{"database": "press", "table": "releases", "is_view": false, "human_description_en": "where chamber = \"House\", state = \"PA\" and year = 2016 sorted by date descending", "rows": [["https://www.casey.senate.gov/newsroom/releases/casey-statement-on-sanctions-on-russia-after-cyberattacks", "Casey Statement on Sanctions on Russia After Cyberattacks", "2016-12-29", "2016", "2016-12", "Democrat", "House", "PA", "Bob Casey", "C001070", "www.casey.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Washington, DC \u2013 U.S. Senator Bob Casey (D-PA) released a statement following the Obama Administration\u2019s announcement of sanctions on Russia as a result of election hacking.\r\n\"The measures announced by the Obama Administration today are one part of holding Russia fully accountable for its cyber-attacks on the U.S. during the 2016 election and for a pattern of unlawful provocations.\u00a0 These additional sanctions and other steps send a clear message that attacks on our democracy are unacceptable and will have severe consequences. It\u2019s now time for Congress to demonstrate that the concern over these attacks is truly bipartisan and convene a special, select committee to investigate Russia\u2019s attempts to interfere with our elections and recommend steps that can be taken to ensure this never happens again. It\u2019s critical that President-elect Trump commit to fully enforcing these sanctions. Anything less will demonstrate weakness in the face of aggression and invite other hostile countries to conduct cyber-attacks against Americans.\u201d\r\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["http://barletta.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/barletta-announces-nominees-to-us-service-academies", "Barletta Announces Nominees to U.S. Service Academies", "2016-12-28", "2016", "2016-12", "Republican", "House", "PA", "Lou Barletta", "B001269", "barletta.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "WASHINGTON \u2013 Congressman Lou Barletta (PA-11) today announced the list of nominees from Pennsylvania\u2019s 11th Congressional District to attend the United States service academies. \u00a0Students who expressed interest in attending a service academy were interviewed by an independent review board of community leaders and representatives of the military community, which made final recommendations. \u00a0Factors such as academic achievements, extra-curricular activities, leadership skills, physical aptitude, character, and motivation were taken into consideration and compared with other applicants. \u00a0\nThe academies include the U.S. Naval Academy in Annapolis, Maryland; the U.S. Military Academy in West Point, New York; the U.S. Air Force Academy in Colorado Springs, Colorado; and the U.S. Merchant Marine Academy in Kings Point, New York. \u00a0The U.S. Coast Guard Academy does not require a Congressional nomination.\u00a0\n\u201cThis group of bright, motivated young Americans represents the best of what our part of Pennsylvania has to offer, and they are to be commended for choosing to begin their adult lives in service to this nation,\u201d Barletta said. \u00a0\u201cWe should all be proud of what these young people have already achieved, and await eagerly to see their future successes. \u00a0I wish them well as they continue through the rigorous process of seeking admission to our prestigious and elite service academies.\u201d\nStudents may be nominated by their member of Congress, both U.S. Senators, or by applying to the Vice President of the United States. \u00a0Securing a Congressional nomination is a vital step in the process, but does not guarantee admission. \u00a0Each service academy will make final determination of which students ultimately are admitted.\nRep. Barletta\u2019s list of nominees includes (listing is alphabetical and does not indicate standing or preference):\nU.S. Naval Academy\n\u2022\u00a0\u00a0 \u00a0Lauren Anderson, Wyoming Seminary, Kingston, PA  \n\t\u2022\u00a0\u00a0 \u00a0Sarah Elizabeth Ebert, Carlisle High School, Carlisle, PA  \n\t\u2022\u00a0\u00a0 \u00a0Elizabeth Kate Gergal, Central Dauphin High School, Harrisburg, PA  \n\t\u2022\u00a0\u00a0 \u00a0Samuel John Haseman, Carlisle High School, Carlisle, PA  \n\t\u2022\u00a0\u00a0 \u00a0Lexington N. McLellan, Currently with family stationed in Germany, originally from Wyoming County  \n\t\u2022\u00a0\u00a0 \u00a0Riley Samantha Oremus, Dallas Senior High School, Dallas, PA  \n\t\u2022\u00a0\u00a0 \u00a0Mason Medford Roadcap, Bishop McDevitt High School, Harrisburg, PA\u00a0  \n\t\u2022\u00a0\u00a0 \u00a0Christian Roberts, Dallas High School, Dallas, PA  \n\t\u2022\u00a0\u00a0 \u00a0Rachel Lynn Wentz, Trinity High School, Camp Hill, PA\u00a0  \n\t\u2022\u00a0\u00a0 \u00a0Bartholomew Paul Winn, II, Carlisle High School, Carlisle, PA\nU.S. Military Academy\n\u2022\u00a0\u00a0 \u00a0Anah Jule Bozentka, Holy Redeemer High School, Wilkes-Barre, PA  \n\t\u2022\u00a0\u00a0 \u00a0Grace Marie Echevarria, Carlisle High School, Carlisle, PA  \n\t\u2022\u00a0\u00a0 \u00a0Nicholas Fricchione, Bishop McDevitt High School, Harrisburg, PA  \n\t\u2022\u00a0\u00a0 \u00a0Justin Edward Groschek, Berwick Area Senior High School, Berwick, PA  \n\t\u2022\u00a0\u00a0 \u00a0Samuel John Haseman, Carlisle High School, Carlisle, PA  \n\t\u2022\u00a0\u00a0 \u00a0Leandra Ellen Ramos, Greater Nanticoke Area High School, Nanticoke, PA  \n\t\u2022\u00a0\u00a0 \u00a0Jessica Rawls, Central Dauphin East High School, Harrisburg, PA  \n\t\u2022\u00a0\u00a0 \u00a0Alyse Rawls, Central Dauphin East High School, Harrisburg, PA  \n\t\u2022\u00a0\u00a0 \u00a0Jacob T. Rob. Boiling Springs High School, Boiling Springs, PA  \n\t\u2022\u00a0\u00a0 \u00a0William Todd Webber, Boiling Springs High School, Boiling Springs, PA\nU.S. Air Force Academy\n\u2022\u00a0\u00a0 \u00a0Abel Shedwick Botterbusch, Middletown Area High School, Middletown, PA  \n\t\u2022\u00a0\u00a0 \u00a0Anthony Joseph Roger Diminick, West Shore Christian Academy, Shiremanstown, PA  \n\t\u2022\u00a0\u00a0 \u00a0Grace Marie Echevarria, Carlisle High School, Carlisle, PA  \n\t\u2022\u00a0\u00a0 \u00a0Mitchell Fowler, Tunkhannock High School, Tunkhannock, PA  \n\t\u2022\u00a0\u00a0 \u00a0Bartholomew Paul Winn, II, Carlisle High School, Carlisle, PA\nU.S. Merchant Marine Academy\n\u2022\u00a0\u00a0 \u00a0Samuel John Haseman, Carlisle High School, Carlisle, PA  \n\t\u2022\u00a0\u00a0 \u00a0Kelly Bruce Holdren, Millville Area High School, Millville, PA  \n\t\u2022\u00a0\u00a0 \u00a0Bartholomew Paul Winn, II, Carlisle High School, Carlisle, PA", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://costello.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/costello-statement-secretary-kerry-speech-regarding-israel", "COSTELLO STATEMENT ON SECRETARY KERRY SPEECH REGARDING ISRAEL", "2016-12-28", "2016", "2016-12", "Republican", "House", "PA", "Ryan Costello", "C001106", "costello.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Washington, D.C. -- Rep. Ryan Costello (PA-06) issued the following statement today on Secretary John Kerry's speech regarding Israel:\n\"The speech given by Secretary Kerry today builds on this administration's recent misguided policies towards one of our greatest allies. This type of action only hinders the path to peace and benefits Israel's enemies.\"\n\u00a0\n\u00a0\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://perry.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=398449", "Rep. Perry Statement on Anti-Israel UN Resolution", "2016-12-28", "2016", "2016-12", "Republican", "House", "PA", "Scott Perry", "P000605", "perry.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Rep. Perry Statement on Anti-Israel UN Resolution \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        Washington,\r\n        December 28, 2016\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      York, PARepresentative Scott Perry (R-PA) issued the following statementafter FridaysUN Security Council vote on an anti-Israel resolution and todays explanation from Secretary of State John Kerry on the decision for the US to abstain from the vote:\r\nThe United States for years  regardless of what political party occupied the White House  rightly has opposed one-sided or anti-Israel resolutions at the United Nations. Not only does President Obamas refusal to veto this resolution defy decades of bipartisan US policy, buthes allowing the UN to serve as an open forum to isolate and delegitimize Israel  our closest and only democratic Ally in one of the worlds most unstable regions, said Congressman Perry. Likewise, his decision to allow Secretary Kerry to lay out a framework for an Israeli-Palestinian peace deal, knowing that hes out of office in less than a month and no longer in a position to negotiate any long-term deals, is insulting and serves no purpose except exposing Israel to unnecessary international pressure. Its mind-boggling to me that a false equivalence is being perpetuated in the UN between terrorist acts funded by the Palestinian Authority and Israeli settlement building.\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://www.casey.senate.gov/newsroom/releases/in-2016-casey-produces-results-on-national-security-and-measures-to-help-pas-middle-class-seniors-and-kids", "In 2016, Casey Produces Results on National Security and Measures to Help PA’s Middle Class, Seniors and Kids", "2016-12-28", "2016", "2016-12", "Democrat", "House", "PA", "Bob Casey", "C001070", "www.casey.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Washington, D.C. \u2013 With 2016 coming to a close, U.S. Senator Bob Casey (D-PA) \u00a0has once again produced results that have enhanced U.S. national security and aided Pennsylvania\u2019s middle class, its seniors and kids.\r\n\u201cEven amidst partisan gridlock, Senator Casey has once again delivered measureable progress for our nation and Pennsylvania families,\u201d Jacklin Rhoads, Senator Casey\u2019s press secretary said. \u201cFrom passing into law measures to cut off terrorists\u2019 finances to his work to combat the opioid crisis and make sure young children have a fair shot at breakthrough medical treatments, Senator Casey has continued work as a champion for all Pennsylvanians.\u201d\r\nSnapshot\r\nDelivering resources to combat the opioid crisis \u2013 Throughout this Congress, Senator Casey has called for funding that would help communities treat those who are struggling with an opioid addiction. As part of a year-end bill, $1 billion in funding will be made available to Pennsylvania and all states. The funding is now law with the signing of the 21st Century Cures Act.\r\nCracking down on terrorists\u2019 finances in order to defeat ISIS \u2013 When it was revealed that the terrorist group ISIS was looting historical artifacts and other antiquities and selling them on the black market to finance their violence, Senator Casey brought Republicans and Democrats together to put a stop to it. Senator Casey passed into law the Protect and Preserve International Cultural Property Act to blunt the black market sale of these lucrative antiquities. This bill was enacted into law as H.R. 1493, which became Public Law 114-151 on May 9, 2016.\r\nProviding care for children born with opioid dependency \u2013 Senator Casey passed into law the Plan of Safe Care Improvement Act. This legislation updates and strengthens requirements under federal child abuse prevention law (the Child Abuse Prevention & Treatment Act) designed to protect vulnerable infants affected by substance abuse. This bill was enacted into law as Sec. 503 of S. 524, the Comprehensive Addiction Recovery Act, and renamed the Infant Plan of Safe Care Improvement Act; it was enacted as Public Law 114-198 on July 22, 2016.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \r\nTackling the VA Claims Backlog \u2013 In 2013 and 2014, concerns about wait times and backlogs at the Veteran Administration (VA) dominated. Senator Casey met with veterans across Pennsylvania to assess the problem and this year passed into law a sweeping overhaul of the VA\u2019s disability claims process. The 21st Century Veterans Benefits Delivery Act passed the Senate on November 10, 2015. This bill was included in H.R. 6416, the Jeff Miller and Richard Blumenthal Veterans Health Care and Benefits Improvement Act of 2016, which became Public Law 114-315 on December 16, 2016.\r\nHelping sick children get the care they need \u2013 Senator Casey led a bipartisan effort to enact into law his legislation, the Advancing Hope Act, which provides a valuable incentive to encourage the development of new drugs to treat serious rare diseases that affect children. Casey\u2019s legislation was part of the 21st Century Cures Act.\r\nWorking to reunite lost children with their families \u2013 Every year thousands of children go missing, yet an IRS loophole sometimes prevents parents from finding their children. Senator Casey passed into law the Recovering Missing Children Act that would allow taxpayer information from the Internal Revenue Service to be shared with state and local law enforcement agencies to assist in the investigation of missing or exploited children. Senator Casey first introduced this legislation in 2011, and in 2012 with Senator Enzi. This bill was enacted into law as H.R. 3209, which became Public Law 114-184 on June 30, 2016.\r\nInvesting in medical research \u2013 For years, Senator Casey has met with researchers across Pennsylvania to highlight the need to invest in medical research that saves lives, creates jobs and powers Pennsylvania\u2019s economy. After years of funding cuts, Senator Casey helped to secure a $4.8 billion investment in the National Institutes of Health. The funding, which was made possible by the passing of the 21st Century Cures Act into law, will be available to researchers throughout Pennsylvania and the nation. \u00a0\u00a0\r\nResponding to disease outbreaks \u2013 In 2014 many lawmakers talked about the Ebola outbreak; Senator Casey went to work. In 2013, Senator Casey passed into law the Pandemic and All Hazards Preparedness Reauthorization Act, which reauthorized and strengthened the federal government\u2019s response playbook for public health threats, including disease outbreaks. In 2016, as part of the 21st Century Cures Act, Senator Casey passed into law the Medical Countermeasure Innovation Act (S. 2055) which further improved and streamlined parts of the law. \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\r\nAddressing global hunger \u2013 Senator Casey passed into law the Global Food Security Act (GFSA) of 2016, S. 1252. The law requires the Administration to develop a whole-of-government strategy to address global food insecurity and hunger. The strategy would emphasize agricultural development, improving maternal and child nutrition, building the resilience of communities, and civil society engagement. The GFSA was signed into law as Public Law 114-195 on July 20, 2016.\r\nKeeping prison officers safe \u2013 The Eric Williams Correctional Officer Protection Act. This legislation, named after a fallen prison officer in Northeastern Pennsylvania, requires the Bureau of Prisons to dispense pepper spray to all correctional workers in medium and high security federal correctional facilities who may be required to respond to an inmate emergency. This bill also includes a training requirement for employees authorized to carry pepper spray. Finally, the legislation directs the Government Accountability Office to report on the effectiveness of the pepper spray program and whether it should be implemented in low or minimum security facilities. This bill was passed in the Senate on December 16, 2015, passed in the House on February 24, 2016, and signed into law on March 9, 2016, as Public Law 114-133.\r\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://dent.house.gov/index.cfm?p=PressReleases&ContentRecord_id=0BB9863A-B926-45B6-9953-BB32C244EB86", "Congressman Dent Expresses Concerns Over Department of Transportation's Changes to Metropolitan Planning Organization Structure", "2016-12-27", "2016", "2016-12", "Republican", "House", "PA", "Charlie Dent", "D000604", "dent.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "ALLENTOWN, PA \u2013 Congressman Charlie Dent (PA-15) expressed concerns regarding a final rule issued by the Federal Highway and Federal Transit Administrations, entitled \u201cMetropolitan Planning Organization Coordination and Planning Area Reform,\u201d that would impact state and local transportation plans and future resource disbursements.\r\n\u201cI am disappointed by the final rule that has been issued by the Department of Transportation, and will be working in partnership with local organizations and my colleagues in the House of Representatives to ensure that our communities continue to retain the lead in decisions about our local infrastructure projects. The Metropolitan Planning Organizations in Pennsylvania\u2019s 15th Congressional District currently serve their residents well by truly understanding and addressing the local needs of the community, providing residents with a voice in the decision-making process, and coordinating with each other to address regional issues that may cross jurisdictional boundaries,\u201d Dent said.\r\nThis rule would require Metropolitan Planning Organizations (MPOs) representing communities within a larger Metropolitan Area\u2014which could include entities in other states and cities with competing interests to those of Pennsylvania\u2019s drivers and residents\u2014to develop a single set of transportation plans and standards.\r\n\u201cI am concerned that these new requirements will create unnecessary competition among MPOs, make it harder for local concerns to receive the attention they deserve, and delay responsiveness,\u201d Dent added. \u201cThe MPOs in my district currently work with each other, and the state of Pennsylvania, to solve larger regional issues. While the stated goal of this rule is to improve planning within larger Metropolitan Areas, I believe that it has the potential to create new difficulties for MPOs that were already addressing such challenges. Such decisions and collaborative agreements should be handled at the community level and not compelled by a one-size-doesn\u2019t-fit-all approach imposed by a federal agency. I will work with the incoming Administration and through my work in Congress to allow local decisions to remain at the local level.\u201d\u00a0\r\nCongressman Dent had previously sent a letter to Secretary Anthony Foxx, the head of the U.S. Department of Transportation, regarding this issue, a copy of which has been attached.\r\n###\r\nFor more information, please visit:\u00a0https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2016/12/20/2016-30478/metropolitan-planning-organization-coordination-and-planning-area-reform\r\nCONTACT: Emily Rauch (202) 225-6411", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://dent.house.gov/index.cfm?p=PressReleases&ContentRecord_id=C51641F6-0DF4-40D6-877C-96A619B6F352", "Dent Condemns Obama Administration's Abstention from Anti-Israel UN Resolution", "2016-12-27", "2016", "2016-12", "Republican", "House", "PA", "Charlie Dent", "D000604", "dent.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "ALLENTOWN, PA -- On Friday, the United States allowed the U.N. Security Council to adopt a resolution that Israel cease all settlements in the West Bank, as well as East Jerusalem. Congressman Charlie Dent (PA-15) released the following statement, condemning the actions of the Obama Administration:\u00a0\r\n\"Congress has repeatedly stated that only direct negotiations between Israel and the Palestinians must be the basis for security and lasting peace. Make no mistake, President Obama's abstention on the U.N. Resolution is a major setback for peace. Even worse, this abstention is an extension of this President's hostility toward Israel and more specifically his personal disdain for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu,\" Dent said.\u00a0\r\n\"As bad as this all is, the President's action should surprise no one,\" he continued. \"His abdication from America's traditional global leadership and security role--coupled with a disturbing, dangerous global disengagement and detachment that has created political vacuums--has led to the ascendency and empowerment of Russia and Iran, while leaving longstanding American friends and allies bewildered and dismayed.\"\r\nRep. Dent concluded by adding, \"Tragically, President Obama leaves office with a lasting foreign policy legacy that will lead to greater global instability and will haunt America and its allies for years to come.\"\u00a0\r\n###\r\n\r\nCONTACT: Emily Rauch (202) 225-6411", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["http://barletta.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/barletta-statement-on-obama-failure-to-veto-anti-israel-un-resolution", "Barletta Statement on Obama Failure to Veto Anti-Israel U.N. Resolution", "2016-12-23", "2016", "2016-12", "Republican", "House", "PA", "Lou Barletta", "B001269", "barletta.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "WASHINGTON \u2013 Congressman Lou Barletta (PA-11) today issued a statement regarding the failure of the United States to veto an anti-Israel resolution before the United Nations Security Council. The resolution, which the United States abstained from voting on or vetoing, was approved by the Security Council..\u00a0 It has been the previous practice of the United States to stand allied with Israel at the United Nations.\n\u00a0\nBarletta issued the following statement:\n\u00a0\n\u201cThis is a particularly shameful move by President Obama \u2013 especially with only a month left in his administration \u2013 to turn his back on Israel. It is the long-standing practice of the United States to side with our only democratic ally in the Middle East, but Obama has broken with that tradition. The resolution he declined to veto serves only to isolate Israel from its neighbors, and the inaction by the Obama administration sends the clear message that America cannot be counted on as a faithful ally.\u00a0 Even worse, it is easy to perceive this as a parting shot at Israel by Obama, considering that the U.S. vetoed and voted against similar resolutions in 2011 and 2014. Today's inaction is a severe blow to the peace process.\u00a0 There is help on the way, however. I am confident that shortly, under President Trump, there will no longer be any confusion around the world, and the United States will once again firmly stand with our allies, the Israelis.\u201d", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["http://cartwright.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/congressman-cartwright-statement-on-un-security-council", "Congressman Cartwright Statement on UN Security Council", "2016-12-23", "2016", "2016-12", "Democrat", "House", "PA", "Matt Cartwright", "C001090", "cartwright.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Scranton, PA \u2013 \u201cI believe the UN should focus on promoting peace in the region, not promoting one-sided resolutions. \u00a0Peace will come from bilateral negotiations between the two sides, and they must come to a place where both sides recognize and respect the other\u2019s right to exist and live in peace.\u00a0 One-sidedness can drive an additional wedge between the two parties and will not hasten the time when true peace can be realized.\u201d", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://costello.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/costello-statement-upcoming-un-security-council-vote", "COSTELLO STATEMENT ON UPCOMING U.N. SECURITY COUNCIL VOTE", "2016-12-23", "2016", "2016-12", "Republican", "House", "PA", "Ryan Costello", "C001106", "costello.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Washington, D.C. -- Rep. Ryan Costello (PA-06) issued the following statement today on the upcoming\u00a0U.N. Security Council vote:\n\"The resolution to be considered by the U.N. Security Council aims to undermine Israel, one of our greatest allies, and does nothing to advance the path to peace. The United States should veto this resolution.\"\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://rothfus.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/rothfus-statement-anti-israel-un-resolution", "Rothfus Statement on Israel UN Resolution", "2016-12-23", "2016", "2016-12", "Republican", "House", "PA", "Keith Rothfus", "R000598", "rothfus.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Washington, D.C. \u2013 Congressman Keith Rothfus [PA-12] released the following statement after the House passed the Supporting America\u2019s Innovators Act of 2017, which raises the limit on the number of individuals who can invest in certain venture capital funds before those funds must register with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) as \u201cinvestment companies\u201d under the Inv", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://rothfus.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/rothfus-statement-president-obama-s-refusal-veto-anti-israel-un", "Rothfus Statement on President Obamas refusal to veto anti-Israel UN Resolution", "2016-12-23", "2016", "2016-12", "Republican", "House", "PA", "Keith Rothfus", "R000598", "rothfus.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "\"Barack Obama delivered a parting backhand to America's most steadfast ally and the only democracy in the Middle East today by brokering a one sided anti-Israel resolution before the UN Security Council.\u00a0 Obama's foreign policy has left the Middle East, indeed the world, in chaos and confusion.\u00a0 From Libya to Syria to Iraq, the Obama doctrine has left millions either dead or fighting for their very lives,\"\u00a0said Congressman Rothfus.\u00a0\n\t\"Today's actions will only embolden terrorists and result in more deaths. \u00a0As long as the Palestinians refuse to return to the negotiation table, there will be no peace.\u00a0 Lasting peace cannot be dictated by Barack Obama or the UN.\u00a0 Instead, any peaceful solution will only be attained by active and mutual participation by both the Palestinians and Israel,\"\u00a0Rothfus continued.\n\t\"I am confident that House Republicans and the Trump Administration will move quickly to do everything possible to restore and heal our relationship with Israel and our friends in the Middle East,\u201d\u00a0said Congressman Rothfus.\n\t-30-", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://www.casey.senate.gov/newsroom/releases/casey-administration-decision-to-abstain-from-resolution-targeting-israel-at-un-extremely-disappointing", "Casey: Administration Decision to Abstain from Resolution Targeting Israel at UN “Extremely Disappointing”", "2016-12-23", "2016", "2016-12", "Democrat", "House", "PA", "Bob Casey", "C001070", "www.casey.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Washington, DC - U.S. Senator Bob Casey (D-PA), a member of the National Security Working Group and former Chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Subcommittee on Near Eastern and South and Central Asian Affairs, released a statement\u00a0following the Administration\u2019s decision to abstain from a UN resolution regarding Israel.\r\n\"I am extremely disappointed in the Administration's decision to abstain from today's vote. \u200eThis step reversed decades of a bipartisan commitment to using the voice and veto of the U.S. to prevent the UN from being used as a platform to advance positions that should be negotiated directly between the parties.\"\r\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://www.casey.senate.gov/newsroom/releases/casey-statement-on-un-resolution-regarding-israel", "Casey Statement on UN Resolution Regarding Israel", "2016-12-23", "2016", "2016-12", "Democrat", "House", "PA", "Bob Casey", "C001070", "www.casey.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Washington, DC - U.S. Senator Bob Casey (D-PA), a member of the National Security Working Group and former Chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Subcommittee on Near Eastern and South and Central Asian Affairs, released a statement\u00a0on the current debate at the United Nations regarding a resolution aimed at Israel.\r\n\u201cI strongly urge Ambassador Power and the United States delegation to the United Nations to veto the resolution introduced by the Egyptian delegation before the UN Security Council this week if it comes to a vote, or any other one-sided resolution against Israel that may be offered in the coming days and weeks. Longstanding U.S. policy has been to stand with Israel against attempts to use the United Nations to internationalize the peace process, and that policy should be maintained. The best path to peace is direct talks between the parties, and resolutions like the one offered at the Security Council this week have the potential to move peace further from our reach.\r\nThe international community, the Palestinians, and the Israelis all have a responsibility to avoid actions that make it harder to get to negotiations and potentially undermine the path to a sustainable two-state solution.\u00a0 I am concerned that some delegations to the United Nations continue to advance counterproductive resolutions such as the one introduced this week, while they turn a blind eye to international crises that should demand our immediate attention and action, including the conflict in Syria and Russian aggression in Ukraine.\u201d\r\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["http://kelly.house.gov/press-release/rep-kelly-releases-year-end-report-2016", "Rep. Kelly Releases Year-End Report for 2016", "2016-12-22", "2016", "2016-12", "Republican", "House", "PA", "Mike Kelly", "K000376", "kelly.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "\u201cMaking a Difference Today, Preparing for Tomorrow\u201d \n\u00a0\nWASHINGTON \u2014 U.S. Representative Mike Kelly (PA-03) released the following report today, to be e-mailed to his constituents throughout the Third Congressional District of Pennsylvania, to serve as a year-end overview of his office\u2019s legislative achievements and constituent relations throughout 2016.\nDear Constituent:\nAs we embark on an exciting new year, I would first like to thank you for the honor and privilege of serving you in the U.S. House of Representatives, or as I prefer to call it, the People\u2019s House.\nMuch was decided about our country\u2019s future over the last few months. Since the start of this year, my House colleagues and I have been planning for the 115th Congress and the new windows of opportunity that will be opened by the incoming administration. Many policies and reforms that were, until recently, unachievable are now not only possible, but are sitting at the top of our agenda and very likely to be realized.\n\tJust last week, while Congress was out of session, my colleagues and I on the Ways and Means Committee went back to work in Washington to plan the first overhaul of our nation\u2019s tax code in three decades and the responsible repeal and replacement of the Affordable Care Act, better known as Obamacare. Our goals for the new year are crystal clear: a fairer tax code, a stronger economy with new jobs, and long-awaited relief from Obamacare\u2019s higher costs and broken promises. With the right principles guiding our work, you and your family can look forward to a future with lower, simpler taxes and more affordable and accessible health care insurance that is choice-filled and patient-centered.\nThroughout every bit of planning for the future, I made sure to stay focused on my most important duties: representing Western Pennsylvania\u2019s best interests, bringing your voice to Washington, and making sure the federal government is properly delivering you the services you depend upon. Each day I stepped foot inside the U.S. Capitol, I was guided by our shared values of hard work, common sense, and straight talk. As I begin my fourth term in Congress, my commitment to you and your family will remain unwavering.\nWith every new challenge that 2016 brought us, there also came many great successes. Week after week, my staff and I worked diligently on every issue to produce the best results for you and your neighbors. The following report is meant to provide you with an overview of the most important legislative business that we conducted on your behalf over the course of this year.\nMeeting the Needs of Our Constituents All Year Round\nHere is a summary of how our four offices directly assisted and communicated with our constituents throughout 2016. We\u2026\n Attended/organized 83 constituent outreach meetings with different individuals, groups, schools, hospitals, etc. throughout the Third District;\n  Toured 15 local businesses and factories to meet with employers and employees about issues affecting their industries;\n  Helped 2,099 constituents with navigating the federal bureaucracy;\n  Corresponded with 14,918 constituents in response to 29,234 phone calls, pieces of mail, e-mail, and faxes;\n  Maintained 3 full-time constituent offices throughout the Third District;\n  Hosted a tele-town hall meeting to address concerns and answer questions about Medicare enrollment, which included 3,063 participants from the Third District;\n  Hosted a live seminar for prospective U.S. Military Academy cadets in the Third District to learn more about the congressional nomination and application process;\n  Sent 1,058 American flags to constituents;\n  Assisted hundreds of families with 201 official tours, including 122 tours of the U.S. Capitol; 42 tours of the White House; 8 tours of the U.S. Supreme Court; 12 tours of the Library of Congress; and 12 tours of the Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts;\n  Expanded my social media presence, ending the year with 14,200 fans on Facebook (690 added since last year) and 7,000 followers on Twitter (1,385 added since last year); and\n  Conducted hundreds of interviews with local, regional, and national newspapers, radio shows, websites, and television programs.\n Turning Solutions Into Law\nThroughout this year, despite having a divided government, my congressional colleagues and I were able to successfully turn multiple good ideas into not just good bills, but good laws.\nIn July, the House passed major legislation to combat the ongoing nationwide opioid epidemic by an astounding bipartisan majority of 407-5. The bill \u2013 the Comprehensive Addiction and Recovery Act (S. 524) \u2013 tackles this crisis from every angle through specific, targeted solutions. It authorizes the Attorney General and Secretary of Health and Human Services to award grants to address addiction to heroin and prescription opioids, and make various other changes to federal law to combat opioid addiction and abuse. It was passed in the U.S. Senate by an overwhelming vote of 92-2 and then signed into law on July 22nd.\n\tThis legislation is strongly supported by such Pennsylvania-based organizations as the Bridge to Hope Family Support Group, the Center for Youth & Community Development, the Pennsylvania Recovery Organizations Alliance, National Family Dialogue, and more than 200 other public health groups in communities nationwide. Its enactment is a victory for bipartisanship, for cooperation, for Western Pennsylvania, and for countless of our fellow citizens. I invite you to read more about this new law here, here, and here.\nLast month, the House passed the 21st Century Cures Act (H.R. 34) by a bipartisan vote of 392-26. The legislation is a medical innovation package to improve patient treatments by promoting advancements in technology, eliminating regulations that stifle competition, providing resources to combat the growing opioid epidemic, ensuring critical support for those struggling with mental health, and supporting cutting-edge research and the next generation of scientists. The package includes the Medicare Advantage Coverage Transparency Act of 2015 (H.R. 2505), which I introduced in May of last year and which was passed unanimously by the House last June. The bill requires the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) to provide an annual report on the program's enrollment data to Congress.\nThe Cures Act is wide in its reach and dramatic in its impact yet squarely focused on a singular goal: helping American patients beat their diseases and become healthy again. Thanks to this historic package, the future of American health care and medical innovation is brighter than ever. Our moms and dads and sons and daughters who face illnesses, along with the family members who care for them, can take heart that their fight is receiving brand new life-changing and, we pray, life-saving support. President Obama signed this bill into law on December 13th.\nI was particularly proud that this powerful legislation included my bill to make Medicare Advantage coverage more transparent for the benefit of our nation\u2019s seniors. The bill will bring key Medicare enrollment details into public view and equip lawmakers with important information so that we may make better decisions on behalf of our elderly constituents. I was also very glad to see my friend Representative Tim Murphy (R-PA)\u2019s transformational mental health reforms included in this package and applaud him for his tireless work in helping carry it past the finish line.