{"database": "press", "table": "releases", "is_view": false, "human_description_en": "where chamber = \"House\", state = \"PA\" and year = 2020 sorted by date descending", "rows": [["http://www.casey.senate.gov/newsroom/releases/in-2020-casey-produces-results-for-pa-constituents", "In 2020, Casey Produces Results for PA Constituents", "2020-12-31", "2020", "2020-12", "Democrat", "House", "PA", "Bob Casey", "C001070", "www.casey.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Washington, D.C. - U.S. Senator Bob Casey (D-PA) is finishing 2020 having delivered results for Pennsylvania families.\r\nBelow is a list of Senator Casey's 2020 work on behalf of Pennsylvania constituents.\r\nSecuring COVID-19 Relief for America's Families  Securing $100 Million for Nursing Home Oversight: As part of the Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security (CARES) Act (Public Law 116-136), provisions from Senator Casey's Coronavirus Relief for Seniors and People with Disabilities Act (S. 3544) led to the passage of $100 million to promote infection control in nursing homes during the pandemic through enhanced surveys and inspections.   Shedding Light on the Nursing Home Crisis: Senator Casey authored multiple investigative reports, alongside U.S. Senators Ron Wyden (D-OR) and Gary Peters (D-MI), documenting the Trump Administration's repeated failures to contain the spread of COVID in nursing homes. Following the Senators' oversight, the Trump Administration implemented federal data collection requirements and the public release of information on COVID cases, deaths and supply shortages in nursing homes.\r\n Securing $1 Billion to Keep Seniors Safe at Home: Senator Casey led efforts to obtain vital funding to support seniors sheltering in place during the pandemic. Stemming from S. 3544, the Senator secured roughly $1 billion for essential services, including home-delivered meals and caregiver respite, across two relief packages passed by Congress  the CARES Act and the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2021 (Public Law 116-260). To date, Pennsylvania has received $47 million of these relief funds.\r\n Delivering Food Boxes to Seniors in Need: Also stemming from his bill, S. 3544, Senator Casey obtained $13 million in additional funding to support food delivery to low-income seniors during the COVID pandemic through the Commodity Supplemental Food Program, also known as the senior food box program. His advocacy also helped to secure an additional $80 million in funding for the program in FY2021. This money will allow states to serve more low-income seniors with shelf-stable food boxes. Both the COVID-19 and FY2021 funding was secured as part of Congress's year-end agreement (P.L. 116-260).\r\nStanding Up for Seniors   Passing the Improving Low-Income Access to Prescription Drugs Act: Senator Casey's bipartisan Improving Low-Income Access to Prescription Drugs Act (S. 1999) was passed into law as part of Congress's year-end deal (P.L. 116-260). This important legislation makes permanent a federal program to ensure low-income seniors and people with disabilities retain affordable access to their prescription medications as they transition to Medicare.   Passing the Reauthorization of the Older Americans Act: Senator Casey co-led the bipartisan reauthorization of hallmark legislation, now Public Law 116-131, to deliver essential services and supports to America's seniors. This 5-year reauthorization provides respite services to grandfamilies, advances innovation and evaluation within the Act, prioritizes funding to bring kids and seniors together, requires data collection on LGBT seniors and ensures younger adults with Alzheimer's disease are eligible for services.  Passing a Law to Close Harmful Coverage Gaps in Medicare: Key provisions from Senator Casey's bipartisan Beneficiary Enrollment Notification and Eligibility Simplification Act (BENES) Act (S. 1280) were passed into law as part of Congress's year-end agreement (P.L. 116-260). These policies will ensure people new to Medicare have more immediate access to health insurance, closing coverage gaps that led seniors and people with disabilities to go without essential care.   Securing Continued Support for Grandfamilies: The Advisory Council to Support Grandparents Raising Grandchildren, created by Senator Casey's bipartisan bill signed into law in 2018, will continue to meet in 2021 as a result of funding the Senator obtained through the appropriations process (P.L. 116-260). The Council is tasked with developing a one-stop shop of resources to help grandparents raising grandchildren navigate programs and benefits.  Allowing Families to Access Long-Term Care at Home: Through his Protecting Married Seniors from Impoverishment Act (S. 2000), Senator Casey continues to stand up for financial protections to prevent spouses whose partners need home and community-based services under Medicaid from falling into abject poverty. Congress's year-end agreement (P.L. 116-260) includes a 3-year extension of these vital protections.  Advancing Best Practices to Stop Senior Scams: Senator Casey's bipartisan Stop Senior Scams Act (S. 149) passed the U.S. Senate. The Senator's bill would establish a federal advisory council charged with bringing together relevant government officials, industry representatives, advocates and consumer representatives to collect and develop model educational materials for retailers, financial institutions and wire transfer companies to use in stopping scams on seniors.  Combatting Age Discrimination in the Workplace: Senator Casey's bipartisan Protecting Older Workers from Age Discrimination Act (S. 485) passed the U.S. House of Representatives. The Senator's bill would restore standards undone by a 2009 Supreme Court decision that made it more difficult for older workers to successfully seek restitution in court for age discrimination they experienced.\r\nLeading Efforts for Individuals with Disabilities  Fighting for Continued Access to Disability Benefits and Supports: Senator Casey led efforts, along with 40 Senators, to call for the withdrawal of a proposed rule that would make it more difficult for people with Social Security disability benefits to retain needed support. The Senator also led an initiative to encourage the public to tell the Social Security Administration directly how the proposal would harm them, resulting in more than 125,000 comments submitted on the rule.