) in Broomfield County. Currently, FISH serves residents in Broomfield County living at or below 200 percent of the federal poverty level. FISH works closely with the Community Food Share in Boulder and Broomfield counties, which Bennet and Negusevisited in June.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://www.durbin.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/durbin-i-will-vote-to-override-president-trumps-unforgivable-veto-of-ndaa", "Durbin: I Will Vote to Override President Trump's Unforgivable Veto of NDAA", "2020-12-29", "2020", "2020-12", "Democrat", "House", "IL", "Richard Durbin", "D000563", "www.durbin.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "12.29.20\n\t\t\t Durbin: I Will Vote to Override President Trump's Unforgivable Veto of NDAA \n\t\t\t\n\t\t\tWASHINGTON  In a speech on the Senate floor, U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Vice Chairman of the Senate Appropriations Defense Subcommittee, today announced he would vote to override President Trump's reckless veto of the Fiscal Year (FY) 2021National Defense Authorization Act(NDAA). Last week, President Trump vetoed the NDAA over a provision to rename military bases named for Confederate generals and for not including a repeal of Section 230 liability protection for tech companies.\r\nStill, despite all the good things in this bill, the bipartisanship that supported it, President Trump decided to veto the bill, one of his rarer vetoes. He prefers we continue to honor the Confederate leaders who committed treasonous atrocities in order to preserve slavery. I don't think that is reflective of the United States of today or its values, but that's his position,Durbin said.At the end of the day, I suppose we can't expect anything more from a President who has denigrated our troops by calling them suckers' and losers'. I voted to support the Fiscal Year 2021 NDAA, and I'll support it again to override this President's unforgivable and reckless veto. \r\nVideo of Durbin's remarks on the Senate floor is availablehere.\r\nAudio of Durbin's remarks on the Senate floor is availablehere.\r\nFootage of Durbin's remarks on the Senate floor is availableherefor TV Stations.\r\nDurbin-led measures included in the FY21 NDAA are:\r\n \r\nBill language expressing support for coordinated action to ensure the security of our Baltic allies  Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania.\r\n \r\n \r\nBill languagewelcoming Ukraine into NATO's Enhanced Opportunities Partnership Program.\r\n \r\n \r\nBill language continuing support for the Captain James A. Lovell Federal Health Care Centerin North Chicago, Illinois.\r\n \r\nThe Senate FY21 NDAA report also included two Durbin-led measures:\r\n \r\nJoint Munitions Command:Reportlanguage Durbin requested directing the Army to brief the Committee on the feasibility of a pilot program at the Joint Munitions Command, headquartered at Rock Island Arsenal, for the sustainment of munitions as part of the overall life-cycle management of any given munitions program.\r\n \r\n \r\nMilitary Sexual Trauma:Report language Durbin requested to urge the Defense Department to expeditiously carry out the Military Sexual Trauma pilot program he helped establish in the FY19 NDAA, in partnership with civilian institutions and using new models of care.\r\n \r\nDurbin also helped secure the following measures in the FY21 NDAA:\r\n \r\nRenaming Confederate Bases. The bill establishes a commission tasked with removing within three years all names, symbols, displays, monuments, and paraphernalia that honor or commemorate the Confederacy or any Confederate leader from all Defense Department assets.\r\n \r\n \r\nTroop Drawdowns. The bill includes certain restrictions on the President's drawdown of American troops from Germany, Afghanistan, and South Korea, as well as reporting requirements to ensure that the Department of Defense conducts thorough risk assessments before any hasty drawdowns take place. In addition, the bill requires an update on efforts to secure the release of Americans detained in Afghanistan. Illinoisan Mark Frerichs was abducted in Afghanistan earlier this year, and Durbin has pressed the Trump Administration to secure his release.\r\n \r\n \r\nMilitary Gear to Law Enforcement.The bill includes provisions placing certain restrictions on transfers of surplus military gear to civilian law enforcement as part of the 1033 program, effectively prohibiting police from obtaining bayonets, grenades, weaponized tracked combat vehicles, and weaponized drones, and requiring annual training by participating law enforcement agencies in de-escalation of force, and respect for the rights of citizens under the Constitution. The bill also requires federal law enforcement officers and members of the armed forces or National Guard deployed in response to public protests to visibly display their name and agency on their uniform.\r\n \r\n \r\nAgent Orange. The bill expands the VA's list of medical conditions associated with exposure to Agent Orange to include Bladder Cancer, Hypothyroidism, and Parkinsonismhealth conditions that each meet the historical standard for being added to the presumptive list for service-connection as it relates to Agent Orange exposure. Durbin has cosponsored legislation on this and written to President Trump on the matter, as his Administration has been blocking inclusion of these diseases on the Agent Orange presumptive diseases list since 2017.\r\n \r\n \r\nMilitary Sexual Assault. The conference report includes a number of provisions aimed at addressing sexual assault and harassment in the military, including creating a task force to study and make recommendations on domestic violence in the military. It would also enable victims to make confidential reports of sexual harassment outside of the chain of command and requires the Department of Defense to implement a safe to report policy and coordinate support with the VA for survivors.\r\n \r\n \r\nPFAS. The bill includes language incentivizing the development of non-PFAS containing fire-fighting agents, requiring increased notifications about potential PFAS exposure, and increases CDC funding for PFAS research. The bill in total authorizes $90 million in PFAS testing and $1.4 billion for environmental remediation.\r\n \r\nEarlier this year, the Air Force detected PFAS during site inspections at Scott Air Force Base (AFB), the Peoria Air National Guard Base, and the Capital Air National Guard Base in Springfield, which may be impacting off-base water wells. Since then, Durbin has been pushing for immediate measures to protect the health of residents, including securing funding for PFAS-related clean-up, research, and mitigation work at and near military bases as Vice Chairman of the Senate Appropriations Defense Subcommittee.\r\n-30-\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\n\t   \n\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t \n\t\t\n\t\t\tPrint\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\tEmail\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\tTweet\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\n\t \n\t\n\t\n\n \n\t\n    \n   \n    \n    \t\n    \t\n\t    \t  \n\t\t    \n\t\t    \tPrevious Article\n\t\t    \n\t\t    \n\t\t    \tNext Article", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://www.gillibrand.senate.gov//news/press/release/following-her-push-gillibrand-announces-150-million-in-breast-cancer-research-funding-included-in-fy-2021-bipartisan-appropriations-package", "Following Her Push, Gillibrand Announces $150 Million In Breast Cancer Research Funding Included In FY 2021 Bipartisan Appropriations Package", "2020-12-29", "2020", "2020-12", "Democrat", "House", "NY", "Kirsten Gillibrand", "G000555", "www.gillibrand.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "December 29, 2020\n\t\t\t Following Her Push, Gillibrand Announces $150 Million In Breast Cancer Research Funding Included In FY 2021 Bipartisan Appropriations Package \n\t\t\t\n\t\t\tU.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand, member of the Armed Services Committee, today announced that the recently-passed government funding package authorized $150 million for the Department of Defense peer-reviewed Breast Cancer Research Program (DoD BCRP), enabling the program to continuemakingscientific breakthroughs inbreast cancer prevention, detection, and treatment. Earlier this year, Senator Gillibrand, a leader in the fight against breast cancer and for women's health care, led a bipartisan letter to the Defense Appropriations Subcommittee to maintain the level of funding for this vital program.\r\nSupport for the Breast Cancer Research Program can help change the lives of millions of people fighting this devastating disease,saidSenator Gillibrand.This program has been at the forefront of breast cancer research and care since its inception at the DoD and the continued funding is essential to life saving scientific advancements. I'm proud to have secured this funding to provide support and care for those fighting breast cancer.\r\nBreast cancer is one of the most common cancers in the United States, with nearly 1 in 8 women estimated to be diagnosed in their lifetime. Research has shown that breast cancer rates among female service members are significantly higher than in the general civilian population. The DoD BCRP provides transformative breast cancer research, support to individuals and their families through and after breast cancer treatment, and primary prevention. Over 90% of the funds go directly to grants that perform breakthrough research. The flexibility and efficiency of the DoD BCRP allows the program to support scientific advances and fill knowledge gaps by focusing on research that is traditionally under-funded.\r\nFull text of Senator Gillibrand's letter to appropriators can be foundhereand below.\r\nDear Chairman Shelby and Ranking Member Durbin:\r\nThe Department of Defense peer-reviewed Breast Cancer Research Program (DOD BCRP) has established itself as a model medical research program. The DOD BCRP's progress in the fight against breast cancer has been made possible by this Committee's investment in breast cancer research.We thank you for your past support, and ask that you provide funding $150 million for fiscal year (FY) 2021 for the DOD BCRP in the Department of Defense Appropriations bill. The critical work of this program must be continued at this level of funding because:\r\n \r\nIt is a demonstrated success: Ground-breaking discoveries that offer insights into the biology of breast cancer have come as a result of the program, including revolutionary work that led to the development of the innovative drug Herceptin. From new methods of extracting breast cancer cells at their earliest stages, to unprecedented research into gene/environment interaction and quality of life issues, the DOD BCRP leads the way in generating new approaches to breast cancer prevention, treatment, and detection. The Institute of Medicine, in two analyses of the program, overwhelmingly supports continued investment in the DOD BCRP, stating the program fills a unique niche among public and private funding sources for cancer research. It is not duplicative of other programs and is a promising vehicle for forging new ideas and scientific breakthroughs in the nation's fight against breast cancer.\r\n \r\n \r\nIt is innovative and unique:The DOD BCRP has a unique grants structure that allows it to be more flexible and to fund innovative, high-risk, high-return research, enabling it to quickly respond to current scientific advances and to fill gaps by focusing on areas of research that are promising but otherwise underfunded.\r\n \r\n \r\nIt is efficient:Approximately 90 percent of the appropriated funds go directly to competitive, peer-reviewed research grants awarded only on the basis of scientific merit.\r\n \r\n \r\nIt is transparent and accountable to the public:This is evidenced by the inclusion of consumer advocates at both the peer and programmatic review levels. The consumer perspective helps the scientists understand how the research will affect the breast cancer community and allows for funding decisions based on the concerns and needs of patients and the medical community. Each researcher who receives funds from the program must present their results to the American people online and at public meetings called Era of Hope. The transparency of the DOD BCRP allows scientists, consumers, and the American public to see the exceptional progress made in breast cancer research.\r\n \r\nWhile the prevention and cure of breast cancer is not yet within our grasp, with the proper investments, we can win the fight against breast cancer. In 2020, it is estimated that 276,480 new cases of invasive breast cancer will be diagnosed among U.S. women and approximately 2,620 new cases among U.S. men and more than 42,000 will die of the disease this year. In addition to invasive cancers, 62,930 new cases of in situ breast cancer will be diagnosed among women in the U.S. in 2018. Notably, research has also shown that breast cancer rates among female service members are significantly higher than in the general civilian population. Despite tremendous efforts to combat this terrible disease, we still have work to do to learn how to prevent, treat, and cure breast cancer. The DOD BCRP is a critical tool in this effort.