\nEarlier this month, the House passed the Water Infrastructure Improvements for the Nation (WIIN) Act (S. 612) by a bipartisan vote of 360-61. The legislation is a House-Senate compromise version of the previously passed Water Resources Development Act (WRDA) of 2016. Like that bill, the WIIN Act authorizes the key missions of the U. S. Army Corps of Engineers and addresses the needs of American harbors, locks, dams, flood protection, and other water infrastructure critical to the nation\u2019s economic competitiveness. It accomplishes these tasks in a fiscally responsible way by establishing sunset dates for new authorizations as well as de-authorizing $10 billion in unnecessary projects, which will fully offset the same amount in new authorizations contained in the legislation.\nThe WIIN Act is a win for American workers and a win for the Great Lakes. In fact, the WIIN Act represents one of the most important pieces of Great Lakes legislation in generations. Among its vast benefits, the bill will ensure the maintenance of waterway infrastructure essential to the construction of the upcoming ethane cracker facility in Western Pennsylvania and the 6,000 jobs it\u2019s expected to create. On December 15th, this bill became law.\nStanding Up for Religious Liberty\nAt the beginning of this year, I joined with Representative Diane Black (R-TN), Senator Orrin Hatch (R-UT), and Senator James Lankford (R-OK) to submit a bipartisan amicus brief to the U.S. Supreme Court, signed by 207 members of Congress, in support of each religious nonprofit and charity challenging Obamacare\u2019s HHS mandate, including the Little Sisters of the Poor. The challenge was heard in the case of Zubik vs. Burwell.\n\tThe Little Sisters and six other religious non-profit organizations finally took their fight against Obamacare's unjust contraceptive mandate to the highest court in the land and argued, in essence, for the exact same exemption that the Obama administration has already given to non-religious organizations like Exxon Mobil and Visa.\nFrankly, I found it disgraceful and unacceptable that the Little Sisters had to take time to come to their nation's capital to argue for their God-given constitutional rights against this administration. The contraceptive mandate was a hideous component of a disastrous law that puts government's power above people's rights. It puts this administration on the wrong side of our nation's long and cherished history of religious liberty and tolerance.\nThankfully, in May, the Supreme Court delivered good news to the Little Sisters.\nAccording to the American Center for Law and Justice, \u201cthe Supreme Court unanimously ordered lower courts to help the Little Sisters of the Poor and other religious organizations work out a compromise with the Obama administration. ... The high Court also made clear that because the government was aware of the objections made by the religious organizations from the outset of the litigation, no taxes or penalties may be applied against the organizations. In other words, the abortion-pill mandate is delayed until the parties have sufficient time to resolve any issues at the lower courts.\u201d\nThe Court\u2019s announcement is a win for these nuns and all those whom they so nobly serve. In the words of Sister Loraine Marie Maguire, Mother Provincial for the Little Sisters of the Poor: \u201cAll we have ever wanted to do is serve the neediest among us as if they were Christ himself. We look forward to serving the elderly poor for another 175 years to come.\u201d\nProtecting Presque Isle\u2019s Beaches\nIn February, I joined Representative Glenn \u2018GT\u2019 Thompson (R-PA) and Senators Bob Casey, Jr. (D-PA) and Pat Toomey (R-PA) in sending a joint bipartisan letter to the Assistant Secretary of the Army (for Civil Works) to insist that Presque Isle State Park in Erie remains a high priority project in the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers\u2019 (USACE) budget for fiscal year 2016.\n\tPresque Isle State Park\u2019s beaches are a precious natural resource and a powerful economic driver for our entire region. Stretching along seven miles of Lake Erie\u2019s shoreline, they require proper care and nourishment every single year. I expect the USACE to always recognize the importance of maintaining this treasure and to provide the necessary replenishment that millions of families and tourists \u2013 and the jobs they support \u2013 depend upon.\nRestoring Fiscal Responsibility\n\tLast winter, I was very proud to co-sponsor the Debt Management and Fiscal Responsibility Act (H.R. 3442), which passed the House by a bipartisan vote of 267-151. This commonsense legislation establishes a new debt limit framework that enhances accountability, reduces disruptive risk, and ensures integrated debt reduction solutions. It requires the Secretary of the Treasury to appear before Congress prior to each potential debt limit increase and provide testimony and detailed reports on: the national debt and its key drivers; explicit short, medium, and long-term debt reduction proposals; and progress on debt reduction.\nFor me, this is not a political battle\u2014this is a fight for the future of our country. This is a fight for the sustainability of the greatest nation the world has ever known, and our ability to leave it in proper fiscal condition for our children and grandchildren.\nHelping Western Pennsylvania Hospitals\nLast month, I introduced the Fixing Medicare Hospital Payments Act of 2016 (H.R. 6399) with Representative Mike Doyle (D-PA). The legislation would create a Medicare wage index floor for hospitals in metropolitan areas with populations of two million or more, which would increase Medicare payments to hospitals in the Greater Pittsburgh area.\nThe current Medicare wage index is an unfair deal for Western Pennsylvania hospitals and their workers. Because the federal government currently assigns hospitals in our area a low wage index, employers throughout the region have to pick up the cost through increased insurance premiums for their employees. With this commonsense bill, a new wage index floor would be created, insurance premiums would decrease, hospital wages would increase, and Western Pennsylvania\u2019s economy would become stronger. Those who provide life-saving care to our neighbors, friends, and loved ones deserve nothing less.\nStopping the War on Coal\nThe Obama administration\u2019s regulatory war on coal has been a war on American jobs, families, and communities. In Pennsylvania alone, coal is responsible for 40,000 jobs and 40 percent of our electric power. The Associated Press rightly calls it \u201cthe workhorse of the U.S. power system.\u201d The EPA\u2019s so-called Clean Power Plan is a cruel attack on the needs of so many people \u2013 especially in Western Pennsylvania \u2013 who depend on coal's benefits every day. Whether it\u2019s lost livelihoods for families or higher energy bills for senior citizens, the pain of this President Obama\u2019s radical agenda will sadly be felt long after he leaves office.\nThis is why I joined 170 other members of the House and 34 U.S. Senators in February in submitting an amicus brief to the D.C. Circuit Court of Appeals in support of the plaintiffs in the case of State of West Virginia, et al. v. Environmental Protection Agency, et al. The brief supported petitions filed by 27 states seeking to overturn the EPA\u2019s controversial regulatory plan.\n\tThirty-nine lawsuits seeking review of the Clean Power Plan were consolidated in the D.C. Circuit Court. The Plan was stayed by the Supreme Court in February, and the D.C. Circuit Court heard oral arguments in the consolidated cases in June. In all likelihood, the Circuit Court won\u2019t decide this case until next year.\n\tDefending Americans\u2019 Retirement Security\nAs co-chairman of the House Retirement Security Caucus and a member of the House Ways and Means Subcommittee on Social Security, I was especially disturbed by the Department of Labor\u2019s long-anticipated rule on fiduciary standards.\n\tIt seems to me that Washington bureaucrats think they know what\u2019s best for American families when it comes to planning for retirement. I believe the Obama administration\u2019s misguided attempt to regulate Main Street financial advisers will backfire, leaving more hardworking families without access to quality, affordable retirement advice. With increased compliance costs and regulations, these smaller advisers will be unable to provide workers and seniors with a full range of options to help save for a secure retirement.\nIn anticipation of this rule, last November I joined Social Security Subcommittee Chairman Sam Johnson (R-TX) in introducing the Retirement Choice Protection Act of 2015 (H.R. 3922), which would provide the rule with a workable \u201cbest interest\u201d standard, which will in turn ensure that families can continue to receive affordable investment guidance for a secure retirement while making it easier for small businesses to provide retirement benefits to their employees.\nProviding Relief for Working Families\nIn May, right before Mother\u2019s Day, I was very proud to work with Representative Linda S\u00e1nchez (D-CA) to introduce the Working Families Relief Act (H.R. 4867).\n\tThis legislation would increase the maximum amount that employees can set aside or employers can provide to the Dependent Care Assistance Program (DCAP), a flexible spending account which can be used to pay for childcare on a pre-tax basis. It would raise the cap from $5,000 to $10,500 and index it for inflation, and would also provide tax credits to employers who match the DCAP contributions in order to encourage them to offer this benefit.\nEarly education is critical for a child\u2019s healthy development and for giving him or her a fair opportunity to succeed in life. Unfortunately, working families often struggle to cover costs for quality childcare in today\u2019s economy, which can reach more than $10,000 a year. This bipartisan, bicameral bill will help parents overcome that difficulty by expanding and modernizing DCAP accounts, which currently help more than 1.3 million families pay for child and dependent care annually.\nThe companion piece to this pro-family, pro-common sense bill was introduced in the U.S. Senate by Senators Kelly Ayotte (R-NH) and Shelley Moore Capito (R-WV).\nRebuilding Our Nation\u2019s Schools & Infrastructure\nOver the summer, I had the opportunity to visit three different public schools in the City of Erie to evaluate the schools' ongoing infrastructure crisis. After the trip, I went back to Washington and introduced the Public Buildings Renewal Act (H.R. 5361, also known as \u201cthe Renewal Act\u201d) to help resolve the situation. The bill would permit state and local governments to access private activity bonds (PABs) for the financing of critical construction and infrastructure projects for qualified public buildings such as schools, hospitals, court houses, universities, police stations, and prisons.\n\tIt is a matter of fact that our county\u2019s public buildings are in a historic state of disrepair. This crisis cannot be solely addressed through traditional forms of public financing and project delivery options. Just like the qualified PABS authorized for transportation projects, private activity bond financing is needed for the nation\u2019s public buildings.\nIn the transportation sector, PABs are used to attract private investment for projects that have some public benefit. PABs leverage private financing to fund public projects through the creation of public private partnerships (P3s).\u00a0 In turn, P3s advance transportation and infrastructure projects in an efficient way that creates jobs and saves taxpayer money by streamlining project delivery, design, and construction.\n\tMy bill would expand eligibility beyond just transportation projects so that state and local governments can have access to more streams of potential financing for critical construction and infrastructure projects. Similar to today\u2019s P3s in the transportation sector, the Renewal Act would create $5 billion in PABs for eligible public buildings for states to access through the Treasury Department.\n\tI was very pleased to see this bill receive favorable attention from Jet 24 Action News, Erie News Now, the Erie Times-News, and POLITICO.\nPreserving Internet Freedom\nSince 2014, I have voiced serious objections to President Obama\u2019s reckless plan to transfer the Internet\u2019s critical functions to a multinational body like the United Nations. This year, after the administration began moving forward with its plan, I worked with my staff to take action.\nAmong my many concerns, I strongly believe that ensuring the sole, exclusive, and permanent American ownership of the .gov and .mil domains must be fully resolved before any transition in our stewardship over Internet functions can happen. By relying on a non-binding exchange of letters to keep existing policies in place, the Commerce Department is regrettably putting its trust in ICANN (the Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers)\u2019s mere promise not to take any action adverse to our nation\u2019s interests, without a legally enforceable contract that gives our government the right to hold ICANN to its promises.\nAs a small businessman, I can say that I may exchange letters with my wife, but I write contracts with my business partners. This is why, in June, I introduced the Securing America's Internet Domains (SAID) Act (H.R. 5329) which requires our government to certify that it has secured .gov and .mil through a contract. The SAID Act is crucial for our long-term cybersecurity and for preserving Internet freedom.\nIn September, as the Obama administration\u2019s transfer of the Internet drew nearer, I introduced a resolution authorizing the Speaker of the House to sue the administration for unlawfully circumventing Congress with its plan, despite clear prohibitions against the National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) using taxpayer funds to do so before 2017.\n\tAs the world\u2019s sole superpower, we have a duty to preserve Internet freedom for Americans and for the world. As a governing body, Congress has a duty to uphold our Constitution\u2019s separation of powers and to protect our own \u201cpower of the purse\u201d as intended by our founders, as well as our sole power to dispose of federal property. My resolution would help achieve all of these objectives, and help prevent the Internet from falling under the influence of bad actors abroad who despise the free flow of information.\nKeeping America Safe\nAs you know full well, the dangers to our homeland are growing, not shrinking, especially from radical terrorist organizations like the Islamic State (ISIS). Over the course of this year, I was proud to introduce, sponsor, and support many pieces of legislation to increase our national defense, strengthen our armed forces, and make sure our foreign policy is aimed at defeating our enemies and keeping Americans safe.\nIn June, my House colleagues and I unveiled a detailed plan to protect Americans that included more than 65 policy recommendations, including several specifically focused on defeating radical Islamists \u00a0at home and abroad. It discusses the importance of countering extremist ideology by amplifying countervailing views from former radicals and the need to push back against the surge of online radicalization.\nAlso in June, I joined Representative Peter Roskam (R-IL) in introducing the No Ex-Im Financing for Iran Act (H.R. 5608), which will prohibit American taxpayer money from being used by our government's Export-Import Bank to directly or indirectly support the Islamic Republic of Iran or any company it owns. According to a senior research fellow in regulatory policy at the Heritage Foundation, \u201cIn its [nuclear] deal with Iran, the Obama administration has dramatically increased the risk of death and destruction by the world\u2019s foremost state sponsor of terrorism. \u2026 Lawmakers must ensure that the Export-Import Bank doesn\u2019t help Boeing and other U.S. companies become tools of Tehran.\u201d\nIn September, the House passed the No More Cash Ransoms to Iran Act (H.R. 5931). Many of you called me about this important bill, and I'm glad to let you know that I strongly supported it.\nOn the day his flawed nuclear deal with Iran was implemented, President Obama announced that the United States and Iran had agreed to a prisoner exchange that would see Iran release several innocent American hostages in exchange for the United States granting clemency to and releasing seven Iranians serving sentences or awaiting trial for serious crimes, such as aiding Iran's illegal weapons programs.\nIn that same speech, the president announced that the United States would pay Iran $1.7 billion to settle a dispute over an aborted arms sale that had dragged on since the radicals that rule Iran seized power in 1979. The White House rejected concerns that this settlement amounted to a ransom for the release of the American hostages and refused to answer questions from Congress.\nWhen news broke that the United States secretly paid Iran the first part of this settlement \u2013 $400 million in cash \u2013 just as the hostages were released, it became clear that the president had rejected the advice of his own Justice Department and ignored a longstanding U.S. policy not to release prisoners or pay ransom in exchange for the return of Americans held hostage abroad. Not surprisingly, Iran has since taken several more Americans hostage and continues to fund terrorist groups that threaten U.S. interests and destabilize the Middle East.\n\tH.R. 5391 will officially affirm that the Obama administration violated longstanding U.S. policy by releasing prisoners and paying ransom; prohibit all cash payments to Iran; and require transparency on any future settlements with Iran in order to ensure they are not used to pay future ransoms.\n\tIn late September, history was made when both the House and the Senate overwhelmingly voted to override President Obama\u2019s veto of S. 2040, the Justice Against Sponsors of Terrorism Act, which will allow the families of American victims of terrorist attacks to sue foreign states that aid and abet acts of terror that occur on U.S. soil.\n\tEarlier this month, the House passed the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) for Fiscal Year 2017 (S. 2943), compromise legislation with the Senate which will fully fund our Armed Forces and ensure that American troops have the resources required to successfully defend the homeland and achieve their missions abroad. The bill included my annual amendment to prohibit funding for the Department of Defense (DoD) for the implementation of the dangerous U.N. Arms Trade Treaty (ATT).\nAdditionally, here is a list of bills passed by the People's House over the last 12 months aimed at strengthening our counter-terrorism tools to help prevent homegrown and overseas terrorism:\n H.R. 4239 \u2013 The Tracking Foreign Fighters in Terrorist Safe Havens Act\n\t\t\u00a0\nH.R. 4408 \u2013 The National Strategy to Combat Terrorist Travel Act \n\t\t\u00a0\nH.R. 4402 \u2013 The Foreign Fighter Review Act\n\t\t\u00a0\nH.R. 4401 \u2013 The Amplifying Local Efforts to Root Out Terror (ALERT) Act\n\t\t\u00a0\nH.R. 4314 \u2013 The Counterterrorism Screening and Assistance Act\n\t\t\u00a0\nH.R. 4403 \u2013 The Enhancing Overseas Traveler Vetting Act\n\t\t\u00a0\nH.R. 4820 \u2013 The Combating Terrorist Recruitment Act\n\t\t\u00a0\nH.R. 4240 \u2013 The No Fly for Foreign Fighters Act\n\t\t\u00a0\nH.R. 4407 \u2013 The Counterterrorism Advisory Board Act\n Serving Those Who Served Us\nIn January, I hosted a special ceremony at my district office in Sharon at which I had the immense honor of awarding multiple medals of distinction, including the Bronze Star, to Chester \u201cChet\u201d Burger of Hermitage for his military service in World War II. Mr. Burger is a U.S. Army veteran and a former prisoner of war.\nIn May, I introduced a bipartisan bill to designate the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) health care center in Center Township in Butler County as the \u201cAbie Abraham VA Clinic.\u201d Mr. Abraham \u2013 who passed away in 2012 \u2013 was a man who exemplified extraordinary valor and lifelong service to the United States, both abroad and at home. He fought valiantly in World War II, during which he was captured, endured the Bataan Death March, and, as a prisoner of war for three and a half years, was beaten, stabbed, and shot, and then survived malaria and starvation until he was eventually rescued by the 6th Rangers. My legislation to name the VA clinic after him (H.R. 5317) was approved by the House unanimously.\nAlso in May, the House passed H.R. 4974, the Military Construction and Veterans Affairs and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 2017, by a bipartisan vote of 295-129.\nIn October, I was privileged to help present the Ambassador of Peace Medal to 11 veterans of the Korean War in Meadville. The medal is a tribute from our allies in South Korea, given in endless appreciation for the heroic service of such great Americans in defense of freedom. The ceremony was co-hosted by the office of Senator Pat Toomey (R-PA).\nLast month, the House unanimously passed five pieces of legislation to support American military veterans and reform the VA. I was very proud to see Congress take such strong and united action for our nation\u2019s veterans. Each man and woman who serves our country in uniform deserves the fullest respect and appreciation from every single American. Lawmakers in particular have a sacred duty to defend those who defended us in the legislation we pass, whether it\u2019s to protect their benefits, improve their health care, or help them find work on the homefront. These commonsense bills meet all these objectives and make sure the VA is supporting veterans with the utmost care and accountability.\nRolling Back Job-Killing Regulations\nOver the past eight years, the Obama administration has issued more than 20,000 new regulations which have cost our economy more than $100 billion each year. This kind of radical red tape has indisputably harmed small businesses and killed jobs and wages for millions of hardworking American families.\n\tEven after the results of the historic presidential election, President Obama has made it clear that he is determined to push through more rules and regulations until the last minute of his presidency. These kinds of regulations are commonly known as \u201cMidnight Rules\u201d and, frankly, presidents in both parties have made a historic habit of issuing them.\n\tAccording to the House Judiciary Committee, Midnight Rules issued during this period are typically rushed through and not properly vetted by agencies. They impose high costs on taxpayers and ignore the will of voters who just elected a new Congress or president. As a small-businessman, I am personally familiar with how crippling these rules (issued when almost no one is paying attention) can be.\n\tLast month my House colleagues and I passed the Midnight Rules Relief Act of 2016 (H.R. 5982) which will amend the Congressional Review Act (CRA) to allow Congress to disapprove (and therefore stop) entire sets of regulations submitted for review within 60 legislative days of the end of a presidential term. Under current law, Congress can only use the CRA to disapprove one regulation at a time. This commonsense bill can help prevent serious damage to our economy while also bringing an all-new level of transparency to the rule-making process.\n\tEarlier this month, I called on President-elect Donald Trump to use his executive authority, once in office, to cancel, rescind, and undo those of President Obama's executive orders which have negatively affected American energy, gun rights, health care, immigration, religious liberty, small businesses, and the right to life. The result will be a stronger economy, rescued livelihoods, and reaffirmed rights. I believe such decisive leadership would herald a long-awaited new era in Washington and, ultimately, a brighter future for our entire country.\n* * * * *\nAs I\u2019ve wholeheartedly said so many times, representing you and your neighbors in the People\u2019s House has been the honor of my lifetime. Any time my staff in Pennsylvania or Washington can be of service to you with a federal matter in any specific way, please do not hesitate to contact us via the information and locations listed below.\nI look forward to having your back in Congress in 2017 and working with President-elect Trump and his administration to make our country greater, stronger, and more prosperous for every American. Thank you again for the opportunity to serve you.\nHave a merry Christmas and a happy New Year!\nSincerely,\n\u00a0\n\u00a0\nMike Kelly\n\u00a0\n\u00a0\nBUTLER DISTRICT OFFICE\n101 East Diamond St\nSuite 218\nButler, PA 16001\nPhone: (724) 282-2557\nFax: (724) 282-3682\n\u00a0\nERIE DISTRICT OFFICE\n208 E. Bayfront Parkway\nSuite 102\nErie, PA 16507\nPhone: (814) 454-8190\nFax: (814) 454-8197\n\u00a0\nSHARON DISTRICT OFFICE\n33 Chestnut Street\nSharon, PA\u00a016146\nPhone: (724) 342-7170\nFax: (724) 342-7242\n\u00a0\nWASHINGTON, DC OFFICE\n1707 Longworth HOB\nWashington, DC 20515\nPhone: (202) 225-5406\nFax: (202) 225-3103\n\u00a0\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://www.casey.senate.gov/about/highlight/visit-to-the-friends-of-the-poor", "Visit to the Friends of the Poor", "2016-12-22", "2016", "2016-12", "Democrat", "House", "PA", "Bob Casey", "C001070", "www.casey.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Scranton, PA \r\nPrior to the holidays, Senator Bob Casey visited the Friends of the Poor for their Christmas Food Basket event where he assisted in distributing food for those who experience food insecurity. Friends of the Poor serve over 1,200 families each year at this event from the Lackawanna County and surrounding areas each year.\r\nCasey has been a longtime advocate in the fight against food insecurity and hunger in Pennsylvania and across the nation.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://www.casey.senate.gov/newsroom/releases/casey-invest-full-broadband-funds-in-pennsylvania", "Casey: Invest Full Broadband Funds in Pennsylvania", "2016-12-22", "2016", "2016-12", "Democrat", "House", "PA", "Bob Casey", "C001070", "www.casey.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Washington DC- U.S. Senator Bob Casey (D-PA) released a letter to the Chairman of the Federal Communication Commission (FCC), Tom Wheeler, calling on the agency to adopt the recommendation of the PA Public Utility Commission (PA PUC) to keep Connect America Phase II funds, initially allotted to Pennsylvania but declined by a carrier in the state, within state lines to expand rural broadband for Pennsylvanians who need it most. The FCC is currently weighing whether to put the $23 million in declined funds up for competitive auction, which could lead to some of or all of the money going elsewhere.\r\nCasey wrote, \u201cAccess to broadband and advanced telecommunication technology are essential to full participation in economic and social life for every American. Pennsylvania has demonstrated a long-term commitment to achieving the goal of universal service so a family farmer in Susquehanna County has the same opportunity to compete and succeed as a graphic designer in Philadelphia\u2026..Pennsylvania\u2019s rural residents need this funding. According to the FCC\u2019s 2016 Broadband Progress Report, 20 percent of Pennsylvanians living in rural areas do not have access to high-speed internet, with that number rising as high as 69 percent in some counties. We need to do everything possible to expand access to this critical resource, and I support the PA PUC\u2019s recommendation that states like Pennsylvania receive their full allocation of CAF II support, including declined funds, for use within the state. I urge the FCC to adopt a response to the New York petition and the PA PUC comments that achieves this critical goal.\u201d\r\nThe full text of Casey\u2019s letter can be seen below.\r\nDear Chairman Wheeler:\r\nAs the Federal Communication Commission (FCC) considers how to allocate declined Connect America Fund Phase II (CAF II) money, I write in support of the recommendation included in the Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission\u2019s (PA PUC) comments to the FCC, submitted on October 24, 2016, in response to a petition for expedited waiver of the FCC\u2019s CAF II rules filed by the state of New York.\u00a0 Given Pennsylvania\u2019s demonstrated commitment to expanding broadband access and its longstanding position as a net contributor to the Universal Service Fund (USF), I urge the FCC to adopt the PA PUC\u2019s recommendation. The recommendation aligns with the FCC\u2019s universal service goals and would prevent the undue penalty of Pennsylvania businesses and consumers that would result from an interstate transfer of CAF II funds solely as a result of a single carrier\u2019s decision to decline those funds.\r\nAccess to broadband and advanced telecommunication technology are essential to full participation in economic and social life for every American. Pennsylvania has demonstrated a long-term commitment to achieving the goal of universal service so a family farmer in Susquehanna County has the same opportunity to compete and succeed as a graphic designer in Philadelphia. As noted in the PA PUC\u2019s comments to the FCC, under Pennsylvania\u2019s multiyear incentive program to deploy broadband infrastructure, the PA PUC awarded $969.01 million in rate and revenue relief to affected incumbent local exchange carriers during the 2005-2015 time period alone. Over this time, Pennsylvania has also consistently ranked fifth in the country in terms of net USF contributions, with net contributions consistently exceeding $100 million and coming in at $132.27 million in 2014.\r\nThe PA PUC recommended that a state\u2019s declined CAF II funds, such as the $23.27 million in annual support declined by Verizon North LLC in Pennsylvania, should be retained by that state, rather than be subject to a competitive bidding auction process that could see those funds transferred to another state. The FCC, which objectively allocated that sum to Pennsylvania through a cost model, should ensure that states like Pennsylvania, with a demonstrated commitment to expanding access to advanced telecommunication technology and a proven capacity to implement effective programs to expand access to broadband, are not unfairly penalized by the transfer of unclaimed CAF II funds to another state. The $23.27 million in declined CAF funds from Pennsylvania represents fully 45.66 percent of the total CAF II allotment to the state. Losing all or part of this funding would be unfair to Pennsylvania residents in rural and high-cost areas and contrary to the FCC\u2019s goal of ensuring broadband access for all.\r\nPennsylvania\u2019s rural residents need this funding. According to the FCC\u2019s 2016 Broadband Progress Report, 20 percent of Pennsylvanians living in rural areas do not have access to high-speed internet, with that number rising as high as 69 percent in some counties. We need to do everything possible to expand access to this critical resource, and I support the PA PUC\u2019s recommendation that states like Pennsylvania receive their full allocation of CAF II support, including declined funds, for use within the state. I urge the FCC to adopt a response to the New York petition and the PA PUC comments that achieves this critical goal.\r\nThank you for your attention to this important matter.\r\nSincerely,\r\n________________________\r\nRobert P. Casey, Jr.\r\nUnited States Senator\r\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["http://kelly.house.gov/press-release/rep-kelly-releases-annual-christmas-message-third-district-constituents-0", "Rep. Kelly Releases Annual Christmas Message  to Third District Constituents", "2016-12-20", "2016", "2016-12", "Republican", "House", "PA", "Mike Kelly", "K000376", "kelly.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Rep. Kelly Releases Annual Christmas Message  to Third District Constituents                                           \n              Dec 20, 2016      \t\t        \t    \n      \t            \n                    \n                                            \n          \n        \n        \n          \n  \n    \n    \n    \nWASHINGTON \u2014 U.S. Representative Mike Kelly (PA-03) released the enclosed video today as his annual Christmas greeting to the constituents of the Third Congressional District of Pennsylvania.\nThe full video message can be viewed via YouTube here.\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["http://perry.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=398444", "Rep. Perry: Setting the Record Straight", "2016-12-20", "2016", "2016-12", "Republican", "House", "PA", "Scott Perry", "P000605", "perry.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "A recent letter writer (Why is Rep. Perry associating with hate groups?) falsely claimed that I associate with an \u201canti-Muslim hate group\u201d because of a recent meeting I had with Ms. Brigitte Gabriel, founder of Act for America. I always appreciate constituent feedback, but need to set the record straight about some of the assertions made in this letter.\r\n\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 The writer cites the Southern Poverty Law Center as an arbiter for determining \u201chate groups.\u201d The clearly radical leftist SPLC has a history of recklessly labeling conservative organizations as \"hate groups.\" Where once SPLC\u2019s hate list was reserved for groups like the Aryan Nation and the KKK, in 2010 SPLC started citing Christian groups such as the Family Research Council as hate groups simply for opposing same-sex marriage. Is same-sex marriage a controversial topic \u2014 of course; but both sides have heartfelt beliefs that should be allowed the opportunity for debate.\r\n\u00a0 \u00a0Unfortunately, this type of intimidation through mischaracterization has become par for the course in our contemporary political climate. The extremist SPLC and other leftist groups in recent years have taken the radical approach of attempting to silence political opposition rather than debating in the arena of ideas. In the United States and other open societies, citizens are supposed to welcome full-throated debate in policy and political matters, and the most persuasive side wins. What does not comport with traditional ideas of fair play is an attempt to win the debate by stigmatizing one side as \u201chaters,\u201d questioning the legitimacy of their opinions and/or trying to force them into silence.  \r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n    \r\n        \r\n            \r\n        \r\n        \r\n            \r\n            Rep. Perry at 2016 Act for America National Conference with Mariam Ibrahim and her family. At eight months pregnant, Ibrahim was sentenced to death in Sudan for apostasy.\r\n            \r\n        \r\n    \r\n\r\n\r\n\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 As an active member of the House Homeland Security Committee, it\u2019s only reasonable that I would meet with ACT for America, the largest grassroots, national security advocacy, non-profit in the Nation, made up of over 400,000 Americans fighting for a safer America. Act for America rightly identified radical Islamist terror as a serious threat to our nation\u2019s security, for which they've been labeled as hateful, or \u201cIslamophobic.\u201d\r\n\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 Reality suggests that these assertions are as empty as they are clich\u00e9. ACT for America consistently has allied with a variety of Muslim scholars to combat their true adversary \u2014 radical Islamist terrorism. In fact, at its most recent national conference, to which I was invited in Washington D.C, ACT for America hosted Muslim scholar Raheel Raza who, like so many other Muslims, is fighting against the violently radical interpretation of her faith. In the past, ACT for America honored Mariam Ibrahim and Ayan Hersi Ali for their outspoken activism regarding the intolerance of Islamic-inspired Sharia culture. No reasonable individual could believe that ACT for America, by forming alliances with moderate Muslims, and repeatedly stating their opposition to the specifically radical interpretation of Islam, accurately could be labeled a \u201chate group.