\r\n Promoting Care Continuity from Home to the Hospital: The CARES Act (P.L. 116-136) included a provision that Senator Casey fought for to ensure direct service providers could enter and provide services and supports to people with intellectual and developmental disabilities who were admitted to hospitals and rehabilitation settings because of COVID or other health-related concerns. Making it possible for those providers who care for people in their homes while they are in the hospital allows for continuity of care, better communication among hospital and community caregivers and makes the transition back to their homes safer and healthier.\r\n Preventing COVID Infections Among People with Disabilities: Senator Casey advocated that the CARES Act (P.L. 116-136) include funding increases for Centers for Independent Living to provide COVID prevention services during the pandemic. Pennsylvania received $2.75 million to be distributed among its eleven federal Centers for Independent Living. The funds make it possible to provide people with disabilities with personal protective equipment (PPE) in their own homes, to transition from congregate care settings to home settings, to translate COVID information into other languages and many more preventive actions to reduce the risk of infection for people with disabilities.\r\nFighting for Rural Communities and Expanding Broadband Access\r\n Supporting Rural Innovation: Senator Casey secured increased funding for the Small Business Administration's Regional Innovation Clusters (RIC) program in the FY 2021 appropriations bill (P.L. 116-260). The RIC program provides an increased focus on outreach to rural areas in leveraging a region's unique competitive strengths and geographically-concentrated, interconnected network of complementary businesses, suppliers and associated organizations that engage in a particular industry sector. These types of programs are essential to Pennsylvania businesses to fight the economic effects of COVID-19.\r\n Don't Break Up the T-Band: Senator Casey led efforts with U.S. Senator Ed Markey (D-MA) and other colleagues to enact the Don't Break Up the T-Band Act into law (P.L. 116-260). The Don't Break Up the T-Band Act will ensure that our brave first responders throughout Pennsylvania and the rest of the country have access to the tools they need to effectively communicate with other first responders when responding to public safety emergencies.\r\n Hyndman Cellular Tower: In October, Senator Casey announced the completion of a project to provide cellular service in Bedford County via Hyndman Cellular Tower, ensuring that thousands of Bedford County residents have reliable service. After train derailments and feedback from local and state first responders highlighted the urgent need for better emergency response telecommunications, Senator Casey advocated for more than two years for AT&T to prioritize rural areas like Hyndman for First Responder Network Authority (FirstNet) tower sites.\r\nFighting for Jobs and a Secure Retirement\r\n Standing up for Federal Workers: Senator Casey led a letter opposing proposed changes to the Department of Defense's procurement policy in the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) that would have undermined the role depots and shipyards play in the readiness and maintenance of our armed forces. This effort led to stringent oversight requirements over decisions that lead to undermining depot and shipyard workforces.\r\n Fighting for Pay Equity for Army Depot Workers: A version of Senator Casey's Locality Pay Equity Act (S. 3015) was included in the FY 2021 NDAA passed by the U.S. House of Representatives. This legislation would put an end to locality pay adjustment disparities between salaried and hourly workers at federal facilities, including Tobyhanna and Letterkenny Army Depots in Pennsylvania.\r\n Strengthening Unemployment Benefits: Senator Casey pushed for the expansion and strengthening of unemployment benefits for workers affected by COVID as was done in the CARES Act that passed into law in March (P.L. 116-136). Senator Casey also strongly pushed for the extension of vital unemployment benefit programs that were slated to expire at the end of this year, which was achieved in the end-of-year relief package (P.L. 116-260).\r\nFighting to Combat Hunger and Support our Farmers\r\n Leading Efforts to Expand Access to Food for the Most Vulnerable: As the pandemic increased food insecurity for households who lost access to paychecks, Senator Casey worked to build the capacity of the food assistance system to assist families in Pennsylvania and across the country. He led letters to the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) and grocery retailers urging innovative solutions to expand access to home delivery and curbside pickup for Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) participants, especially for seniors and immunocompromised individuals. He introduced the Increasing Access to SNAP Delivery During COVID-19 Act to support retailers in expanding their SNAP delivery offerings during the pandemic. Senator Casey also advocated for and supported Pennsylvania's participation in the SNAP Online Purchasing Program and will continue working for additional access to delivery services.\r\n Advocating for the Expansion of Hunger Assistance Programs: Senator Casey fought to protect critical nutrition assistance programs for our most vulnerable citizens. From the beginning of the COVID pandemic, he advocated for the expansion of SNAP benefits to respond to the food insecurity crisis. He led a Pennsylvania delegation letter urging the inclusion of a 15 percent increase in SNAP benefits levels. A six-month increase in these benefits was ultimately included in the most recent COVID relief package (P.L. 116-260). Senator Casey also advocated for critical nutrition waivers for Pennsylvania to access food assistance and necessary flexibilities throughout the pandemic. In addition to COVID-related food security needs, he also led appropriations efforts to support the Healthy Food Financing Initiative (HFFI), a program modeled after Pennsylvania's Fresh Food Financing Initiative.