\r\nThe Appropriations Committee has shown great determination and leadership in the search for answers in continuing to fund the DOD BCRP and by continuing to maintain the integrity of this model program of research.We thank you for your longstanding leadership with respect to the DOD BCRP and ask that you provide funding of $150 million for fiscal year (FY) 2021 for the DOD BCRP in the Department of Defense Appropriations bill.\r\nSincerely,\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\n\t  \n\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t \n\t\t\n\t\t\tPrint\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\tEmail\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\tTweet\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\n\t \n\t\n\t\n\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n    \n\t\n\t\n    \n    \n    \n    \t\n    \t\n\t    \t  \n\t\t    \n\t\t    \tNext Article\n\t\t    \n\t\t    \n\t\t    \tPrevious Article", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://www.gillibrand.senate.gov//news/press/release/gillibrand-calls-on-leader-mcconnell-to-allow-the-senate-to-vote-on-2000-emergency-checks", "Gillibrand Calls On Leader McConnell To Allow The Senate To Vote On $2,000 Emergency Checks", "2020-12-29", "2020", "2020-12", "Democrat", "House", "NY", "Kirsten Gillibrand", "G000555", "www.gillibrand.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "December 29, 2020\n\t\t\t Gillibrand Calls On Leader McConnell To Allow The Senate To Vote On $2,000 Emergency Checks \n\t\t\t\n\t\t\tToday, Senator Kirsten Gillibrand released the following statement calling on Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell to allow the Senate to vote on House-passed legislation to deliver $2,000 direct payment checks to Americans facing economic hardship due to the Covid-19 pandemic:\r\nYesterday, the House passed bipartisan legislation to send $2,000 direct payment checks to Americans weathering an unprecedented public health and financial crisis. Now, the Senate must do the same. Along with every Senate Democrat, several Republicans senators support these emergency checks, which will provide a crucial lifeline to millions of American families, who are struggling to keep food on the table and make ends meet. Leader McConnell must end the obstruction and let the Senate vote to deliver this much-needed relief to American families.\r\nBackground:\r\nThroughout relief package negotiations, Senator Gillibrand has pressed for the inclusion of robust direct payments. As noted in a December 29Washington Postcolumn, If not for progressives such as independent Sen. Bernie Sanders of Vermont, Democratic Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand of New York and both Democratic senators of Massachusetts and Oregon (who wanted $1,200 checks), there would not be any direct payments in the bill at all.\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\n\t  \n\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t \n\t\t\n\t\t\tPrint\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\tEmail\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\tTweet\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\n\t \n\t\n\t\n\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n    \n\t\n\t\n    \n    \n    \n    \t\n    \t\n\t    \t  \n\t\t    \n\t\t    \tNext Article\n\t\t    \n\t\t    \n\t\t    \tPrevious Article", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://www.gillibrand.senate.gov//news/press/release/gillibrand-hace-llamado-al-lder-mcconnell-para-que-permita-un-voto-en-el-senado-sobre-los-cheques-de-emergencia-de-2000", "Gillibrand Hace Llamado Al L\u00edder Mcconnell Para Que Permita Un Voto En El Senado Sobre Los Cheques De Emergencia De $2,000", "2020-12-29", "2020", "2020-12", "Democrat", "House", "NY", "Kirsten Gillibrand", "G000555", "www.gillibrand.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "December 29, 2020\n\t\t\t Gillibrand Hace Llamado Al Lder Mcconnell Para Que Permita Un Voto En El Senado Sobre Los Cheques De Emergencia De $2,000 \n\t\t\t\n\t\t\tHoy la Senadora Kirsten Gillibrand emiti las siguientes declaraciones en las que insta al Lder de la Mayora del Senado Mitch McConnell permitir que el Senado vote sobre un proyecto de ley aprobado en la Cmara de Representantes que le proporcionara a los estadounidenses pagos directos por cheque de $2,000 por las dificultades econmicas que enfrentan debido a la pandemia de la Covid-19:\r\nAyer la Cmara de Representantes aprob un proyecto de ley bipartidista que le dara a los estadounidenses pasando por una crisis de salud pblica y financiera sin precedentes pagos directos por cheque de $2,000. Ahora el Senado debe hacer lo mismo. Hay varios senadores republicanos que junto a cada demcrata en el Senado respaldan la aprobacin de estos cheques de emergencia, los cuales sern una ayuda vital para millones de familias estadounidenses que luchan por alimentarse y cubrir sus gastos mensuales. El Lder McConnell debe dejar la obstruccin y dejar que el Senado vote para dar alivio financiero necesario a las familias estadounidenses.\r\nAntecedentes:\r\nA lo largo de las negociaciones para el paquete de alivio, la Senadora Gillibrand ha presionado para incluir pagos directos robustos. Como se seal en unartculo de opinin publicadoel 29 de diciembre en el diario Washington Post, Si no fuera por progresistas como el senador independiente por Vermont, Bernie Sanders; la senadora demcrata por Nueva York,Kirsten Gillibrand, y ambos senadores demcratas por Massachusetts y Oregon (quienes queran cheques por $1,200), no se hubiera incluido ningn pago directo en el proyecto de ley.\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\n\t  \n\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t \n\t\t\n\t\t\tPrint\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\tEmail\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\tTweet\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\n\t \n\t\n\t\n\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n    \n\t\n\t\n    \n    \n    \n    \t\n    \t\n\t    \t  \n\t\t    \n\t\t    \tNext Article\n\t\t    \n\t\t    \n\t\t    \tPrevious Article", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://www.gillibrand.senate.gov//news/press/release/schumer-gillibrand-announce-82-million-in-funding-for-rochester-laser-lab-in-the-fy-2021-bipartisan-appropriations-package_", "Schumer, Gillibrand Announce $82 Million In Funding For Rochester Laser Lab In The FY 2021 Bipartisan Appropriations Package", "2020-12-29", "2020", "2020-12", "Democrat", "House", "NY", "Kirsten Gillibrand", "G000555", "www.gillibrand.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "December 29, 2020\n\t\t\t Schumer, Gillibrand Announce $82 Million In Funding For Rochester Laser Lab In The FY 2021 Bipartisan Appropriations Package   \n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t \n\t\n\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\n        \n\t\t\t\t Following Their Push, Senators Secured $575 Million for National Nuclear Security Administration's (NNSA) Inertial Confinement Fusion (ICF) program; Bipartisan Funding Will Help Support Nearly 900 Jobs In New York State\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t U.S. Senate Minority Leader Charles E. Schumer and U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand today announced their successful push to secure $82 million in funding for the OMEGA Laser Facility at University of Rochester Laboratory for Laser Energetics (LLE). The funding comes as part of $575 million that the senators fought to deliver to the National Nuclear Security Administration's (NNSA) Inertial Confinement Fusion (ICF) program in the bipartisan FY 2021 appropriations package. The funding will help achieve scientific milestones laid out in the current five-year Cooperative Agreement between LLE and the NNSA and will provide resources to help support the science-based stewardship of the nation's nuclear weapon stockpile. This funding will support nearly 900 jobs for scientists, engineers, technicians, and support staff, helping to drive economic growth throughout New York State.\r\nThe inclusion of $82 million in funding for the U of R'S OMEGA Laser Facility will ensure that the nearly 900 workers employed thanks to the Rochester Laser Lab can stay on the job keeping our nuclear weapon stockpile safe and reliable while pushing the frontiers of energy research at a time when countries like China and Russia are working to beat the U.S. to new technological advances,said Senator Schumer. I'm such a staunch supporter of the University of Rochester Laser Lab because it plays a paramount role in our national security and is vital to our regional economy, employing hundreds of scientists and bringing millions into the Rochester area. The United States of America has always taken pride in our scientific achievements, and with the U of R Laser Lab responsible for so many of them, I'll always fight relentlessly to ensure it has the resources necessary to keep innovating on behalf of the American people.\r\nThe partnership between OMEGA Laser Facility atUniversity of Rochester Laboratory for Laser Energetics (LLE) and the National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA) is key to our national security and will keep the United States at the cutting edge of nuclear fusion research,saidSenator Gillibrand.This world-renowned research is also an important part of New York State's work force and community, bringing scientists from around the world to the Rochester-Finger Lakes region and creating nearly 900 jobs statewide. The funding is great news for New York and the entire nation, and I am pleased that it has been included in this year's government funding bill.\r\nWe are deeply grateful to Senator Schumer and Senator Gillibrand for their longstanding leadership in support of the LLE and the integral role it plays in enhancing our national security, maintaining global competitiveness, driving economic growth and innovation across New York, and training the next generation of scientists. With this federal support, LLE will continue to make critical contributions to the science-based Stockpile Stewardship Program and build on its 50 year history of transformational leadership in laser innovation,said Sarah C. Mangelsdorf, President, University of Rochester.\r\nEstablished in 1970, the Laboratory for Laser Energetics (LLE) of the University of Rochester is a unique and cost effective national resource for research and education in science and technology. LLE is the largest U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) university-based research program in the entire nation and is home to the OMEGA lasers (Omega and Omega EP)  two of the largest and most capable at any academic institution in the world. The funding will allow LLE to support facility operations and experiments on OMEGA in order to make progress on the three most viable approaches to fusion, as well as support the research programs of the three NNSA laboratories. With this support, LLE will also be able to provide the needed scientific and technical support for external users, including the national laboratories (LLNL, LANL, and SNL) and more than 400 scientists from over 50 universities, that conduct research at the OMEGA facility. Lastly, this funding will improve cyber infrastructure and enhance the security of new high-performance computing capabilities, accelerate development and deployment of state-of-the-art diagnostics and next-generation laser technologies that have long-distinguished the University.\r\nNNSA's ICF Program helps to maintain the OMEGA Laser Facility. The ICF program is critical to maintaining safe, secure, and effective nuclear deterrent maintained through the Stockpile Stewardship Program. This program establishes the United States as a leader in technology and attracts talented scientists, engineers, and students dedicated to achieving controlled fusion laboratory, one of the grand scientific and engineering challenges for the 21st century.\r\nSchumer and Gillibrand have long fought for Rochester's Laser Lab. They helped secure $80 million in funding in the Fiscal Year 2020 spending bill and $75 million in 2018. In Fiscal Year 2019, the senators secured another $80 million in funding through the Senate Energy and Water Appropriations Bill. The senators will continue their efforts to help grow the laser lab, which is a key driver of Rochester's optics and photonics industry and in maintaining the nation's nuclear weapon stockpile while developing new clean energy sources.