\u201d\r\n\r\n\r\n    \r\n        \r\n            \r\n        \r\n        \r\n            \r\n            Rep. Perry at 2015 Act for America National Conference with Brigitte Gabriel (middle) and Ayaan Hirsi Ali (right). Ali, a Muslim scholar, has fought for years to protect and defend the rights of women from harmful traditional religious practices.\r\n            \r\n        \r\n    \r\n\r\n\r\n\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 Our nation clearly is at war with an enemy \u2014 radical Islamist terror \u2014 that will stop at nothing to destroy every aspect of our civilization. We cannot afford to hinder ourselves by subscribing to absurd distractions such as those levied against truly patriotic groups like ACT for America. Hatred in any form has no place in American politics, nor do deceitful bullying tactics that serve no purpose other than to silence those with whom one disagrees but cannot refute based on facts.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://www.casey.senate.gov/about/highlight/visit-to-the-network-of-hope-food-pantry", "Visit to the Network of Hope Food Pantry", "2016-12-20", "2016", "2016-12", "Democrat", "House", "PA", "Bob Casey", "C001070", "www.casey.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Pittspurgh, PA \r\nPrior to the holidays, Senator Casey visited the Network of Hope Food Pantry at Allison Park Church, a partner of the Pittsburgh Food Bank to assist in distributing food for those who experience food insecurity. Allison Park Church is both a Greater Pittsburgh Food Bank and United Way partner and provides meals for 2,500 Pittsburgh area families throughout the year.\r\nCasey has been a longtime advocate in the fight against food insecurity and hunger in Pennsylvania and across the nation.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["http://shuster.house.gov/index.cfm?sectionid=49&itemid=815", "Lame Duck President Continues War on Coal", "2016-12-19", "2016", "2016-12", "Republican", "House", "PA", "Bill Shuster", "S001154", "shuster.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "WASHINGTON, DC \u2013 Congressman Bill Shuster (R-Hollidaysburg) released the following statement regarding the Obama Administration\u2019s release of its final Stream Protection Rule.\r\n\r\n\t  \r\n\t\u201cThe Obama Administration\u2019s War on Coal has hit our region hard and this latest power grab will do what the other ones have done \u2013grow government and kill jobs,\u201d said Congressman Shuster. \u201cThis rule is misguided and wrong for this nation. \u00a0I will work with my House colleagues and the Trump Administration on turning back this rule and many others from the outgoing administration that stifle our coal and natural gas industry and hold back economic growth in our coal mining communities across Southwestern Pennsylvania and the entire country. These last eight years have been extremely difficult for our coal miners and their families, but things are about to change as we work with a new administration on reducing the size of government and utilizing the energy sources we have here at home.\u201d\r\n\r\n\tThis rule from the Department of Interior Office of Surface Mining Reclamation and Enforcement would further increase the federal government\u2019s footprint in our domestic energy industry and would effectively eliminate thousands of good paying jobs.\r\n\r\n\t###", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://rothfus.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/rothfus-statement-final-stream-protection-rule", "Rothfus Statement on Final Stream Protection Rule", "2016-12-19", "2016", "2016-12", "Republican", "House", "PA", "Keith Rothfus", "R000598", "rothfus.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Washington, D.C.\u00a0\u2013 The\u00a0Office of Surface Mining Reclamation and Enforcement (OSM) today released its final Stream Protection Rule (SPR).\u00a0Congressman Keith Rothfus [PA-12] released the following statement on the rule:\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\u201cThis rule means\u00a0\u2013\u00a0quite\u00a0simply\u00a0\u2013\u00a0that\u00a0the Obama Administration\u00a0is accelerating\u00a0its war on working families\u00a0in its final days. The President\u2019s agenda has already\u00a0killed\u00a0thousands\u00a0of\u00a0good-paying jobs for American workers,\u00a0and this rule threatens to enhance the pain that so many of our neighbors feel,\"\u00a0said Congressman Rothfus. \" President Obama\u2019s out of touch hostility toward the middle class in America's energy heartland has already destroyed over 40,000 jobs in the coal industry alone, jeopardizing the futures of coal country families and communities. I will continue to fight this rule so that families in\u00a0our community\u00a0can\u00a0continue to live fulfilling lives unimpeded by unfair Obama Administration overreach.\"\u00a0\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tCongressman Rothfus previously\u00a0backed\u00a0the Supporting Transparent Regulatory and Environmental Actions in Mining (STREAM) Act (H.R. 1644), of which he was a co-sponsor. The bill delayed the implementation of the OSM's SPR and required\u00a0the agency\u00a0to study the effectiveness of existing rules before\u00a0imposing this policy.\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t-30-", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://www.casey.senate.gov/newsroom/releases/casey-statement-for-the-record-on-the-jcpoa-with-iran", "Casey Statement for the Record on the JCPOA with Iran", "2016-12-19", "2016", "2016-12", "Democrat", "House", "PA", "Bob Casey", "C001070", "www.casey.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Washington, D.C. - U.S. Senator Bob Casey (D-PA) released the following statement for the record on on the JCPOA with Iran:\r\nMr. President, this week we are marking the one-year anniversary of the signing of the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action. This week, one year ago, my colleagues and I began the enormous task of reading, analyzing, and making a decision about whether or not we would support the deal.\r\nFor me, that task took six weeks of careful study, several classified briefings, countless meetings with experts and conversations with constituents. As I wrote, on September 1 last year, \u201cThis agreement will substantially constrain the Iranian nuclear program for its duration, and compared with all realistic alternatives, it is the best option available to us at this time.\u201d\r\nWe were under no delusions that the JCPOA would be a panacea for all of our problems with Iran.\u00a0 Rather, it was envisioned and designed to meaningfully address one major issue: Iran\u2019s pursuit of a nuclear weapons capability.\r\nIn my decision, I wrote, \u201cWe need not, and indeed should not, trust the Iranian regime.\u201d On the one year anniversary of the deal, that statement remains true.\r\nOne of the strengths of the JCPOA is a robust, arguably unprecedented, monitoring and verification mechanism.\u00a0 We need to fully fund the International Atomic Energy Agency in support of its efforts to monitor Iran\u2019s compliance with the JCPOA; that\u2019s why I supported an increase to the U.S. voluntary contribution to the IAEA in this year\u2019s budget.\r\nWe also need to see greater transparency from the IAEA.\u00a0 On July 6, Ambassador Dennis Ross wrote, \u201cRecent reports from the International Atomic Energy Agency indicate that Iran is in compliance with the JCPOA, but the level of information they provide is dramatically less than that found in previous IAEA reports on Iran's nuclear program.\u201d\r\nSpecifically, Ambassador Ross identified several key elements of the deal that were not included in the IAEA\u2019s most recent report: the amount of low enriched uranium currently stockpiled in Iran, the number of centrifuges still operating at Natanz, and research and development activity on centrifuges, to name a few. I urge the Administration to work with the P5+1 and the IAEA to increase the transparency of these reports. \u00a0If Iran is indeed complying, there should be no need to hide the details.\r\nMy decision was also predicated on the assumption that Iran would continue to foment instability and support terrorism in the region.\u00a0 The JCPOA did not address this issue, and likewise it in no way curtailed our ability to sanction and hold accountable terrorist groups and facilitators. These tough sanctions remain in full force and effect.\r\nIran continues its aggressive and destabilizing actions in the region, including by providing robust financial and material support to its terrorist proxies, Hezbollah and Hamas, as well as to the murderous Assad regime in Syria and the Houthi rebels in Yemen.\u00a0\r\nIran unequivocally remains the world\u2019s leading State Sponsor of Terrorism. The Hezbollah Secretary General Hassan Nasrallah recently stated, \u201cHezbollah\u2019s budget, its income, its expenses, everything it eats and drinks, its weapons and rockets, come from the Islamic Republic of Iran.\u201d\u00a0 We know that Hezbollah is seeking advanced rocket capability, which could be used against Israel. We know that Hezbollah has become the ground force of the Assad regime in many parts of Syria.\r\nLast week, I introduced bipartisan legislation with Senator Isakson called the Stop Terrorist Resources and Money, or \u201cSTORM\u201d Act. This bill will authorize the President to designate countries that are not doing enough to stop terrorist financiers and facilitators as \u201cJurisdictions of Terrorism Financing Concern.\u201d\u00a0 With that designation comes significant penalties or the requirement to enter into a technical assistance agreement with the United States to improve their capability to investigate and prosecute terrorist financiers.\u00a0 Although Iran is already designated a State Sponsor of Terrorism, the President could use this new authority to hold accountable jurisdictions where Iranian terrorist proxies and their supporters operate with relative impunity.\r\nWhen the Iranians complain that they are not getting the influx of European business that they anticipated following the deal, maybe they need to take a hard look at their support for terrorism.\u00a0 With the sanctions on Iran for terrorism and human rights still firmly in force, it is no wonder that European financial institutions and other businesses are wary of doing business in Iran.\r\nOne year on from the signing of the JCPOA, I continue to believe that implementation of this agreement is firmly in our strategic interests.\u00a0 We knew that implementation would be difficult and that the Iranians could not be trusted.\r\nRigorous Congressional oversight has been critical in this first year.\u00a0 We have pushed for increased sanctions on illicit ballistic missile activity, and the Administration responded. We have tightened sanctions on Hezbollah and introduced new legislation to counter terrorism financing more broadly.\u00a0 We have advocated for a transformative investment in our defense relationship with Israel, which continues to face threats from Iran and its proxies. We will continue to ask tough questions and demand answers.\r\nWe will also continue to prepare for the possibility that Iran may violate the agreement. This means maintaining the legal architecture that would be needed to snap back sanctions in the event of a violation; I have said that I will support a clean reauthorization of the Iran Sanctions Act.\u00a0 This also means toughening our deterrence policy, both here in Congress and in the White House, to ensure, as I wrote in my statement last year, \u201cThe Iranian regime should not doubt our capability and willingness to respond swiftly should they attempt to break out and develop a nuclear weapon.\u201d\r\nMr. President, one year after the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action was signed, we should redouble our commitment to ensuring that Iran cannot acquire a nuclear weapons capability and be firm in our resolve to counter their aggressive actions in the Middle East. But we should also commend the wisdom of this body for allowing the agreement to go forward, as it remains the best available alternative to constrain Iran\u2019s nuclear ambitions.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["http://barletta.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/rep-barletta-presents-overdue-medals-to-veterans", "Rep. Barletta Presents Overdue Medals to Veterans", "2016-12-16", "2016", "2016-12", "Republican", "House", "PA", "Lou Barletta", "B001269", "barletta.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Rep. Barletta presents medals to veterans in a ceremony at his Hazleton office.\u00a0 From left to right: Jan Branger, Curtis A. Ashner, (son of Curtis Ashner), R. June Kissinger, (sister of Edwin Kishbaugh and Gold Star recipient),\u00a0 James Rosengrant, Charles Zunski, (brother of Edward Zunski).\nHAZLETON \u2013 Congressman Lou Barletta, PA-11, today presented long overdue medals to five veterans of the United States military \u2013 and one Gold Star recipient \u2013 during a ceremony at his Hazleton district office.\u00a0 Recipients of the medals were Army veteran Curtis A. Ashner (deceased) of Lake Harmony, Army veteran Jan Branger of Drums, Army veteran Edwin R. Kishbaugh (deceased) of Stillwater, Navy veteran James Rosengrant of Tunkhannock, and Army veteran Edward Zunski (missing in action) of Hazle Township.\u00a0 In addition, R. June Kissinger, sister of Mr. Kishbaugh, received the Gold Star Lapel Button, signifying the loss of her brother\u2019s life during armed conflict.\nIn all cases, the medals were awarded for the first time, despite their having been earned during service.\u00a0 In Mr. Kishbaugh\u2019s case, the medals were issued for the first time under Permanent Orders 286-11, 286-12, 286-13, and 286-14, dated October 12, 2016.\u00a0\n\u201cWe ask the brave men and women of our armed forces to travel to foreign lands to fight for our freedoms,\u201d Barletta said.\u00a0 \u201cIt is the very least that we can do to honor their service, and to present them with the medals they have earned. The presentation of these medals represents the gratitude of a nation, in recognition of the selfless service these veterans performed.\u201d\nReceiving medals were:\nCurtis A. Ashner (deceased), U.S. Army, World War II: Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal; World War II Victory Medal; and Army of Occupation Medal and Japan Clasp.\u00a0 The medals were presented to his son, Curtis A. Ashner.\nJan Branger, U.S. Army, April 1964 to April 1967: Good Conduct Medal; National Defense Service Medal; Expert Badge and Pistol Bar; and Marksman Badge and Rifle Bar.\nEdwin R. Kishbaugh (deceased), U.S. Army, World War II: Bronze Star Medal; Purple Heart Medal; Army Good Conduct Medal; European-African-Middle Eastern Campaign Medal with two Bronze Service Stars; World War II Victory Medal; and Combat Infantryman Badge.\u00a0 Mr. Kishbach was killed on February 29, 1944 and was buried as an unknown in the American Military Cemetery in Nettuno, Italy.\u00a0 Identified in November of 1944, his remains were disinterred and returned to the United States in July of 1948.\u00a0 He was reburied at the Elan Memorial Park Cemetery in Bloomsburg.\u00a0 The medals were presented to his sister, R. June Kissinger.\nJames Rosengrant, U.S. Navy, November 1961 to November 1963: National Defense Service Medal; Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal (Cuba); Navy Expeditionary Medal (Cuba); and Navy \u201cE\u2019 Ribbon (denotes permanent duty on U.S. Navy ships that have won a battle efficiency competition).\u00a0 Mr. Rosengrant served aboard the U.S.S. Enterprise, America\u2019s first nuclear-powered aircraft carrier, on its maiden voyage beginning in January of 1962.\u00a0 In February 1962, the Enterprise was a tracking and measuring station for John Glenn\u2019s first orbital flight aboard Friendship 7. \u00a0As part of the crew, Mr. Rosengrant served aboard the Enterprise as it was dispatched to address the Cuban Missile Crisis.\nEdward Zunski (Missing in Action), U.S. Army, World War II: Bronze Star Medal; European-African-Middle Eastern Campaign Medal; World War II Victory Medal; Combat Infantryman Badge 1st Award; and Honorable Service Lapel Button WWII.\u00a0 Mr. Zunski was declared missing in action in Germany on April 8, 1945.\u00a0 His medals were presented to his brother, Charles Zunski.\nR. June Kissinger: Gold Star Lapel Button. Ms. Kissinger received the Gold Star Lapel Button in honor of her brother, Edwin R. Kishbaugh, who was killed in action in World War II.\u00a0 The Gold Star Lapel Button was authorized by an Act of Congress in 1966 as an official decoration for the public identification of family of fallen service members.\u00a0 The Gold Stars are issued to the direct next of kin of United States service members who lost their lives in armed hostilities\nRep. Barletta frequently presents medals which were lost or never awarded for a variety of reasons, including fire, lost records, or discovery of old records.\u00a0 Veterans and their families wishing to secure medals for themselves or loved ones can contact the Congressman\u2019s offices in Washington, DC (202-225-6511), Hazleton (570-751-0050), Harrisburg (717-525-7002), Carlisle (717-249-0190), or Sunbury (570-988-7801).", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["http://toomey.senate.gov?p=news&id=1863", "Sen. Toomey: President Obama Thwarting the Bipartisan Judgment of the U.S. Senate in Appointing Debo Adegbile to the U.S. Commission on Civil Rights", "2016-12-16", "2016", "2016-12", "Republican", "House", "PA", "Patrick Toomey", "T000461", "toomey.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Allentown, Pa. - Sen. Pat Toomey (R-Pa.) issued the following statement on President Obama's decision to appoint Debo Adegbile to the U.S. Commission on Civil Rights, despite the U.S. Senate's bipartisan rejection of Mr. Adegbile to serve in a civil rights post in 2014:\n\"In 2014, a bipartisan majority of the U.S. Senate agreed that Debo Adegbile was not fit to represent the people of the United States in enforcing Americans' civil rights-then, as head of the Justice Department's Civil Right Division. And with good reason. \n\"Mr. Adegbile did not simply defend a client. He supervised an effort to lionize unrepentant cop-killer Mumia Abu Jamal, who cold-bloodedly murdered Philadelphia police officer Danny Faulkner 35 years ago. Mr. Adegbile supervised the effort to spread misinformation about the trial and evidence, fabricate claims of racism, malign Philly police, and organize rallies across the globe that portrayed this brutal cop-killer as the victim. \n\"President Obama's decision to nevertheless appoint Mr. Adegbile to the U.S. Commission on Civil Rights is a slap in the face to every law enforcement officer in America.\n\"President Obama added insult to injury by lauding Mr. Adegbile, saying, \u2018He represents the best of the legal profession' and evinced an \u2018unwavering dedication to protecting every American's civil and constitutional rights under the law.' What about the rights of Danny Faulkner and his widow Maureen?\n\"A Democrat-led U.S. Senate evaluated the facts and agreed that Debo Adegbile is not fit to represent the American people as an enforcer of civil rights.  This judgment included the votes of seven Democrats.  I call on President Obama to adhere to the bipartisan judgment of the U.S. Senate and withdraw his appointment of Debo Adegbile to the U.S. Commission on Civil Rights.\"\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["http://kelly.house.gov/press-release/rep-kelly-responds-president-obama%E2%80%99s-lame-duck-submission-un-arms-trade-treaty-senate", "Rep. Kelly Responds to President Obamas  Lame Duck Submission of UN Arms Trade Treaty  to Senate for Ratification", "2016-12-15", "2016", "2016-12", "Republican", "House", "PA", "Mike Kelly", "K000376", "kelly.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Kelly amendment has banned federal funding  \n for treaty\u2019s implementation since 2013 \nWASHINGTON \u2014 U.S. Representative Mike Kelly (R-PA) issued the following statement today in response to President Obama\u2019s recent submission of the U.N. Arms Trade Treaty (ATT) to the U.S. Senate for its advice and consent. Although U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry signed the controversial treaty on October 15, 2013, the White House has not submitted it to the Senate for approval, as the Constitution requires, until this month. A consistent majority of senators oppose the treaty and have supported Rep. Kelly\u2019s annual amendment to prevent the Obama administration from circumventing Congress to implement it.\n\u201cPresident Obama knows full well that this dangerous treaty is dead on arrival in the Senate, which is why he waited this long to submit it for approval. By passing my amendment to block ATT funding every year, Congress has affirmed a lasting opposition to it. As one expert rightly stated, \u2018the treaty is fundamentally misconceived, and reflects a misbegotten mix of liberal illusions about the power and effectiveness of treaties and anti-firearms activism.\u2019 It would undermine our national sovereignty, harm our most vulnerable allies, and threaten the Second Amendment rights of the American people. If the Senate grants the treaty a vote, then I urge the entire body to reject it. I expect and encourage President-elect Trump\u2019s future administration to not only trash the treaty but also make clear to the U.N. that the U.S. will never be part of it.\u201d\nBACKGROUND\nRep. Kelly is a national leader of the movement to stop the United Nations Arms Trade Treaty (ATT). On March 15, 2013, he introduced H. Con. Res. 23, a bipartisan concurrent resolution expressing opposition to the treaty on behalf of members of Congress. The resolution earned 149 co-sponsors in the House and 36 supporters in the Senate. On May 30, 2013, Rep. Kelly submitted a bipartisan letter with 130 co-signers from Congress to both President Obama and Secretary Kerry urging them to reject the treaty. He sent a similar bipartisan letter to the president following Secretary Kerry\u2019s signing of the treaty on October 15, 2013, which was signed by 181 members of Congress, including multiple committee chairmen. A follow-up letter was sent to the White House on April, 20, 2014.\nOn September 5, 2014, Rep. Kelly submitted a letter to President Obama voicing opposition to the planned First Conference of State Parties (CSP) to the ATT \u2013 a UN-backed gathering to shape the treaty\u2019s future \u2013 due to its exclusion of any organizations critical of the treaty.\nOn March 2, 2015, Rep. Kelly sent a letter to President Obama co-signed by 34 new members of Congress elected in 2014 to express unified opposition to the ATT and a firm commitment to deny any federal funding for the treaty\u2019s implementation.\nOn December 2, 2016, the House passed the House-Senate Conference Report of the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) for Fiscal Year 2017, which once again included an amendment offered annually by Rep. Kelly to prohibit funding for the implementation of the ATT by the Department of Defense (DoD). This amendment has been enacted into law with every NDAA, and other appropriations legislation, each year since 2013.\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["http://kelly.house.gov/press-release/rep-kelly-statement-ways-means-committee-meeting-plan-future-tax-reform-obamacare", "Rep. Kelly Statement on  Ways & Means Committee Meeting  to Plan Future of Tax Reform & Obamacare", "2016-12-15", "2016", "2016-12", "Republican", "House", "PA", "Mike Kelly", "K000376", "kelly.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Rep. Kelly Statement on  Ways & Means Committee Meeting  to Plan Future of Tax Reform & Obamacare                                           \n              Dec 15, 2016      \t\t        \t    \n      \t            \n                    \n                                            \n          \n        \n        \n          \n  \n    \n    \n     GOP committee members devise legislative agenda for 2017 \nWASHINGTON \u2014 U.S. Representative Mike Kelly (R-PA) \u2013 a member of the House Ways and Means Committee \u2013 issued the following statement today regarding the conclusion of a two-day policy planning retreat hosted this week by the committee\u2019s Republican members at the Jefferson Building of the Library of Congress in Washington, D.C.\n\u201cThis week, while Congress was out of session, my Republican colleagues and I on the Ways and Means Committee went back to work in our nation\u2019s capital to plan the first overhaul of our nation\u2019s tax code in three decades and the responsible repeal and replacement of Obamacare. Our goals are crystal clear: a fairer tax code, a stronger economy, and long-awaited relief from Obamacare\u2019s higher costs and broken promises. With the right principles guiding our work, the American people can look forward to a future with lower, simpler taxes and more affordable and accessible health care insurance that is choice-filled and patient-centered. As we look ahead to the new year, we are committed to working with President-elect Trump to fulfill our promises and govern with the mandate given to us by the American people.\u201d\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["http://toomey.senate.gov?p=news&id=1862", "Toomey Issues Statement on Fourth Anniversary of Sandy Hook Elementary School Shooting", "2016-12-14", "2016", "2016-12", "Republican", "House", "PA", "Patrick Toomey", "T000461", "toomey.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Allentown, Pa. - U.S. Senator Pat Toomey has released the following statement in honor and remembrance of the 26 children and school employees who were murdered at Sandy Hook Elementary School four years ago today:\n\"Four years ago, twenty young children and six school employees were shot and killed at the Sandy Hook Elementary School. It was a terrible day for our country, and meeting some of the families of the victims was one of the most moving moments in my Senate career. These senseless killings also inspired me to work across the aisle on common sense gun safety legislation that upholds the Second Amendment while also making it harder for criminals and the dangerously mentally ill to purchase a firearm. I remain committed to this cause and look forward to working with Senator Joe Manchin (D-WV) again next Congress on our background check proposal.\"\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://www.casey.senate.gov/newsroom/releases/casey-calls-for-special-intelligence-report-on-russian-intervention-in-2016-election-seeks-doj-probe", "Casey Calls for Special Intelligence Report on Russian Intervention in 2016 Election; Seeks DOJ Probe", "2016-12-13", "2016", "2016-12", "Democrat", "House", "PA", "Bob Casey", "C001070", "www.casey.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "WASHINGTON\u2014 U.S. Senator Bob Casey (D-PA) together with U.S. Senators Dick Durbin (D-IL), Patrick Leahy (D-VT), Ben Cardin (D-MD), Al Franken (D-MN), Brian Schatz (D-HI), Gary Peters (D-MI), Tom Udall (D-NM), and Ed Markey (D-MA) today called for a National Intelligence Estimate (NIE) to determine the extent of Russian intervention in the 2016 United States presidential election, accompanied by an unclassified summary of its key judgments by January 20th, 2017. An NIE is the formal, authoritative assessment of the Director of National Intelligence related to a particular national security issue, which reflects the collective judgment of the nation\u2019s sixteen intelligence agencies.\r\nThe senators also called on Attorney General Loretta Lynch to publicly confirm that nonpartisan career Justice Department officials are conducting a criminal investigation into the matter, and if not, to open one immediately. On Friday, the Washington Post reported that the CIA concluded in a secret assessment that Russia intervened in the election to assist Donald Trump.\u00a0\r\n\u201cDirect and deliberate interference in our election is an unprecedented breach and threat to U.S. democracy and national security\u2014it is absolutely critical that information about these matters be disclosed to the public and to Congress,\u201d the Senators said. \u201cWe strongly support calls for bipartisan investigations by Congress\u2014this issue requires the full attention of the executive and legislative branches alike, and a conclusive, public national intelligence estimate will lay out the facts for the American people. The public also needs transparency and reassurance that federal law enforcement is actively investigating these matters and that, if the investigation finds evidence that Russian officials perpetrated or directed such acts, appropriate criminal charges will be announced.\r\n Full text of the senators\u2019 letter to Director of National Intelligence James Clapper: \r\nDear Director Clapper:\r\nWe request an immediate National Intelligence Estimate (NIE) regarding Russian efforts to manipulate the recent U.S. presidential election, including public release of its key judgments no later than January 20, 2017.\u00a0 Recently disclosed U.S. intelligence findings as publicly reported that Russia interfered in the U.S. presidential election and sought to undermine our democratic institutions \u2013 and the consequences thereof (including possible future such attacks on the United States) \u2013 are deeply concerning.\u00a0 They make it imperative that information be provided to the public and Congress.\u00a0 Quite simply, deliberate interference in our election to favor a particular candidate is an unprecedented breach and threat to U.S. democracy and national security.\r\nOn Saturday, December 10, 2016, the Washington Post reported that the CIA concluded in a secret assessment that Russia intervened in the 2016 presidential election to help a particular candidate win the election.\u00a0 It further reported that U.S. intelligence agencies have identified individuals with connections to the Russian government who provided WikiLeaks with thousands of hacked emails from the Democratic National Committee and others, including Hillary Clinton\u2019s campaign chair.\u00a0 Russia was also reported to have had a role in cyber intrusions in at least two U.S. state election systems.\u00a0 These were described as individuals or actors known to the intelligence community and part of a wider Russian operation to boost one candidate over the other.\u00a0 The Post quoted a senior U.S. official briefed at an intelligence presentation made to some U.S. senators as saying, \u201cIt is the assessment of the intelligence community that Russia\u2019s goal here was to favor one candidate over the other, to help Trump get elected.\u201d\u00a0 Also reported was that intelligence agency briefers told some senators as recently as last week that it was now \u201cquite clear\u201d that electing Trump was Russia\u2019s goal.\u00a0 In fact, you were quoted in early October as saying, \u201cWe believe, based on the scope and sensitivity of these efforts, that only Russia\u2019s senior-most officials could have authorized these activities.\u201d\r\nUnder President Putin, Russia has taken aggressive actions that are contrary to American interests and those of its key allies.\u00a0 Its military has seized land in Georgia and Ukraine and aggressively tried to sow disinformation and instability in European democracies.\u00a0 It plants false news, promotes a distorted and false narrative about threats to Russia and ethnic Russians in border states, funds political parties sympathetic to Russian interests, and reportedly conducts cyberattacks against key Western interests.\u00a0 Its proxies were recently implicated in a coup plot in Montenegro and were involved in murdering more than 300 innocent civilians in a downed commercial airline over occupied eastern Ukraine.\u00a0 Russian military forces have aggressively probed NATO-member airspace and waters, and conducted reckless intercepts of U.S. aircraft in international airspace.\u00a0 It has reportedly tried to manipulate upcoming German elections.\u00a0 Finally, Russian State TV host and Putin confidant Dmitry Kiselyov \u2013 also known as the Kremlin\u2019s Chief Propagandist \u2013 warned this year that \u201cimpudent\u201d U.S. behavior towards Russia may have \u201cnuclear\u201d consequences.\u00a0 Quite simply, Russia is determined to foster political chaos and institutional mistrust in the West and may have alarmingly succeeded in the United States.\r\nGiven the serious nature of these matters, with unprecedented national security implications, we believe that our intelligence community must prioritize a conclusive, public NIE to lay out the facts of this serious matter for the American people.\u00a0 Threats to our national security and the sanctity of our democratic process must not become hostage to partisanship and narrow political interests.\u00a0 We know that Russia continues to make a concerted effort to undermine democratic institutions in the West and we fear we have fallen victim to their agenda.\u00a0 Such an attack on the United States must not go undisclosed.\r\nThank you for your attention to this important issue.\r\n Full text of the senators\u2019 letter to Attorney General Loretta Lynch: \r\nDear Attorney General Lynch:\r\nWe urge the Department of Justice to publicly confirm that objective career Department professionals are conducting a criminal investigation into whether officials in the Russian government intervened in, or directed others to intervene in, the 2016 U.S. presidential election to help one candidate over the other.\u00a0 If such an investigation is not ongoing, we urge you to open one without delay.\r\nOn September 28, 2016, Director James Comey of the Federal Bureau of Investigation testified before the House Judiciary Committee and was asked about the Department\u2019s standard for commenting on whether an investigation is underway.\u00a0 Director Comey stated that \u201c[o]ur standard is we do not confirm or deny the existence of investigations,\u201d but he cited examples of \u201cexceptional circumstances\u201d that he said justified commenting on the existence of investigations, including \u201cwhen there is a need for the public to be reassured\u201d and \u201cwhere the public needed transparency.\u201d[i]\r\nSurely this is just such an exceptional circumstance.\u00a0 On December 9, the Washington Post reported that the CIA has concluded that Russia moved deliberately to help elect one candidate as president of the United States.\u00a0 The Post further reported that U.S. intelligence agencies have identified individuals with connections to Russia\u2019s government who provided WikiLeaks with thousands of hacked emails from one U.S. party\u2019s national political committee and campaign chairman.\u00a0 Deliberate hacking of national political party and campaign staff email systems in order to tilt the election results in favor of the candidate deemed more sympathetic to Russian interests is an unprecedented breach and threat to U.S. democracy and national security.\u00a0 The public needs transparency and reassurance that the Department of Justice is actively investigating these matters and that, if the investigation finds evidence that Russian officials perpetrated or directed such acts, appropriate criminal charges will be announced.\r\nThe American people need to know that threats to our national security and the sanctity of our democratic process will not go unexamined and unchallenged by the Department of Justice.\u00a0 We must ensure that a foreign government cannot undermine our democratic institutions and elections as a means to serve its own interests.\u00a0 We urge you to publicly confirm that a criminal investigation into these matters is underway or will immediately be opened.\r\nThank you for your attention to this important issue.\r\n-30-", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["http://perry.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=398442", "Rep. Perry Statement on Alleged Russian Interference in the Presidential Election", "2016-12-12", "2016", "2016-12", "Republican", "House", "PA", "Scott Perry", "P000605", "perry.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Rep. Perry Statement on Alleged Russian Interference in the Presidential Election \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        Washington,\r\n        December 12, 2016\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      YORK, PA \u2013 U.S. Representative Scott Perry (R-PA) issued the following statement regarding Russia\u2019s alleged attempts to interfere in the U.S. presidential election.