\r\n Supporting our Farmers and Food Production System: Senator Casey worked tirelessly to support our farmers, who play a critical role in feeding families throughout Pennsylvania and the Nation. He introduced and co-sponsored legislation to support farmers who faced significant market losses and supply chain disruptions. He introduced the Farmers Feeding Families Act, building on his work to establish Farm to Food Bank projects in the 2018 Farm Bill. He was also an original cosponsor of the Food Supply Protection Act to help strengthen the food supply chain, protect workers, reduce food waste and support farmers and families in need. Additionally, Senator Casey led a Pennsylvania delegation letter to the Small Businesses Administration to ensure that loans and programs are available and work for farmers and agricultural businesses.\r\nProtecting the Environment\r\n Securing Funding for the Chesapeake Bay Watershed: Senator Casey joined the Chesapeake Bay delegation in working to secure increased funding for the Chesapeake Bay Program in the FY 2021 spending agreement (P.L. 116-260). Senator Casey also introduced the bipartisan Farmer Driven Conservation Outcomes Act, which would direct USDA to establish a process through which it could measure, evaluate and report on conservation program outcomes, including water quality improvements. He continues to build on wins from the 2018 Farm Bill for water quality by ensuring that programs are implemented to benefit the Bay. He led a bipartisan letter to USDA regarding implementation of key provisions in the Conservation Reserve Program (CRP) to improve water quality.\r\n Addressing the Climate Crisis: Senator Casey worked to address the climate crisis through efforts to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, protect the health of our communities, create good paying jobs and address environmental injustices. He was an original cosponsor of the Clean Economy Act of 2020, which would empower the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to design and implement a national plan to rapidly reduce the country's greenhouse gas emissions by 2050 or sooner. He continued to stand up against the Trump Administration's efforts to roll back bedrock environmental laws. Additionally, Senator Casey is working to ensure that farmers can be part of the solution to address the climate crisis by introducing legislation to measure, evaluate and report on the outcomes associated with farm bill conservation programs, including carbon sequestration and greenhouse gas emissions reductions.\r\n PFAS Contamination: Senator Casey continued to stand up for communities impacted by PFAS contamination. He fought for inclusion of key PFAS provisions in the NDAA and advocated for funding to expand PFAS monitoring, standards development and cleanup capabilities. Senator Casey also continued to engage in efforts to implement a Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) study on the effects of PFAS on long-term health. He led efforts to secure this funding and Pennsylvania's Bucks and Montgomery Counties were included in the multi-year site study.\r\n Preserving Public Lands in Pennsylvania: Senator Casey introduced legislation to extend authorization of Pennsylvania's National Heritage Areas (NHAs). The Pennsylvania National Heritage Area Act would extend authorization of the Pennsylvania NHAs set to expire between FY 2021 and FY 2022. Additionally, this legislation would eliminate incongruent funding restrictions and streamline appropriations levels for NHAs. Senator Casey will continue to work to ensure these extensions are secured and to protect our natural and cultural resources while strengthening communities and stimulating local economies.\r\nFighting for Miners' Benefits\r\n Leading Efforts to Protect Retired Miners: Senator Casey successfully advocated for language in the year-end agreement (P.L. 116-260) to protect the health care benefits of all retired miners in the event of future bankruptcies, no matter when the bankruptcies occur. Previous efforts to protect coal miner health care specified the year of a company's bankruptcy; The United Mine Workers of America (UMWA) anticipate the remaining coal companies with retiree health care obligations will declare bankruptcy within the next 6-12 months. This language will ensure coal miners' health care is fully covered if a coal company goes bankrupt and also ensures Congress does not have to act each time a company is relieved of its obligations to pay for retiree health care by a bankruptcy court. According to UMWA, the majority of retirees and widows covered by this provision are over 80 years old.\r\nStanding Up For Veterans\r\n Veterans Affairs and Veteran Health: Senator Casey and U.S. Senator Jerry Moran (R-KS), working with House colleague U.S. Representative Elaine Luria (D-VA-2), successfully introduced and passed the Department of Veterans Affairs Website Accessibility Act (P.L. 116-213). This law directs the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) to report to Congress regarding the accessibility of VA websites (including attached files and web-based applications) to individuals with disabilities. Senator Casey continues to advocate for robust funding for veterans health, supporting efforts to secure PPE, vaccines, mental health support and additional resources to VA workers and patients in response to the COVID pandemic.\r\n Passage of the Rosie the Riveter Congressional Gold Medal Act: The bipartisan Rosie the Riveter Congressional Gold Medal Act honors American women who joined the workforce in support of the war effort during World War II by awarding them a Congressional Gold Medal. These Rosie the Riveters answered the Nation's call to action and learned new skills, many building the vehicles, weaponry and ammunitions that were critical to the war effort. Senator Casey led the effort along with U.S. Senator Susan Collins (R-ME) and U.S. Representatives Jackie Speier (D-CA-14) and Brian Fitzpatrick (R-PA-1). 76 senators co-sponsored the Senate bill, including every female senator, and it has now been enacted into Public Law 116-195.\r\nKeeping Communities Safe and Our Judiciary Working\r\n Law Enforcement Reform: In response to a national reckoning regarding the systemic violence and injustice impacting communities of color across the Nation, Senator Casey helped to advance a critical conversation focused on transformative change within law enforcement. Senator Casey joined thirty-four of his colleagues, led by U.S. Senators Cory Booker (D-NJ) and Kamala Harris (D-CA), to introduce the Justice in Policing Act of 2020. The bill would put in place the most significant police reforms in our Nation's history by focusing on officer accountability, data transparency and enhancing police practices and training.