\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\n\t  \n\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t \n\t\t\n\t\t\tPrint\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\tEmail\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\tTweet\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\n\t \n\t\n\t\n\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n    \n\t\n\t\n    \n    \n    \n    \t\n    \t\n\t    \t  \n\t\t    \n\t\t    \tNext Article\n\t\t    \n\t\t    \n\t\t    \tPrevious Article", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://www.heinrich.senate.gov/press-releases/heinrich-lujn-shocked-by-video-of-tasing-at-petroglyph-national-monument-call-for-immediate-investigation", "Heinrich, Luj\u00e1n Shocked By Video Of Tasing At Petroglyph National Monument, Call For Immediate Investigation", "2020-12-29", "2020", "2020-12", "Democrat", "House", "NM", "Martin Heinrich", "H001046", "www.heinrich.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "ALBUQUERQUE\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t400 Gold Avenue SW, Ste. 1080\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tAlbuquerque, New Mexico 87102\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tp: (505) 346-6601\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tf: (505) 346-6780\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tGet Directions\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t \n\t\t\t\t\t\t \n\t\t\t\t\t\t\tFARMINGTON\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t7450 East Main St., Ste. A\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tFarmington, NM 87402\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tp: (505) 325-5030\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tf: (505) 325-6035\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tGet Directions\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t \n\t\t\t\t\t\t \n\t\t\t\t\t\t\tLAS CRUCES\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t201 North Church St., Ste. 305\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tLas Cruces, New Mexico 88001\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tp: (575) 523-6561\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tf: (575) 523-6584\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tGet Directions\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t \n\t\t\t\t\t\t \n\t\t\t\t\t\t\tROSWELL\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t200 East 4th St., Ste. 300\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tRoswell, New Mexico 88201\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tp: (575) 622-7113\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tf: (575) 622-3538\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tGet Directions\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t \n\t\t\t\t\t\t \n\t\t\t\t\t\t\tSANTA FE\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t123 East Marcy St., Ste 103\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tSanta Fe, New Mexico 87501\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tp: (505) 988-6647\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tf: (505) 992-8435\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tGet Directions\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t \n\t\t\t\t\t\t \n\t\t\t\t\t\t\tWASHINGTON, D.C.\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t303 Hart Senate Office Building\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tWashington, D.C. 20510\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tp: (202) 224-5521\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tf: (202) 228-2841\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tGet Directions", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://www.murphy.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/on-the-senate-floor-murphy-highlights-dire-need-for-2000-stimulus-checks-to-help-struggling-americans-calls-on-senate-republicans-to-pass-legislation", "On The Senate Floor, Murphy Highlights Dire Need For $2,000 Stimulus Checks To Help Struggling Americans, Calls On Senate Republicans To Pass LegislationRead More", "2020-12-29", "2020", "2020-12", "Democrat", "House", "CT", "Christopher Murphy", "M001169", "www.murphy.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "WASHINGTONU.S.\r\nSenator Chris Murphy (D-Conn.) on Tuesday took to the U.S. Senate floor to\r\nhighlight the dire need for bigger stimulus checks to help American families\r\nstruggling during the COVID-19 pandemic, and called on Senate Majority Leader\r\nMitch McConnell and his Republican colleagues to help pass legislation to\r\ndeliver $2,000 direct payment to working Americans. Millions\r\nof families all across this nation, through no fault of their own, have lost\r\ntheir jobs, have had their hours dramatically cut back. They had no savings,\r\nbecause work doesn't pay in this country anymore. They spent everything they\r\nearned, each month. And so when the economy collapsed, virtually overnight, in\r\nthe spring, they got desperatereally fast, Murphy said. Murphy continued: The only\r\nthing that stands between the American people and a $2,000 emergency survival\r\ncheck is 52 Senate Republicans. You got it? Understand? There's a bill pending\r\nright now before the Senate that gives $2,000 to ordinary Americans. Yes, it\r\ncosts a lot of money. And maybe, down the line, we'll have to ask the\r\nbillionaires to pay for it. But the bill is here right now. The legislative\r\nsession expires in five days. President Trump says he'll sign it. And all that\r\nmatters right now is what these 52 people decide. The House passed the bill\r\nwith lots of Democratic and Republican support. The President supports the\r\nidea. The only thing that can stop $2,000 payments to struggling Americans\r\nright now is 52 Senate Republicans. Some\r\nthings in Washington aren't that simplebut this is, Murphy concluded. A full\r\ntranscript of Murphy's remarks can be found below: America\r\nhas 600 billionaires. Now, a\r\nbillion dollars doesn't sound like a lot of money these days. President Trump\r\njust signed a bill begrudgingly that has $900 billion in it. But trust me, a\r\nbillion dollars is still a whole lot of money. It's actually so much money that\r\nit's really hard to find words to describe what it looks like. But let me try. If\r\nyou're, for instance, one of the half a million Americans who make the minimum\r\nwage in this nation, and you're lucky enough to work 40 hours a week, guess how\r\nmany years you would have to work in order to get a billion dollars? 500 years?\r\n1,000 years? 10,000 years? No, you're not even close. If you make minimum wage\r\nin America today, you would need to work for 75,000 years in order to make a\r\nbillion dollars. 75,000 years. Neanderthals were roaming the earth 75,000 years\r\nago. Those guys, if they made minimum wage, would have to work up until present\r\nday every single day, and that is, of course, if they didn't spend a dime of\r\nthe money they made, in order to accrue a billion dollars. A billion\r\ndollars is a bananas amount of money. And there are 600 people in America today\r\nwho make at least that amount of money, or have that amount of money to their\r\nname. That's crazy. With a billion dollars, you are leading a life that frankly\r\nnone of us can really imagine. You've got private planes, you've got yachts,\r\nyou've got household staffs in the dozens. You've got enough money to make sure\r\nthat your children and your grandchildren, and your great-grandchildren and\r\nyour great-great-grandchildren never have to work a day of their lives.\r\nGenerations of your offspring can just live lives of indolent luxury, without a\r\ncare if they so choose. You know\r\nwhere I was two days before Thanksgiving this year? I was at Hamden Middle\r\nSchool, in my state. To help hand out free food for the unemployed, the poor,\r\nand the disabled ahead of a long holiday weekend. Those long weekends can be\r\nreally hard. Especially the ones that fall at the end of the month, when the\r\nSNAP benefits have long run out. I got there as darkness fell, but right at the\r\nbeginning of the event. And I noticed that down the hill from the round-about\r\nat the school where they were handing out the food there was a usually empty\r\nparking lot. And that night, at that moment, at the beginning of the event,\r\nthat parking lot was lit up by hundreds of sets of headlights, hundreds of cars\r\njust sitting there idling in that parking lot. I asked\r\nthe organizer of the event what was going on in the parking lot. Was that some\r\nother event happening that evening? Why all the cars? He told\r\nme The cars started pulling into that lot hours ago. They got wind we were\r\nhanding out food and they got here early to make sure that they didn't get left\r\nout. We have enough food for 300 people, and there were 300 cars in that lot\r\nbefore I even got here.' That is\r\nwhat has happened during this pandemic. Millions of families all across this\r\nnation, through no fault of their own, have lost their jobs, have had their\r\nhours dramatically cut back. They had no savings, because work doesn't pay in\r\nthis country anymore. They spent everything they earned, each month. And so\r\nwhen the economy collapsed, virtually overnight, in the spring, they got\r\ndesperatereally fast. And I\r\nwant you to think about what it's really likeon an hour to hour basiswhen you\r\ndon't have enough money for food for your family. The decisions you have to\r\nmake every single day are practically animalistic. Do you make your kids go\r\nhungry during the day, when they need the most energy, or do you skimp on\r\ndinner and force your kids to go to bed with hunger pangs? There are hundreds\r\nof thousands of mothers and fathers who, right now, as I am speaking, are\r\nmaking that decision today. That's the reality of this pandemic. But\r\nhere's another reality. Those 600 billionaires in this country? As it turns\r\nout, as a group, they lost nothingnothingduring this pandemic. No, exactly\r\nthe opposite. They got richer. The wealthiest 600 Americans, collectively,\r\nadded $1 trillion dollars to their bank accounts. Let me say it again, the\r\nrichest 600 Americans gained $1 trillion over the course of 2020. And let's\r\nbe clear, that's not money that grew in their money tree orchards. Yeah, we're\r\nprinting some more money these days, but wealth isn't far away from a zero sum\r\ngame still. And so when we allow for 600 people in the country to control 50%\r\nof the nation's wealth, that's coming out of your pocket. 600\r\npeople, in a country of 328 million, isn't a lot of people. But you know what's\r\na smaller number than 600? 52. There are\r\n52 Republicans in this chamber. 52 people who are going to have a decision to\r\nmake about what do in a country where millions are literally starving, as we\r\nspeak, while 600 billionaires count the $1 trillion dollars in additional\r\nwealth that they have accumulated during the period of national calamity. The\r\nquestion before these 52 Senate Republicans is simple. It's simple: should we\r\ngive $2,000 to low and middle income Americans, right now, to help them survive\r\nthis crisis? That's the decision Senate Republicans have to make, right now.\r\nTime is running out. 600 billionaires got $1 trillion richer this year, and the\r\nquestion before Senate Republicans is this: are you willing to spend an amount\r\nequal to just half of that windfall to America's billionaires, to help 160\r\nmillion Americans? Because\r\nright now, the 52 Senate Republicans serving in this chamber are the only thing\r\nstanding in the way of $2,000 being sent to 160 million of our neediest\r\ncitizens. The House passed the bill authorizing the checks in a big bipartisan\r\nvote. It is hard to get two-thirds of the House of Representatives to agree on\r\nwhat time it is. But two-thirds of the House of Representatives voted for the\r\n$2,000 checks. President\r\nTrump supports the $2,000 checks. So he'll sign the bill if the Senate sends it\r\nto him. We can vote on the House bill today. Like, in a matter of hours if\r\nSenate Republicans agree. So why\r\nisn't this happening? Why didn't Senator McConnell announce the schedule for\r\nthe vote on a $2,000 checks bill? Why didn't he agree to Senator Schumer's\r\nrequest to bring it up for an immediate vote? Now a lot\r\nof Republicans are saying they object to the payments because it costs too\r\nmuch. And it's going to add too much to the deficit. Well frankly, spare me the\r\nfake righteous indignation about the deficit all of a sudden. Three years ago,\r\nthese same deficit hawk Republicans passed a tax cut bill that before the\r\npandemic hit, had already added over $200 billion to the annual deficit. And\r\nthat was a tax cut where 80% of the benefits went to the richest 1% of\r\nAmericans. Warren Buffet wrote in his note to investors last year that the\r\ndeficit-financed tax cuts earned his empire $29 billion overnight. That\r\nwindfall, Buffet noted, did not come from anything we accomplished at\r\nBerkshire.' So it's funnydeficits just didn't matter to the 52 when it was tax\r\ncuts to the 600 richest people in America. But even\r\nif this Congress wasn't ending in five days, and we had time to figure out how\r\nto pay for it, you know how we can't pay for it? Cutting foreign aid. President\r\nTrump has been talking a lot about foreign aid in the last week. Now, the money\r\nwe spend on foreign aid, all supported by Republicans and Democrats over the\r\nyears, all of it smart investments in our nation's security, that actually\r\nwasn't in the COVID relief package. It was in the annual budget, as it always\r\nis. It just so happens that this year, the COVID relief package and the annual\r\nbudget were passed together. But just\r\nfor argument's sake, let's say Trump got his way and every single dollar of\r\nforeign aid was cut out of the budget. Would that pay for the $2,000 checks?