\r\n\u201cWe must investigate fully and, if necessary, push back forcefully against any cyberattacks on our democratic process. Russia\u2019s alleged interference in our recent presidential election must be taken seriously. Any state-sponsored intrusion is unnerving, but intervention by Russia particularly is problematic because it would represent a stark escalation in Russian aggression against American interests. As a Member of the House Homeland Security Committee, I\u2019ve fought to modernize our laws to reflect the rapidly growing economic and national security concerns associated with cyberattacks. I\u2019ll continue these efforts and work closely with the current and incoming administrations, along with Congressional leaders, to strengthen our Nation\u2019s cyber security and protect against future attacks.\u201d\r\n\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0###\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"], ["http://toomey.senate.gov?p=news&id=1858", "Toomey Bill Targeting Heinous Forms of Animal Abuse Clears Senate", "2016-12-12", "2016", "2016-12", "Republican", "House", "PA", "Patrick Toomey", "T000461", "toomey.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Washington, D.C. - Last week, the Senate unanimously agreed to Sen. Pat Toomey's (R-Pa.) bipartisan bill, the Prevent Animal Cruelty and Torture (PACT) Act. The PACT Act would outlaw a heinous form of animal abuse known as \"crushing,\" where deranged individuals maim and torture animals.\nDespite taking steps in 2010 to ban the sale of videos depicting animal crushing, Congress failed to make the underlying act of crushing a federal crime. This means that -- even when there is overwhelming evidence that torture is taking place -- federal law enforcement is unable to protect animals from abuse or even arrest known abusers. The PACT Act would ensure that individuals found guilty of torturing animals face felony charges, fines, and up to seven years in prison.\n\"There is absolutely no place for the crushing of animals in our society,\" said Sen. Toomey. \"It is blatantly inhumane and astonishingly cruel. I can't believe this isn't already the law. This abhorrent practice must end, and I am glad the Senate finally took the first step towards that goal. While it is disappointing that my colleagues across the aisle delayed passage of this measure until after the House of Representatives adjourned for the year, I remain hopeful that this bill will finally get enacted into law next Congress.\"\nOn two separate occasions, Senate Republicans attempted to pass the PACT Act by unanimous consent but were blocked by their Senate Democratic colleagues. Unfortunately, by the time the Senate finally passed this legislation, the House of Representatives had adjourned for the year and therefore the bill will need to be re-introduced next Congress.\nThe PACT Act is endorsed by the Humane Society of the United States, National Sheriffs' Association, Fraternal Order of Police, Major County Sheriffs' Association, Association of Prosecuting Attorneys, and the Major Cities Chiefs Association.\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://www.casey.senate.gov/newsroom/releases/casey-tillerson-nomination-to-lead-state-department-would-raise-serious-questions", "Casey: Tillerson Nomination to Lead State Department Would Raise Serious Questions", "2016-12-11", "2016", "2016-12", "Democrat", "House", "PA", "Bob Casey", "C001070", "www.casey.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Washington, DC \u2013 U.S. Senator Bob Casey (D-PA), a member of the National Security Working Group and former Chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Subcommittee on Near Eastern and South and Central Asian Affairs, released a statement following reports that President-elect Donald Trump will nominate the Chief Executive of ExxonMobil, Rex Tillerson, as Secretary of State.\r\n\u201cThe reports that President-elect Trump will nominate\u00a0Rex Tillerson as Secretary of State, coupled with the recent revelation by the Washington Post that the CIA believes that the Russian government interfered in our election to aid Mr. Trump raise serious questions about whether the incoming Administration will adequately stand up to Russia\u2019s aggression. Mr. Tillerson, the Chief Executive of ExxonMobil, has been described as having \u201cclose ties\u201d to Russian President Vladimir Putin. Mr. Tillerson signed an energy agreement worth $500 billion with Russia in 2011 and was awarded one of Russia\u2019s highest honors in 2012, the Order of Friendship decoration.\u00a0After Russia illegally invaded a sovereign country, Ukraine, in 2014 and annexed Crimea, Mr. Tillerson argued against the international sanctions that held Russia accountable. Additionally, according to reports, Mr. Tillerson has extensive investments throughout the world and will need to explain how, as Secretary of State, he would divest himself from these investments in order to remove conflicts of interest.\r\nPresident-elect Trump\u2019s fascination with Mr. Putin, Mr. Tillerson\u2019s unusual relationship with Mr. Putin and the revelations about Russia\u2019s attempt to influence the election in favor of President-elect Trump raise unprecedented and profound questions that must be addressed immediately.\r\nThe Russian Federation, under President Putin\u2019s leadership, has violated the sovereignty of Ukraine and Georgia in addition to committing war crimes in Syria. President-elect Trump must stand up to Vladimir Putin and nominating Mr. Tillerson as Secretary of State raises serious doubts about whether President-elect Trump will stand up for America\u2019s interests.\u201d\r\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["http://toomey.senate.gov?p=news&id=1861", "Toomey Supports Bipartisan Water Infrastructure Bill That Invests in Pennsylvania", "2016-12-10", "2016", "2016-12", "Republican", "House", "PA", "Patrick Toomey", "T000461", "toomey.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Washington, D.C. - U.S. Senator Pat Toomey (R-Pa.) released the following statement about the Senate's passage of the Water Resources Development Act (WRDA) of 2016.\n\"Today, the Senate passed a major, bipartisan infrastructure bill that is a big win for Pennsylvania,\" said Sen. Toomey. \"It will make significant federal investments in our transportation, flood control, and drinking water systems that are critical to the commonwealth's economy and the safety of our residents.\n\"Specifically, this bill will rehabilitate essential transportation infrastructure on the Ohio River in Western Pennsylvania. This project will ensure that manufacturers and energy producers in the Pittsburgh region continue to have affordable access to the materials they need to stay competitive in the global marketplace and create jobs.\n\"I am pleased that the Senate took this important step to improve our nation's aging infrastructure. I hope the president will sign this measure as soon as possible.\"\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://costello.house.gov/media-center/in-the-news/costello-cures-act-brings-hope-innovation-southeast-pa", "Costello: Cures Act brings hope, innovation to Southeast PA", "2016-12-10", "2016", "2016-12", "Republican", "House", "PA", "Ryan Costello", "C001106", "costello.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "For families across Southeastern Pennsylvania, the fight to find a cure for diseases like cancer, Alzheimer\u2019s, or rare diseases like Batten disease, is urgent and real. Whether fighting through debilitating treatments or simply trying to make ends meet, it\u2019s a fight against time and one that impacts us all.\nThis week, after a multi-year effort led by long-time champions, including my neighbor and colleague, Congressman Joe Pitts, the U.S. House of Representatives advanced the 21st Century Cures Act, landmark bipartisan legislation to spur research, fuel discovery, and offer hope to countless families across Southeastern Pennsylvania.\nThe Cures Act will serve as the catalyst for change and medical innovation that families have demanded for years. It will direct new resources to help in the fight to find new treatments and therapies \u2013 notably targeting resources to fight those diseases that do not yet have a cure and require an individual focus. It will improve medical research, put patients at the center of the review process, reform the delivery of mental healthcare, and fight the opioid epidemic.\nIn particular, this legislation would provide significant, targeted funding to the National Institutes for Health for research initiatives, to states to improve opioid abuse prevention and treatment by strengthening prescription drug monitoring programs, and to the Food and Drug Administration to streamline the drug and medical device approval process. Much needed mental health reforms are also part of the bill \u2013 empowering patients and caregivers through improved communications with providers, ensuring a skilled mental health workforce by encouraging students to choose careers in mental health, and by supporting best mental health practices that have proven to be effective \u2013 just to name a few.\nFor our region, Cures will also bring job certainty to job creators and help keep Pennsylvania at the forefront of medical innovation. Southeastern Pennsylvania has a strong life sciences industry, where Pennsylvanians are already making cutting edge discoveries at good-paying jobs.\nThe 21st Century Cures Act is an example of a constituent-driven solution. The bill has been in the works for years and there has been immense input from doctors, patients, researchers, and advocates. This legislation has garnered broad bipartisan support, as both Republicans and Democrats in the U.S. Senate and the U.S. House, as well as the White House, have announced their backing of the Cures Act.\nCongress has a responsibility to ensure resources are available and innovation is harnessed to defeat yet-incurable diseases. Our families and communities will become healthier because of Cures - this is due in large measure to the leadership of my colleague and neighbor, Congressman Joe Pitts. As the Chairman of the House Energy and Commerce Committee\u2019s Health Subcommittee, Congressman Pitts gave a voice to the concerns of the Southeastern Pennsylvania families he represents. Joe Pitts\u2019 pioneering leadership on the Cures Act is one example of the extraordinary legacy of accomplishment and leadership he has provided Chester County and our country over the past two-plus decades.\nU.S. Rep. Ryan Costello, R-6, of West Goshen", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["http://toomey.senate.gov?p=news&id=1860", "Toomey Statement on Government Funding Bill", "2016-12-09", "2016", "2016-12", "Republican", "House", "PA", "Patrick Toomey", "T000461", "toomey.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Washington, D.C. - U.S. Senator Pat Toomey (R-Pa.) issued the following statement about his support of the temporary government spending bill, which the Senate passed tonight by a vote of 63-36.\n\"I voted in favor of the funding bill tonight in order to avoid a disruptive government shutdown. Rather than being mired in such an unnecessary distraction, we should be preparing for a tremendously productive start to the year where we will be tackling Obamacare, reforming our tax code, and overhauling our regulatory system.\n\"Also, I am pleased that this bill establishes a streamlined process to permit General Mattis to be confirmed as Secretary of Defense.\n\"Fully funding the Crime Victims Fund and ensuring that those non-taxpayer dollars are properly used has long been a priority of mine. This legislation achieves this worthwhile goal for the third consecutive year and directs hundreds of millions of dollars in additional funds to those harmed by child abuse, sexual assault, domestic violence, and other terrible crimes.\"\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://dent.house.gov/index.cfm?p=PressReleases&ContentRecord_id=D3042187-46F7-4D36-977B-7A42A0620E12", "Dent Lauds Inclusion of Moravian Bethlehem District to the U.S. World Heritage Tentative List", "2016-12-09", "2016", "2016-12", "Republican", "House", "PA", "Charlie Dent", "D000604", "dent.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "ALLENTOWN, PA \u2013 Today, the National Park Service announced the historic Moravian Community of Bethlehem, Pennsylvania will be added to its U.S. World Heritage Tentative List.\r\n\u201cThe addition of Moravian Bethlehem, already designated a National Historic Landmark District, to a list of culturally significant international landmarks is phenomenal,\u201d Dent said. \u201cThe Moravian District is a source of pride for the city of Bethlehem and the surrounding Lehigh Valley, as it has provided a unique, historically rich, and culturally significant way of life for over 300 years. The United States is filled with a number of important historical sites, so to even be considered is an honor.\u201d\u00a0\r\nOperated by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), the World Heritage Program promotes local and international cooperation for the preservation of natural and cultural heritage in an international setting. The preserved sites are nominated by a 21-nation World Heritage Committee. Although the United States is not a member of said committee, they are able to submit a list of tentative sites they would like to see designated as World Heritage Sites. In order to be considered, sites must meet one or more of the ten criteria UNESCO has listed. Currently, there are 1,052 designated World Heritage sites, of which 23 are located in the United States. If selected, Moravian Bethlehem would join Independence Hall in Philadelphia as the second historical site located in Pennsylvania. Other sites on the Tentative List include Civil Rights Movement sites in Alabama; Dayton Aviation sites in Ohio; Ellis Island; and Mount Vernon, amongst others.\r\n\u201cThis designation is an incredible commendation not just for the 15th Congressional District of Pennsylvania, but the United States at large,\u201d Dent continued. \u201cThe City of Bethlehem, which is set to recognize its 275th anniversary this month, could not have asked for a better anniversary and Christmas gift.\u201d\u00a0\r\nPublic comments regarding these planned additions to the Tentative List will be accepted on or before December 27th.\r\n###\r\n*\u00a0Public comments may be directed to Jonathan Putnam, Office of International Affairs, National Park Service, 1201 Eye Street NW, Washington, D.C. 20005, or by e-mail (jonathan_putnam@nps.gov), by phone (202-354-1809) or fax (202-371-1146).\r\n\r\nCONTACT: Emily Rauch (202) 225-6411", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://marino.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/rep-marino-votes-protect-pennsylvania-industry", "Rep. Marino Votes to Protect Pennsylvania Industry", "2016-12-09", "2016", "2016-12", "Republican", "House", "PA", "Tom Marino", "M001179", "marino.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Washington D.C. \u2013 Rep. Tom Marino released the following statement after voting against S. 612 the Water Infrastructure Improvements for the Nation Act:\n\u201cThe Delaware River Basin Commission has continuously halted economic activity in northeastern Pennsylvania to the detriment of our workers, businesses and landowners. Unfortunately, last minute changes to the water resources bill expanded authorization for invasive policies that further harm industries across the region and ignore expansive efforts to preserve and responsibly utilize the woods, fields and streams in the area. In addition, the vagueness of this language builds a dangerous foundation for future exploitation and excessive regulatory burdens. \n\u201cWhile I actually support many of the provisions included in the Water Infrastructure Improvements for the Nation Act, it has sadly become yet another bill of goods put together by out-of-touch politicians unaware of the true struggles facing working-class America. Rather than funding big organizations with misguided interests, we should be supporting northeastern Pennsylvanians by giving local businesses the opportunity to directly address their concerns. For the sake of my constituents and the economic development in the region, I was forced to oppose the costly environmental oversteps added into this bill.\u201d", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://www.casey.senate.gov/newsroom/media/view/casey-calls-on-congress-to-stand-up-for-miners", "Casey Calls on Congress to Stand Up for Miners", "2016-12-09", "2016", "2016-12", "Democrat", "House", "PA", "Bob Casey", "C001070", "www.casey.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Casey Calls on Congress to Stand Up for Miners \n            U.S. Senators Bob Casey (D-PA), Joe Manchin (D-WV), Sherrod Brown (D-OH), Mark Warner (D-VA), and Heidi Heitkamp (D-ND)  held a press conference calling on Congress to do what is right and pass a reasonable solution for retired miners\u2019 healthcare and pensions. The Senators were joined by retired UMWA miners who will be affected if Congress leaves without a long-term fix.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://www.casey.senate.gov/newsroom/releases/casey-hatch-cassidy-introduce-legislation-to-ease-college-transition-for-students-with-disabilities", "Casey, Hatch, Cassidy Introduce Legislation to Ease College Transition for Students with Disabilities", "2016-12-09", "2016", "2016-12", "Democrat", "House", "PA", "Bob Casey", "C001070", "www.casey.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Washington, D.C. \u2013 Today, U.S. Senators Bob Casey (D-PA), Orrin Hatch (R-UT), and Bill Cassidy (R-LA) introduced the RISE Act in a push to ease the burden of transitioning to college life for students with disabilities. The act, which amends the Higher Education Act (HEA), would clarify that documentation used in K-12 education and other settings to receive special education or accommodations would be acceptable as proof of a disability for students in higher education.\r\n\u201cThe RISE Act clears the path for students with disabilities to get the support they need to thrive and succeed in college,\u201d Casey said. \u201cNo student with a documented disability should have to incur additional costs to prove it when they get to college and I commend the disability community and higher education for working together with me on solving this critical issue.\u201d\r\n\u201cI\u2019ve always sought to champion the rights of those with disabilities. An important part of these efforts was the Americans with Disabilities Act, a bill I authored\u00a0 that fundamentally changed the way we treat disability accommodations,\u201d Hatch said. The RISE Act carries on this legacy by removing obstacles for students with disabilities and ensuring they have every chance to succeed in pursuing educational opportunities.\u201d\r\n\u201cObtaining resources that should already be available to you should not be a struggle,\" said Dr. Cassidy. \"Making sure students with disabilities have easy access to the services that will help them succeed should be a priority.\"\r\nThe RISE Act addresses several existing issues within the Higher Education Act that serve as unnecessary barriers for students with disabilities and their families. Currently, students who have already been diagnosed with a disability in their K-12 years or in other settings must go through new testing to re-qualify for disability services during their post-secondary educations. Instead of forcing these students to expend the time and energy to go through new diagnostic testing, the RISE Act would allow previous documentation to be accepted as proof of a disability.\r\nThe RISE Act would also make school policies and data more transparent for students and families so they can make informed decisions on the college that best fits their needs. Finally, the bill also provides additional support for technical assistance to colleges and universities to better serve individuals with disabilities.\r\nThe RISE Act is endorsed by the following organizations:\r\nThe National Center for Learning Disabilities - AIM Institute for Learning and Research - American Association of People with Disabilities - American Association of State Colleges and Universities - American Council on Education - Association of American Universities - Association of Public and Land-grant Universities - Association of University Centers on Disabilities - Autistic Self Advocacy Network - Decoding Dyslexia Network - Eye to Eye - Learning Disabilities Association of America - National Alliance on Mental Illness - National Association of Councils on Developmental Disabilities - National Association of Independent Colleges and Universities - National Down Syndrome Congress - Teacher Education Division of the Council for Exceptional Children - The Council of Parent Attorneys and Advocates\r\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://www.casey.senate.gov/newsroom/releases/casey-house-and-senate-republicans-have-betrayed-pa-coal-miners-and-their-families", "Casey: House and Senate Republicans Have Betrayed PA Coal Miners and their Families", "2016-12-09", "2016", "2016-12", "Democrat", "House", "PA", "Bob Casey", "C001070", "www.casey.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Washington, DC \u2013 U.S. Senator Bob Casey (D-PA) released a statement on the Senate\u2019s vote on the Continuing Resolution, which did not include an adequate fix for the health care and pensions of Pennsylvania coal miners and their families:\r\n\u201cBy failing to pass into law an adequate solution for coal miners and their families who stand to lose their health care and pensions in the new year, Congressional Republican leadership has turned its back on coal miners and their families in Pennsylvania and throughout the nation. For well over a year, I have worked in a bipartisan way to build substantial support for the Miners Protection Act, which ensures that the federal government keeps the promise of pensions and health care that it made to coal miners and their families in 1947. The legislation cleared the Senate Finance Committee 18-8 and is fully paid for, yet Congressional Republican leaders have put rigid ideology ahead of health care and pensions for 89,000 beneficiaries throughout the nation and 12,951 in Pennsylvania.\r\nThe four month \u201cfix\u201d dropped into Congress\u2019 year-end bill is an insult to every coal miner and every family member whose loved ones descended into the depths and darkness of our nation\u2019s coal mines. It is so short a time that recipients would be notified almost simultaneously that they are both eligible for benefits and that their benefits will terminate. These are people who have risked their lives over and over again for our nation- from working in the mines to serving abroad in World War II, Korea and Vietnam. Our government told them that if they did their job then we would do ours and ensure the promise of pensions and health care was kept for them and their families. Coal miners kept their promises to their families, their country and their employers. It is time for Washington to keep its promise to miners and their families. The people in Pennsylvania whose lives actually depend on this bill are in many cases living lives of struggle and sacrifice. Some of them wrote to me about what this bill means to them. One couple from Johnstown in Cambria County wrote, \u201cWe are in our late 70s and desperately need our pension and hospitalization. We will not be able to make ends meet without them.\u201d A man from Greene County wrote to me saying:\r\n\u00a0\r\n\u201cMy Mother is a widow. My father passed away three years ago. She now lives on a fixed income. Her life depends on this passing. She has cancer and will need surgery. I am taking her to see a doctor on November 29 to talk about the surgery. If she loses Her health care before the surgery she will not be able to pay for it. Once the health care is stopped they will try to stop the pension as well. That would be absolutely devastating for Her. She can not get a job because she is disabled and now has cancer.\u201d\r\n\u00a0\r\n\r\nThese Pennsylvanians don\u2019t need some half-baked political solution; they need the certainty of quality health care and a secure pension now. Congressional Republican leadership has chosen to leave Washington, D.C. while a widow in Greene County will spend the holidays worried about whether she will have the health care and the pension that the government promised her and her husband many years ago. We have an abiding obligation to her and thousands like her, but House and Senate Republicans have betrayed them.\r\n\r\nThis evening, I voted against the Continuing Resolution in protest of the inadequate fix to the issue of coal miners\u2019 health care and pensions. In the new Congress, I will not stop fighting for these miners and their families until the Miners Protection Act is enacted into law.\r\n\u00a0\r\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["http://barletta.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/barletta-backs-water-bill-contains-coal-ash-protections", "Barletta Backs Water Bill, Contains Coal Ash Protections", "2016-12-08", "2016", "2016-12", "Republican", "House", "PA", "Lou Barletta", "B001269", "barletta.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "WASHINGTON \u2013 Congressman Lou Barletta (PA-11) today voted for legislation which addresses the infrastructure needs of the U.S. waterway system and also allows states to develop their own enforcement programs for the recycling and disposal of coal ash. The Water Infrastructure Improvements for the Nation Act, S. 612, passed the House by a vote of 360-to-61 and now returns to the Senate for its consideration.\u00a0 Barletta supported the overall package and highlighted his long-standing support of addressing the disposal of coal ash.\u00a0 Coal ash is a byproduct of coal combustion and has consistently been classified by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) as non-hazardous material.\n\u201cOur region of Pennsylvania was built on the coal industry, and the resulting coal ash has always presented an environmental challenge and an opportunity for job creation,\u201d Barletta said.\u00a0 \u201cBy providing certainty in the regulation of coal ash, we are being both stewards of the environment and protectors of economic development.\u00a0 Pennsylvanians have been dealing with this issue for decades, and we know better how to manage it than federal government bureaucrats in Washington, D.C.\u201d\nIn 2015, Barletta cosponsored H.R. 1734, the Improving Coal Combustion Residuals Regulation Act of 2015, which clarified uncertainties in EPA rules and made certain that coal ash can continue to be used in products like concrete and drywall.\u00a0 Manufacturers also use coal ash for products such as roofing materials, bricks, filler material, and fertilizer.\u00a0 There are an estimated 316,000 jobs nationally that are reliant on the use of coal ash.\u00a0 Clarifying the regulation of coal ash preserves those industries and includes the EPA in the process.\n\u201cAs a father and grandfather, I want to protect our natural surroundings as much as anyone,\u201d Barletta said.\u00a0 \u201cAs the representative of Pennsylvania\u2019s 11th District, I want to see jobs protected as well.\u201d\nThe WIIN Act is comprehensive legislation to address the needs of America\u2019s harbors, locks, dams, flood protection, and other water resources infrastructure critical to the Nation\u2019s economic growth, health, and competitiveness. The WIIN Act is a measure that includes the Water Resources Development Act (WRDA) of 2016, which overwhelmingly passed the House in September, in addition to provisions to improve drinking water infrastructure around the country, address control of coal combustion residuals, improve water storage and delivery to help drought-stricken communities, address federal dam maintenance backlogs, and approve longstanding water settlement agreements for the benefit of taxpayers and Native Americans. The WIIN Act is the result of bicameral negotiations, improves critical infrastructure across America, and strengthens the economy.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["http://barletta.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/barletta-statement-on-possible-appointment-to-trump-administration", "Barletta Statement on Possible Appointment to Trump Administration", "2016-12-08", "2016", "2016-12", "Republican", "House", "PA", "Lou Barletta", "B001269", "barletta.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "WASHINGTON \u2013 Congressman Lou Barletta (PA-11) today issued a statement regarding his candidacy for a position within the incoming administration of President-Elect Donald J. Trump.\u00a0 Barletta had discussed positions, including the job of Secretary of Labor, in a meeting with the president-elect on Tuesday, November 29, 2016 at Trump Tower in New York City.\u00a0\n\u201cIt was a great pleasure to meet with President-Elect Trump to discuss his transition to office and our mutual goal of moving America forward.\u00a0 We share many priorities for the future of the country, including protecting and growing American jobs, strengthening national security, enforcing our immigration laws, and rejuvenating our crumbling infrastructure system.\u00a0 I am proud to serve on his Transition Team Executive Committee.\n\u201cIt was a tremendous honor for President-elect Trump to ask me to consider taking a place in his administration.\u00a0 After much thought, prayer, and discussion with my family and close friends, I decided today to remain in Congress and I withdrew from consideration for Secretary of Labor.\u00a0 Because of my involvement in the president-elect\u2019s campaign and my relationship with the incoming administration, I will have an opportunity in the House of Representatives to accomplish more on a variety of issues that I have cared about for so long, including immigration policy, transportation infrastructure, and jobs.\u00a0 Having helped the campaign with the development of those policies, coupled with serving on key committees in Congress and having a direct pipeline to the White House, I will be better positioned than ever to serve the people of the 11th\u00a0District.\u201d", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["http://cartwright.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/cartwright-introduces-legislation-to-improve-quality-of-health-care-for", "Cartwright Introduces Legislation to Improve Quality of Health Care for Older Americans", "2016-12-08", "2016", "2016-12", "Democrat", "House", "PA", "Matt Cartwright", "C001090", "cartwright.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Washington, DC \u2013 Today, U.S. Rep. Matt Cartwright (PA-17) re-introduced legislation to improve the quality and lower the cost of health care for older Americans.\u00a0\nThe Improving Care for Vulnerable Older Citizens through Workforce Advancement Act of 2016 (H.R. 6485) would establish demonstration projects to test models of care that use direct-care workers (DCWs) in advanced roles.\u00a0 DCWs include nursing assistants, home health aides, and personal care aides and usually work in the client\u2019s home or in residential settings such as nursing homes and assisted living facilities. \u00a0These workers are often responsible for treating the six in ten Americans 65 years old and over who suffer from multiple chronic conditions or are at risk of re-hospitalization.\n\u201cI am proud to introduce a bill that addresses the growing need for improved training and efficient use of direct-care workers,\u201d said Cartwright.\u00a0 \u201cIn Pennsylvania alone, older citizens comprise more than 15 percent of the population, and direct-care workers are among the fastest growing occupations in the state.\u00a0 This legislation would help improve the care offered by direct-care workers and lower care costs for both older Americans and the health care industry.\u201d\nThe Paraprofessional Healthcare Institute (PHI), a leading authority on direct care workers, has endorsed the bill.\nAccording to Jodi M. Sturgeon, President of PHI, \u201cThis bill recognizes the untapped potential of the direct- care workforce to improve care and lower costs within new care coordination models.\u00a0 With adequate training, compensation, and support, a newly created \u2018advanced aide\u2019 position could support health promotion, better chronic care management, and care transitions, resulting in less institutionalization and fewer re-hospitalizations.\u201d\nDCWs provide an estimated 70-80 percent of the long-term care and personal assistance received by older adults in the U.S.\u00a0 However, DCWs are not often recognized as essential contributors to care teams.\u00a0 Moreover, few programs exist to train DCWs for the advanced skills needed to support better health care and reduce re-hospitalizations.\nThe bill would amend Title IV of the Older Americans Act of 1965 to establish six, three-year demonstration projects. \u00a0All demonstrations would focus on care coordination and improved delivery of health services for older adults with chronic illness or at risk of re-hospitalization. Of the six demonstration projects:\n Two will use the abilities of DCWs to promote smooth transitions in care and help to prevent unnecessary hospital readmissions. DCWs will be incorporated as essential members of interdisciplinary care coordination teams.\n\tTwo will focus on maintaining the health and improving the health status of older adults with multiple chronic conditions and long-term care needs. DCWs will help monitor health status, help consumers follow prescribed care, and educate the consumer and family caregiver(s).\n\tTwo will train DCWs to take on deeper clinical responsibilities related to specific diseases, such as Alzheimer\u2019s, dementia, congestive heart failure, and diabetes.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["http://doyle.house.gov/press-release/republicans-reject-doyle-%E2%80%9Cbuy-america%E2%80%9D-amendment-water-infrastructure-bill", "Republicans Reject Doyle Buy America Amendment to Water Infrastructure Bill", "2016-12-08", "2016", "2016-12", "Democrat", "House", "PA", "Mike Doyle", "D000482", "doyle.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Washington, DC \u2013 December 7, 2016 \u2013 This afternoon, U.S. Representatives Mike Doyle (D-PA-14) and Walter B Jones (R-NC-3) called on the House Rules Committee to allow their \u201cBuy America\u201d amendment to be considered by the full House when it takes up S. 612, the Water Infrastructure Improvements for the Nation Act (WIINA). Moments ago, House Rules Committee Republicans voted unanimously against allowing consideration of the Doyle-Jones amendment.\n\u00a0\n\u201cOur country depends on good manufacturing jobs to support their families, and this amendment would give those families peace of mind,\u201d Congressman Doyle said in his testimony before the Rules Committee. \u201cOur tax dollars should support American manufacturers and help preserve these communities across the nation that are struggling.\u201d\n\u00a0\n\u201cThis amendment is very simple,\u201d Doyle added. \u201cAll this is going to do is to codify the Buy America provisions for the EPA\u2019s Drinking Water State Revolving Fund, making them permanent. This isn\u2019t something new. This merely just brings them into line with other federal infrastructure programs. Other clean water programs like the EPA\u2019s Clean Water State Revolving Fund and the Water Infrastructure Finance and Innovation Act program have permanent Buy America provisions. Other major taxpayer-financed programs like the Department of Transportation\u2019s funding for transit, highways and rail have permanent Buy America provisions.\u201d\u00a0\n\u00a0\n\u201cI believe that taxpayer dollars should solely support American-made infrastructure. Unfortunately, current provisions in the Drinking Water State Revolving Fund are weak and Buy America text is only written for FY 2017,\u201d Congressman Jones said. \u201cMy colleagues and I introduced legislation to ensure Congress never puts a limit on supporting this country\u2019s economy. I hope to see this amendment permanently included in WIINA.\u201d\n\u00a0\nThe Water Infrastructure Improvements for the Nation Act, which would authorize the construction of locks and dams, flood control projects, and other water-related infrastructure across the country, is being considered by the House this week.\u00a0\n\u00a0\nBuy America requirements for iron and steel used in many of those projects were enacted into law years ago. The Senate adopted language making the Buy America requirements for the Drinking Water State Revolving Fund (DWSRF) permanent earlier this year with broad bipartisan support, but that language was replaced in recent days with a provision that would only extend the DWSRF Buy America provisions for a year.\n\u00a0\nThe Doyle-Jones amendment would make the DWSRF Buy America requirement permanent.\u00a0\n\u00a0\nThe House Rules Committee sets the terms under which a bill is considered on the House Floor, including which, if any amendments can be considered.