\r\nHe also led the Law Enforcement Education and Accountability for People with Disabilities (LEAD) Initiative to help counter the high rate of violent interactions between police and people with disabilities. The LEAD Initiative is comprised of two bills  the Safe Interactions Act and the Human-services Emergency Logistic Program (HELP) Act. Combined, these bills would: (1) divert non-criminal, non-fire and non-medical emergency calls from the 9-1-1 system to the 2-1-1 system; and (2) provide grants to enable non-profit disability organizations to develop training programs in partnership with police academies and agencies to support safe interactions between law enforcement officers and people with disabilities.\r\n Fighting for Prison Safety During COVID: Senator Casey has repeatedly pressed the Department of Justice (DOJ) and Bureau of Prisons (BOP) for answers and reforms in response to the COVID pandemic. Senator Casey wrote multiple letters in March and April to DOJ and BOP leadership raising significant concerns about BOP's inmate transfer policies, supply of PPE and other general concerns related to the BOP's preparation for COVID. After raising these concerns and calling on the DOJ to require mandatory testing before transferring any incarcerated individual, BOP announced in May that it had decreased internal movement by 90 percent and committed to testing all incarcerated individuals prior to leaving a local detention facility.\r\n Criminal Justice Reform: Senator Casey introduced the bipartisan Clean Slate Act of 2020 with U.S. Senator Joni Ernst (R-IA), which would automatically seal the federal records of individuals convicted or arrested for simple drug possession, and establish a process for individuals to petition to seal records for other nonviolent offenses. This landmark piece of legislation would give tens of millions of Americans a second chance to fully participate in society by removing major barriers for finding employment, securing housing and accessing education. The Clean Slate Act is modeled after Pennsylvania's own Clean Slate Act, which was the first Clean Slate law in the Nation after it was enacted into law with tremendous bipartisan support in 2018.\r\n Federal Judges: Senator Casey worked with U.S. Senator Pat Toomey (R-PA) to confirm two more Federal judges to the District Courts in PA. Since 2011, Senators Casey and Toomey have worked together, in a bipartisan fashion, to fill vacancies on the federal bench in Pennsylvania. Together they have now vetted, recommended and confirmed 27 Federal District Court Judges for Pennsylvania. Only two states - New York and Texas - have had more district court judges confirmed to their federal benches during this time.\r\n Combat Online Predators: Senator Casey led efforts with Senator Toomey to enact the Combat Online Predators Act into law in December 2020 (P.L. 116-249). This bipartisan law was drafted in response to the traumatic experiences of a Pennsylvania family and will give judges additional tools to ensure that perpetrators who stalk or cyberstalk children are held accountable with serious penalties.\r\nFighting for Consumer Health\r\n Leading Senate Efforts to Modernize FDA Regulation of Over-the-Counter Drugs: Senator Casey, along with retired U.S. Senator Johnny Isakson (R-GA), led a multi-year effort to overhaul and modernize the Food and Drug Administration's (FDA) regulatory authority for over-the-counter (OTC) monograph drugs. These products, including drugs like painkillers, allergy medicines and sunscreens, are used by millions of Americans and are subject to certain requirements known as monographs. The OTC system was outdated, making it hard for FDA to take action to protect public health and hard for companies to innovate. With the passage of the Over-the-Counter Monograph Safety, Innovation, and Reform Act (P.L. 116-136), the FDA has new tools and resources at its disposal, and consumers will benefit from increased regulatory oversight and new innovation.\r\nFighting for Children\r\n Leading Efforts to Increase Federal and State Efforts to Investigate and Collect Information When an Infant or Young Child Die: Senator Casey's bipartisan legislation, named after Pittsburgh child Scarlett Pauley, will help combat Sudden Unexpected Infant Death and Sudden Unexpected Death in Childhood by providing grants to help states, municipalities and nonprofits improve data collection and death scene investigations related to unexpected infant and child deaths. The bill will also help promote safe sleep practices for children and support local efforts to conduct infant and child death reviews. This legislation was signed into law by the President as Public Law 116-273 on December 31, 2020.\r\n Leading Efforts to Extend the Creating Hope Act: Senator Casey led a bipartisan effort to reauthorize the Creating Hope Act, which authorized the FDA's pediatric priority review voucher program. This important program encourages the development of new drugs to treat rare pediatric diseases, and was first authorized in 2012 following Senator Casey's efforts. The Creating Hope Reauthorization Act was included as a provision in the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2021 (P.L. 116-260) and extends the program for an additional four years.\r\n Leading Efforts to Reauthorize Critical Program for Emergency Medical Care for Children: Senator Casey led a bipartisan, bicameral coalition to reauthorize the Emergency Medical Services for Children (P.L. 116-49), a federal program that works to improve the quality of emergency care provided to children and ensure that hospitals and emergency workers providing emergency care to children are properly equipped.\r\nFighting for Health Care\r\n Children's Hospital Graduate Medical Education (CHGME) Program: Senator Casey, the Senate champion of the Children's Hospital Graduate Medical Education (CHGME) and author of several laws to extend and improve the program, secured additional funding for the program through the appropriations process. Funding for the program was increased by $10 million from $340 to $350 million for FY2021 (P.L. 116-159).