\r\nNot even close. President Trump apparently has an oversized impression of how\r\nmuch money we spend on foreign aid. Because our annual foreign aid spending\r\ndoesn't even equal 10% of the cost of a one-time $2,000 payment to low and\r\nmiddle income citizens. There's\r\nalso some speculationthat Senator McConnell isgoing to join\r\ntogether the$2,000 payments with other muchmore controversial\r\nmeasures,much more complicated measures,like the reform of our\r\ninternetliability laws.That is an invitation for thisentire\r\neffort to fall apart.The House has finished voting.They have passed\r\nthe $2,000payment bill and sent it to us.They are not interested\r\nintaking up anything else.If we start adding poison pillsto\r\nthe $2,000 payment bill, thatis just another way of tellingthe\r\nAmerican people that thisbody doesn't support $2,000payments. Listen,\r\nbeing a billionaire must be crazy. I make a lot of money as a Senator, but even\r\nI would have to work 7,500 years before my earnings equaled a billion dollars.\r\nYou know what was happening 7,500 years ago? The Stone Age. There\r\nisn't a good reason to oppose giving Americans who aren't billionaires a measly\r\n$2,000 check to help them put food on the table for their kids in this middle\r\nof this once-in-a-lifetime crisis. There isn't a good reason to choose to make\r\nmoms and dads all across this country decide which two meals they'll feed their\r\nkids each day, because three meals is not an option. $2,000 doesn't put dinner\r\non the table every night, but man, going to bed hungry when you're eleven, it\r\nsucks. And even dealing with it every other night, instead of every single\r\nnightno kid is going to turn that down. There are\r\n52 of you. And in the next 24 to 48 hours, you get to decide. Do you protect\r\nthe billionaires? Or do you choose to feed that eleven year old kid? The only\r\nthing that stands between the American people and a $2,000 emergency survival\r\ncheck is 52 Senate Republicans. You got it? Understand? There's a bill pending\r\nright now before the Senate that gives $2,000 to ordinary Americans. Yes, it\r\ncosts a lot of money. And maybe, down the line, we'll have to ask the\r\nbillionaires to pay for it. But the bill is here right now. The legislative\r\nsession expires in five days. President Trump says he'll sign it. And all that\r\nmatters right now is what these 52 people decide. The House passed the bill\r\nwith lots of Democratic and Republican support. The President supports the\r\nidea. The only thing that can stop $2,000 payments to struggling Americans\r\nright now is 52 Senate Republicans. Some\r\nthings in Washington aren't that simplebut this is. I yield the floor. ###", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://www.rosen.senate.gov/rosen-works-protect-taxpayer-dollars-leads-call-investigation-ppp-and-eidl-fraud", "Rosen Works to Protect Taxpayer Dollars, Leads Call for Investigation into PPP and EIDL Fraud", "2020-12-29", "2020", "2020-12", "Democrat", "House", "NV", "Jacky Rosen", "R000608", "www.rosen.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "WASHINGTON, D.C.  Today, U.S. Senator Jacky Rosen (D-NV), a member of the Committee on Small Business & Entrepreneurship, led a group of her Senate Small Business Committee colleagues in a letter to U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) Administrator Jovita Carranza. In the letter, the Senators express concern over the SBA's reluctance to share crucial Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) and Economic Injury Disaster Loan (EIDL) data with the U.S. Government Accountability Office (GAO) and the SBA Office of Inspector General (OIG) necessary for the oversight agencies to conduct an accurate analysis of SBA emergency loan programs and investigate fraudulent activity.\nAs workers and small businesses continue to struggle during the COVID-19 pandemic, and as the SBA works to administer its emergency loan programs recently replenished by Congress to provide much-needed relief, we must protect taxpayer dollars by ensuring that the SBA has the tools necessary to combat fraud, waste, and abuse. With that in mind, we urge you to fully cooperate with all past, current, and future GAO and SBA OIG data requests, wrote the Senators.\nBACKGROUND: In addition to Senator Rosen, Senators Ed Markey (D-MA), Tammy Duckworth (D-IL), and Cory Booker (D-NJ) signed the letter.\nThe full text of the letter can be found here and below:\nDear Administrator Carranza:\nWe write to express concern about the U.S. Small Business Administration's (SBA) reluctance to share crucial Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) and Economic Injury Disaster Loan (EIDL) data with the U.S. Government Accountability Office (GAO) and SBA Office of Inspector General (OIG). In order for GAO and SBA OIG to conduct an accurate and thorough analysis of SBA emergency loan programs, we urge the SBA to comply with all loan data requests and fully cooperate with any future requests so that oversight agencies can effectively investigate potential fraud and ensure accountability of SBA's use of taxpayer funds.\nAs part of the response to the COVID-19 pandemic, Congress passed the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act, which created the PPP and expanded the EIDL program, providing much-needed relief for our nation's small businesses. In June 2020, the GAO released a report that found that the SBA's Paycheck Protection Program lacked safeguards and had insufficient guidance and oversight to prevent the misuse or improper receipt of loans. Additionally, on October 28, 2020, the SBA's Inspector General released a report that found billions of dollars of potentially fraudulent EIDL loans and grants. \nThe American people deserve transparency and accountability from our federal agencies, especially when taxpayer dollars are being utilized to fund relief programs. Every dollar diverted for fraudulent purposes is a dollar that cannot help a small business in need. Despite this, initially the SBA only released partial loan data on PPP borrowers with loans of $150,000 or more. SBA also did not disclose the full loan data needed to give the public full accounting, and still have not done so. In fact, on a national call between SBA and the SBA OIG, the SBA OIG expressed frustration about not being able to access information from the SBA's Office of Disaster Assistance to investigate fraud. While we are pleased that the SBA complied with a recent court order from the U.S. District Court of the District of Columbia requiring the release of names of borrowers and loan amounts under the PPP and EIDL programs, GAO and SBA OIG likely will need additional and much more granular information to adequately conduct its fraud investigations. This includes all application data from SBA's Office of Disaster Assistance and any other data required for fraud analysis. \nAs workers and small businesses continue to struggle during the COVID-19 pandemic, and as the SBA works to administer its emergency loan programs recently replenished by Congress to provide much-needed relief, we must protect taxpayer dollars by ensuring that the SBA has the tools necessary to combat fraud, waste, and abuse. With that in mind, we urge you to fully cooperate with all past, current, and future GAO and SBA OIG data requests.\nThank you for your attention to this important matter. We look forward to your prompt response.\nSincerely,\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://www.schumer.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/schumer-gillibrand-announce-82-million-in-funding-for-rochester-laser-lab-in-the-fy-2021-bipartisan-appropriations-package", "SCHUMER, GILLIBRAND ANNOUNCE $82 MILLION IN FUNDING FOR ROCHESTER LASER LAB IN THE FY 2021 BIPARTISAN APPROPRIATIONS PACKAGE", "2020-12-29", "2020", "2020-12", "Democrat", "House", "NY", "Charles Schumer", "S000148", "www.schumer.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "12.29.20\n\t\t\t SCHUMER, GILLIBRAND ANNOUNCE $82 MILLION IN FUNDING FOR ROCHESTER LASER LAB IN THE FY 2021 BIPARTISAN APPROPRIATIONS PACKAGE \n\t\t\t\n\t\t\tFollowing Their Push, Senators Secured $575 Million for National Nuclear Security Administration's (NNSA) Inertial Confinement Fusion (ICF) program\r\nBipartisan Funding Will Help Support Nearly 900 Jobs In New York State\r\nWashington, D.C. U.S. Senate Minority Leader Charles E. Schumer and U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand today announced their successful push to secure $82 million in funding for the OMEGA Laser Facility at University of Rochester Laboratory for Laser Energetics (LLE). The funding comes as part of $575 million that the senators fought to deliver to the National Nuclear Security Administration's (NNSA) Inertial Confinement Fusion (ICF) program in the bipartisan FY 2021 appropriations package. The funding will help achieve scientific milestones laid out in the current five-year Cooperative Agreement between LLE and the NNSA and will provide resources to help support the science-based stewardship of the nation's nuclear weapon stockpile. This funding will support nearly 900 jobs for scientists, engineers, technicians, and support staff, helping to drive economic growth throughout New York State.\r\nThe inclusion of $82 million in funding for the U of R'S OMEGA Laser Facility will ensure that the nearly 900 workers employed thanks to the Rochester Laser Lab can stay on the job keeping our nuclear weapon stockpile safe and reliable while pushing the frontiers of energy research at a time when countries like China and Russia are working to beat the U.S. to new technological advances, said Senator Schumer. I'm such a staunch supporter of the University of Rochester Laser Lab because it plays a paramount role in our national security and is vital to our regional economy, employing hundreds of scientists and bringing millions into the Rochester area. The United States of America has always taken pride in our scientific achievements, and with the U of R Laser Lab responsible for so many of them, I'll always fight relentlessly to ensure it has the resources necessary to keep innovating on behalf of the American people.\r\nThe partnership between OMEGA Laser Facility atUniversity of Rochester Laboratory for Laser Energetics (LLE) and the National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA) is key to our national security and will keep the United States at the cutting edge of nuclear fusion research,saidSenator Gillibrand.This world-renowned research is also an important part of New York State's work force and community, bringing scientists from around the world to the Rochester-Finger Lakes region and creating nearly 900 jobs statewide. The funding is great news for New York and the entire nation, and I am pleased that it has been included in this year's government funding bill.\r\nWe are deeply grateful to Senator Schumer and Senator Gillibrand for their longstanding leadership in support of the LLE and the integral role it plays in enhancing our national security, maintaining global competitiveness, driving economic growth and innovation across New York, and training the next generation of scientists. With this federal support, LLE will continue to make critical contributions to the science-based Stockpile Stewardship Program and build on its 50 year history of transformational leadership in laser innovation, said Sarah C. Mangelsdorf, President, University of Rochester.\r\nEstablished in 1970, the Laboratory for Laser Energetics (LLE) of the University of Rochester is a unique and cost effective national resource for research and education in science and technology. LLE is the largest U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) university-based research program in the entire nation and is home to the OMEGA lasers (Omega and Omega EP)  two of the largest and most capable at any academic institution in the world. The funding will allow LLE to support facility operations and experiments on OMEGA in order to make progress on the three most viable approaches to fusion, as well as support the research programs of the three NNSA laboratories. With this support, LLE will also be able to provide the needed scientific and technical support for external users, including the national laboratories (LLNL, LANL, and SNL) and more than 400 scientists from over 50 universities, that conduct research at the OMEGA facility. Lastly, this funding will improve cyber infrastructure and enhance the security of new high-performance computing capabilities, accelerate development and deployment of state-of-the-art diagnostics and next-generation laser technologies that have long-distinguished the University.