\u00a0\n\u00a0\nAfter the Committee vote, USW president Leo Gerard said, \"The Doyle-Jones amendment would have restored permanent Buy America provisions to drinking water infrastructure funding, and with more than 15,000 workers in the steel industry on layoff, this amendment would have allowed members of the House of Representatives to show they stand with American workers.\"\n\u00a0\n\u201cI will continue to work to protect American manufacturing jobs \u2013 including by making this Buy America provision permanent,\u201d Doyle pledged after the Rules Committee vote.\n\u00a0\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["http://kelly.house.gov/press-release/rep-kelly-supports-bipartisan-wiin-act-urges-swift-senate-passage", "Rep. Kelly Supports Bipartisan WIIN Act,  Urges Swift Senate Passage", "2016-12-08", "2016", "2016-12", "Republican", "House", "PA", "Mike Kelly", "K000376", "kelly.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Water resources bill \u201ca win for workers & a win for the Great Lakes\u201d \nWASHINGTON \u2014 U.S. Representative Mike Kelly (R-PA) \u2013 co-chairman of the Northeast-Midwest Congressional Coalition and a member of the Great Lakes Taskforce \u2013 issued the following statement today in support of the House Amendment to S. 612, the Water Infrastructure Improvements for the Nation (WIIN) Act, which was passed by the House of Representatives this afternoon by a bipartisan vote of 360-61. The legislation is a House-Senate reconciled version of the previously passed H.R. 5303, the Water Resources Development Act (WRDA) of 2016. Like WRDA, the WIIN Act authorizes the key missions of the U. S. Army Corps of Engineers and addresses the needs of American harbors, locks, dams, flood protection, and other water infrastructure critical to the nation\u2019s economic competitiveness. It accomplishes these tasks in a fiscally responsible way by establishing sunset dates for new authorizations as well as de-authorizing $10 billion in unnecessary projects, which will fully offset the same amount in new authorizations contained in the legislation.\n\u201cThe WIIN Act is a win for American workers and a win for the Great Lakes. In fact, the WIIN Act represents one of the most important pieces of Great Lakes legislation in generations. Among its vast benefits, this bill will ensure the maintenance of waterway infrastructure essential to the construction of the upcoming ethane cracker facility in Western Pennsylvania and the 6,000 jobs it\u2019s expected to create. For the sake of our economy, workers, and waterways, the Senate must not delay in passing this powerful, bipartisan bill and sending it to the president\u2019s desk.\u201d\nSpecific Benefits in the WIIN Act for Pennsylvania\u2019s Third District:\u00a0\n Makes permanent a 10% set-aside of the Harbor Maintenance Trust Fund (HMTF) for the upkeep of small harbors such the port of Erie and many others on the Great Lakes that are essential to keeping industry and recreational boating on the Great Lakes Navigation System operational.\nAuthorizes the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative (GLRI) for the next five years. It directs a coordinator to work with local state and federal entities to solve Lake Erie\u2019s toxic algal bloom problem. It will clean up environmental \u201careas of concern\u201d on the Great Lakes, which Presque Ilse Bay was once considered; with the help of GLRI, it was delisted. It will also continue to keep Asian Carp and other invasive species out of the Great Lakes.\nIs essential to keeping both recreational and commercial river traffic moving on the Allegheny, Ohio, and Monongahela Rivers by maintaining locks and dams along these rivers. It authorizes the Upper Ohio Study which allows the Emsworth, Dashields, and Montgomery (EDM) lock project near Pittsburgh to advance, thus ending a 13-year wait on this project, which is essential to the region\u2019s economy and drinking water.\nWill expedite the completion of infrastructure projects crucial to the development of the Third District\u2019s manufacturing and burgeoning energy industries.\n ###", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["http://perry.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=398437", "Rep. Perry Statement on Continuing Resolution", "2016-12-08", "2016", "2016-12", "Republican", "House", "PA", "Scott Perry", "P000605", "perry.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Washington, DC\u2014U.S. Representative Scott Perry (R-PA) today voted in favor of a short-term Continuing Resolution (CR) (H.R. 2028) to continue funding for federal programs and services until April 28, 2017. The CR maintains the spending levels put into place under the Budget Control Act of 2011. The legislation maintains existing policy and funding provisions and doesn't include controversial riders or major changes in existing federal policy.\n\nH.R. 2028 passed the House on a bipartisan vote of 326-96. The bill now moves to the Senate for consideration before continuing to the President\u2019s desk to be signed into law.\n\n\u201cDelaying major spending decisions until next April ensures that retiring or un-reelected Members of Congress no longer accountable to their constituents won\u2019t be making long-term funding and policy decisions,\u201d said Representative Perry. \u201cConsidering that Congress could've decided to pass a bloated omnibus bill to run through September 2017, this short-term spending proposal is the best possible outcome for fiscal conservatives.\n\n\u201cToday's action allows the Trump Administration a seat at the table to decide on how to fund the government for the last five months of the fiscal year. I\u2019d much rather negotiate federal funding with the Trump Administration than with the Obama Administration, which has increased the federal debt by $9 trillion, more than any other U.S. President.\n\n\u201cLet\u2019s be clear: the bill isn\u2019t perfect. Making the perfect the enemy of the good may be satisfying in the short run, but gets us nowhere in the long run,\u201d said Representative Perry.\n\nAdditional information on the Continuing Resolution:\n\nLegislative Text\n\nSummary\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["http://shuster.house.gov/index.cfm?sectionid=49&itemid=814", "Water Infrastructure Bill is a Win for America", "2016-12-08", "2016", "2016-12", "Republican", "House", "PA", "Bill Shuster", "S001154", "shuster.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "WASHINGTON, DC - The House of Representatives today approved comprehensive water resources infrastructure legislation that addresses the needs of America\u2019s harbors, locks, dams, flood protection, and other water resources infrastructure.  The House passed the Water Infrastructure Improvements for the Nation (WIIN) Act by a bipartisan vote of 360-61, sending the bill to the Senate.  A key component of the WIIN Act is Title I of the legislation; Congressman Bill Shuster\u2019s Water Resources Development Act (WRDA) of 2016, which authorizes the Army Corps of Engineers to undertake port, waterway, and flood protection improvements across the country.\u00a0  \u201cWithout question, this infrastructure legislation is a win for America,\u201d said Transportation and Infrastructure Committee Chairman Bill Shuster (R-PA).\u00a0 \u201cI am proud that today, as one of the final acts of this Congress, the House voted to invest in Southwestern Pennsylvania and in our country.\u00a0 The improvements in the WIIN Act are critical regional priorities, like the long-overdue upgrades for the Upper Ohio River\u2019s Emsworth, Dashields, and Montgomery locks and dams, but they also provide significant national economic benefits.\u00a0 An efficient transportation network is what makes our economy run, and ensuring America\u2019s water infrastructure is brought into the 21st century will grow the economy, strengthen our competitiveness, and create jobs.\u201d  Click\u00a0here\u00a0for more information about the WIIN Act.  ###", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["http://toomey.senate.gov?p=news&id=1856", "Toomey: Reform Dodd-Frank With Simple Majority, If Necessary", "2016-12-08", "2016", "2016-12", "Republican", "House", "PA", "Patrick Toomey", "T000461", "toomey.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Washington, D.C. - U.S. Senator Pat Toomey (R-Pa.) today called on the Senate to use a fast-track legislative procedure -- known as reconciliation -- to enable the Senate to pass reforms to Dodd-Frank that would save taxpayers money and help grow our economy. Sen. Toomey's suggested tactic requires only a simple majority vote in the Senate, and it could include sweeping reforms at the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau and ending taxpayer bailouts of financial institutions.\nDuring his speech, Sen. Toomey said:\n\"It is my strongly held view that we need to reform Dodd-Frank. It's overdue, but it needs substantial reforms. Those reforms should include making sure that taxpayers never have to bail out another giant institution. It's just wrong. That should not be on the table. In fact, it should be precluded.\"\n\"I hope, first and foremost, that as we go through this process, that some of our Democratic colleagues will work with us, and will agree there are changes that need to be made, and that we can make them, hopefully with a very broad consensus. But if that's not possible, I would suggest there is an alternative. And the alternative is we use a budget resolution that would contain reconciliation instructions to the banking committee...because that will allow us to pass subsequent legislation -- in compliance with the reconciliation instructions -- that can pass the Senate with a simple majority vote.\"\n\"For too long now we've been putting up with a Dodd-Frank bill that is costing us a lot of economic growth and opportunity. I am hoping our Democratic colleagues will work with us so that we can begin to make the constructive changes that we need. But if not, I think we should use all tools available to get this job done.\"\nYou can watch Sen. Toomey's full remarks here.\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://meehan.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/meehan-seeks-answers-on-area-va-hospital-ratings", "Meehan Seeks Answers on Area VA Hospital Ratings", "2016-12-08", "2016", "2016-12", "Republican", "House", "PA", "Pat Meehan", "M001181", "meehan.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "WASHINGTON\u00a0\u2013\u00a0Congressman Patrick Meehan (R/PA-7) today wrote the Department of Veterans Affairs seeking information on the department\u2019s ratings of VA medical centers (VAMCs) in the Philadelphia area. A report by USA Today published this week revealed the existence of a one- to five-star rating system for VA medical facilities that before now had not been made public.\n\u201cOur men and women in uniform deserve the very best care after serving our nation and the transparency to ensure that the medical centers they visit are held accountable for providing quality care,\u201d Meehan wrote. \u201cWhen it comes to ensuring high-quality care for our veterans at the hands of the VA, the answer is more information and more transparency \u2013 not less.\u201d\nThe USA Today report indicated that as of the end of 2015, the VA medical centers in Philadelphia and Wilmington received only three out of a possible five stars. The facility in Lebanon County, Pa. received only four stars.\nMore recent ratings data for these facilities was not made public by the USA Today report.\n\u201cAccording to the 2015 data provided in the USA Today report, the Philadelphia and Wilmington VAMCs only received a 3-star rating. The Lebanon VAMC only received a 4-star rating. What steps have been taken to improve the care and service these VAMCs provide for the veterans they serve?\u201d Meehan asked.\nThe full text of Meehan\u2019s letter is below.\n\u00a0\nDecember 8, 2016\n\u00a0\nDr. David Shulkin\nUndersecretary for Health\nU.S. Department of Veterans Affairs\n810 Vermont Ave, NW\nWashington, DC 20420\n\u00a0\nDear Dr. Shulkin:\nI write to you today regarding a recent report by USA Today regarding the Department of Veterans Affairs\u2019 (VA) one- to five-star ratings for VA medical centers (VAMCs). \u00a0On behalf of the region\u2019s veterans, I am requesting information regarding the ratings for the VAMCs serving my constituent veterans following the release of data on other VA medical facilities. Our men and women in uniform deserve the very best care after serving our nation and the transparency to ensure that the medical centers they visit are held accountable for providing quality care.\nI wish to inquire about the following:\n What data and methodology does the VA use to determine star ratings for VAMCs?\n\tWhat are the most recent star ratings for the Philadelphia, Lebanon, and Wilmington VAMCs? How have those ratings changed since the VA began rating VAMCs?\n\tAre any of the local VAMCs currently on the high-risk watch list, or have they been in the past?\n\tHow does the VA work with low-performing VAMCs to develop and oversee improvement plans?\u00a0\n\tAccording to the 2015 data provided in the USA Today report, the Philadelphia and Wilmington VAMCs only received a 3-star rating. The Lebanon VAMC only received a 4-star rating. What steps have been taken to improve the care and service these VAMCs provide for the veterans they serve?\n When it comes to ensuring high-quality care for our veterans at the hands of the VA, the answer is more information and more transparency \u2013 not less.\nThank you in advance for your prompt attention to this matter.\nSincerely,\n\u00a0\nPatrick Meehan\nMember of Congress", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://rothfus.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/wiin-western-pennsylvania", "A WIIN for Western Pennsylvania", "2016-12-08", "2016", "2016-12", "Republican", "House", "PA", "Keith Rothfus", "R000598", "rothfus.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Washington, D.C.\u00a0\u2013 Congressman Keith Rothfus [PA-12] released the following statement after the House passed the Water Infrastructure Improvements for the Nation Act, or the \u201cWIIN Act\u201d (S. 612). Among other things, this bill authorizes the long-delayed Upper Ohio Navigation project, which involves the construction of new locks at the Emsworth, Dashields, and Montgomery (EDM) locks and dams along the Ohio River. Congressman Rothfus has been\u00a0leading\u00a0the effort in Congress to support the project, stressing its significance for Western Pennsylvania\u2019s economy. Earlier this year, Congressman Rothfus led a\u00a0bipartisan letter\u00a0calling on the Army Corps of Engineers to complete its feasibility study for the project, a prerequisite to the Chief\u2019s report\u00a0that was published\u00a0on September 12th recommending that Congress fund these necessary repairs.\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\u201cGetting this project authorized is a victory for Western Pennsylvanians. Reconstructing these aging Ohio River locks is essential to ensuring that our region remains an economic leader for generations to come,\u201d\u00a0said Congressman Rothfus. \u201cI am grateful for the bipartisan support I received from my colleagues in working to ensure this project gets done. I especially want to thank Chairman Bill Shuster, who worked tirelessly to support the Upper Ohio project.\u201d\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tThe EDM locks and dams form part of the inland waterway system that serves as a vital commercial transportation link for millions of Americans. The Port of Pittsburgh alone handles over 35 million tons of cargo each year, including significant quantities of petroleum products, processed metal, grain, construction equipment, chemicals, and coal.\u00a0Aging and defective structures in the EDM locks and dams system cause frequent disruptions to river borne commerce and transportation.\u00a0The Chief\u2019s report indicates the cost-benefit ratio for this project is 3.7 to 1.\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t-30-", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://www.casey.senate.gov/newsroom/releases/10-days-later-trump-refuses-to-lift-a-finger-to-save-pensions-health-care-for-coal-miners", "10 Days Later: Trump Refuses to Lift a Finger to Save Pensions, Health Care for Coal Miners", "2016-12-08", "2016", "2016-12", "Democrat", "House", "PA", "Bob Casey", "C001070", "www.casey.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Washington, D.C. \u2013 Nearly ten days after writing to President-Elect Donald Trump with no response, \u00a0U.S. Senators Bob Casey (D-PA), Ron Wyden (D-OR), and Sherrod Brown (D-OH) are renewing their call to Republicans to keep their promise to save coal miner\u2019s pensions. Days ago, the Senators sent a letter to President-Elect Donald Trump, urging him to uphold his promise of helping coal miners across the country and call on Republican leadership in the House and Senate to pass the Miners Protection Act of 2016.\u00a0\r\nDespite bipartisan support of the legislation that would allow coal miners to permanently retain their promised healthcare and pensions, Majority Leader McConnell and Speaker Ryan refuse to bring this legislation to the floor. Instead, Republican leadership included a proposal that does nothing to protect pensions, and will extend health coverage for so short a time that recipients would be notified almost simultaneously that they are both eligible for benefits and that their benefits will terminate. \u00a0Unless action is taken in the last two weeks of the Congressional session then thousands of additional retired coal miners and their families will soon lose their health benefits and see their pensions endangered. \u00a0\r\n\u201cDuring your campaign for the presidency, you vowed to restore and improve the livelihoods of coal miners across the country,\u201d Senators wrote to the President-Elect. \u201cWithout immediate action on the Miners Protection Act of 2016 (S. 3470), our miners and their families will be left without the essential healthcare benefits they earned through a lifetime of hard work and will have their pensions imperiled.\u201d\r\nRetired miners are facing uncertainty because the United Mine Workers of America (UMWA) 1974 Pension Plan is severely underfunded. Unlike other public and private pension plans, the 1974 Pension Plan was well-managed and funded prior to the 2008 financial crisis, which hit at a time when this Plan had its highest payment obligations. This \u2013 coupled with the fact that 60% of the beneficiaries are \u201corphan\u201d retirees whose employers are no longer in the coal business, and the fact that there are only 10,000 active workers for 120,000 retirees \u2013 has placed the Plan on the road to insolvency. If the Plan becomes insolvent, these beneficiaries face benefit cuts and the Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation will assume billions of dollars in liabilities.\r\nThe full text of the letter is below.\r\nDear President-elect Trump:\r\nDuring your campaign for the presidency, you vowed to restore and improve the livelihoods of coal miners across the country. We write today to highlight the pending loss of the pensions and healthcare benefits of thousands of coal miners due to the inaction of Republican leadership in Congress, and to urge you to intervene on their behalf, in accordance with your campaign promises.\r\nWe ask you exercise leadership to help thousands of coal miners in Pennsylvania, West Virginia, Kentucky, Virginia, Ohio, Illinois and across the country retain their promised healthcare and pension. Without immediate action on the Miners Protection Act of 2016 (S. 3470), our miners and their families will be left without the essential healthcare benefits they earned through a lifetime of hard work and will have their pensions imperiled. Despite being passed the Senate Finance Committee by a bipartisan vote of 18 to 8, Majority Leader McConnell and Speaker Ryan refuse to bring this legislation to the floor for a vote or to attach it to other moving vehicles.\r\nAs of today, over 16,100 of our nation\u2019s retired coal miners received healthcare termination notices[1]. The funding to provide healthcare promised by the coal companies will be exhausted by the end of the year. Next year, 6,500 more will receive that same letter. The pension fund that our miners, their widows and families rely on for basic necessities, will be at risk of insolvency at the beginning of next year. That means pensions for 27,391 miners in West Virginia, 12,951 miners in Pennsylvania, 9,511 miners in Kentucky, 8,810 miners in Ohio, 8,807 miners in Illinois, 7,507 miners in Virginia, and over 89,000 miners nationwide are at risk. The Miners Protection Act of 2016 must pass by the end of this year to protect tens of thousands of coal miners from losing their healthcare and pension. \r\nFor over a year, we have tried to move this bipartisan legislation forward, yet the House and the Senate, which Congressional Republicans control, have refused to bring this measure up for a vote. Time is running out for our miners. Action cannot wait, nor does it need to. There are two vehicles to which the Miners Protection Act could be passed before the end of the year to ensure its critical enactment into law, the 21st Century Cures Act or the Continuing Resolution. It is unconscionable for your Republican Congressional leadership to refuse to add this legislation to either of the last two moving pieces of legislation for the year.\r\nRank and file members of both parties have called for passage of the Miners Protection Act repeatedly over the course of the year, only to be met with stonewalling and delay from Republican leadership. We urge you call on Leader McConnell and Speaker Ryan to take immediate steps to ensure passage of the bill on one of the few remaining vehicles available to Congress before the end of the year.\r\nThe health benefits and pensions of thousands of hard working coal miners hang in the balance.\u00a0 Democrats have done their part.\u00a0 It is time for Republican leadership to do the same.\u00a0\u00a0 \r\nSincerely,\r\n###\r\n    \r\n\r\n[1] See sample notice dated October 5, 2016 from Patriot Retirees Voluntary Employees\u2019 Beneficiary Association.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://www.casey.senate.gov/newsroom/releases/casey-statement-on-crash-of-pakistan-international-airlines-flight-661", "Casey statement on Crash of Pakistan International Airlines Flight 661", "2016-12-08", "2016", "2016-12", "Democrat", "House", "PA", "Bob Casey", "C001070", "www.casey.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Washington, DC- U.S. Senator Bob Casey (D-PA) released a statement following the crash of Pakistan International Airlines Flight 661:\r\n\"My thoughts and prayers are with the families and friends of those who lost their lives in the tragic crash of Pakistan International Airlines Flight 661. The U.S. should offer any assistance or support necessary to determine the cause of the crash and ensure the victims' families get the answers they deserve. We stand with the people of Pakistan in mourning those killed in this horrific incident.\"\r\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://www.casey.senate.gov/newsroom/releases/casey-statement-on-pruitt-nomination", "Casey Statement on Pruitt Nomination", "2016-12-08", "2016", "2016-12", "Democrat", "House", "PA", "Bob Casey", "C001070", "www.casey.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Washington, D.C. - U.S. Senator Bob Casey (D-PA) released the following statement on President-elect Trump\u2019s nomination of Scott Pruitt as the next head of the EPA:\r\n\u201cPresident-elect Trump\u2019s nomination of Oklahoma Attorney General Scott Pruitt as the next head of the Environmental Protection Agency are very troubling. Attorney General Pruitt\u2019s views on environmental protection are unambiguous- he\u2019s against it. A 2014 investigative report from the New York Times detailed how, under Scott Pruitt, the Attorney General\u2019s office in Oklahoma did the bidding of major companies that would pollute the air our children breathe and the water they drink. The job of the Administrator of the EPA is to fulfill the agency\u2019s mission to \u201cprotect human health and the environment,\u201d not to do the bidding of major polluters. Attorney General Pruitt is also leading the effort to overturn the Clean Power Plan, which is vital to getting control of our energy future and creating clean energy jobs. \u00a0Pennsylvania has a long history of respect for the environment. Article 1, Section 27 of our state constitution says:\r\n\u201cThe people have a right to clean air, pure water, and to the preservation of the natural, scenic, historic and esthetic values of the environment. Pennsylvania's public natural resources are the common property of all the people, including generations yet to come. As trustee of these resources, the Commonwealth shall conserve and maintain them for the benefit of all the people.\u201d\r\nI do not have confidence, based upon Attorney General Pruitt\u2019s record, that the EPA under his leadership would be willing to enforce our environmental laws like the Clean Air Act and the Clean Water Act.\u201d", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["http://barletta.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/barletta-steers-authorization-of-urban-search-rescue-to-passage", "Barletta Steers Authorization of Urban Search & Rescue to Passage", "2016-12-07", "2016", "2016-12", "Republican", "House", "PA", "Lou Barletta", "B001269", "barletta.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Click here or on image for video of Rep. Barletta leading floor debate on passage of authorization of Urban Search & Rescue teams.\nWASHINGTON \u2013 Congressman Lou Barletta (PA-11) today managed floor debate as the U.S. House of Representatives passed legislation that authorizes the Urban Search and Rescue (USAR) system, while protecting team members from liability and preserving their jobs while they are serving.\u00a0 The House approved S. 2971, authored by Sen. Rob Portman of Ohio, by a vote of 405-to-7.\u00a0 The bill is nearly identical to language contained in Barletta\u2019s own legislation, H.R. 1471, the FEMA Disaster Assistance Reform Act, which passed the House in February 2016 and remains in the hands of the Senate.\u00a0 With House passage of an amended S. 2971, the bill must return to the Senate for its approval.\n\u201cThe challenge has been that when these team members are federalized, they do not have clarity on who would be responsible if they were injured or even killed while performing their jobs,\u201d Barletta said while managing the House floor. \u201cIt is amazing that we ask these men and women to go into collapsed structures to search for trapped survivors, risking life and limb, without providing them with clarity when it comes to liability and injuries.\u00a0 The stories of the selfless heroism of these men and women are numerous and humbling.\u00a0 Their work is tireless, physically and emotionally demanding, and nerve-wracking.\u201d\nThere are 28 USAR teams across the United States, including Pennsylvania.\u00a0 Team members include firefighters, doctors, engineers, and first responders, who are cross-trained in areas such as search, rescue, medical, hazardous materials, and logistics.\u00a0 Trained and equipped with help from FEMA, they are called upon when needed to respond following a disaster.\u00a0 USAR teams have been deployed over the years to numerous disasters, including the 9/11 World Trade Center terrorist attacks, Hurricane Sandy, Hurricane Matthew, and many storms, floods, and tornadoes.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["http://kelly.house.gov/press-release/rep-kelly-statement-75th-anniversary-attack-pearl-harbor", "Rep. Kelly Statement on 75th Anniversary  of Attack on Pearl Harbor", "2016-12-07", "2016", "2016-12", "Republican", "House", "PA", "Mike Kelly", "K000376", "kelly.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "WASHINGTON \u2014 U.S. Representative Mike Kelly (R-PA) issued the following statement today to mark the 75th anniversary of the surprise attack by Japan on U.S. Naval Station Pearl Harbor.\n\u201cSeventy five years and multiple generations later, America still remembers what happened on December 7th, 1941. On that bright Sunday morning, less than three weeks before Christmas, the combined forces of death, treachery, and evil transformed a season of happiness into a period of pain, shock, and sorrow. While our nation\u2019s knees were bent in mourning, a generation of heroes prepared to rise to its feet and answer history\u2019s call. While darkness engulfed our country and plunged us into a worldwide war, it was the blazing light of our Greatest Generation's selfless patriotism that shined through and ultimately led us to save civilization from tyranny. Just like after 9/11 six decades later, the United States showed the entire world that no matter what harm may be inflicted upon us, there is no threat, no force, and no tyrant anywhere that can keep us down for long or ever extinguish freedom's fire.\n\u201cOn this infamous anniversary, let us always remember the courage and heroism of those who perished at Pearl Harbor, and the cause for which they lived, died, and fought. We must never forget their sacrifice, their example, their love of country, and the enduring lesson that freedom must always be defended from evil.\u201d\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["http://perry.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=398435", "Rep. Perry Statement on Resolution to Impeach IRS Commisioner", "2016-12-07", "2016", "2016-12", "Republican", "House", "PA", "Scott Perry", "P000605", "perry.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Washington, DC\u2014Representative Scott Perry (R-PA) issued the following statement after a series of procedural votes in support of H.Res. 828, a privileged resolution that calls for articles of impeachment to be brought against Internal Revenue Service (IRS) Commissioner John Koskinen. The resolution was referred to the House Judiciary Committee for further consideration.\n\n\u201cAs has become clear from the many Pennsylvanians I talk with every day, there's a growing belief that America has two standards of justice - one for the well-connected and one for the rest of us. Commissioner Koskinen took control of the IRS in the wake of the Tea Party targeting scandal to reform the agency internally. Not only did he do nothing about that issue, but continued the trend of deception by deliberately keeping the American people in the dark. If the Department of Justice won\u2019t do its job, Congress simply must step in. The impeachment power is a political check that protects citizens against the abuse or violation of some public trust. We need to do our part to hold the IRS Commissioner accountable. \u201d", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["http://toomey.senate.gov?p=news&id=1854", "Toomey Releases Statement on Passage of 21st Century Cures Act", "2016-12-07", "2016", "2016-12", "Republican", "House", "PA", "Patrick Toomey", "T000461", "toomey.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Washington, D.C. - U.S. Senator Pat Toomey (R-Pa.) released the following statement on the Senate passage of the bipartisan 21st Century Cures Act.\n\"As a supporter of medical research, I was pleased to vote for the bipartisan 21st Century Cures Act today. This is an exciting time in medicine as scientists across Pennsylvania are researching cutting-edge treatments that could save millions of lives - such as using the body's own immune system to beat cancer as well as new ways to tackle Alzheimer's disease.\n\"I look forward to the President signing the CURES Act into law as it will provide additional resources for this critical research. The bill also will make significant reforms to our nation's broken mental health system, help communities across the commonwealth stop the scourge of opioid abuse, and accelerate the introduction of new, FDA-approved life-saving medicines.\"\n# # #", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://costello.house.gov/media-center/in-the-news/us-rep-costello-visits-2-downingtown-schools-support-stem-programs", "U.S. Rep. Costello visits 2 Downingtown schools to support STEM programs", "2016-12-07", "2016", "2016-12", "Republican", "House", "PA", "Ryan Costello", "C001106", "costello.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "DOWNINGTOWN >> U.S. Rep. Ryan Costello recently visited two Downingtown schools in support of STEM \u2013 science, technology, engineering and math \u2013 education.\nCostello, R-6, of West Goshen, visited the Technical College High School (TCHS) Brandywine Campus where students asked him to help support their STEM programs with H.R. 5168. Costello attended a ceremony honoring TCHS Brandywine local robotics team \u201cOut of the Box.\u201d At that time, the students presented him with a hard-copy of the bill to read. He signed it.\n\u201cThis isn\u2019t the official bill signing but I want to let you know that this is something I will plan on co-sponsoring once I get back to Washington,\u201d Costello said during his visit.\nHe made good on his promise and co-sponsored the bill.\nH.R. 5168 proposes to have the Department of the Treasury print a dollar silver coin in memory of Christa McAuliffe, a teacher who was onboard the space shuttle Challenger when it exploded in 1986. A portion of the proceeds raised from the memorial coin would go toward FIRST, a nonprofit organization helping young people discover and develop a passion for science, engineering, technology and math.\nCostello said he is proud to co-sponsor the Christa McAuliffe Commemorative Coin Act because it promotes and supports the importance of STEM education and extracurricular programs.\n\u201cThe Christa McAuliffe Commemorative Coin Act is a great example of how Congress can support and advance STEM education and careers,\u201d Costello said. \u201cProceeds created from this bill would go towards programs that encourage STEM, like the successful CCIU (Chester County Intermediate Unit) program that I was fortunate to spend time learning more about.\u201d\nAs a member of FIRST, Out of the Box members were thrilled to gain Costello\u2019s support for H.R. 5168.\n\u201cWe were so honored to have Rep. Costello take the time out of his busy schedule to come out and be a part of our recognizing TCHS Brandywine for their contributions towards helping out team,\u201d team mentor Jerry Beauchamp said in a statement. \u201cIt was especially great that he agreed to co-sponsor the bill which will continue to help young people pursuing STEM related careers.\u201d\nOut of the Box Robotics Team 7244 is made up of middle school and high school students from seven schools in Chester County. Since the team is not affiliated with a school, finding a place to practice and build their robots was a challenge during the past two years.\n\u201cAt one point we needed to go to McDonald\u2019s in order to use their Wi-Fi for our coding and programming components,\u201d said team mentor William Barker.\nBeauchamp asked TCHS Brandywine officials to help the team find a place to practice, which they did to continue supporting the school\u2019s STEM programs.\n\u201cTCHS Brandywine was extremely supportive and generous in allowing us to use this space,\u201d Beauchamp said. \u201cIt has had such a great impact on the team to have a consistent place to meet and have access to all the materials, tools and resources necessary to be competitive in robotics.\u201d\nAfter showing Costello a demonstration of the team\u2019s robot, the team members presented TCHS Brandywine Principal Frank McKnight with two certificates of appreciation. McKnight reaffirmed TCHS Brandywine\u2019s support.\n\u201cIt is our pleasure as part of the Chester County Intermediate Unit to support the team in any way that we can,\u201d McKnight said. \u201cIt\u2019s our goal here at TCHS Brandywine to support STEM activities in our area and we are glad to be of help.\u201d\nCostello toured TCHS Brandywine and the Downingtown STEM Academy. He talked with STEM freshman and sophomores, of the Downingtown Area School District, during an assembly. Rep. Costello noted he has been a strong supporter of STEM legislation in Congress that provides pathways for students to study and gain these skillsets.\n\u201cStudents ability to access STEM education or programs, where they will learn skills that are valuable to employers around the world and to institutions of higher education, is critically important,\u201d said Costello, a member of the STEM Caucus. \u201cI\u2019m proud to advocate for these initiatives that will help equip Pennsylvania students with 21st century tools.