\r\nFighting the Administration's Immigration Cruelty\r\n Care of Immigrant Children in U.S. Custody: At Senator Casey's request, the Government Accountability Office opened an investigation into the conditions and care of migrants, including children, in Customs and Border Patrol (CBP) custody. The report revealed that CBP illegally used funds designated for medical care and food for children in detention on dirt bikes, dog food and leashes, boats and other unrelated items. The report also shined a light on significant gaps in care for children in custody and CBP's failure to follow its own health and safety guidelines.\r\nHelping Children Learn More Now to Earn More Later\r\n Early Care and Education COVID Relief: Senator Casey has fought to provide assistance to childcare providers facing financial hardship and families struggling to find care due to COVID. In March, aspects of Senator Casey's Supporting Child Care Providers and Families Affected by Coronavirus Act (S. 3562) was included in the CARES Act (P.L. 116-136), helping to secure $3.5 billion in emergency relief for the Child Care and Development Block Grant (CCDBG) and $750 billion for Head Start. His continued advocacy to provide an additional $50 billion for early education helped to secure $10 billion for CCDBG and $250 million for Head Start COVID relief in the FY2021 omnibus appropriations and COVID relief legislation (P.L. 116-260).  Ensuring Opportunity For Students: Senator Casey's Stopping Unfair Collateral Consequences from Ending Student Success Act or SUCCESS Act (S.5079) was included in the FY2021 omnibus appropriations and COVID relief legislation (P.L. 116-260). The SUCCESS Act repeals provisions of the Higher Education Act that limits access to federal student aid for students convicted of drug-related offenses. To date, according to the ALCU, this provision has prevented about 200,000 students from receiving federal student aid. This legislation will help to reduce recidivism, over-criminalization and taxpayer burdens by stopping the suspension of college aid for young people who made a mistake but want to get their lives back on track. It affirms that the United States is a country of second chances, not second punishments.\r\nProtecting the Nation and Promoting American Values Abroad\r\n International Disability Rights: Senator Casey introduced the Office of International Disability Rights Act (S. 3880) to require the State Department to develop and implement a formal policy for disability inclusion in foreign assistance programming and establish State Department Office of International Disability Rights headed by an Ambassador-at-Large (AAL) for International Disability Rights. He also introduced S. Res. 445, a resolution recognizing International Day of Persons with Disabilities. These efforts to promote disability rights globally will continue into the 117th Congress.\r\n Global Impacts of COVID: Senator Casey led letters to the Trump Administration urging increased funding to combat increasingly global food insecurity due to COVID, as well as assessment of COVID's impact on children's mental health and psychosocial support (MHPSS). Senator Casey intends to introduce legislation next Congress addressing child MHPSS globally.\r\n Promoting a Peaceful and Inclusive Future: Senator Casey successfully secured $10 million in the FY21 NDAA to improve training and inclusion of Afghan women in Afghanistan's security forces. These efforts will serve to integrate and create opportunities for Afghan women to have a say in Afghanistan's future. Senator Casey and U.S. Senator Tim Kaine (D-VA) also led a letter to the Trump Administration urging emergency humanitarian funding for the Nagorno-Karabakh region for the clearance of cluster munitions deployed during the fall 2020 hostilities that put children at particular risk of exposure to unexploded ordnance. The National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2021 was signed into law as Public Law 116-283 on January 1, 2021.\r\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://johnjoyce.house.gov/media/press-releases/john-joyce-will-object-electoral-college-certification-process-january-6", "John Joyce Will Object to Electoral College Certification Process on January 6", "2020-12-31", "2020", "2020-12", "Republican", "House", "PA", "John Joyce", "J000302", "johnjoyce.house.gov", "johnjoyce", "https://johnjoyce.house.gov/media/press-releases", "scraper", "Washington, DC Congressman John Joyce, M.D. (PA-13) today announced that he will object to the Electoral College certification process on Wednesday, January 6.\n\n\"American democracy is possible only as long as the American people have faith in government ?of, by, and for the people.' We cannot have truly free and fair elections unless American voters have confidence in the results. In Pennsylvania, Governor Tom Wolf's unlawful actions coupled with the hastily passed Act 77 shrouded this year's election and spurred rabid distrust in the system. Despite millions of Americans' efforts to discern the facts, we have not seen a meaningful investigation into the many legitimate accounts of election fraud and irregularities. For the sake of our liberty and our American values, I will stand up for President Trump and our American democracy by objecting to the Electoral College certification on January 6.\"\n\nToday Dr. Joyce joined fellow members of the Republican Congressional delegation in a joint statement on the certification of the electors, including in part:\n\n\"Unfortunately, the many unlawful actions undertaken by the Pennsylvania Governor's office, the Secretary of State, and what has been described as a rogue Pennsylvania Supreme Court exceeded and circumvented the state legislature's clear constitutional authority.\n\n\"The unlawful actions include, but are not limited to:\n\nAccepting ballots past 8:00 pm on Election Day\n\nNot properly requiring signatures to match those on mail-in ballots or requiring dates\n\nMeanwhile, the matching of signatures was required at a polling site\n\nAuthorizing the curing of mail-in ballots with less than a 24-hour's notice\n\nOnly some counties were informed and adhered to this order leaving voters treated unequally from county to county\n\nAuthorizing the use of unsecure drop boxes, which is not permitted in statute\n\nProhibiting certified poll watchers overseeing the canvassing of ballots in Philadelphia\n\n\"These unlawful actions were taken without the authority or consent of the Pennsylvania state legislature. These are facts, and they are indisputable.\"\n\nDespite sustained efforts to discern the truth, these Members of Congress have not received an adequate response from the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. Given this failure of the Commonwealth's leadership, they cannot agree to support electors chosen based upon an inaccurate total vote count.