\r\nNNSA's ICF Program helps to maintain the OMEGA Laser Facility. The ICF program is critical to maintaining safe, secure, and effective nuclear deterrent maintained through the Stockpile Stewardship Program. This program establishes the United States as a leader in technology and attracts talented scientists, engineers, and students dedicated to achieving controlled fusion laboratory, one of the grand scientific and engineering challenges for the 21st century.\r\nSchumer and Gillibrand have long fought for Rochester's Laser Lab. They helped secure $80 million in funding in the Fiscal Year 2020 spending bill and $75 million in 2018. In Fiscal Year 2019, the senators secured another $80 million in funding through the Senate Energy and Water Appropriations Bill. The senators will continue their efforts to help grow the laser lab, which is a key driver of Rochester's optics and photonics industry and in maintaining the nation's nuclear weapon stockpile while developing new clean energy sources.\r\n###\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\n\t  \n\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t \n\t\t\n\t\t\tPrint\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\tEmail\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\tTweet\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\n\t \n\t\n\t\n\n\t\n    \n    \n    \t\n\t    \t  \n\t\t    \n\t\t    \tPrevious Article\n\t\t    \n\t\t    \n\t\t    \tNext Article", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://www.schumer.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/schumer-gillibrand-brindisi-just-signed-bipartisan-end-of-year-omnibus-legislation-includes-278-million-for-rome-lab-federal-funding-will-be-used-to-further-revolutionize-uas-and-quantum-technology", "SCHUMER, GILLIBRAND, BRINDISI: JUST-SIGNED, BIPARTISAN END-OF-YEAR OMNIBUS LEGISLATION INCLUDES $278 MILLION FOR ROME LAB; FEDERAL FUNDING WILL BE USED TO FURTHER REVOLUTIONIZE UAS & QUANTUM TECHNOLOGY", "2020-12-29", "2020", "2020-12", "Democrat", "House", "NY", "Charles Schumer", "S000148", "www.schumer.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "12.29.20\n\t\t\t SCHUMER, GILLIBRAND, BRINDISI: JUST-SIGNED, BIPARTISAN END-OF-YEAR OMNIBUS LEGISLATION INCLUDES $278 MILLION FOR ROME LAB; FEDERAL FUNDING WILL BE USED TO FURTHER REVOLUTIONIZE UAS & QUANTUM TECHNOLOGY \n\t\t\t\n\t\t\tThe Air Force Research Laboratory In Rome Will Receive Over $278M In Funding For Fiscal Year 2021  More Than $37M Above The President's Budget Request & $6M More Than Fiscal Year 2020\r\nReps Directly Secured Funding For Rome Lab To Advance Groundbreaking Unmanned Aerial Systems (UAS) & Quantum Tech; Say Funding Boost Will Supercharge World-Class Capabilities\r\n\r\nReps: Funding Will Keep Rome Lab At The Military's Epicenter Of UAS & Quantum Technology, While Boosting Mohawk Valley's Economy\r\n\r\nContinuing their fierce advocacy for scientific innovation in Upstate New York, U.S. Senator Charles E. Schumer, U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand and U.S. Congressman Anthony Brindisi today announced that they have secured $278,889,000 in federal funding for the Air Force Research Laboratory in Rome (Rome Lab) in the just-signed end-of-year omnibus legislation. The total amount includes specific provisions the reps pushed for, including $10 million to further develop a Department of Defense (DoD)/Federal Unmanned Aircraft System Traffic Management (UTM) testbed and prototype in collaboration with the NY UAS Test Site, $10 million for the initial design and construction for a first-of-its-kind large wide area Quantum Wide Area Network (QWAN), and $10 million in funding to the Quantum Information Science Innovation Center,' also known as The Innovare Advancement Center in Rome.\r\n\r\nThis federal funding is a green light for DoD to supercharge its investment in just the kind of cutting-edge UAS and quantum technology that is happening at Rome Lab. The nation that innovates fastest and best in these technologies will be the superpower of the next century and I am beyond excited to help make Rome Lab a central part of that effort, said Senator Schumer. Not only has Rome Lab delivered real results in developing and enhancing our nation's defense capabilities through tech, they have shown a commitment to employing local residents with good-paying jobs and partnering with local business to advance their work. This infusion of funding will ensure that the talented people that work there will help our nation stay ahead of our international competitors in these critically important fields.\r\n\r\nThis federal funding will enable Rome Lab to continue developing ground-breaking technologies to support our nation's defense, support the Mohawk Valley economy, and bolster more than one thousand local jobs, said Senator Gillibrand. The people who work at Rome Lab represent the best of New York ingenuity and I'm excited to support them as they continue making America a worldwide leader in technological innovation.\r\nRome Lab, the Mohawk Valley, and New York's 22nd district at large play a crucial role in maintaining a strong national defense, Congressman Brindisi said. I worked with Democrats and Republicans to pass bipartisan legislation that includes a significant investment in Rome Lab and Central New York's defense industry. With this bill's help, we can keep our country safe, build upon our reputation as an industry leader, and create good-paying jobs along the way. I will continue to fight to bring taxpayer dollars back to this community.\r\nRome Lab is one of the nation's premier research facilities leading cutting edge research in quantum computing, neuromorphic computing, machine learning, artificial intelligence, cyber security and unmanned aerial systems. Senator Schumer is a super charged advocate driven by the impact the lab's work has on our Nation's strength and resilience, saidMC Chruscicki, CNY Defense Alliance Executive Director. The funding is critical to the development of the CNY high tech-eco-system and innovation led by the men and women at Rome Lab.\r\n\r\nLocated in Oneida County, one of Rome Lab's primary focuses is gathering and processing cyber intelligence. Since 1997, it has been the USAF's Superlab and is considered the nation's premier research organization for Command, Control, Communications, Cyber and Intelligence (C4I) technologies. The lab focuses on developing information technology for air, space and ground systems, in addition to partnering with other federal agencies, universities, private industry and other state and local governments. Schumer, Gillibrand, and Brindisi have been especially supportive of the Lab's quantum computing research in recent years, helping secure tens of millions of dollars that helped fund the Quantum Information Science Innovation Center' in Rome, which opened earlier this year. The open campus, also known as The Innovare Advancement Center, is a collaboration between researchers from the Air Force, Department of Defense (DOD), government, industry, small business community, and academia. Additionally, Schumer announced last year that Rome Lab would serve as DOD's leading representative on an initiative tasked with promoting the quantum computing industry nationwide.\r\n\r\nRome Lab is also a source of growth for the regional economy and a major source of employment. According to the U.S. Air Force's 2019 economic impact analysis, Rome Lab employed nearly 1,200 workers with an annual payroll of over $145 million and generated over $460 million in regional economic activity last year. The U.S. Air Force's economic impact study can be found here. Because of Rome Lab's strong commitment to excellence in developing and enhancing this nation's cybersecurity infrastructure, as well as its commitment to employing local residents with good-paying jobs, Schumer, Gillibrand, and Brindisi have long fought to ensure Rome Labs has what it needs to succeed and maintain its strong workforce.\r\n\r\nEarlier this year, the representatives helped to secure a $13.15 million Army Corps contract to construct perimeter security at Rome Lab. In the Fiscal Years 2018 and 2019 defense budgets, the representatives helped deliver $243 million and $245 million for Rome Lab's operations and personnel, respectively. That funding included over $13 million directly secured by the senators for Rome Lab to establish critical components of its Quantum Information Science Innovation Center,'. In the 2020 defense budget, representatives secured $272 million for Rome Lab, a $27 million increase over 2019's level and $34 million above the president's budget request.\r\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://www.speaker.gov/newsroom/122920", "Pelosi Announces Select Committee on the Coronavirus Crisis Will Continue Work in the 117th Congress Under Leadership of Chairman Clyburn", "2020-12-29", "2020", "2020-12", "Democrat", "House", "CA", "Nancy Pelosi", "P000197", "www.speaker.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Washington, D.C. Speaker Nancy Pelosi announced the extension of the Select Committee on the Coronavirus Crisis, under the continued leadership of Chairman and Whip Jim Clyburn, for the 117th Congress.  \n\t  \n\tAs Speaker, it is a privilege to once again appoint Whip Jim Clyburn as Chairman of the Select Committee on the Coronavirus Crisis, said Speaker Nancy Pelosi. As Chairman, he has been masterful as he has led the Committee's bipartisan, effective work to ensure oversight and accountability of our nation's pandemic response on behalf of the American people. His track record of success has helped ensure that the relief funds allocated by Congress are spent wisely and efficiently, while exposing the deadly and tragic failures of the Trump Administration's anti-science, anti-governance response to the crisis. Under Chairman Clyburn's leadership, the Committee will continue to be a vital force in our work to crush the virus and deliver relief as urgently, efficiently and effectively as possible.  \n\t  \n\tThe Select Subcommittee on the Coronavirus Crisis has identified numerous ways in which our response to the pandemic can be more effective, efficient, and equitable. As the virus continues to spread, vaccine distribution proceeds and implementation of the new relief package begins, this work remains critically important to save American lives and livelihoods, said Chairman Clyburn.With a new administration soon to take office, I am hopeful that the Select Subcommittee will work on a bipartisan basis to help provide the leadership and support Americans need and deserve to get us beyond this pandemic.  \n\t  \n\tSince its establishment by the House of Representatives on April 23, 2020, the Select Subcommittee has conducted more than 30 investigations  many of which are still ongoing  holding 15 public hearings and briefings, reviewing hundreds of thousands of documents, and issuing nine staff reports. These investigations have shed light on how the outgoing Trump Administration failed to stop or even slow the spread of the coronavirus and failed to protect struggling Americans from economic harm. The Select Subcommittee has also identified critical steps that are needed to get the virus under control and prevent further unnecessary deaths and deprivation.\nThe Select Subcommittee's investigations have identified more than $4 billion in potential fraud in small business programs, led the Administration to halt a potentially wasteful $765 million loan, prompted Treasury to notify millions of eligible Americans who had not yet received their stimulus checks and returned more than $100 million in taxpayer dollars to the U.S. Treasury. These investigations also uncovered evidence that senior Administration officials interfered with the work of career scientists and advocated for a herd immunity strategy to actively encourage the spread of the virus.\nThe Select Subcommittee has also worked on a bipartisan basis to provide rigorous, ongoing oversight of critical vaccine development and distribution efforts.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://www.speaker.gov/newsroom/122920-0", "Dear Colleague to All Members on Extension of Remote Voting 'Covered Period'", "2020-12-29", "2020", "2020-12", "Democrat", "House", "CA", "Nancy Pelosi", "P000197", "www.speaker.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Dear Colleague,\nIn light of the attached notification by the Sergeant-at-Arms, in consultation with the Office of Attending Physician, that a public health emergency is in effect due to a novel coronavirus, I am hereby extending the covered period designated on May 20, 2020, pursuant to section 1(a) of House Resolution 965, until the 116th Congress adjourns sine die on January 3, 2021.  \nSincerely,\nNANCY PELOSI\nSpeaker of the House", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://www.speaker.gov/newsroom/122920-1", "Pelosi Statement on Passing of Congressman-Elect Luke Letlow", "2020-12-29", "2020", "2020-12", "Democrat", "House", "CA", "Nancy Pelosi", "P000197", "www.speaker.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Washington, D.C.  Speaker Nancy Pelosi issued this statement on the passing of Congressman-elect Luke Letlow of Louisiana:\nTonight, the United States House of Representatives sadly mourns the passing of Congressman-elect Luke Letlow.\nCongressman-elect Letlow was a ninth generation Louisianan who fought passionately for his point of view and dedicated his life to public service.\nAs the House grieves Congressman-elect Letlow's passing, our sorrow is compounded by the grief of so many other families who have also suffered lives cut short by this terrible virus.\nMay it be a comfort to Luke's wife Julia and their children Jeremiah and Jacqueline that so many mourn their loss and are praying for them at this sad time.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://www.stabenow.senate.gov/news/senator-debbie-stabenow-on-senator-mitch-mcconnell-blocking-2000-stimulus-checks", "Senator Debbie Stabenow on Senator Mitch McConnell Blocking $2,000 Stimulus Checks", "2020-12-29", "2020", "2020-12", "Democrat", "House", "MI", "Debbie Stabenow", "S000770", "www.stabenow.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Senator Debbie Stabenow on Senator Mitch McConnell Blocking $2,000 Stimulus Checks \n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\tTuesday, December 29, 2020\n\t\t\t\t  \n\t\t\t  \n\t\t\tU.S. Senator Debbie Stabenow released the following statement after Senator McConnell blocked an effort to pass $2,000 stimulus checks for the American people. Yesterday, the U.S. House of Representatives passed a bipartisan bill to increase the amount of money in a second round of direct payments to $2,000.\r\n\r\nMichigan families are hurting and need a survival check to help put food on the table, keep a roof over their heads, and pay the heating bill. Democrats and Republicans in the House came together to pass $2,000 stimulus checks for the American people, but Senator McConnell just blocked the bill. Our families are in desperate need of help and Senate Republicans are standing in the way.\r\n\r\n###\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n    \n\t\n\t\n    \n    \n    \n    \t\n    \t\n\t    \t  \n\t\t    \n\t\t    \n\t\t    \tPrevious Article", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://www.vanhollen.senate.gov/news/press-releases/van-hollen-cardin-weigh-in-on-major-baltimore-scotus-climate-case", "Van Hollen, Cardin Weigh in on Major Baltimore SCOTUS Climate Case", "2020-12-29", "2020", "2020-12", "Democrat", "House", "MD", "Chris Van Hollen", "V000128", "www.vanhollen.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "December 29, 2020\n\t\t\t Van Hollen, Cardin Weigh in on Major Baltimore SCOTUS Climate Case \n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t \n\t\n\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\n        \n\t\t\t\t Cardin, Van Hollen, Whitehouse, Blumenthal, Warren and Markey: fossil fuel giants want to establish the standard of too big to adjudicate\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t U.S. Senators Chris Van Hollen and Ben Cardin (both D-Md.), with Senators Sheldon Whitehouse (D-R.I.), Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.), Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.) and Edward J. Markey (D-Mass.),have filed a brief with the U.S. Supreme Court in a major case concerning the power of state and local governments to hold fossil fuel polluters financially liable for the damages caused by their products.In an attempt to avoid potentially massive monetary judgments against it, the fossil fuel industry seeks to have the case,BP et al. v. Mayor and City Council of Baltimore, removed from state court to federal court, where it hopes its arguments will receive a more favorable reception.The senators' brief shows how the industry's removal effort fits into a broader campaign to hamper the government's ability to act on climate change. If the Court rules in the industry's favor, the senators write, the Justices will have bolstered fossil fuel polluters' notion that claims against them are too big to adjudicate. The fossil fuel industry has tried to close every doorlocal, state, federal; legal, legislative, and administrativeto a solution to the climate crisis,the senators write. Here, they invite this Court to ignore the precise question and statute at hand, and render them a larger result  one that would help them shut all state legal doors to remedies for the harms they have caused by their carbon emissions and by misleading about the harm. In essence, they propose a novel political doctrine of too big to adjudicate,' to free appellants from bearing the consequences in state courts of their own polluting and misleading. In their brief, the senators reveal the array of anonymously funded  or dark money  groups that appear in court asamici curiaeto argue on fossil fuel companies' behalf whenever the industry is threatened.While much of their funding is hidden, clues point to close ties between the groups and the fossil fuel industry, such as use of identity-laundering organizations like Donors Trust and close associations with the Koch family donor network. In this case, several of the pro-industryamicihave received money directly from giant oil and gas companies, including appellants ExxonMobil, Chevron, and Marathon Petroleum. Another has a former coal industry lawyer serving on its board. The Court's lax interpretation of its own rules for disclosure ofamicusfunders obscures potential conflicts of interest. Supreme Court Rule 37.6 provides thatamicusfilers shall indicate whether counsel for a party authored the brief . . . made a monetary contribution intended to fund the preparation or submission of the brief, and shall identify every person or entity . . . who made such a monetary contribution to the preparation or submission of the brief. Yet the Court has interpreted that rule so narrowly that filers only need to disclose the origins of funds used in small expenses incurred in the final stages of preparing the brief, like the cost of printing and binding hard copies of the filing. This allows for the appearance of a groundswell of support for the industry's position, when in fact theamicusfilers may be linked through common funding to litigants in the case and acting as one entity. It also leads to the absurd outcome of major trade groups with large fossil fuel companies in their membership filingamicusbriefs without disclosing whether they took money from litigants in the case. The senators write, It may be expected that [American Petroleum Institute], an oil and gas industry trade association, would have members that are parties in this case. The [U.S. Chamber of Commerce] and [National Association of Manufacturers (NAM)] purport to represent a broad base of our country's business community, but they will not disclose here or elsewhere who all their members are; and they have not disclosed here or elsewhere which members had a role in making the policy and litigation decisions behind their participation in this case or in the array of climate-related cases in which they have appeared. But more than individual connections to fossil fuels is the pattern of activity by theamicusfilers that extends beyond the courts. The independent watchdog Influence Map has found the U.S. Chamber of Commerce and NAM  twoamicusfilers in the case  are the top two climate action obstructors in Washington, spending massive sums on lobbying, electioneering, and/or other influencing activities to fight against climate action. And both groups appear in other courts to defend the fossil fuel industry on a regular basis. The senators continue, The fossil fuel-connectedamici's legal strategy here is an element of their political one. They seek to prevent judicial action to reduce carbon pollution, because it would reduce demand for their donors' products and intrude on their donors' business model. The senators also push back on the industry's argument that questions of fossil fuel liability are best left to elected branches of government. The senators point to the long history of special interest influence over Congress and the executive, while the courts have historically been less susceptible to that influence. History reveals a long battle between powerful influencers who want to bring government to their heel, at whatever cost to the public, and a public that needs its interests protected against the political might of those big influencers,the senators write. Courts have an important role in this contest as the branch of government built to be less responsive to political might. The case before the Court originates in a suit filed against fossil fuel companies in Maryland state court by the Mayor and City Council of Baltimore. The city sought monetary damages, civil penalties, and other relief for the damages to city infrastructures and the sweeping public health harms inflicted by fossil fuel pollution. The fossil fuel companies sought to remove the case from the Maryland court to the federal district court. Both the federal district court and the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit rejected the industry's removal arguments. Now the Supreme Court will weigh in during the coming term. A copy of the senators' brief is availablehere.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://adamsmith.house.gov/news/press-releases/rep-smith-applauds-house-passage-bill-increase-direct-cash-payments-2000", "Rep. Smith Applauds House Passage of Bill to Increase Direct Cash Payments to $2,000", "2020-12-28", "2020", "2020-12", "Democrat", "House", "WA", "Adam Smith", "S000510", "adamsmith.house.gov", "adamsmith", "https://adamsmith.house.gov/news/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON, D.C. - Representative Adam Smith (D-Wash.) released the following statement after the House of Representatives passed the CASH Act, a stand-alone bill to increase the economic impact payments in the COVID relief bill from $600 to $2,000.\n\n\"I am proud to support passage of the CASH Act today, which would provide $2,000 direct cash payments as an economic lifeline for millions of Americans. After Congress and the Trump Administration reached an agreement on a COVID-19 relief and appropriations funding package, President Trump suddenly decided he would delay signing the bill into law, further exacerbating the struggles facing individuals and families across the country. Democrats have long pushed for increased direct payments, but House and Senate Republicans and the Trump Administration have opposed higher payments at every step of the negotiations.\n\n\"Now the President suddenly claims he supports $2,000 direct payments. If the President wants to follow through on his support for $2,000, he would demand that Senate Republicans bring this bill up for a vote immediately. Republicans have repeatedly failed to work with Democrats to provide the health and economic relief needed during this crisis. Signing this bill into law would help families struggling to put food on the table or make next month's rent payment. We will continue to fight to provide Americans with the substantial support they need during this pandemic and economic crisis.\"\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-06-28T00:42:23Z"], ["https://adamsmith.house.gov/news/press-releases/smith-statement-successful-veto-override", "Smith Statement on Successful Veto Override", "2020-12-28", "2020", "2020-12", "Democrat", "House", "WA", "Adam Smith", "S000510", "adamsmith.house.gov", "adamsmith", "https://adamsmith.house.gov/news/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON, D.C.- Representative Adam Smith (D-Wash.), Chairman of the House Armed Services Committee, today issued the following statement after the House voted to override the President's veto of the Conference Report for the William M. (Mac) Thornberry National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2021 by a vote of 322 to 87.\n\n\"Today the House reiterated - in a resounding, bipartisan way - that our service members and national security are more important than politics. By overriding the President's veto, the House prioritized compromise and sound policy over legislative nihilism and blind political loyalty. By overriding the President's veto, the House asserted the role of the legislative branch and underscored the importance of our constitutional separation of powers. But most importantly, today's veto override ensures that our service members and their families have the resources they need to continue to execute their missions and defend our country.\n\n\"Following today's vote in the House, I urge Leader McConnell to move swiftly in the Senate. While procedural hurdles remain, I am confident that the veto override vote will ultimately be successful - not because of politics, but because of the NDAA's merits. It is Congress' constitutional duty to provide for the common defense, and this responsibility should not be taken lightly.