\u201d\nHe encourages students to participate in the annual Congressional App Challenge, which is a competition where students develop a software app.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://rothfus.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/restoring-congressional-oversight-international-insurance-negotiations", "Restoring Congressional Oversight of International Insurance Negotiations", "2016-12-07", "2016", "2016-12", "Republican", "House", "PA", "Keith Rothfus", "R000598", "rothfus.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Washington, D.C. \u2013\u00a0Congressman Keith Rothfus [PA-12] released the following statement after the House passed the Transparent Insurance Standards Act of 2016 (H.R. 5143). This legislation seeks to enhance Congressional oversight and provide increased transparency to ongoing negotiations on international insurance regulations. H.R. 5143 also reaffirms the importance of the state-based insurance regulatory system and prevents any internationally-negotiated rule from being implemented in the U.S. without input from Congress and the American people. Congressman Rothfus was an original co-sponsor of the legislation:\n\u201cIn America, the people are sovereign, not an international regulatory body, and that principle applies to our insurance markets. Rules that affect our economy should not be negotiated by an international body without the consent of the American people,\u201d\u00a0said Congressman Rothfus. \u201cThis bill ensures standards being negotiated internationally advance the best interests of the American people by giving Congress \u2013 not unaccountable foreign bureaucrats \u2013 more formalized oversight authority.\u201d\n-30-", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://www.casey.senate.gov/newsroom/media/view/end-of-year-bill-is-profound-betrayal-of-pa-coal-miners", "End of Year Bill is Profound Betrayal of PA Coal Miners", "2016-12-07", "2016", "2016-12", "Democrat", "House", "PA", "Bob Casey", "C001070", "www.casey.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "End of Year Bill is Profound Betrayal of PA Coal Miners \n            For several months, we have joined thousands of our states\u2019 retired coal miners and their families to call for a vote on this bipartisan, paid-for bill. And for several months those calls have gone unanswered. These miners cannot wait another day and it\u2019s up to us to protect what they\u2019ve earned for a lifetime of dangerous, backbreaking work. We are confident this bill would pass on the floor and we demand action to provide long-term certainty for these miners.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://www.casey.senate.gov/newsroom/releases/after-casey-pushes-heroin-epidemic-gets-needed-funding-to-address-americas-problem", "After Casey Pushes, Heroin Epidemic Gets Needed Funding To Address America’s Problem", "2016-12-07", "2016", "2016-12", "Democrat", "House", "PA", "Bob Casey", "C001070", "www.casey.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Washington, D.C. \u2013 As the Senate passed sweeping health reform legislation today, U.S. Senator Bob Casey (D-PA) announced several major wins in the 21st Century Cures Act he advocated for on behalf of Pennsylvanians, including $1 billion to help states respond to the opioid abuse epidemic. Casey has long been an outspoken advocate in addressing the heroin crisis, leading several key pieces of legislation to passage to provide more funding and training in handling heroin abuse. He has also spent the last two years traveling across Pennsylvania to meet with health providers, law enforcement officials, and families impacted by the epidemic.\r\n\u201cThis critically important legislation includes several key provisions that will help to improve the health and overall lives of Pennsylvanians, including funding to address the ongoing opioid abuse epidemic,\u201d Senator Casey said. \u201cThe crisis of opioid addiction gripping our nation knows no bounds; it impacts families everywhere, from cities to suburban communities to rural areas and everywhere in between. While this legislation will help states to further respond to this epidemic, we still have more work to do.\u00a0 I look forward to working with my colleagues in the Senate to continue to address this crisis.\u201d\r\nThe legislation includes increased funding for the National Institutes of Health (NIH) over the next ten years and incentives for medical countermeasure development, priorities Casey has consistently championed. Casey also took the lead in ensuring further extension of the pediatric priority review voucher program, established by his Creating Hope Act, and then extended by the Advancing Hope Act.\r\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://www.casey.senate.gov/newsroom/releases/casey-congress-end-of-year-bill-is-profound-betrayal-of-pa-coal-miners-their-families", "Casey: Congress’ End of Year Bill is Profound Betrayal of PA Coal Miners, Their Families", "2016-12-07", "2016", "2016-12", "Democrat", "House", "PA", "Bob Casey", "C001070", "www.casey.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Washington, DC \u2013 U.S. Senator Bob Casey (D-PA) released a statement following the release of Congress\u2019 year-end Continuing Resolution, which keeps the government funded. The legislation does not prevent coal miners in Pennsylvania and across the nation from losing their pensions and health care; the bill only includes a four month extension of health care benefits without any pension relief, so short a time that recipients would be notified almost simultaneously that they are both eligible for benefits and that their benefits will terminate.\r\n\u201cThis so-called \u2018fix\u2019 designed in secret by Congressional Republican leadership is nothing more than a profound betrayal of coal miners and their families in Pennsylvania and across the nation. The Miners Protection Act ensures that the federal government will keep the promise of pensions and health care to coal miners and their families. This proposal does nothing to protect pensions, and will extend health coverage for so short a time that recipients would be notified almost simultaneously that they are both eligible for benefits and that their benefits will terminate. For over a year, I\u2019ve worked in a bipartisan fashion to move this legislation forward, yet the Republicans\u2019 congressional leaders, Speaker Ryan and Majority Leader McConnell, have refused to work in good faith to schedule a vote. \u00a0Last week I wrote to President-elect Trump asking him to use his influence with Congressional Republicans to include the Miners Protection Act in an end of the year bill. The provisions relating to coal miners included in the Congress\u2019 end of the year bill is a shameful slap in the face to men and women who have given so much for our nation. We have a bipartisan bill that is fully paid for, there is no reason for delay.\u201d\r\nRetired miners are facing uncertainty because the United Mine Workers of America (UMWA) 1974 Pension Plan is severely underfunded. Unlike other public and private pension plans, the 1974 Pension Plan was well-managed and funded prior to the 2008 financial crisis, which hit at a time when this Plan had its highest payment obligations. This \u2013 coupled with the fact that 60% of the beneficiaries are \u201corphan\u201d retirees whose employers are no longer in the coal business, and the fact that there are only 10,000 active workers for 120,000 retirees \u2013 has placed the Plan on the road to insolvency. If the Plan becomes insolvent, these beneficiaries face benefit cuts and the Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation will assume billions of dollars in liabilities.\r\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["http://barletta.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/rep-barletta-s-offices-accepting-toys-for-tots-donations-0", "Rep. Barlettas Offices Accepting Toys for Tots Donations", "2016-12-06", "2016", "2016-12", "Republican", "House", "PA", "Lou Barletta", "B001269", "barletta.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "WASHINGTON \u2013 Congressman Lou Barletta (PA-11) is again participating in the Toys for Tots program, sponsored by the United States Marine Corps Reserves, which are celebrating their 100th anniversary this year.\u00a0 Toys will be accepted in each of Congressman Barletta\u2019s offices \u2013 in Washington, DC and the four 11th District offices with a deadline of Friday, December 16, 2016.\u00a0 Donations should be geared toward children in an age range of infant to about 16 years old.\u00a0 Toys should be unwrapped, new, still in original packaging, and dropped off at office locations between 9:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m. on weekdays.\u00a0\n\u201cThis is a tremendous program that helps put smiles on the faces of children this holiday season,\u201d Barletta said.\u00a0 \u201cToys for Tots began with one single toy \u2013 a hand-made doll.\u00a0 Today, it makes tens of thousands of kids happy each year.\u201d\n Rep. Barletta Toys For Tots Donation Locations \nAll Drop-off Times: 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Weekdays\n\t\t\t\tHazleton District Office\n\t\t\t\t1 South Church Street\n\t\t\t\tSuite 100\n\t\t\t\tHazleton, Pennsylvania 18201\n\t\t\t\tPhone: (570) 751-0050\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\tCarlisle District Office\n\t\t\t\t59 W. Louther Street\n\t\t\t\tCarlisle, Pennsylvania 17013\n\t\t\t\tPhone: (717) 249-0190\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\u00a0\n\t\t\t\tHarrisburg District Office\n\t\t\t\t4813 Jonestown Road\n\t\t\t\tSuite 101\n\t\t\t\tHarrisburg, Pennsylvania 17109\n\t\t\t\tPhone: (717) 525-7002\n\t\t\t\t\u00a0\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\u00a0\n\t\t\t\tSunbury District Office\n\t\t\t\t106 Arch Street\n\t\t\t\tSunbury, Pennsylvania 17801\n\t\t\t\tPhone: (570) 988-7801\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\tWashington, DC Office\n\t\t\t\t2049 Rayburn House Office Building\n\t\t\t\tWashington, DC 20515\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\u00a0\nThe U.S. Marine Corps Reserves Toys for Tots Foundation, an IRS recognized 501(c)(3) not-for-profit charity, is the authorized fundraising and support organization for the Toys for Tots Program.\u00a0 The foundation provides the funding and support needed for successful annual toy collection and distribution campaigns.\u00a0 The foundation staff is headquartered in the Cooper Center located just outside the main gate of Marine Corps Base, Quantico, Virginia, about 35 miles south of Washington, D.C.\u00a0 Local campaigns are conducted annually in about 500 communities covering all 50 states, the District of Columbia, and Puerto Rico.\nFor more information, please visit www.ToysForTots.org.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["http://cartwright.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/cartwright-named-to-important-steering-and-policy-committee", "Cartwright Named to Influential Steering and Policy Committee", "2016-12-06", "2016", "2016-12", "Democrat", "House", "PA", "Matt Cartwright", "C001090", "cartwright.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Washington, DC \u2013 Today, U.S. Representative Matt Cartwright announced that he has been appointed to serve on the Democratic Steering and Policy Committee by the House Democratic Leadership.\nThe committee\u2014which includes other members of Leadership, appointed members, and regionally elected members\u2014advises the House Democratic Leadership on policy and appoints other Democratic Members of Congress to House committees.\n\u201cI am honored to accept this appointment to the House Democratic Steering and Policy Committee.\u00a0 Listening to the needs of working Americans and figuring out how to connect with them on our policy agenda is critical work for the Democrats, and I intend to engage in that endeavor at every opportunity,\u201d said Rep. Cartwright.\u00a0 \u201cDuring the 115th Congress, I plan on looking for ways to help guide our Caucus towards the right policies coupled with effective messaging.\u201d\u00a0\nBoth parties on Capitol Hill are currently gearing up for major policy battles in 2017.\n\u201cThe 17th Congressional District is a working class district with challenges similar to those of many other areas of the Northeast and Midwest,\u201d continued Cartwright.\u00a0 \u201cI\u2019m looking forward to bringing our northeastern Pennsylvania perspectives and values to this important committee.\u201d", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["http://cartwright.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/house-passes-cartwright-school-energy-efficiency-legislation", "House Passes Cartwright School Energy Efficiency Legislation", "2016-12-06", "2016", "2016-12", "Democrat", "House", "PA", "Matt Cartwright", "C001090", "cartwright.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Washington, DC \u2013 Today, Congressman Matt Cartwright\u2019s Streamlining Energy Efficiency for Schools Act of 2015 (H.R. 756) unanimously passed the U.S. House of Representatives.\u00a0 First introduced in February 2014, the bill also unanimously passed the House during the 113th Congress.\nThe bipartisan legislation, re-introduced by Cartwright in January 2015, would encourage school administrators to make cost-saving energy efficiency upgrades by establishing a clearinghouse for energy efficiency resources through the Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy.\u00a0 The clearinghouse will publish information on federal programs and financing tools that may be used to perform energy generation, energy efficiency, and energy retrofitting projects on schools.\n\u201cI am pleased that the House is prioritizing energy efficiency by once again passing this bill, and I\u2019m working with my colleagues in the Senate and encouraging them to act quickly on passage,\u201d said U.S. Rep. Cartwright.\u00a0 \u201cThis bill will ensure that schools can more easily take advantage of energy-efficiency programs, encouraging strategic and cost-saving investments to relieve the fiscal pressure felt by schools across the country--all while bringing us closer to energy security.\u201d\nAccording to the Department of Energy (DOE), the nation\u2019s 17,450 K-12 school districts spend more than $6 billion annually on energy, more than is spent on computers and textbooks combined.\u00a0 Currently, there are numerous federal initiatives available to schools to help them become more energy efficient. \u00a0However, these programs are spread across the federal government, making it challenging for schools to know where to look and how to take full advantage.\nAn estimated 14 million American children attend deteriorating public schools.\u00a0 Many of these schools\u2019 problems involve the heating, ventilating, and air-conditioning systems.\u00a0 According to a Department of Education survey, 43 percent of schools indicated that the poor condition of their facilities interferes with the delivery of instruction.\u00a0 By upgrading these systems, energy efficiency is increased, learning environments are improved, and scarce funds are conserved.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["http://shuster.house.gov/index.cfm?sectionid=49&itemid=813", "Shuster's Legislation to Honor Fallen Veterans Passes House", "2016-12-06", "2016", "2016-12", "Republican", "House", "PA", "Bill Shuster", "S001154", "shuster.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "WASHINGTON, DC\u00a0\u2013\u00a0Congressman Bill Shuster\u2019s (R-Hollidaysburg) measure, the Dignified Interment of our Veterans Act, was included in H.R. 6416, the Veterans Healthcare and Benefits Improvement Act on Tuesday. H.R. 6416 passed with Shuster\u2019s support.\u00a0A similar version of the legislation has been introduced by Senator Toomey (R-PA) in the Senate.\r\n\r\n\t\u201cWe should never forget our heroes that protect this nation, and it is tragic that the remains of thousands of our veterans are sitting on shelves collecting dust,\u201d said Congressman Shuster. \u201cMy measure will take the steps needed to begin addressing this issue by finding the full scope of the problem and laying the groundwork to develop a plan to ensure our veterans get the burials they all deserve.\u201d\r\n\r\n\t\u201cWhen our veterans pass away, they should be honored in a way that reflects the bravery and sacrifice they showed in defending our country,\u201d said Senator Toomey. \u201cI believe Congress needs to better understand the problems surrounding the VA\u2019s process of recovering veterans\u2019 cremated, unclaimed remains and develop a plan of action to help resolve this issue. Our veterans deserve it.\u201d\r\n\r\n\tCongressman Shuster\u2019s Dignified Interment of our Veterans Act will help address the major problem of thousands of unclaimed veterans remains across the country by directing the Department of Veterans Affairs to conduct a study aimed at identifying the underlying causes that prevent the timely claiming and interring of veteran remains. The measure will also generate recommendations for improvement.\u00a0\r\n\r\n\tAccording to the Missing in America Project (MIAP) there are an estimated 47,000 veterans remains stored throughout the United States that have yet to be claimed. This legislation is the first step in addressing this issue so no veteran is left without the proper burial they deserve.\r\n\r\n\tEarlier this session of Congress, Shuster\u2019s legislation passed the House as a standalone measure and Senator Toomey had a similar version pass in the Senate. The differences between the two were negotiated and the final version was included in today\u2019s veterans legislative package.\r\n\r\n\t###", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://rothfus.house.gov/taxonomy/term/42/dodd-frank-must-go-here-s-republican-plan-save-community-banks-spur-economic-growth", "Dodd-Frank Must Go. Heres the Republican Plan to Save Community Banks, Spur Economic Growth.", "2016-12-06", "2016", "2016-12", "Republican", "House", "PA", "Keith Rothfus", "R000598", "rothfus.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "With control of both the White House and Congress, Republicans finally have the opportunity to reignite the economy.American families and workers have been waiting for eight long years for a return to healthy economic growth and opportunity, and congressional Republicans are ready to deliver.Along with Obamacare and the Environmental Protection Agency\u2019s regulatory excesses, the Democrat-backed Dodd-Frank financial regulatory reform stands out as a leading cause of the Obama era\u2019s economic malaise.At the Financial Services Committee, we have been hard at work crafting a legislative solution that will end \u201ctoo big to fail\u201d and puts in place reforms that will allow our economy to grow again.It\u2019s called the Financial CHOICE Act.The Financial CHOICE Act is based on several key principles. First, we recognize that American families, as well as businesses large and small, need access to capital.  \n\tDodd-Frank\u2019s onerous rules have choked off the loans that so many Americans rely on to make their dreams a reality.Under Dodd-Frank, community banks are forced to spend so many resources and so much time complying with complex rules and regulations that they have less and less time and money to actually serve the people in their communities.Since Dodd-Frank became law, we have seen the\u00a0decline of more than 1,600 banks\u00a0either through consolidation or closure, destroying jobs and reducing choice for Americans seeking loans.Financial CHOICE implements a suite of regulatory reforms that will reduce pressure on community banks and other institutions that provide vital capital to millions of Americans.We also believe that every American, regardless of his or her circumstances, deserves a chance to achieve financial independence.Washington should rightly protect us from fraud and deceptive practices\u2014and there are ways that we can improve consumer and investor protection\u2014but bureaucrats in the nation\u2019s capital should not be in the business of micromanaging personal decisions about which financial products Americans choose.Financial CHOICE reforms the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau so it can fulfill its intended purpose of consumer protection, not political witch hunts that reduce choice.Of course, Dodd-Frank was cobbled together in response to a financial crisis characterized by systemic risk and bailouts. Eight years and thousands of pages of rules later, systemic risk has not been appropriately addressed and too-big-to-fail banks continue to operate with an expectation that the American taxpayer will save them in the event of a crisis.Through Financial CHOICE, we can finally bring an end to \u201ctoo big to fail\u201d and bank bailouts. At the very least, the American people should never be on the hook to cover bank losses.I understand why Democrats pushed Dodd-Frank and protect it so dearly. Dodd-Frank was built on the false premise that there were insufficient regulations leading up to the 2008 financial crisis.In fact, in the decade prior, there was a marked increase in financial regulation. The problem was not insufficient regulation; the problem was misguided regulation.After the financial crisis of 2008, Congress created the Financial Crisis Inquiry Commission to investigate the causes of the crisis. But astoundingly, Congress went forward and enacted Dodd-Frank before the commission had even issued its final report.Thus, instead of thoughtful reforms and measured regulations, we were given a 2,300-page bill full of provisions springing from the motto of President Barack Obama\u2019s then-chief of staff: \u201cNever let a good crisis go to waste.\u201dThis misguided law opened the door to heavy-handed, one-size-fits-all regulations that are crushing our economy. Republicans have a better way forward, and we plan on making it a reality in the 115th Congress.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://www.casey.senate.gov/newsroom/releases/following-efforts-by-casey-wyden-and-cummings-gao-releases-results-of-cms-nursing-home-rating-system", "Following Efforts by Casey, Wyden, and Cummings, GAO Releases Results of CMS Nursing Home Rating System", "2016-12-06", "2016", "2016-12", "Democrat", "House", "PA", "Bob Casey", "C001070", "www.casey.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Washington, D.C. - Following a push by U.S. Senator Bob Casey (D-PA) and Senate Finance Committee Ranking Member Ron Wyden (D-OR), and Representative Elijah E. Cummings (D-MD), Ranking Member of the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform, the Government Accountability Office (GAO) today published their report of the federal government\u2019s nursing home rating system the members called for last year. The members made the request to determine whether the Five-Star Quality Rating System provided seniors, people with disabilities, and their families with reliable and accurate information that they could use to make informed decisions on what nursing home to select for a love one.\u00a0 Questions were raised in 2014 about the quality and transparency of the rating system after there were reports revealing deficiencies in the system.\r\n\u201cMy home state of Pennsylvania has the fifth largest population of older citizens in the country, with 2.15 million older citizens, and we have an abiding obligation to ensure that each one of those older citizens receive the care and services they deserve,\u201d Casey said. \u201cThis report makes important recommendations on how to improve this rating system.\u00a0 I call on CMS to move swiftly to implement these changes.\r\n\u201cSelecting a nursing home is a consequential and challenging decision for seniors and their families, and they need the best information possible,\u201d Wyden said. \u201cToday\u2019s report from GAO shines a light on how the Five-Star Rating System could be improved to make information on nursing home quality more transparent and easily accessible. All Americans expect Medicare to live up to its promise of high-quality, affordable health care, and working to increase transparency and choice is an important step to making that a reality.\u201d\r\n\u201cAmerican families rely on CMS to publish meaningful ratings that will help guide them through difficult decisions they face when they seek nursing care for their family members,\u201d Cummings said. \u00a0\u201cI encourage CMS to carefully consider these recommendations to ensure that ratings accurately and clearly reflect the measures of comfort and quality that Americans expect from such a rating system.\u201d\r\nThe GAO report found that consumers could benefit from improvements in the rating system and issued four recommendations:\r\n \r\nDevelop a systemic process for reviewing website improvements, including how CMS will prioritize such improvements\r\nAdd information that allows consumers to make national comparisons of nursing homes rather than just compare facilities within a state\r\nEvaluate the feasibility of adding consumer satisfaction information to the system\r\nDevelop and test introductory explanatory information on the five star system to be prominently displayed on the website.\r\n \r\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://dent.house.gov/index.cfm?p=PressReleases&ContentRecord_id=E0A40C92-841D-4873-B4D3-53377C432DEE", "Congressman Dent Congratulates Incoming Appropriations Chair", "2016-12-05", "2016", "2016-12", "Republican", "House", "PA", "Charlie Dent", "D000604", "dent.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "LEHIGH VALLEY, PA -\u00a0Congressman Charlie Dent (PA-15) offered his congratulations and praise for his colleague Congressman Rodney Frelinghuysen (NJ-11) who will take the gavel as Chairman of the House Appropriations Committee in the 115th Congress.\r\n\u201cIt has been a pleasure to work with my friend, Rodney, on numerous important legislative issues since we began serving together. He\u2019s a man of great integrity with an outstanding grasp of the Appropriations process. His elevation to the Chairmanship of the House Appropriations Committee is certainly well-deserved,\u201d Dent said.\u00a0\r\nRep. Dent, a strong proponent of the regular order budget process, is confident that Congressman Frelinghuysen will do his utmost to steer vital spending legislation through the Committee with the same alacrity and legislative mastery as the Appropriations Committee\u2019s most recent Chair, Rep. Hal Rogers of Kentucky.\r\n\u201cIt was an honor to serve as a subcommittee Chairman under Rep. Rogers,\u201d noted Dent. \u201cHe understood the great importance of moving bills through the Appropriations subcommittees with both necessary speed and deliberation. I am highly confident that Rep. Frelinghuysen will continue to place an emphasis on getting the various spending bills through the Committee on time and in good order. Rep. Frelinghuysen understands the stability doing so brings to the entire governing process,\u201d concluded Congressman Dent.\u00a0\r\nDent will continue to serve as the Chairman of the House Appropriations Subcommittee for Military Construction and Veterans Affairs in the 115th Congress.\r\n###\r\nCONTACT: Shawn Millan (610) 770-3490", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://www.casey.senate.gov/newsroom/releases/casey-senators-no-special-consideration-for-other-bills-until-we-save-coal-miners-health-care-retirement", "Casey, Senators: No Special Consideration for Other Bills Until We Save Coal Miners’ Health Care, Retirement", "2016-12-05", "2016", "2016-12", "Democrat", "House", "PA", "Bob Casey", "C001070", "www.casey.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "WASHINGTON, D.C. \u2013 Today, a coalition of Senators fighting to protect the health and pensions of more than 120,000 retired coal miners nationwide announced their intent to use any means necessary to make sure that these workers and their families are protected. With 16,300 retired coal miners set to lose health care by Dec. 31, 2016 without Congressional action, U.S. Sens. Sherrod Brown (D-OH), Joe Manchin (D-W.Va), Bob Casey (D-PA), and Mark Warner (D-VA) announced that they will block all attempts to pass legislation by unanimous consent in the Senate until the United Mine Workers of America (UMWA) healthcare and pension shortfall is adequately addressed to give miners long-term certainty. By blocking other bills from sailing through with special privileges, the Senators hope to force House and Senate leadership to include the bipartisan mineworkers fix in the year-end spending package or allow an independent vote on the bill. \u00a0\u00a0\r\nThe Senators released the following joint statement:\r\n\u201cFor several months, we have joined thousands of our states\u2019 retired coal miners and their families to call for a vote on this bipartisan, paid-for bill. And for several months those calls have gone unanswered. These miners cannot wait another day and it\u2019s up to us to protect what they\u2019ve earned for a lifetime of dangerous, backbreaking work. We are confident this bill would pass on the floor and we demand action to provide long-term certainty for these miners.\u201d\r\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://www.casey.senate.gov/newsroom/releases/casey-trumps-pick-for-hhs-secretary-is-architect-of-agenda-to-undermine-programs-for-pa-seniors", "Casey: Trump’s Pick for HHS Secretary is Architect of Agenda to Undermine Programs for PA Seniors", "2016-12-05", "2016", "2016-12", "Democrat", "House", "PA", "Bob Casey", "C001070", "www.casey.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Washington, DC- U.S. Senator Bob Casey (D-PA) released a statement on the nomination of Congressman Tom Price (R-GA) to be the Secretary of the Department of Health and Human Services:\r\n\u201cI have substantial concerns about the nomination of Congressman Tom Price to be the Secretary of Health and Human Services (HHS). Congressman Price has led efforts to end the guaranteed benefit of Medicare; Congressman Price has also supported efforts to turn Medicaid into a block grant program, which would adversely impact nursing home care for 250,000 seniors in Pennsylvania and 6.4 million seniors nationally. Turning Medicaid into a block grant program would also jeopardize support for millions of babies because Medicaid finances approximately half of all the nation\u2019s births. Congressman Price has also championed the repeal of the Affordable Care Act, which would deprive 20 million Americans of health care coverage and raise the cost of prescription drugs for seniors by reopening the \u201cdonut hole,\u201d which is the gap that has to be filled by a senior to pay for prescription drugs. This gap was closed by the Affordable Care Act and would be reopened with repeal of the law. The question I have for President-elect Trump and his Administration is how nominating the architect of schemes to destroy Medicare and Medicaid is consistent with his promises to protect these programs?\u00a0 As a member of the Senate Finance Committee and Health Education Labor and Pensions (HELP) Committees I will closely examine his record and pose questions regarding these and other vital issues in order to protect seniors and families in Pennsylvania.\u201d\r\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["http://cartwright.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/cartwright-introduces-legislation-aimed-at-saving-consumers-money", "Cartwright Introduces Legislation Aimed at Saving Consumers Money, Conserving Water", "2016-12-02", "2016", "2016-12", "Democrat", "House", "PA", "Matt Cartwright", "C001090", "cartwright.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Washington, DC \u2013 Today, U.S. Representative Matt Cartwright introduced the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) Plumbing Research Act of 2016 (H.R. 6424), legislation that would invest in research to bring the data for U.S. plumbing standards into the 21st century, making our plumbing systems safer, more reliable, and more water-efficient.\nThe bill accomplishes this by directing the NIST to conduct research on plumbing systems.\n\u201cAmerican consumers today reap the benefits of state-of-the-art water fixtures and appliances, such as water-saving shower heads and efficient washing machines,\u201d said Rep. Cartwright.\u00a0 \u201cHowever, the plumbing that carries water to these fixtures and appliances has not kept pace.\u00a0 In fact, the research and data which are the basis for U.S. plumbing structure, design, and construction standards have barely changed since they were developed in the early 20th century.\u00a0 As a result, even newly built plumbing systems are often inefficient and inappropriate for current plumbing fixtures and appliances.\u201d\nThis mismatch of technologies can cause problems.\u00a0 For example, an outdated algorithm for estimating water demand leads builders to use unnecessarily large pipes, supplying more water than needed to buildings.\u00a0 This wastes water that is critical to the wellbeing of our communities and our environment.\u00a0 Excess water lingering in pipes can be a health hazard, potentially harboring pathogens such as Legionella bacteria, which is responsible for Legionnaires' disease.\u00a0 In addition, water flow through these improperly sized pipes can be too weak to move solids, resulting in sewage backups and costly repairs for consumers.\n\u201cThe NIST Plumbing Research Act of 2016 is a win on multiple fronts.\u00a0 It will spark innovation in the plumbing industry,\u201d Rep. Cartwright said.\u00a0 \u201cConsumers will save money thanks to fewer plumbing repairs, and will be exposed to fewer health risks.\u00a0 And better plumbing means more water conservation and better use of our fresh water resources.\u201d", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["http://kelly.house.gov/press-release/house-passes-national-defense-bill-wkelly-amendment-ban-funding-un-arms-trade-treaty", "House Passes National Defense Bill w/Kelly Amendment to Ban Funding for UN Arms Trade Treaty", "2016-12-02", "2016", "2016-12", "Republican", "House", "PA", "Mike Kelly", "K000376", "kelly.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Compromise bill includes largest pay raise for troops in 6 years \nWASHINGTON \u2014 U.S. Representative Mike Kelly (R-PA) issued the following statement today regarding the Conference Report to Accompany S. 2943, also known as the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) for Fiscal Year 2017, compromise legislation with the U.S. Senate which will fully fund the United States Armed Forces and ensure that American troops have the resources required to successfully defend the homeland and achieve their missions abroad. The bill was passed by the House of Representatives earlier today by a bipartisan vote of 375-34. It includes an amendment offered annually by Rep. Kelly to prohibit funding for the Department of Defense (DoD) for the implementation of the U.N. Arms Trade Treaty (ATT).\n\u201cThe People\u2019s House has once again fulfilled its sacred duty to provide our nation\u2019s defenders and warfighters with the resources they need to defeat our enemies and defend freedom around the world. Among other features, this NDAA includes the largest pay raise for our troops in six years. Additionally, I am very glad that my colleagues once again unanimously approved my commonsense amendment to prevent taxpayer dollars from being used to undermine our sovereignty, harm our allies, or threaten our Second Amendment rights through the dangerous UN ATT. I look forward to the president signing this legislation to keep all Americans safe.\u201d\n\n\tBACKGROUND: Rep. Kelly is a national leader of the movement to stop the United Nations Arms Trade Treaty (ATT). On March 15, 2013, he introduced H. Con. Res. 23, a bipartisan concurrent resolution expressing opposition to the treaty on behalf of members of Congress. The resolution earned 149 co-sponsors in the House and 36 supporters in the Senate. On May 30, 2013, Rep. Kelly submitted a bipartisan letter with 130 co-signers from Congress to both President Obama and Secretary Kerry urging them to reject the treaty. He sent a similar bipartisan letter to the president following Secretary Kerry\u2019s signing of the treaty on October 15, 2013, which was signed by 181 members of Congress, including multiple committee chairmen. A follow-up letter was sent to the White House on April, 20, 2014.\nOn September 5, 2014, Rep. Kelly submitted a letter to President Obama voicing opposition to the planned First Conference of State Parties (CSP) to the ATT \u2013 a UN-backed gathering to shape the treaty\u2019s future \u2013 due to its exclusion of any organizations critical of the treaty.