\n\n\"This very unfortunate, volatile, and distressing situation is due to the lack of respect and regard for the law and the U.S. Constitution, as well as the Pennsylvania State Constitution. Additionally, the failure of Pennsylvania's justice system to seek the truth, rather than stay silent, allowed these irregular, unlawful actions to create a high level of mistrust in the process, as well as a potentially flawed outcome,\" they continued.\n\nBackground:\n\nSince Election Day, Dr. Joyce has been in lockstep with President Trump and his team to ensure that justice is served.\n\n? November 6, 2020: Dr. Joyce and 38 fellow Members of Congress call on U.S. Attorney General Barr to begin a federal investigation and exercise oversight on the November 3 elections in Pennsylvania and around the country.\n\n? November 7, 2020: Dr. Joyce and fellow Republican Members of the Pennsylvania Congressional delegation urge Governor Wolf, PA Attorney General Shapiro, and Secretary Boockvar to uphold the law of Pennsylvania and ensure that every LEGAL vote is counted once. They also call on Governor Wolf to recuse AG Shapiro, a hyper-partisan candidate, from ALL election oversight.\n\n? November-December: Dr. Joyce supports President Trump's legal challenges in Pennsylvania.\n\n? December 1, 2020: Dr. Joyce and 36 fellow Members of Congress urge U.S. Attorney General Barr to take \"bold and courageous action\" in DOJ investigation of widespread allegations of election fraud in Pennsylvania and around the country and to uphold the rule of law and ensure legal justice for President Trump. As they write, \"justice delayed is justice denied.\"\n\n? December 7, 2020: Dr. Joyce files an amicus brief in support of Kelly v. Pennsylvania, urging the U.S. Supreme Court to take up Congressman Mike Kelly's case against the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania.\n\n? December 8, 2020: Dr. Joyce co-sponsorsH.R.8830, the You Must Be Alive to Vote Act of 2020, which will require states to obtain information from Social Security Administration on deaths for purposes of voter registration list maintenance and to prevent dead people from voting.\n\n? December 10, 2020: In support of President Trump, Dr. Joyce files an amicus brief urging the U.S. Supreme Court to take up Texas v. Pennsylvania and give all due consideration to our President.\n\n? December 24, 2020: Dr. Joyce files an amicus brief calling on the U.S. Supreme Court to take up Kelly v. Commonwealthof Pennsylvania and uphold the Constitution of Pennsylvania.\n\n? December 31, 2020: Dr. Joyce and members of the Republican Pennsylvania Congressional delegation release statement announcing that they will object to the Electoral College certification process.\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-06-28T00:42:23Z"], ["https://meuser.house.gov/media/press-releases/pennsylvania-members-congress-release-statement-regarding-certification", "PENNSYLVANIA MEMBERS OF CONGRESS RELEASE STATEMENT REGARDING CERTIFICATION OF ELECTORS", "2020-12-31", "2020", "2020-12", "Republican", "House", "PA", "Daniel Meuser", "M001204", "meuser.house.gov", "meuser", "https://meuser.house.gov/media/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON, D.C. \u2013 Today, Pennsylvania members of the U.S. House of Representatives including Congressman Dan Meuser (PA-9), Congressman Glenn \u2018GT' Thompson (PA-15), Congressman Mike Kelly (PA-16), Congressman Scott Perry (PA-10), Congressman Lloyd Smucker (PA-11), Congressman Guy Reschenthaler (PA-14), Congressman John Joyce (PA-13), and Congressman Fred Keller (PA-12) released the following joint statement:\n\n\"The United States Constitution is unambiguous in declaring that state legislatures are the entity with authority to set election procedure -\n\n\"Article 1, Section 4, Clause 1: The Times, Places and Manner of holding Elections for Senators and Representatives, shall be prescribed in each State by the Legislature thereof\u2026\n\n\"Article 2, Section 1, Clause 2: Each state shall appoint, in such Manner as the Legislature thereof may direct, a Number of Electors\u2026\n\n\"Unfortunately, the many unlawful actions undertaken by the Pennsylvania Governor's office, the Secretary of State, and what has been described as a rogue Pennsylvania Supreme Court exceeded and circumvented the state legislature's clear constitutional authority.\n\n\"The unlawful actions include, but are not limited to:\n\nAccepting ballots past 8:00 pm on Election Day\n\nNot properly requiring signatures to match those on mail-in ballots or requiring dates\n\nMeanwhile, the matching of signatures was required at a polling site\n\nAuthorizing the curing of mail-in ballots with less than a 24-hour's notice\n\nOnly some counties were informed and adhered to this order leaving voters treated unequally from county to county\n\nAuthorizing the use of unsecure drop boxes, which is not permitted in statute\n\nProhibiting certified poll watchers overseeing the canvassing of ballots in Philadelphia\n\n\"These unlawful actions were taken without the authority or consent of the Pennsylvania state legislature. These are facts, and they are indisputable.\n\n\"Additionally, the Pennsylvania Attorney General did nothing with regard to these unlawful activities. Not one inquiry, no questioning, and certainly no investigations. Not to mention that hundreds, if not thousands, of affidavits outlining election complaints and potential fraud were documented, submitted, and ignored. The Pennsylvania election could be summed up as a free-for-all with no oversight and different standards applied throughout the Commonwealth. It is also very apparent that the unlawful actions described were concentrated in heavily populated, Democrat-led counties.\n\n\"By definition, such unlawful, unregulated, and inconsistent activities resulted in a highly questionable and inaccurate vote total. The scope of these inaccuracies cannot be known until the legal ballots are identified and counted, and the illegal ballots are disqualified. This has not been done.\n\n\"Therefore, the state's official certification of electors was based upon a flawed system and an inaccurate vote count. Thus, very possibly resulting in an erroneous certification.