\"\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-06-28T00:42:23Z"], ["https://adamsmith.house.gov/press-releases?ID=20B09D74-4F1E-448D-B943-784FA5971061", "Smith Statement on Successful Veto Override", "2020-12-28", "2020", "2020-12", "Democrat", "House", "WA", "Adam Smith", "S000510", "adamsmith.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "WASHINGTON, D.C. Representative Adam Smith (D-Wash.), Chairman of the House Armed Services Committee, today issued the following statement after the House voted to override the President's veto of the Conference Report for the William M. (Mac) Thornberry National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2021 by a vote of 322 to 87.\r\nToday the House reiterated  in a resounding, bipartisan way  that our service members and national security are more important than politics. By overriding the President's veto, the House prioritized compromise and sound policy over legislative nihilism and blind political loyalty. By overriding the President's veto, the House asserted the role of the legislative branch and underscored the importance of our constitutional separation of powers. But most importantly, today's veto override ensures that our service members and their families have the resources they need to continue to execute their missions and defend our country.\r\nFollowing today's vote in the House, I urge Leader McConnell to move swiftly in the Senate. While procedural hurdles remain, I am confident that the veto override vote will ultimately be successful  not because of politics, but because of the NDAA's merits. It is Congress' constitutional duty to provide for the common defense, and this responsibility should not be taken lightly.\r\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://adamsmith.house.gov/press-releases?ID=7E45B39F-A742-420D-875B-9FEA776E9D69", "Rep. Smith Applauds House Passage of Bill to Increase Direct Cash Payments to $2,000", "2020-12-28", "2020", "2020-12", "Democrat", "House", "WA", "Adam Smith", "S000510", "adamsmith.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "WASHINGTON, D.C.  Representative Adam Smith (D-Wash.) released the following statement after the House of Representatives passed the CASH Act, a stand-alone bill to increase the economic impact payments in the COVID relief bill from $600 to $2,000.\r\nI am proud to support passage of the CASH Act today, which would provide $2,000 direct cash payments as an economic lifeline for millions of Americans. After Congress and the Trump Administration reached an agreement on a COVID-19 relief and appropriations funding package, President Trump suddenly decided he would delay signing the bill into law, further exacerbating the struggles facing individuals and families across the country. Democrats have long pushed for increased direct payments, but House and Senate Republicans and the Trump Administration have opposed higher payments at every step of the negotiations.\r\nNow the President suddenly claims he supports $2,000 direct payments. If the President wants to follow through on his support for $2,000, he would demand that Senate Republicans bring this bill up for a vote immediately. Republicans have repeatedly failed to work with Democrats to provide the health and economic relief needed during this crisis. Signing this bill into law would help families struggling to put food on the table or make next month's rent payment. We will continue to fight to provide Americans with the substantial support they need during this pandemic and economic crisis.\r\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://algreen.house.gov/media/press-releases/congressman-al-green-votes-yes-2000-stimulussurvival-checks-american-people", "Congressman Al Green Votes Yes to $2,000 Stimulus/Survival Checks for the American People", "2020-12-28", "2020", "2020-12", "Democrat", "House", "TX", "Al Green", "G000553", "algreen.house.gov", "algreen", "https://algreen.house.gov/media/press-releases", "scraper", "(Washington, D.C.) \u2013 On Monday, December 28, 2020, Congressman Al Green released the following statement after the passage of H.R. 9051:\n\n\u201cTonight\u2019s vote will mark where we stood when the American people needed the government to act. After nine months of an economic and health crisis that has gripped the nation, leaving many jobless, threatening homelessness and exposure to this deadly coronavirus, House Democrats and Republicans voted to put money in the pockets of Americans at a time when they desperately need it,\u201d Congressman Al Green stated. \u201cBy voting to increase direct stimulus payments to $2,000, we do more than stimulate the economy; we do the essential task of our government by helping those suffering from a pandemic-induced economic crisis survive.\u201d", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-06-28T00:42:23Z"], ["https://algreen.house.gov/media/press-releases/congressman-al-green-votes-yes-override-president-trumps-harmful-ndaa-veto", "Congressman Al Green Votes Yes to Override President Trump\u2019s Harmful NDAA Veto", "2020-12-28", "2020", "2020-12", "Democrat", "House", "TX", "Al Green", "G000553", "algreen.house.gov", "algreen", "https://algreen.house.gov/media/press-releases", "scraper", "(Washington, D.C.) \u2013 On Monday, December 28, 2020, Congressman Al Green released the following statement after voting \u2018YES\u2019 to overriding President Trump\u2019s veto of the FY2021 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA):\n\n\u201cBy overriding the President\u2019s veto of the NDAA, we have done more than send a message to the President that bipartisanship can prevail. We have in fact sent a message to our troops that we will protect them not only while they are on the battlefield; we will protect them when they return to the home front,\u201d Congressman Al Green stated. \u201cIt is our duty to assure them that we will do all that we can to provide them with more than the weaponry needed to win wars; we must provide them with good housing, good health care, and good pay when they are serving on active duty as well as good housing, good health care, educational opportunities, and good jobs when they leave active duty. This is the least a grateful nation can do for those who are willing to make the ultimate sacrifice because, in truth, either we will protect our protectors, or we won\u2019t have protectors to protect us.\u201d\n\nCongressman Green \u2013 who in a Christmas Eve press conference indicated his readiness to return to Washington, D.C., and cast his vote to override President Trump\u2019s veto \u2013 added, \u201cA successful veto of this bill would have meant: risking family leave for our civilian VA employees; foregoing a 3% increase in pay for our troops; losing suicide prevention and resilience resources; upholding the memorialization on military bases of the legacies of men who fought to defend our nation\u2019s original sin \u2013 slavery. Allowing this veto to prevail would only harm our nation\u2019s veterans and active duty personnel and would contradict the ideals our nation fights abroad to uphold.\u201d\n\n\u201cOur veterans and active duty personnel deserve more, and it is our government\u2019s duty to deliver.\"", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-06-28T00:42:23Z"], ["https://andylevin.house.gov/media/press-releases/levin-passage-2000-direct-payments-america-s-working-families", "Levin on Passage of $2,000 Direct Payments to America\u2019s Working Families", "2020-12-28", "2020", "2020-12", "Democrat", "House", "MI", "Andy Levin", "L000592", "andylevin.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "WASHINGTON, D.C.  Congressman Andy Levin (MI-09) released the following statement after the House passed the CASH Act to bring the stimulus payments to the American people up from $600 to $2,000:\nI have supported meaningful direct payments to American families since the beginning of this crisis. Democratic leadership fought for those payments in these latest negotiations, which involved the president's administration, but Republicans rejected our demands and the president was absent from the playing field, more focused on spreading lies about the election results than the tackling the challenges working families are facing.\nHouse Democrats remained more than willing to take his apparent support for $2,000 payments seriously and to bring an increased direct payment bill to the floor. Unfortunately, on Christmas Eve, House Republicans delivered a big lump of coal and blocked this bill's passage, just as their party had blocked larger payments during negotiations for the COVID relief package. Today, we took a recorded vote with Democrats voting overwhelmingly to provide larger checks to struggling American families. Now, we will see whether Republicans who control the Senate will allow Americans to receive larger checks or will block them.\nThis entire ordeal was typical of a president who from the beginning projected a message of faux populism and accomplished absolutely nothing for working people over the past four years. In this Congress, House Democrats passed a $15 an hour minimum wage, comprehensive labor law reform, job training measures and much more that would make life better for American people and rebuild the middle class. Trump got his party behind none of this and Senator Majority Leader blocked all of it. President Trump's only legislative accomplishment was a major tax giveaway to billionaires and corporations.\nWho is on working people's side? In 2021, House and Senate Democrats will work tirelessly with the Biden Administration on our economic recovery in a way that puts poor and middle-class people first and answers that question definitively for the American people.\nToday, the House will also vote to override President Trump's veto of the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA). Read Rep. Levin's statement on that vote here.\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://axne.house.gov/media/press-releases/rep-axne-bipartisan-house-vote-override-veto-defense-policy-bill", "Rep. Axne, Bipartisan House Vote to Override Veto of Defense Policy Bill", "2020-12-28", "2020", "2020-12", "Democrat", "House", "IA", "Cynthia Axne", "A000378", "axne.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Today, Rep. Cindy Axne (IA-03) joined a bipartisan majority of the U.S. House of Representatives to override the presidential veto of the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) for Fiscal Year 2021 (FY21).\nThe bipartisan legislation, which includes a 3% pay raise for servicemembers and other provisions championed by Rep. Axne, passed with over 300 votes in the House and 84 votes in the Senate earlier this month.\nAfter months of bipartisan negotiation and cooperation, this defense policy bill represents the critical foundation on which all national security efforts will be built for the coming year. The men and women protecting our country need the support provided in this legislation a necessity reflected in the overwhelmingmajoritiesthat passedthis legislation a few weeks ago,said Rep. Axne.President Trump's veto of this bill abandons our troops, halts vital security programs, and deserts our nation's veterans. Today, I'm joining my colleagues in exercising ourconstitutionalright to overrule the President's shortsighted thinking on this vital measure.\nThe legislation includes the bipartisan Preventing Illicit Finance Act, which was introduced by Rep. Axne and Rep. Bryan Steil (WI-01) earlier this year, to create an advisory group of federal agencies and private sector experts to limit the use of the financial system by bad actors.\nThe FY21 NDAA also includes $18.5 million for the National Guard's RC-26aircraft, which is critical to domestic security and disaster assistance,and a priority for Rep. Axne.\nIn addition, the annual defense policy bill includes:\n a 3% pay increase for members of the military\n\tlong-overdue benefitsfor Vietnam-era veterans who were exposed to Agent Orange\n\tan extension of paid parental leave to approximately 100,000 federal civilian workers\n\tan expansion of housing vouchers for veterans experiencing homelessness, an effort supported and co-sponsored by Rep. Axne\n\ta requirement that each federal agency establish a model Equal Employment Opportunity Program that is independent of the agency's Human Capital or General Counsel office and establishes requirements related to complaints of discrimination and retaliation in the workplace\n For the first time, ownership disclosure will be required for anonymous shell companies, which in addition to aiding tax avoidance can also be utilized by foreign adversaries and terrorists to dodge anti-money laundering laws.\nEarlier this year, Rep. Axne co-ledan amendment to the NDAA with former RC-26 pilotRep. Adam Kinzinger(IL-16) and Iowa Reps.Abby Finkenauer(IA-01) andDave Loebsack(IA-02) to ensure that the RC-26 remains in Iowa.