\nOn March 2, 2015, Rep. Kelly sent a letter to President Obama co-signed by 34 new members of Congress elected in 2014 to express unified opposition to the ATT and a firm commitment to deny any federal funding for the treaty\u2019s implementation.\nOn May 19, 2016, the House passed H.R. 4909, the House-authored draft of the NDAA for Fiscal Year 2017, which included Rep. Kelly\u2019s amendment to continue the annual ban on funding by DoD for the implementation of the ATT. The amendment was the strongest version to date, updating the language of Rep. Kelly\u2019s previous amendments that were enacted into law in previous NDAAs.\n\u00a0\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["http://kelly.house.gov/press-release/rep-kelly-rep-doyle-introduce-fixing-medicare-hospital-payments-act", "Rep. Kelly & Rep. Doyle Introduce  Fixing Medicare Hospital Payments Act", "2016-12-02", "2016", "2016-12", "Republican", "House", "PA", "Mike Kelly", "K000376", "kelly.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Bipartisan bill will increase wages for Western PA hospitals \nWASHINGTON \u2014 U.S. Representatives Mike Kelly (R-PA) and Mike Doyle (D-PA) issued the following statements today regarding H.R. 6399, the Fixing Medicare Hospital Payments Act of 2016, which they introduced in the House of Representatives earlier this week. The legislation would create a Medicare wage index floor for hospitals in metropolitan areas with populations of two million or more, which would increase Medicare payments to hospitals in the Greater Pittsburgh area.\nStatement by Rep. Kelly:\u00a0\n\u201cThe current Medicare wage index is an unfair deal for Western Pennsylvania hospitals and their workers. Because the federal government currently assigns hospitals in our area a low wage index, employers throughout the region have to pick up the cost through increased insurance premiums for their employees. With this commonsense bill, a new wage index floor would be created, insurance premiums would decrease, hospital wages would increase, and Western Pennsylvania\u2019s economy would become stronger. Those who provide life-saving care to our neighbors, friends, and loved ones deserve nothing less.\u201d\nStatement by Rep. Doyle:\u00a0\n\u201cThe current Medicare formula for calculating reimbursements unfairly penalizes hospitals in mid-sized cities like Pittsburgh, and it places unfair pressure on the wages that their hard-working employees receive. This bill would fix that formula to more accurately reflect the actual wages for health care personnel in mid-sized cities. It\u2019s my belief that such a change would make it easier for hospitals in places like Pittsburgh to pay their employees what they deserve.\u201d\nBACKGROUND: The Medicare Wage Index is part of the calculation used by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) to determine reimbursements for each hospital across the United States. Information on labor costs are submitted to CMS and used to determine a \u201cwage index\u201d for each of the nation\u2019s regions. The Pittsburgh core-based statistical area (CBSA) includes several Western Pennsylvania counties including Butler and Armstrong and consistently has one of the lowest wage indexes in America for major metropolitan areas.\nThe Medicare Wage Index for Pittsburgh has declined significantly since 1997 and continues to spiral downwards. Because the annual wages paid by hospitals are not as high as other parts of the nation, the Greater Pittsburgh area\u2019s wage index has continually decreased, thus causing hospitals in the region to receive reduced reimbursements from Medicare. This \u201ccircularity\u201d in the Pittsburgh CBSA has resulted in the loss of approximately $1 billion to hospitals around Pittsburgh and the region\u2019s economy.\nH.R. 6399 would create a metropolitan wage index floor of 0.94 for hospitals in metropolitan areas with a population of two million or more (Pittsburgh\u2019s current wage index is 0.85) and is budget neutral.\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 ###", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["http://shuster.house.gov/index.cfm?sectionid=49&itemid=812", "Defense Measure Negotiated by Shuster Passes House", "2016-12-02", "2016", "2016-12", "Republican", "House", "PA", "Bill Shuster", "S001154", "shuster.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "WASHINGTON, DC \u2013The National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) that Congressman Bill Shuster (R-Hollidaysburg) had been helping negotiate with the Senate since July passed the House Friday morning. S.2943, the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2017 authorizes $619 billion for the Department of Defense.\r\n\r\n\t\u201cWe live in a dangerous world, and the strength of our armed forces is the key to protecting our homeland and defeating our enemies, especially radical\u00a0Islamic terrorists,\u201d said Congressman Shuster. \u201cAs we crafted this legislation, I worked to help reverse the devastating toll the Obama Administration has taken on our armed forces - ensuring we do not compromise our warfighters when comes to providing the necessary funding they need to execute their mission.\u201d\r\n\r\n\tThis legislation, which ensures that our military has the tools they need to protect and defend the United States, provides a 2.1% pay raise for our troops, increases ground and aviation training, strengthens healthcare for our men and women serving, and makes investments to continue modernizing and improving our nation\u2019s weapons systems.\r\n\r\n\tA continued top priority for Congressman Shuster is also rejecting the Obama Administration, and House and Senate Democrats call for a Base Realignment and Closure (BRAC) round. Congressman Shuster\u2019s language to prohibit a BRAC from taking place was successfully included in the final version of the NDAA that passed on Friday.\r\n\r\n\t\u201cThis legislation also provides critical resources here in Pennsylvania to support the mission of Letterkenny Army\u00a0Depot, and keep the installation off the chopping block and safe to continue its key mission of\u00a0supporting Army operations,\u201d continued Shuster. \u201cFurther,\u00a0the NDAA contains the legislative measures needed to allow the military to continue its efforts with our allies to find and kill enemies like ISIS and protect against new and emerging threats across the globe.\u201d\r\n\r\n\t###", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://dent.house.gov/index.cfm?p=PressReleases&ContentRecord_id=2058611C-4A6E-4161-8E2A-317F29581F40", "Dent Votes for Key Military Funding Bill", "2016-12-02", "2016", "2016-12", "Republican", "House", "PA", "Charlie Dent", "D000604", "dent.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "WASHINGTON, D.C. - This morning, the House of Representatives passed the Fiscal Year 2017 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA).\u00a0 The NDAA authorizes annual funding levels and establishes new Department of Defense (DOD) policies and guidance.\u00a0 Congressman Charlie Dent (PA-15) expressed his support for the bill\u2019s passage with the following remarks:\r\n\u201cThe NDAA is a critical bill that provides for our troops and their families by authorizing the funding and resources that they rely on to carry out their missions safely and successfully.\u00a0 I applaud the bipartisan spirit of this legislation that will solidify our military readiness, make the Department of Defense more efficient, reassure our allies, and improve the health and livelihoods of our service members.\u201d\u00a0\r\n\u201cThis bill will also provide greater security for those troops in our community who train at Fort Indiantown Gap by authorizing the construction of a $20 million security perimeter at the base that was funded earlier this year as a result of my work as Chairman of the Military Construction and Veterans Affairs Appropriations Subcommittee.\u201d\r\nKey provisions in the FY 2017 NDAA include:\u00a0\r\n \r\na funding boost of $9 billion over and above the Obama\u2019s Administration\u2019s request ($619 billion total);\r\na significant pay increase of 2.1% for our troops \u2013 the largest in six years;\r\nbarriers that prohibit transferring Guantanamo Bay detainees to American soil;\r\nan end to the force drawdown and an increase in overall force strength;\r\nadditional health choices for servicemembers through TRICARE;\r\nreforms to address and combat instances of sexual assault;\r\nkey provisions to revamp the DOD acquisition process to assure quality and avert cost overruns\u00a0\r\n \r\n\u201cOur national security and the NDAA have maintained a longstanding tradition of bipartisan support, and I am proud to see that continue this year through the passage of this bill.\u00a0 The needs of our troops and their loved ones should always stand above partisan politics, and this legislation will go a long way to ensure that we remain vigilant and prepared to counter any threat or adversary,\u201d Representative Dent concluded.\r\nThe bill passed by a vote of 375 to 34.\r\n###\r\nCONTACT: Shawn Millan (610) 770-3490", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://dent.house.gov/index.cfm?p=PressReleases&ContentRecord_id=86AD858B-2EC4-47BE-BF6C-E4A2BDC173FF", "Rep. Dent Applauds Mattis for Secretary of Defense Announcement", "2016-12-02", "2016", "2016-12", "Republican", "House", "PA", "Charlie Dent", "D000604", "dent.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "WASHINGTON D.C. -\u00a0\u00a0Representative Charlie Dent (PA-15) released the following statement today applauding the news that President-Elect Donald Trump has named retired United States Marine Corps General James N. Mattis as his choice to serve as Secretary of Defense.\r\n\u201cI commend President-Elect Donald Trump for naming retired United States Marine Corp General James Mattis as his choice for Secretary of Defense. I believe that General Mattis will serve our country and the men and women of our Armed Forces with the same distinction and integrity as he did for four decades wearing the uniform of the United States Marines.\u00a0 As Chairman of the Appropriations Subcommittee that is tasked with meeting our nation\u2019s military construction needs, I look forward to working with General Mattis and his team.\u201d\r\n###\r\nCONTACT: Shawn Millan (610) 770-3490", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://rothfus.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/rothfus-statement-house-passage-defense-funding-bill", "Rothfus Statement on House Passage of Defense Funding Bill", "2016-12-02", "2016", "2016-12", "Republican", "House", "PA", "Keith Rothfus", "R000598", "rothfus.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Washington, D.C.\u00a0\u2013 Congressman Keith [PA-12] released the following statement after the House passed the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2017 (S. 2943):\n\u201cWe live in an age of unprecedented threats to our homeland as well as to our allies, especially Israel,\u201d\u00a0said Congressman Rothfus. \u201cOur military must be ready and capable of dealing with threats from China, North Korea, Iran, and other hostile regimes as well as non-state actors. In these uncertain and dangerous times, we must be prepared to face nuclear threats, cyber attacks, terrorism, or any type of military challenge. This legislation ensures that our military can begin to rebuild its strength and will have the resources necessary to support ongoing operations around the globe.\u201d\nHe continued, \u201cThis legislation also provides for continued funding for Israel\u2019s missile defense requirements. Israel is undoubtedly a crucial ally in the Middle East and their security is essential to stability in that region.\u201d\nThe NDAA supports $619 billion for national defense. In addition to matching the President\u2019s original budget request of $610 billion, the NDAA also authorizes the $5.8 billion supplemental request for operations in Iraq, Afghanistan, and Europe and a further $3.2 billion for Readiness Stabilization Funding, to stop the drawdown of the military, which is fueling the readiness crisis.\n-30-", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://www.casey.senate.gov/about/highlight/camp-out-for-hunger", "Camp Out for Hunger", "2016-12-02", "2016", "2016-12", "Democrat", "House", "PA", "Bob Casey", "C001070", "www.casey.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Senator Robert P. Casey\n\t\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\t\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\t\r\n\t\t\t\t\r\n\t\t\t\t\t \r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\r\n                                    \r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\r\n                                \r\n                                     About\r\n                                    \t\r\n                                        \r\n                                            \r\n                                        \r\n                                    \r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\r\n                                    \r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\r\n                                \r\n                                     Issues\r\n                                    \t\r\n                                        \r\n                                    \r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\r\n                                    \r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\r\n                                \r\n                                     Get Help\r\n                                    \t\r\n                                        \r\n                                    \r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\r\n                                    \r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\r\n                                \r\n                                     Make a Request\r\n                                    \t\r\n                                        \r\n                                            \r\n                                        \r\n                                    \r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\r\n                                    \r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\r\n                                \r\n                                     Newsroom\r\n                                    \t\r\n                                        \r\n                                            \r\n                                        \r\n                                    \r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\r\n                                    \r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\r\n                                \r\n                                     Contact", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["http://shuster.house.gov/index.cfm?sectionid=49&itemid=811", "Opioid Funding, Mental Health Reform, and Lyme Disease Research Legislation Sails Through House", "2016-12-01", "2016", "2016-12", "Republican", "House", "PA", "Bill Shuster", "S001154", "shuster.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "WASHINGTON, DC \u2013 Congressman Bill Shuster (R-Hollidaysburg) helped pass the 21st Century Cures Act on Wednesday. This landmark legislation reforms the way the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approves new drugs and devices, while increasing funding for medical research at the National Institute of Health (NIH)\r\n\r\n\tThe Cures Act also includes immensely needed mental health reforms, $1 billion in funding for the continued efforts to fight the opioid epidemic, and language requiring the Secretary of Health and Human Services to submit a strategic plan to Congress for improving diagnostic treatment and prevention of Lyme disease.\r\n\r\n\t\u201cThis legislation is going to save lives and change the way we cure diseases, and it\u2019s a prime example of what can be accomplished in Congress when we work together,\u201d said Congressman Shuster.\u00a0 \u201cOur region has lost wonderful people to the opioid epidemic, and I\u2019m going to continue to do everything I can to ensure we are providing our communities with the tools needed to combat this growing crisis. Another issue we can\u2019t forget at home is the devastating effects Lyme disease is having on thousands in Central and Southwestern Pennsylvania. The Cures Act will not stop these problems for good, but it is another major step in stopping them in the future.\u201d\r\n\r\n\tFor the 10,000 known diseases there are only 500 treatments. The Cures Act will make investments to the National Institute of Health (NIH) along with the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). These investments will go to streamlining the approval process for drugs and devices to assist them in getting to the market faster. The current system is broken, as it takes nearly 14 years and billions of dollars to develop new drugs to fight rare diseases. In order to reduce costs and speed up approval times the Cures Act will make it easier for the NIH, FDA, and other research arms of the government to partner on studies and share data as they work together to finding cures to diseases like Alzheimer\u2019s and Parkinson\u2019s.\r\n\r\n\tAnother key provision in the legislation was the inclusion of the Helping Families in Mental Health Crisis Act, which was an overhaul of our flawed mental health system that passed the House earlier this year. The mental health reforms in the legislation will make certain that grant funds are allocated to projects that are scientifically and medically sound so that 100 percent of the funds are toward fixing the broken system. The legislation also requires the federal government better coordinate the different mental health treatment programs with one another.\r\n\r\n\t\u201cOur mental health system has failed far too many Americans, and these reforms are necessary to increase treatment options for those battling illnesses while also making it easier for families to help their loved ones get the help they need,\u201d continued Shuster. \u201cMy colleague Congressman Murphy has worked hard to fix our mental health system, and I was happy to work closely with him to get this legislation across the finish line.\u201d\r\n\r\n\tHighlights of 21st Century Cures Act\r\n\r\n\t-$1 billion in funding over two years to expanded opioid treatment programs-NIH Innovation Account receives $4.8 billion, FDA Innovation Account receives $500 million. Also authorizes increased NIH funding for 2018-2020-Includes Helping Families in Mental Health Crisis Act\r\n\r\n\t-Requires the Secretary of Health and Human Services to submit a strategic plan to Congress for improving diagnostic treatment and prevention of Lyme disease", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["http://toomey.senate.gov?p=news&id=1849", "U.S. Senate Honors “The King,” Arnold Palmer", "2016-12-01", "2016", "2016-12", "Republican", "House", "PA", "Patrick Toomey", "T000461", "toomey.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Washington, D.C. - The United States Senate passed a bipartisan resolution introduced by Senators Bob Casey (D-Pa.) and Pat Toomey (R-Pa.) to honor the life and legacy of Latrobe, Pennsylvania native Arnold Palmer.\n\"Arnold Palmer was a legendary golfer who also dedicated his life to Western Pennsylvania,\" said Sen. Casey. \"He'll always be remembered as \u2018The King' on the golf course, but just as importantly our nation will remember him for his charitable endeavors, like his work to invest in cancer research. As we express condolences to his family, this resolution will honor his life and his work.\"\n\"Arnold Palmer represents the best of Pennsylvania. While \u2018The King' is famous for his golf career, he is renowned for his generosity, kindness, and commitment to his community,\" said Sen. Toomey. \"His roots in Western Pennsylvania run deep, calling Latrobe home his entire life. Arnold once said \u2018your hometown is not where you're from - it's who you are.' He lived by that motto every day.\"\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["http://toomey.senate.gov?p=news&id=1850", "Toomey's Take: A Loving Home for Every Child", "2016-12-01", "2016", "2016-12", "Republican", "House", "PA", "Patrick Toomey", "T000461", "toomey.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Every child needs and deserves a safe, stable, and loving home life. My wife, Kris, and I have been blessed with three wonderful, healthy children. We cherish them and place our obligations to them above all other responsibilities. But for hundreds of thousands of children, circumstances have robbed them of the love and support of a family.\nFortunately, there are \"angels\" -- people who selflessly choose to open their hearts and their homes to children in need. These inspiring Americans reside all over the country and many are here in Pennsylvania.\nOne such \"angel organization\" is Diakon Adoption & Foster Care located throughout central and eastern Pennsylvania. As an organization that has been serving children and families since 1868, Diakon was one of the first agencies in the country to focus extensively on the placement of children with special needs-and one of the first in this state to offer foster-to-adopt services.Serving eastern and central Pennsylvania from multiple locations, Daikon works to ensure that adopted children in the commonwealth have the opportunity to safely grow up as a member of a loving family. The organization employs a range of cutting-edge approaches, particularly in serving older kids in danger of aging out of foster care without the permanence of a family and in preparing everyone involved in foster care or adoption for the challenges they may face.\nDiakon has been a lifeline to thousands of children and families in Pennsylvania. Each year, Diakon serves more than 70,000 people across the state, cultivates relationships with dependable and loving families, navigates innumerable legal hurdles and places hundreds of children in the loving arms of their new and joy-filled parents.\nAs the holidays approach, it is important to remember why organizations like Diakon are critical for so many families. We can all lose sight of what is important during the holiday season because of what it brings - the house to decorate, cookies to be made, presents to be bought, cards to be sent-and that's just the tip of the iceberg. But organizations like Diakon spend countless hours to ensure that foster children across the state have a loving home and family with which to spend their holiday.\nEach year, Members of Congress recognize community leaders who have truly made a difference for children by nominating an individual or organization to be an \"Angel in Adoption.\"\nThe \"Angels in Adoption\" program was established in 1999 by the Congressional Coalition on Adoption Institute. Since then, the program has honored more than 1,800 individuals, families, and organizations. I was pleased this year to nominate Diakon Adoption & Foster Care as Pennsylvania's \"Angel in Adoption.\"\nOur commonwealth is full of such unsung heroes whose work and community service are directed to finding ways to improve the circumstances of others and the condition of our communities.\nThank you, Diakon Adoption & Foster Care, for your commitment to the children of Pennsylvania.\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["http://toomey.senate.gov?p=video&id=1851", "It's Past Time for Action on Dangerous Sanctuary Cities", "2016-12-01", "2016", "2016-12", "Republican", "House", "PA", "Patrick Toomey", "T000461", "toomey.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Johnstown    Richland Square III, Suite 302   1397 Eisenhower Blvd   Johnstown, PA 15904   Phone: (814) 266-5970   Fax: (814) 266-5973  Map: Get Directions\nPlease call for an appointment before visiting our Johnstown office.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://boyle.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/boyle-and-veasey-form-blue-collar-caucus-congress", "Boyle and Veasey form Blue Collar Caucus in Congress", "2016-12-01", "2016", "2016-12", "Democrat", "House", "PA", "Brendan Boyle", "B001296", "boyle.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "WASHINGTON, DC\u2013 Today, Congressmen Brendan F. Boyle (D-PA-13) and Marc Veasey (D-TX-33) announced the formation of the Blue Collar Caucus to focus Congressional efforts on alleviating the economic anxiety felt by working class Americans that was so pronounced in the 2016 election, and re-engage Democratic efforts to reach these voters.\n  \n\tDiscussing the aims of the caucus, Congressman Boyle said, \u201cToo many Americans think the best days for their families are behind them. And they\u2019ve lost faith in their elected leaders to stand up for their best interests, protect their rights, and promote their prosperity. We can and must do better.\u201d Boyle continued, \u201cThe America I grew up in \u2013 and the one I still see today \u2013 is a forward-looking nation built by blue collar workers of all colors, crafts, and creeds. These workers literally built our nation. Now it is our duty in Washington to rebuild their trust in government by working for them.\u201d\n  \n\tCongressman Veasey said, \u201cEvery hardworking American should have the economic security to provide for their families. Congress has the responsibility to enact policies that ensure an equal opportunity for all American workers to climb the ladder of success.\u201d Veasey reflected, \u201cThrough my monthly \u2018Marc Means Business\u2019 initiative where I work alongside constituents in both large and small businesses, I\u2019ve learned that Americans want real action to create jobs, raise wages, and ensure that they can improve the quality of life for their families and for future generations. Our caucus will focus on exactly that.\u201d\n  \n\tThe Blue Collar Caucus will foster member discussion and legislative ideas focused on addressing wage stagnation, job insecurity, trade, offshoring, and dwindling career opportunities for those in the manufacturing and building trades. The caucus will focus on bringing together a diverse array of Democratic members of the House of Representatives to generate solutions that will protect American workers from globalized competition, maintain the viability of domestic manufacturing, and help to cultivate innovative industries that can provide stable employment amid rapid technological advancement. \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0\u00a0  \n\t###", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://evans.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/congressmen-brady-and-evans-ask-house-appropriations-leadership-help", "Congressmen Brady and Evans ask House Appropriations leadership to help find funding to alleviate major poverty issues impacting the Districts\u2019 children", "2016-12-01", "2016", "2016-12", "Democrat", "House", "PA", "Dwight Evans", "E000296", "evans.house.gov", "evans", "https://evans.house.gov/media/press-releases", "scraper", "PHILADELPHIA --- In a joint letter to House Appropriations Committee Chair Hal Roger (R., KY-5) and Ranking Member Nita Lowery (D., NY-17), Congressmen Bob Brady (D., PA-1) and Dwight Evans (D., PA-2) outlined major poverty issues in their Districts that have a direct impact on children. They stressed, \u201cWe hope that in this drastically different new political climate with several competing priorities, that we can still ascertain ways to both alleviate and find permanent solutions to the problems plaguing our Districts the most.\u201d\n\nThe issues highlighted are:\n\nAging Home and Lead Paint\n\nRequesting restoration of Federal funding for lead abatement. Philadelphia has had to cut over 60% of positions used to monitor and enforce lead paint laws and restrictions. Nearly 2,700 children in Philadelphia tested positive for harmful lead levels in 2015.\n\nChild Nutrition\n\nNeed to maintain or increase federally subsidized school meals. H.R. 5003, the Improving Child Nutrition and Education Act of 2016, would severely limit the number of children receiving free and reduced lunches.\n\nEducation\n\nNeed for increased funding. The Philadelphia School District ranks lowest in terms of funding per student and has the highest enrollment of low income students.\n\nIn closing, Brady and Evans stressed bipartisanship. \u201cThough it remains to be seen what direction many of President-elect Trump\u2019s policies will take, we are hopeful that we will be able to find common ground with his Administration on some of the above issues and restore robust funding so the children in Philadelphia and our Districts have a brighter future. We look forward to the coming Congress and finding bipartisan solutions.\u201d\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-08T21:09:43Z"], ["https://rothfus.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/crucial-rothfus-provision-increasing-medicare-flexibility-seniors-passes", "Crucial Rothfus Provision Increasing Medicare Flexibility for Seniors Passes House", "2016-12-01", "2016", "2016-12", "Republican", "House", "PA", "Keith Rothfus", "R000598", "rothfus.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Washington, D.C. \u2013 Congressman Keith Rothfus [PA-12] released the following statement after the House passed the 21st Century Cures Act (H.R. 34), which included his provision that would restore the open enrollment period for Medicare Advantage beneficiaries, who until 2011, had the ability to change Medicare Advantage plans one time during the first three months of the year.\u00a0\n\u201cMy provision is critical for seniors who discover that their Medicare plan doesn\u2019t meet their needs. It gives them flexibility and restores the 90-day window to find a plan that works best for them,\u201d\u00a0saidCongressman Rothfus. \u201cI applaud the inclusion of my provision in the 21st Century Cures Act as well as all the hard work that went into the bill to ensure that America remains a leader in medical innovation.\u201d\nWatch Congressman Rothfus\u2019 remarks on 21st Century Cures on the House Floor earlier today.\n-30-", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://rothfus.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/house-passes-bill-ensure-house-select-investigative-panel-infant-lives", "House Passes Bill to Ensure House Select Investigative Panel on Infant Lives Completes Its Work", "2016-12-01", "2016", "2016-12", "Republican", "House", "PA", "Keith Rothfus", "R000598", "rothfus.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Mr. Speaker,\n\t\t\t\t\tI rise today in support of this resolution.\u00a0 The Select Investigative Panel on Infant Lives has been investigating potential violations of the federal law that makes it illegal to sell fetal tissue \u2013 that\u2019s body parts \u2013 for profit. The evidence reviewed reveals appalling practices. For example, on video, we saw one Planned Parenthood doctor talking about doing \u201cless crunchy\u201d methods of abortion without the consent of the woman. This was to make sure they had intact body parts to sell.\n\t\t\t\t\tThe gruesome practices the Panel discovered shock the conscience.\u00a0 Where does this end?\n\t\t\t\t\tIt was startling to learn that the taxpayer-funded University of New Mexico had a summer program for high school students in which students dissected the brains of unborn children.\u00a0\u00a0\n\t\t\t\t\tThink about that. We are talking about high school students \u2013 16-year-olds \u2013 dissecting the brains of someone within the age group of their own siblings. What barbarity are we teaching our children?\n\t\t\t\t\tThe Select Panel must move forward with its investigation into these alarming violations of law and assaults on human dignity and conscience.\u00a0 It is incumbent upon us as elected leaders, and more simply, as human beings with well-formed consciences, to complete this investigation and bring about justice in these cases.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\n\t\t\t\t\tThank you.\n\t\t\t\t\t-30-", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://rothfus.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/rothfus-backed-bill-improve-sifi-designation-process-passes-house", "Rothfus-Backed Bill to Improve SIFI Designation Process Passes House", "2016-12-01", "2016", "2016-12", "Republican", "House", "PA", "Keith Rothfus", "R000598", "rothfus.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Washington, D.C.\u00a0\u2013 Congressman Keith Rothfus [PA-12] released the following statement after the House passed the Systemic Risk Designation Improvement Act (H.R. 6392), which offers a common-sense approach to the process of designating systemically important financial institutions (SIFIs). Dodd-Frank sets an arbitrary $50 billion threshold for identifying SIFIs and deciding which firms pose a risk to the stability of the financial system. Congressman Rothfus was a sponsor of the original legislation on which this bill was based.\n\u201cSIFI designation impacts a firm\u2019s lending ability, and therefore, a firm\u2019s customers and their customers\u2019 ability to thrive. Arbitrary and heavy-handed Dodd-Frank rules and regulations, including SIFI designations, have directly hurt small businesses making it harder for them to create jobs and making it harder for average households to get credit. This decision is not trivial,\u201d\u00a0said Congressman Rothfus. \u201cIf we really care about protecting financial stability and having a healthy financial system, we have a responsibility to pursue a fairer, more transparent, and more accurate process. The approach set forth under H.R. 6392 represents a more rational process for evaluating financial institutions, as opposed to the Washington tradition of a one-size-fits-all bludgeon.\u201d\n-30-", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["http://brady.house.gov/press-release/congressmen-brady-and-evans-ask-house-appropriations-leadership-help-find-funding", "Congressmen Brady and Evans ask House Appropriations leadership to help find funding to alleviate major poverty issues impacting the Districts children", "2016-11-30", "2016", "2016-11", "Democrat", "House", "PA", "Robert Brady", "B001227", "brady.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "PHILADELPHIA --- In a joint letter to House Appropriations Committee Chair Hal Roger (R., KY-5) and Ranking Member Nita Lowery (D., NY-17), Congressmen Bob Brady (D., PA-1) and Dwight Evans (D., PA-2) \u00a0outlined major poverty issues in their Districts that have a direct impact on children. They stressed, \u201cWe hope that in this drastically different new political climate\u00a0 with several competing priorities, that we can still ascertain ways to both alleviate and find permanent solutions to the problems plaguing our Districts the most.\u201d\nThe issues highlighted are:\nAging Home and Lead Paint\nRequesting restoration of Federal funding for lead abatement. Philadelphia has had to cut over 60% of positions used to monitor and enforce lead paint laws and restrictions. Nearly 2,700 children in Philadelphia tested positive for harmful lead levels in 2015.\nChild Nutrition\nNeed to maintain or increase federally subsidized school meals. H.R. 5003, the Improving Child Nutrition and Education Act of 2016, would severely limit the number of children receiving free and reduced lunches.\nEducation\nNeed for increased funding. The Philadelphia School District ranks lowest in terms of funding per student and has the highest enrollment of low income students.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\n\u00a0\nIn closing, Brady and Evans stressed bipartisanship. \u201cThough it remains to be seen what direction many of President-elect Trump\u2019s policies will take, we are hopeful that we will be able to find common ground with his Administration \u00a0on some of the above issues and restore robust funding so the children in Philadelphia and our Districts have a brighter future. We look forward to the coming Congress and finding bipartisan solutions.\u201d", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["http://kelly.house.gov/press-release/rep-kelly-praises-house-passage-veterans-bills", "Rep. Kelly Praises House Passage of Veterans Bills", "2016-11-30", "2016", "2016-11", "Republican", "House", "PA", "Mike Kelly", "K000376", "kelly.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "WASHINGTON \u2014 U.S. Representative Mike Kelly (R-PA) issued the following statement today in support of five pieces of legislation to support American military veterans and reform the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA). Each bill was passed unanimously by the House of Representatives yesterday evening, except for H.R. 5047, which is expected to pass today.