\n\n\"Until these unlawful practices are acknowledged and corrected, we cannot agree to support electors chosen based upon an inaccurate total vote count. The voters of Pennsylvania deserve integrity in the election process and equal protection under the law.\n\n\"This very unfortunate, volatile, and distressing situation is due to the lack of respect and regard for the law and the U.S. Constitution as well as the Pennsylvania State Constitution. Additionally, the failure of Pennsylvania's justice system to seek the truth, rather than stay silent, allowed these irregular, unlawful actions to create a high level of mistrust in the process as well as a potentially flawed outcome.\n\n\"If there is an American ideal that all citizens, regardless of party affiliation, can agree upon is that we must have election integrity. Election integrity is the only way to ensure trust in our elections and it is accomplished by adhering to our Constitution and the law.\"", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-06-28T00:42:23Z"], ["https://reschenthaler.house.gov/media/press-releases/pennsylvania-members-congress-release-statement-regarding-certification", "Pennsylvania Members of Congress Release Statement Regarding Certification of Electors", "2020-12-31", "2020", "2020-12", "Republican", "House", "PA", "Guy Reschenthaler", "R000610", "reschenthaler.house.gov", "reschenthaler", "https://reschenthaler.house.gov/media/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON, D.C. \u2013 Today, Pennsylvania members of the U.S. House of Representatives including Congressman Guy Reschenthaler (PA-14), Congressman Dan Meuser (PA-9), Congressman Glenn \u2018GT' Thompson (PA-15), Congressman Mike Kelly (PA-16), Congressman Scott Perry (PA-10), Congressman Lloyd Smucker (PA-11), Congressman John Joyce (PA-13), and Congressman Fred Keller (PA-12) released the following joint statement:\n\n\"The United States Constitution is unambiguous in declaring that state legislatures are the entity with authority to set election procedure -\n\n\"Article 1, Section 4, Clause 1: The Times, Places and Manner of holding Elections for Senators and Representatives, shall be prescribed in each State by the Legislature thereof\u2026\n\n\"Article 2, Section 1, Clause 2: Each state shall appoint, in such Manner as the Legislature thereof may direct, a Number of Electors\u2026\n\n\"Unfortunately, the many unlawful actions undertaken by the Pennsylvania Governor's office, the Secretary of State, and what has been described as a rogue Pennsylvania Supreme Court exceeded and circumvented the state legislature's clear constitutional authority.\n\n\"The unlawful actions include, but are not limited to:\n\nAccepting ballots past 8:00 pm on Election Day\n\nNot properly requiring signatures to match those on mail-in ballots or requiring dates\n\nMeanwhile, the matching of signatures was required at a polling site\n\nAuthorizing the curing of mail-in ballots with less than a 24-hour's notice\n\nOnly some counties were informed and adhered to this order leaving voters treated unequally from county to county\n\nAuthorizing the use of unsecure drop boxes, which is not permitted in statute\n\nProhibiting certified poll watchers overseeing the canvassing of ballots in Philadelphia\n\n\"These unlawful actions were taken without the authority or consent of the Pennsylvania state legislature. These are facts, and they are indisputable.\n\n\"Additionally, the Pennsylvania Attorney General did nothing with regard to these unlawful activities. Not one inquiry, no questioning, and certainly no investigations. Not to mention that hundreds, if not thousands, of affidavits outlining election complaints and potential fraud were documented, submitted, and ignored. The Pennsylvania election could be summed up as a free-for-all with no oversight and different standards applied throughout the Commonwealth. It is also very apparent that the unlawful actions described were concentrated in heavily populated, Democrat-led counties.\n\n\"By definition, such unlawful, unregulated, and inconsistent activities resulted in a highly questionable and inaccurate vote total. The scope of these inaccuracies cannot be known until the legal ballots are identified and counted, and the illegal ballots are disqualified. This has not been done.\n\n\"Therefore, the state's official certification of electors was based upon a flawed system and an inaccurate vote count. Thus, very possibly resulting in an erroneous certification.\n\n\"Until these unlawful practices are acknowledged and corrected, we cannot agree to support electors chosen based upon an inaccurate total vote count. The voters of Pennsylvania deserve integrity in the election process and equal protection under the law.\n\n\"This very unfortunate, volatile, and distressing situation is due to the lack of respect and regard for the law and the U.S. Constitution as well as the Pennsylvania State Constitution. Additionally, the failure of Pennsylvania's justice system to seek the truth, rather than stay silent, allowed these irregular, unlawful actions to create a high level of mistrust in the process as well as a potentially flawed outcome.\n\n\"If there is an American ideal that all citizens, regardless of party affiliation, can agree upon is that we must have election integrity. Election integrity is the only way to ensure trust in our elections and it is accomplished by adhering to our Constitution and the law.\"\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-06-28T00:42:23Z"], ["https://www.casey.senate.gov/news/releases/in-2020-casey-produces-results-for-pa-constituents", "In 2020, Casey Produces Results for PA Constituents", "2020-12-31", "2020", "2020-12", "Democrat", "House", "PA", "Bob Casey", "C001070", "www.casey.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", null, 0, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://thompson.house.gov/media-center/in-the-news/top-republican-agriculture-panel-rep-glenn-thompson-sees-opportunities", "As top Republican on agriculture panel, Rep. Glenn Thompson sees opportunities to close urban-rural divide", "2020-12-25", "2020", "2020-12", "Republican", "House", "PA", "Glenn Thompson", "T000467", "thompson.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "ForRep. Glenn Thompson, R-Centre, the COVID-19 pandemic has showed the value  and vulnerability of regions like Pennsylvania's 15th Congressional District: a 14-county expanse of rural farmland, forests and recreation areas dotted with a major land grant university, energy production and manufacturing.