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://axne.house.gov/media/press-releases/rep-axne-joins-bipartisan-vote-legislation-increase-covid-19-direct-payments", "Rep. Axne Joins Bipartisan Vote on Legislation to Increase COVID-19 Direct Payments to $2,000", "2020-12-28", "2020", "2020-12", "Democrat", "House", "IA", "Cynthia Axne", "A000378", "axne.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Today, Rep. Cindy Axne (IA-03) joined a bipartisan majority of the U.S. House of Representatives to pass legislation that would increase the second round of Economic Impact Payments (EIPs) to $2,000 for individual adults and fix the definition of dependents in both rounds of payments.\nAfter10 months of the COVID-19 pandemic, every Iowa family and community has felt the effects of this public health crisis and the economic turmoil that came with it. Since March, I've worked to craft and pass relief to help Iowa  but sadly the bipartisan spirit that enabled Congress to act quickly in March has faded,with arbitrary caps preventingmore substantial relief and delaying it unnecessarily,said Rep. Axne.$600 won't cover a month's rent and necessities in Iowa  but my Republican colleagues in the Senate have insisted that they will approve no more than that to put money in Iowans' pockets and hold off economic ruin. I hope that this bipartisan vote in the House today to raise payments to $2,000, an amount supported by President Trump, can change their minds and enable us to give more help to those who are struggling.\nThe Caring for Americans with Supplemental Help (CASH) Act of 2020 amends the coronavirus (COVID-19) relief deal approved by Congress last week to set new amounts for EIPs at $2,000 for individuals, $4,000 for joint filing couples, and $2,000 for dependents.\nThe CASH Act also changes the definition of a dependent to include children 17 or older who are still claimed as dependents on their parents' tax returns  as well as adult dependents that still rely on their relatives' care.\nThis change would apply to both rounds of EIPs, entitling families who missed a dependent payment in the first round of EIPs to apply for these credits on their 2020 tax return.\nThe current definition of dependents doesn't reflect the reality of need in Iowa. I've heard from Iowans with older dependents that were under just as much strain  if not more  as families with younger children, said Rep. Axne. I fought to see this definition changed in any COVID-19 relief legislation, and I'm proud to vote for a bill today that will make this fix and allow these families to access the payments they were entitled to last spring.\nThe COVID-19 relief deal signed by President Trump last night sets the amounts for the second round of EIPs at $600 for individuals and dependents, and $1,200 for couples.\nThe EIP is calculated using a person's 2019 or 2018 tax return. Those who made more than $75,000 as an individual or $150,000 as a couple on their most recent tax return will see their EIP phased down relative to that income.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://beatty.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/beatty-backs-bill-to-expand-covid-19-stimulus-payments", "Beatty Backs Bill to Expand COVID-19 Stimulus Payments", "2020-12-28", "2020", "2020-12", "Democrat", "House", "OH", "Joyce Beatty", "B001281", "beatty.house.gov", "beatty", "https://beatty.house.gov/media-center/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON, D.C. \u2014 U.S. Congresswoman Joyce Beatty (OH-03) issued the following statement ahead of the anticipated vote in the U.S. House of Representatives on the Caring for Americans with Supplemental Help Act of 2020, H.R. 9051:\n\n\"After seven months of distraction, distortion, and denials, the White House has finally come to its senses and conceded that American workers, families, and small businesses are hurting and in need of much greater assistance than the Trump Administration previously cared to admit. That is why I call on all Congressional Republicans to join with Congressional Democrats and pass the Caring for Americans with Supplemental Help Act to increase stimulus payments immediately so that our constituents can get the help they so desperately need.\"\n\nIf enacted, H.R. 9051 would increase the value of the second round of Economic Impact Payments from $600 to $2,000 per eligible member of the household. Additionally, the bill would provide that the second round of Economic Impact Payments will include non-child dependents and that non-child dependents will be included in the first round of Economic Impact Payments as well.", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-06-28T00:42:23Z"], ["https://benniethompson.house.gov/media/press-releases/congressman-thompson-votes-cash-act-and-calls-passage-senate", "Congressman Thompson Votes for the CASH Act and Calls for Passage by the Senate", "2020-12-28", "2020", "2020-12", "Democrat", "House", "MS", "Bennie G. Thompson", "T000193", "benniethompson.house.gov", "benniethompson", "https://benniethompson.house.gov/media/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON, D.C.\u2014Today, U.S. Rep. Bennie G. Thompson released the following statement after the passage of H.R. 9051, Caring for Americans with Supplemental Help Act of 2020.\n\n\"I emphatically voted in support of the CASH Act today,\" said Rep. Thompson. \"I returned to Washington with my congressional colleagues to vote on the House's stand-alone bill to increase impact payments to $2,000. Americans are in desperate need of financial assistance. Democrats have repeatedly called for bigger checks for months but were met with Republican rejection. Now, the President has changed his mind and decided to support Democrats' call for increasing direct payments to $2,000. I call on the Senate to pass this legislation so that we can provide relief to millions of Americas who have been impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic. With this vote on the stand-alone CASH Act, which would provide $2,000 checks for fifteen million Americans, Republicans are on record. They have a choice: either vote for this bill, or vote to deny families the relief they desperately need.\"\n\nThe legislation will increase the value of the second round of economic impact payments in the recently enacted COVID relief bill from $600 per eligible member of the household to $2,000 per eligible member of the household. Additionally, the legislation provides that the second round of economic impact payments shall include non-child dependents in calculating the amount of the payment, and further provides that non-child dependents shall be included in the first round of economic impact payments as well.", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-06-28T00:42:23Z"], ["https://carbajal.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=772", "Carbajal Statement on Bipartisan COVID-19 Relief Package Becoming Law", "2020-12-28", "2020", "2020-12", "Democrat", "House", "CA", "Salud Carbajal", "C001112", "carbajal.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Washington, DC  Carbajal issued the following statement after President Trump signed the bipartisan emergency COVID-19 relief package into law, days afterthreateningto veto the legislation:\r\n\"While I'm relieved President Trump dropped the political theater and signed the bipartisan emergency relief package into law, his stunt put critical relief in jeopardy and caused unemployment benefits for millions of Americans to lapse. \"I've been fighting for another relief package since May, which the President and Republican leadership blocked at every turn. Just today, the House voted to increase direct payments to $2,000. Given the President's stance, I hope the Senate will join us. \"Central Coast families, workers, and small business owners have waited too long for relief and, finally, help is on the way. I know this package isn't enough to overcome all the health and economic challenges created by this pandemic, and I will continue working to secure additional and needed relief in the new year.\"\r\nRep. Salud Carbajal represents California's 24th Congressional District, encompassing Santa Barbara, San Luis Obispo, and part of Ventura County.\r\n###\r\nVideo Statement from Congressman Carbajal can be found here. Photos of Rep. Carbajal at ae Problem Solvers Caucus press conference on the bill are here.\r\nBill text is available here and a one-page summary of the bill is available here.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://casten.house.gov/media/press-releases/casten-statement-passage-climate-change-bills", "Casten Statement on Passage of Climate Change Bills", "2020-12-28", "2020", "2020-12", "Democrat", "House", "IL", "Sean Casten", "C001117", "casten.house.gov", "casten", "https://casten.house.gov/media/press-releases", "scraper", "Washington, D.C. \u2013 Today, U.S. Representative Sean Casten (IL-06) released a statement following the President signing H.R. 133, the fiscal year 2021 appropriations omnibus bill that included two important Casten-led bills to address climate change into law.\n\nProvisions from two bills introduced by Rep. Casten (D-IL) \u2013 the Clean Industrial Technology Act (CITA) and the Promoting Grid Storage Act (PGSA) were included in the omnibus package. Combined, the two bills authorize nearly $1.4 billion of spending on emission reduction and clean energy research and development over the next five years.\n\nCasten said, \"The climate crisis is one of the defining challenges of our time. While research and development efforts alone will not be sufficient to tackle the climate crisis, they are a necessary component as we look to decarbonize the hard-to-decarbonize sectors of our economy and utilize energy storage to support the decarbonization of our electric grid. Expanding access to clean energy via these research and development programs will lower emissions, enhance our nation's energy security, and bolster our economy. I'm proud that these bipartisan bills are signed into law and I will continue to work with my colleagues to pass additional bills to combat climate change.\"\n\nCITA authorizes $500 million over five years for the Department of Energy (DoE) to establish a research, development, demonstration, and commercial application program for technologies that reduce industrial emissions, such as chemical or cement production. It also creates a technical assistance program, meant to assist entities in promoting the commercial application of industrial emissions reduction technologies.\n\nGrid storage provisions in the package from PGSA provided for $500 million of authorizations over five years for the DoE to create and research and development program to advance energy storage technologies. The package also authorizes $355 million over five years to fund demonstration projects for energy storage systems.", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-06-28T00:42:23Z"], ["https://casten.house.gov/media/press-releases/castens-graduate-act-becomes-law", "Casten's GRADUATE Act Becomes Law", "2020-12-28", "2020", "2020-12", "Democrat", "House", "IL", "Sean Casten", "C001117", "casten.house.gov", "casten", "https://casten.house.gov/media/press-releases", "scraper", "Washington, D.C. \u2013 U.S. Representative Sean Casten's (IL-06) released the following statement after the President signed Casten's GRADUATE Act into law as part of the year-end government spending and coronavirus relief bill. The GRADUATE Act (Giving Resources and Dollars to Undergraduates for Adequate Time for Education Act) eliminates the restriction that students can only take out federally subsidized student loans over three years for an Associate's Degree or six years for a Bachelor's Degree, while maintaining the overall cap on borrowing to prevent students from taking on too much debt. This added flexibility would enable students who encounter obstacles in their education, like needing to withdraw for a semester or transfer, to complete their degrees.\n\n\"I'm thrilled to see my colleagues on both sides of the aisle come together to support non-traditional college students and pass the GRADUATE Act into law,\" said Rep. Casten. \"This law will give countless students the financial support and flexibility they need to walk across the stage at graduation and build a better life for their family.\"\n\nThe bill was endorsed by the National Education Association, the American Federation of Teachers, the University of Illinois system, the National Association of Student Financial Aid Administrators, the National Association of Independent Colleges and Universities, the Higher Education Loan Coalition, the Association of American Colleges and Universities, and the HBCU Collective.", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-06-28T00:42:23Z"]], "truncated": false, "filtered_table_rows_count": 44350, "expanded_columns": [], "expandable_columns": [], "columns": ["url", "title", "date", "year", "month", "party", "chamber", "state", "member_name", "bioguide_id", "domain", "scraper", "source", "date_source", "text", "has_text", "collected_at", "updated_at"], "primary_keys": ["url"], "units": {}, "query": {"sql": "select 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