\n\u201cI am very proud to see the People\u2019s House take such strong and united action for our nation\u2019s veterans. Each man and woman who serves our country in uniform deserves the fullest respect and appreciation from every single American. Lawmakers in particular have a sacred duty to defend those who defended us in the legislation we pass, whether it\u2019s to protect their benefits, improve their health care, or help them find work on the homefront. These commonsense bills help us meet all these objectives and make sure the VA is supporting veterans with the utmost care and accountability.\u201d\nNOTE: The individual bills passed unanimously by the House (or soon to pass) include:\n H.R. 5166 \u2013 The WINGMAN (Working to Integrate Networks\u00a0 Guaranteeing\u00a0 Member\u00a0 Access\u00a0 Now) Act, as amended. This bill enables congressional staff, which would include staff sometimes referred to as \u201ccaseworkers\u201d, to have \u201cread only\u201d access to veterans\u2019 records in the databases of the Veterans Benefits Administration (VBA), if the veteran provides permission to the Congressional office to allow his or her records to be accessed. (Sponsored by Rep. Ted Yoho/Veterans Affairs Committee)\n  H.R. 3286 \u2013 The HIRE Vets Act, as amended. This bill requires the Department of Labor (DOL) to establish the HIRE Vets Medallion Program, within one year of enactment, to annually recognize businesses for their efforts to employ veterans. (Sponsored by Rep. Paul Cook/Veterans Affairs Committee)\n  H.R. 5600 \u2013 The No Hero Left Untreated Act, as amended. This bill requires the VA to carry out a one-year pilot program to use magnetic EEG/EKG-guided resonance therapy to treat a limited number of veterans with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), traumatic brain injury (TBI), chronic pain, or opiate addiction, or who have experienced military sexual trauma. This therapy has shown promising results in addressing symptoms of PTSD and TBI among certain veteran patients. (Sponsored by Rep. Steve Knight/Veterans Affairs Committee)\n  H.R. 5458 \u2013 The Veterans TRICARE Choice Act of 2016. This bill allows certain individuals who are automatically eligible for TRICARE (the health benefits program of the Department of Defense) to elect to be temporarily ineligible for that benefit, which would allow those individuals to contribute to health savings accounts (HSAs), which are tax-advantaged accounts used to pay health expenses. (Sponsored by Rep. Chris Stewart /Ways and Means Committee)\n ###", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["http://kelly.house.gov/press-release/rep-kelly-supports-21st-century-cures-ac", "Rep. Kelly Supports 21st Century Cures Act", "2016-11-30", "2016", "2016-11", "Republican", "House", "PA", "Mike Kelly", "K000376", "kelly.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "House passes patient-centered bill to boost health care innovation \n Includes Kelly legislation to improve Medicare transparency \nWASHINGTON \u2014 U.S. Representative Mike Kelly (R-PA) \u2013 a member of the House Ways and Means Committee \u2013 issued the following statement today in support of the House Amendment to Senate Amendment to H.R. 34, the 21st Century Cures Act, which was passed by the House of Representatives this evening by a bipartisan vote of 392-26. The legislation, sponsored by House Energy & Commerce Chairman Fred Upton (R-WI), is a medical innovation package to improve patient treatments by promoting advancements in technology, eliminating regulations that stifle competition, providing resources to combat the growing opioid epidemic, ensuring critical support for those struggling with mental health, and supporting cutting-edge research and the next generation of scientists. The package includes H.R. 2505, the Medicare Advantage Coverage Transparency Act of 2015, which Rep. Kelly introduced on May 21, 2015, and which was passed unanimously by the House on June 17, 2015. The bill requires the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) to provide an annual report on the program's enrollment data to Congress, and is co-sponsored by Rep. Ron Kind (D-WI) and Rep. Gus Bilirakis (R-FL).\n\u201cThe Cures Act is wide in its reach and dramatic in its impact yet squarely focused on a singular goal: helping American patients beat their diseases and become healthy again. Thanks to this historic package, the future of American health care and medical innovation is brighter than ever. Our moms and dads and sons and daughters who face illnesses, along with the family members who care for them, can take heart that their fight just received brand new life-changing and, we pray, life-saving support.\n\u201cI am particularly proud that this powerful legislation includes my House-passed bill to make Medicare Advantage coverage more transparent for the benefit of our nation\u2019s seniors. This bill will bring key Medicare enrollment details into public view and equip lawmakers with important information so that we may make better decisions on behalf of our elderly constituents. I am also very glad to see my friend Rep. Murphy\u2019s transformational mental health reforms included in this package and applaud him for his tireless work in helping carry it past the finish line.\u201d\nNOTE: The 21st Century Cures Act achieves the following:\nCatalyzes cutting-edge research and personalized drug development.\n Authorizes innovation prize competitions to advance biomedical science for diseases that are serious and represent a significant burden. (Section 2002)\nEstablishes the Precision Medicine Initiative to help researchers develop medicines tailored to individuals, rather than one-size-fits-all treatments. (Section 2011)\nProvides opportunities for new researchers and promotes earlier research independence. (Section 2021)\nSupports high-risk, high-reward research that has the potential to transform the scientific field. (Section 2036)\u00a0\nExpedites the development and review of drugs for subgroups of rare disease patients by authorizing FDA to rely on data submitted in previously approved applications involving similar gene targeting technology. (Section 3012)\nReauthorizes the pediatric priority review voucher program incentivizing the development of drugs for rare pediatric diseases. (Section 3013)\n Modernizes clinical treats and evidence development.\n Directs FDA to provide clarity to drug developers about incorporating novel clinical trial designs into drug development. (Section 3021)\nSupports the utilization of real-world evidence in regulatory decision-making. (Section 3022)\nHarmonizes various regulations protecting patients in clinical trials to avoid duplication and unnecessary delays that researchers face on a daily basis. (Section 3023)\nAuthorizes FDA to rely upon qualified data summaries to support the approval of supplemental applications. (Section 3031)\nEstablishes an alternative approval pathway for sorely needed antimicrobial drugs intended for limited patient populations. (Section 3042)\n Brings the FDA into the 21st century.\n Removes the silos at FDA by transitioning the agency towards a disease-centric approach. (Section 3073)\n966Codifies a structured framework at FDA for the submission, review, and qualification of biomarkers that can be used to evaluate the safety and effectiveness of a product earlier in the process. (Section 3011)\nFosters development and utilization of incredibly promising approaches to regenerative medicine. (Sections 3033 - 3036)\nReforms the flawed combination product review process to provide certainty to manufacturers developing these complex therapies and technologies. (Section 3038)\nProvides long-overdue clarification regarding how medical product manufacturers can discuss the value of therapies and technologies with insurers and formulary committees. (Section 3037)\n Improves the medical device review process and reduces unnecessary regulation.\n Empowers FDA to apply efficient and flexible approaches to expedite the development and review of new medical technologies like the breakthrough path for drugs that Congress made law four years ago. (Section 3051)\nStreamlines medical device and diagnostic regulations and ensures FDA uses the least burdensome approaches necessary. (Sections 3052-3059)\nExempts certain software and personal health apps from FDA regulation. (Section 3060)\n Empowers patients to participate in research and development activities.\n Ensures that patients can voluntarily provide hospitals and research institutions authorization to use their personal health data for future research purposes. (Section 2063)\nPuts patients at the center of the drug development and FDA review process, requiring the FDA to routinely incorporate patient input and experiences into their regulatory decision-making. (Sections 3001-3004)\n Incentivizes the development of medical countermeasures and vaccines.\n Establishes a priority review voucher program that encourages the development of drugs and vaccines to protect Americans against agents that present a national security threat, like a bioterror attack. (Section 3086)\nProvides current and potential vaccine manufacturers with more predictable CDC timeframes. (Section 3091-3093)\n Fosters interoperable health records.\n Expedites the interoperability of electronic health record systems to help make good on the $30 billion taxpayer investment and benefit patients, providers, and researchers. (Sections 4003-4006)\n The mental health reforms included in the revised 21st Century Cures Act are based largely on H.R. 2646, the Helping Families in Mental Health Crisis Act, authored by Rep. Tim Murphy (R-PA), which passed the House in July by a vote of 422-2. This legislative effort represents the most significant reforms to the mental health system in more than a decade.\nThese landmark reforms will:\n Create a new Assistant Secretary for Mental Health and Substance Use to replace the Administrator at SAMHSA and coordinate mental health programs across the federal government.\nEstablish the National Mental Health and Substance Use Policy Lab to drive evidence-based grant making within SAMHSA.\nDirect the Secretary of HHS to undertake guidance to clarify when communication can take place under HIPAA to help ensure communication among providers, families, and patients to improve mental health treatment.\nImprove mental health care for children with serious emotional disturbance, or adults with serious mental illness, through targeted authorizations and reauthorizations, including expansion of Assisted Outpatient Treatment.\nStrengthen the nation\u2019s mental health workforce.\nReduce government spending by $5 million according to a preliminary analysis from the Congressional Budget Office.\n \u00a0\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 ###", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["http://perry.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=398429", "Rep. Perry Applauds Passage of Medical Innovation Bill", "2016-11-30", "2016", "2016-11", "Republican", "House", "PA", "Scott Perry", "P000605", "perry.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "WASHINGTON \u2013 Representative Scott Perry (R-PA) today voted in favor of the bipartisan 21st Century Cures Act (H.R. 34), a once-in-a-generation, transformational bill to change the way the United States treats both physical and mental diseases. The medical innovation package will bring hope for patients and accelerate cutting-edge treatments for rare diseases. It will also include the most significant reforms to our mental health system in more than a decade. Among other things, these reforms will modernize our mental health programs, improve mental health services for children, and strengthen our Nation\u2019s mental health reform workforce.\n\nThe 21st Century Cures Act takes an innovative approach by establishing a temporary Innovation Fund that maintains Congress\u2019s \u201cpower of the purse,\u201d rather than handing over spending authority to the executive branch or by using \u201cauto-pilot\u201d mandatory spending that is driving our $20 trillion debt. Importantly, this legislation is fully offset, meaning no net increases in federal spending and no additional burdens on the American taxpayer.\n\nThe 21st Century Cures Act passed the House by a bipartisan vote of 392 - 26. The bill now moves to the Senate for consideration before continuing to the President\u2019s desk to be signed into law.\n\n\u201cThis bill will save and improve lives at no additional cost to the American taxpayer. It also saves money by developing cures rather than continuing to pass on the heavy cost of chronic illness to consumers through health insurance premiums,\u201d said Representative Perry.\n\n\u201cThe 21st Century Cures Act is a groundbreaking approach to health reform that seeks better, faster, safer and more innovative approaches to treating diseases and medical conditions like Alzheimer\u2019s, mental health disorders, diabetes and opioid addiction that currently lack effective therapies,\u201d said Representative Perry. \u201cBy encouraging American innovation to find faster cures, we give hope to patients and improve the quality of life for millions.\u201d\n\nAdditional information on the 21st Century Cures Act:\n\nLegislative Text\n\nTwo-Page Fact Sheet\n\nSection-by-Section Summary\n\nResidents are encouraged to contact Congressman Perry and his staff at any of his offices, or via Perry.House.Gov, where they can sign up for e-mail updates and for his Facebook, Twitter and YouTube pages.\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["http://toomey.senate.gov?p=news&id=1852", "Toomey: Past Time for Action on Dangerous Sanctuary Cities", "2016-11-30", "2016", "2016-11", "Republican", "House", "PA", "Patrick Toomey", "T000461", "toomey.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Washington, D.C. - U.S. Senator Pat Toomey (R-Pa.) today continued his fight to protect our communities from violent criminals who are in the U.S. illegally by calling for action on his bill, the Stop Dangerous Sanctuary Cities Act.\nSen. Toomey has introduced legislation that would withhold certain federal funds from \"sanctuary cities\" - jurisdictions that forbid their law enforcement officers from cooperating with federal immigration officials. Sen. Toomey also outlined a way President-elect Trump could help keep violent criminals off our streets by issuing an Executive Order.\nDuring his speech today on the Senate floor, Sen. Toomey said:\n\"It is the legal policy of the City of Philadelphia to forbid local law enforcement from even cooperating - even sharing information with federal immigration officials when the person in question came here illegally. So we confer this special legal privilege on, in many cases, dangerous, violent criminals because they came here illegally. It's just unbelievable.\" \n\"I think it's very clear we have to act. How important is the rule of law to all of us? How important is the safety and security of the American people? And how important are the childhoods of the victims that we are hearing about repeatedly as recently as just this week? To me, the answer is clear. These are very important priorities. And we need to act.\" \nThe Stop Dangerous Sanctuary Cities Act received bipartisan support on the Senate floor in July. Senators Joe Manchin (D-W.Va.) and Joe Donnelly (D-Ind.) joined Republicans in voting to move forward this commonsense measure to help keep our communities safe.\nYou can watch Sen. Toomey's full remarks here.\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://dent.house.gov/index.cfm?p=PressReleases&ContentRecord_id=D6709D5E-98C6-4BD1-B8AA-E50739343D33", "Congressman Dent Cheers Passage of 21st Century Cures Legislation", "2016-11-30", "2016", "2016-11", "Republican", "House", "PA", "Charlie Dent", "D000604", "dent.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "(Washington, D.C.) Representative Charlie Dent (PA-15) cheered the passage of key health and science legislation in the House today.\r\n\u201cThe 21st Century Cures legislation represents a giant step forward to providing true medical hope to the American people for cures to some of the worst diseases we face,\u201d said Representative Dent. \u201cIt\u2019s aptly named because it brings 21st Century technology and methodology coupled with commonsense regulations to bear on killers like cancer, Alzheimer\u2019s and Parkinson\u2019s,\u201d he noted.  \r\nThe 21st Century Cures Legislation includes:\r\n $4.8 billion in new funding for the National Institute of Health \u2013  \r\n\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0-- makes a $1.5 billion investment in the Precision Medicine Initiative\r\n\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0-- bolsters the \u201cCancer Moonshot\u201d initiative by $1.8  billion;\r\n\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0-- provides additional investments in the BRAIN initiative  to increase our understanding of neurological diseases.\r\n The legislation focuses on a sensible regulatory model that will bring cures to patients in safer, faster fashion by: \r\n\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0-- modernizing clinical trials with an emphasis placed on improving the means by which safety and efficacy information is collected, analyzed and shared;\r\n\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0-- putting patients and their needs to the forefront in the regulatory review process;\r\n\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0-- encouraging a working relationship between the regulators and medical innovators to help them in bringing 21st Century Cures to patients;\r\n\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0-- incentivizing the development of drugs to help cure and treat pediatric diseases.\r\nDent also praised the inclusion of comprehensive mental health reforms passed in July as part of the Helping Families in Mental Health Crisis Reform bill authored by Rep. Tim Murphy (PA-18).\u00a0\r\n\u201cOne of the most common requests I hear from families and caregivers who are doing their utmost to help a child or family member with a mental health condition is the need for them to have a greater say in the care of their child or loved one. This bill will finally help parents by allowing them greater access to work with doctors and mental health professionals in the treatment of their loved ones,\u201d said Dent.\r\nActions relating to mental health in the legislation include creating a new Assistant Secretary for Mental Health and Substance Use along with providing for increased communication, unbarred by HIPPA, to allow mental health patients, their families, and care providers to communicate more freely in the effort to increase positive outcomes for all involved.\r\n\u201cAs a whole, the 21st Century Cures Act is the shot in the arm that our medical innovators and regulators need so they can focus on the most important individuals in our health system \u2013 the patients,\u201d concluded Congressman Dent.\r\n______________________________________________________________________\r\nCONTACT: Shawn Millan (610) 770-3490", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["http://barletta.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/barletta-meets-with-president-elect-trump", "Barletta Meets with President-Elect Trump", "2016-11-29", "2016", "2016-11", "Republican", "House", "PA", "Lou Barletta", "B001269", "barletta.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "NEW YORK CITY \u2013 Congressman Lou Barletta (PA-11) today met with President-Elect Donald J. Trump at Trump Tower to discuss the presidential transition.\u00a0 Barletta is a member of the Presidential Transition Team Executive Committee.\nFollowing the meeting, Barletta met with reporters.\u00a0 The following are excerpts of his conversation with the press:\nBarletta: It was great.\u00a0 We had a good conversation.\u00a0 We talked about many issues concerning the country and talked about the President-Elect\u2019s ideas moving forward.\nReporter: Are you considering roles in the administration?\nBarletta: We talked about Secretary of Labor and it\u2019s something I\u2019m going to consider.\n***\nReporter: What was your pitch to him?\nBarletta: We talked.\u00a0 I\u2019ve worked with the President-Elect throughout the campaign.\u00a0 He knows my background and, as a member of the Executive Transition Team, we talked about the importance of his ideas and moving them forward in Congress and making sure that the transition goes well, as a member of that team.\u00a0 We talked about that, as I said, and some other things.\nReporter: What were the top policy initiatives the President-Elect talked to you about?\nBarletta: His infrastructure plan is obviously very important to him.\u00a0 And again, making sure there\u2019s a smooth transition and the role that I could play either in Congress or as a part of his cabinet.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["http://brady.house.gov/press-release/congressman-brady-join-day-action", "Congressman Brady to join Day of Action", "2016-11-29", "2016", "2016-11", "Democrat", "House", "PA", "Robert Brady", "B001227", "brady.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Congressman Brady to join Day of Action                                           \n              Nov 29, 2016      \t\t        \t    \n      \t            \n                    \n                                            \n          \n        \n        \n          \n  \n    \n    \n    \u00a0\nPhiladelphia --- Congressman Bob Brady (D., PA) announced\u00a0 that he stands in full support of the Service Employees International Union (SEIU) Fight for $15 Day of Action that is being\u00a0held today. \u201cI have and will continue to support family sustaining wages and union rights for hard working Americans. As a nation we cannot afford to have working people still not able to feed their families.\u201d\nThe Congressman, who will be in DC today, said he will tweet his support throughout the Day of Action. \u201cI want to help get the message out that we cannot turn our backs on working families.\u201d", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://rothfus.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/statement-nomination-congressman-tom-price-be-secretary-health-and-human", "Statement on the Nomination of Congressman Tom Price to Be Secretary of Health and Human Services", "2016-11-29", "2016", "2016-11", "Republican", "House", "PA", "Keith Rothfus", "R000598", "rothfus.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Washington, D.C.\u00a0\u2013 Congressman Keith Rothfus [PA-12] issued the following statement in response to President-elect Donald J. Trump nominating Congressman Tom Price [GA-06] to be Secretary of Health and Human Services:\n\u201cDr. Price led the fight to repeal and replace the disastrous Obamacare legislation. \u00a0This \u00a0law did not deliver on many of President Obama's promises and has resulted in skyrocketing premium and out-of-pocket increases that are crushing working families. \u00a0As chairman of both the House Budget Committee\u00a0and the RSC, he has proven himself to be a fair but strong leader in the crucial fight to pass affordable, patient-centered health care for all Americans,\u201d\u00a0said Congressman Rothfus. \u201cDr. Price\u2019s nomination to serve as Health and Human Services secretary is not only well-deserved, but it inspires confidence that the American people will finally be on the road to the kind of health care system that works for them, not Washington bureaucrats.\u00a0 Working with a new President Trump and Republicans in Congress, Dr. Price will help usher in an era of lower costs, higher quality care, and consumer choice in health care for American families.\u201d\n-30-", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://www.casey.senate.gov/newsroom/releases/casey-to-trump-no-deal-with-putin-and-assad-on-syria", "Casey to Trump: No Deal with Putin and Assad on Syria", "2016-11-29", "2016", "2016-11", "Democrat", "House", "PA", "Bob Casey", "C001070", "www.casey.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Washington, D.C. - U.S. Senator Bob Casey (D-PA) realeased the following statement:\r\nOver the last five and half years, the Syrian people have endured one horror after the next. The Russian Federation has blocked international efforts to alleviate the humanitarian crisis in Aleppo and has enabled the murderous Assad regime to continue its slaughter of Syrian citizens.\r\nAccording to the United Nations, nearly one million Syrians are living under siege from their government. That is equivalent to more than the entire populations of Pennsylvania and Delaware suffering without access to food and medicine while hiding from daily bombardments.\r\nThis is not just a civil war. This is the Russian Federation -- a major country and member of the UN Security Council \u2013 and its client state dictator Bashar al-Assad slaughtering the Syrian people unchecked. It has direct impact on our national security and that of our partners in the Middle East and Europe.\r\nWe cannot allow Syria to remain a safe haven for terrorism, and I welcome the progress that has already been made to roll back ISIS\u2019s control of territory in Iraq and Syria, yet as I have said before, the Assad\u2019s regime\u2019s actions have created the space and conditions for ISIS to thrive within its borders. Absent additional action from the United States and our partners to change the situation on the ground, I believe the conditions will continue to worsen.\r\nI urge President Obama\u2019s Administration to take immediate steps to help alleviate the suffering on the ground in Syria. As long as Assad thinks he is winning \u2013 and he is \u2013 the onslaught will continue and diplomatic efforts will fail.\r\nThe incoming Administration must see the Syria conflict as the national security threat that it is and take action accordingly.\u00a0 The fight against ISIS must be our priority, but the roots of ISIS\u2019s rise cannot and should not be ignored- that means holding the Assad regime and the Russian Federation fully accountable for their crimes in Syria. Throughout his campaign President-elect Trump has sent disturbing signals about the way he views this conflict. Assad and Russia are not \u201cfighting ISIS,\u201d as the President-elect has asserted; rather, the Assad regime and the Russian Federation are engaged in coordinated attacks that target civilians, including children.\r\nI urge the President-elect to remember, before his Administration leaps to mend ties with Russia or change the U.S. position on the future of Assad, the chaos they have created in Ukraine and Syria. The Russian Federation has negotiated in bad faith before, committing to diplomacy while escalating their indiscriminate bombing campaign in Syria and their support for separatists in Ukraine. President Putin is no friend of the United States. I\u2019m troubled that Bashar al-Assad suggested during a recent interview that President-elect Trump could be a \u201cnatural ally\u201d in the fight against what he calls \u201cterrorists.\u201d The U.S. must never ally itself with a regime that barrel bombs children, targets medical facilities and use starvation as a tactic of war.\r\nThe United States should pursue measures to hold Russia to its obligations under UN Security Council Resolution 2254 and consider implementing a no-bombing zone, which would help protect civilian population centers and key humanitarian infrastructure.\u00a0 I also believe that escalating sanctions against individuals and entities contributing to human rights atrocities would help increase pressure on the regime and its backers. I continue to believe, as I advocated for in 2011, that standoff strikes against the Assad regime\u2019s airfields could ground their airplanes and substantially impact their ability to rain havoc from the sky.\r\nAs the humanitarian crisis continues to grow increasingly dire by the day, we must be bold in our efforts to get aid to those who need it most. We should explore ways that the U.S and our partners could help protect humanitarian aid delivery from Russian airstrikes and whether a surge of humanitarian aid along Syria's borders, as columnist David Ignatius recently advocated in the Washington Post, would force Russia and Syria to stand down and allow the aid to get through.\r\nDocumentation of Russian airstrikes in Syria over the last several weeks clearly shows that Russia is lying: Russian forces are not focused on fighting ISIS. They are bombing hospitals, schools, and neighborhoods well outside the territory where ISIS operates. These airstrikes, increasingly using sophisticated \u201cbunker-buster\u201d munitions, have killed hundreds in the past several weeks.\r\nAs UN Envoy Stephan de Mistura recently said, \u201cWe are running out of time, we are running against time.\u201d\u00a0 Indeed the people of Syria are running out of time, and the U.S. should take action to stop the killing in Aleppo and deliver humanitarian aid. We have a moral obligation and a national security imperative to do so.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://www.casey.senate.gov/newsroom/releases/with-attacks-on-the-rise-sens-casey-and-scott-introduce-bipartisan-anti-semitism-awareness-act", "With Attacks On The Rise, Sens. Casey and Scott Introduce Bipartisan Anti-Semitism Awareness Act", "2016-11-29", "2016", "2016-11", "Democrat", "House", "PA", "Bob Casey", "C001070", "www.casey.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Washington, DC\u2013 Today, U.S. Senators Bob Casey (D-PA) and Tim Scott (R-SC) introduced the bipartisan Anti-Semitism Awareness Act in an effort to combat increasing incidents of anti-Semitism on college campuses nationwide. The Senators joined together to ensure the U.S. Department of Education (DOE) has the necessary statutory tools at their disposal to investigate anti-Jewish incidents.\r\nA recent FBI crime report notes that 58.2 percent of religiously-motivated hate crimes were due to the offender\u2019s anti-Jewish leanings, and the Anti-Defamation League found that the number of anti-Semitic attacks at colleges and universities doubled in 2015. Currently, the DOE\u2019s Office for Civil Rights has stated they will not tolerate incidents such as these, but has not issued firm guidance on what constitutes anti-Semitism. The Anti-Semitism Awareness Act would codify the definition as one adopted by the U.S. State Department\u2019s Special Envoy to Monitor and Combat Anti-Semitism.\r\n\u201cIt is incredibly important that we work together to stamp out anti-Semitism and other forms of religious discrimination across our country,\u201d Senator Scott said. \u201cI want to thank Senator Casey for joining me to introduce the Anti-Semitism Awareness Act, which is urgently needed as anti-Jewish attacks rise on campuses across the nation. By clarifying exactly what anti-Semitism is, we will leave no question as to what constitutes an anti-Semitic incident.\u201d\r\n\u201cThe rise of religiously-motivated hate crimes and religious discrimination across our country is unacceptable. In Pennsylvania, we have seen several terrible incidents of anti-Semitism in just the last several weeks,\u201d Senator Casey said. \u201cThis legislation will help the Department of Education investigate incidents of discrimination motivated by anti-Semitism in our schools, which should be safe environments for students from all backgrounds. I\u2019m proud to work with Senator Scott on this bill, which aims to combat anti-Semitism while preserving freedom of speech.\u201d\r\nThe State Department\u2019s definition, shared by the European Union, states, \u201cAnti-Semitism is a certain perception of Jews, which may be expressed as hatred toward Jews. Rhetorical and physical manifestations of anti-Semitism are directed toward Jewish or non-Jewish individuals and/or their property, towards Jewish community institutions and religious facilities.\u201d\r\nExamples include, among other things:\r\n \r\nCalling for, aiding, or justifying the killing or harming of Jews\r\nAccusing the Jews as a people, or Israel as a state, of inventing or exaggerating the Holocaust\r\nDemonizing Israel by blaming it for all inter-religious or political tensions\r\nJudge Israel by a double standard that one would not apply to any other democratic nation\r\n \r\nThis act is not meant to infringe on any individual right protected under the First Amendment of the Constitution.\r\nThe Anti-Semitism Awareness Act is supported by the American Israel Public Affairs Committee, the Anti-Defamation League, the Jewish Federations of North America, and the Simon Wiesenthal Center.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://costello.house.gov/media-center/in-the-news/rep-ryan-costello-meets-pottsgrove-high-school-students", "Rep. Ryan Costello meets with Pottsgrove High School students", "2016-11-28", "2016", "2016-11", "Republican", "House", "PA", "Ryan Costello", "C001106", "costello.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "LOWER POTTSGROVE >> Rep. Ryan Costello, R-6th Dist., visited Pottsgrove High School recently to meet with students, teachers, and administrators as part of the National Association of Secondary School Principals\u2019 Principal for a Day program and in recognition of National Principals Month.\nCostello visited the Social Studies and Civics classes at Pottsgrove High School to share with students his experience as a member of the U.S. House of Representatives, a township supervisor, and a county commissioner.\nHe urged students to get involved in their local government and also suggested they seek information that challenges their worldview.\nRep. Costello ended his school day on \u201cbus duty\u201d with Pottsgrove High School Principal William Ziegler, who was named Pennsylvania Principal of the Year and visited Rep. Costello in his Washington, D.C., office earlier this year.\n\u201cThe teachers and principals in our community are hardworking and committed to our children\u2019s success,\u201d said Costello. \u201cI really enjoyed meeting with so many knowledgeable students and learning about the impressive projects they are working on.\u201d\nThis article first appeared as a post in\u00a0The Digital Notebook blog.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"]], "truncated": false, "filtered_table_rows_count": 880, "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 url, title, date, year, month, party, chamber, state, member_name, bioguide_id, domain, scraper, source, date_source, text, has_text, collected_at, updated_at from releases where \"chamber\" = :p0 and \"state\" = :p1 and \"year\" = :p2 order by date desc limit 101", "params": {"p0": "House", "p1": "PA", "p2": "2016"}}, "facet_results": {"party": {"name": "party", "type": "column", "hideable": false, "toggle_url": "/press/releases.json?chamber=House&state=PA&year=2016", "results": [{"value": "Republican", "label": "Republican", "count": 640, "toggle_url": "http://dpwillis-congress-press-search.hf.space/press/releases.json?chamber=House&state=PA&year=2016&party=Republican", "selected": false}, {"value": "Democrat", "label": "Democrat", "count": 240, "toggle_url": "http://dpwillis-congress-press-search.hf.space/press/releases.json?chamber=House&state=PA&year=2016&party=Democrat", "selected": false}], "truncated": false}, "chamber": {"name": "chamber", "type": "column", "hideable": false, "toggle_url": "/press/releases.json?chamber=House&state=PA&year=2016", "results": [{"value": "House", "label": "House", "count": 880, "toggle_url": "http://dpwillis-congress-press-search.hf.space/press/releases.json?state=PA&year=2016", "selected": true}], "truncated": false}, "state": {"name": "state", "type": "column", "hideable": false, "toggle_url": "/press/releases.json?chamber=House&state=PA&year=2016", "results": [{"value": "PA", "label": "PA", "count": 880, "toggle_url": "http://dpwillis-congress-press-search.hf.space/press/releases.json?chamber=House&year=2016", "selected": true}], "truncated": false}, "year": {"name": "year", "type": "column", "hideable": false, "toggle_url": "/press/releases.json?chamber=House&state=PA&year=2016", "results": [{"value": "2016", "label": "2016", "count": 880, "toggle_url": "http://dpwillis-congress-press-search.hf.space/press/releases.json?chamber=House&state=PA", "selected": true}], "truncated": false}}, "suggested_facets": [], "next": "2016-11-28,https~3A~2F~2Fcostello~2Ehouse~2Egov~2Fmedia-center~2Fin-the-news~2Frep-ryan-costello-meets-pottsgrove-high-school-students", "next_url": "http://dpwillis-congress-press-search.hf.space/press/releases.json?chamber=House&state=PA&year=2016&_next=2016-11-28%2Chttps~3A~2F~2Fcostello~2Ehouse~2Egov~2Fmedia-center~2Fin-the-news~2Frep-ryan-costello-meets-pottsgrove-high-school-students&_sort_desc=date", "private": false, "allow_execute_sql": true, "query_ms": 312.0010388083756, "source": "dwillis/congress-press", "source_url": "https://github.com/dwillis/congress-press", "license": "MIT", "license_url": "https://github.com/dwillis/congress-press/blob/main/LICENSE"}