\nMr. Thompson, entering his seventh term in Congress as the longest-serving Republican lawmaker from Pennsylvania, said he recognizes the challenges facing his swath of north-central Pennsylvania.\nHe's put in a dozen years on the powerful House Agriculture Committee, which has jurisdiction over not only farm policy but a wide array of rural programs on food assistance, housing, utilities and economic development. It assembles thesprawling farm bill, one of the biggest and most contentious pieces of legislation on Capitol Hill when it comes up for a vote every five years.\nIn January, Mr. Thompson, 61, will ascend to the top Republican seat on the powerful panel, giving him the chance to wield greater influence to shape the U.S. food system and narrow gaps between urban and rural parts of the state and country.\nWithout a robust rural economy and a strong agriculture program in this country, people all over America, including in cities, are going to wake up cold, in the dark, and hungry, Mr. Thompson said, laying out his agenda in broad strokes in a recent interview.\nIt's a tremendous amount of responsibility and opportunity, Mr. Thompson said. The agriculture committee probably impacts people's lives on a daily basis more than any other committee in Congress.\nMr. Thompson, who was first elected in 2008 after 28 years as a therapist and licensed nursing home administrator, said he wants to target infrastructure development as a way to stem population decline in rural areas and attract business.\nHe pointed to his experience on the panel's subcommittees, and on the House Education and Labor Committee, to push for investments in telemedicine, broadband expansion and remote learning.\nIn 2011, he introduced legislation, eventually signed into law by President Barack Obama, that expanded telemedicine services among active duty military service-members. In 2017, he sponsored another bill that expanded telemedicine throughout the VA health care system.\nTo expand these services in broader rural areas, he has said, there must be access to high-speed internet but also aid that makes it affordable to providers and consumers.In June, he introduced a measure to codify Medicare reimbursement for community health centers and rural health clinics to provide telemedicine services making permanent some of a temporary benefit enacted during the pandemic.\nThe issue does come down to connectivity, obviously, but it comes to other issues, such as reimbursement, hesaid in September.If you're able to access the right providers, you're getting high-quality care no matter where you live.\nThe success of rural areas depends on helping farmers navigate what has been a turbulent stretch. The virus has disrupted the broader food supply chain, with restaurants shutting down and food pantries overwhelmed with demand from hungry families, he said.\nEven before the pandemic, Pennsylvania farmersstruggled with low pricescaused in part by the Trump administration's trade war with China, whose government effectively blocked U.S. soybean shipments for about 18 months in retaliation.\nThe dairy industry, which makes up roughly a third of Pennsylvania's farm sales, has been awash in milk for years, mostly due to overproduction and consumers flocking to alternative non-dairy milks.\nThe agriculture committee has purview over the complex system of farm subsidies and aid, including aprogram that provides payments to dairies when their margins fall below a certain level.\nWhen COVID-19 hit, the government set uptheCoronavirus Food Assistance Program, which has providedmore than $19 billionto farmers through direct payments and through purchasing and distribution of produce, dairy and meat to places that need it most.\nMr. Thompson said the committee should hold hearings and listening sessions on ways to make the food system more resilient, he said. Lessons learned from the pandemic should be part of the next farm bill, scheduled to come up in 2023.\nMeeting with farmers about the pandemic program so far, he said, the feedback I've gotten has been very, very positive.\nA small-government Republican, Mr. Thompson has said he knows farmers' top goal is to get their product to a buyer  not government checks.In the longer term, he said, the government should help farmers invest in their business, like aid to help dairy farmers, for example, buy processing equipment that can produce more lucrative cheese.\nHe praised President Donald Trump'spartial trade deal with China, signed in January, which put a hold on the trade war and directed China to accelerate purchases of American farm goods, among other U.S. exports. (The pandemic put a damper on those lofty goals, and Chinahas fallen behind its commitmentsthis year.)\nHe said he would continue to advocate for trade deals with the United Kingdom, and across Europe and Asia. They have far more stomachs they need to fill, he said.\nHe said he intends on meeting the climate change challenge by maintaining forests and encouraging farmers to use precision agriculture to conserve resources and maintain healthy soil. Overseeing those practices, the agriculture committee is responsible for the largest carbon sinks in the world, he said, referring to their ability to store carbon currently in the atmosphere.\nMr. Thompson, whose district has the most abandoned mine land in the country, has led the charge toextend the federal programthat funds cleanup projects, fighting a dueling proposal from Wyoming lawmakers to cut the program by 35%.\nBut he has questioned the need for more regulations on the energy industry, suggesting during a webinar in June that unfavorable news coverage and environmental groups opposing natural gas had been covertly fueled by Russians bent on disrupting America's energy supply. He has criticized Democrats' climate change proposals as unrealistic and economically destructive.\nMr. Thompson, who tends to avoid wading into partisan disputes, led Pennsylvania's Republican delegation last month in challenging the state's administration of the election, repeatingMr. Trump's baseless accusationsof widespread voter fraud.\nMr. Thompson, in the interview, saidthere may have been abuses and that voter fraud may have occurred in small pieces, perhaps, small parcels, but the transition is preceding to allow President-Elect Joe Biden to take office next month.\nHe emphasized he wants to move forward after the politics of 2020 sidelined important measures. He called the committee's new chair, Rep. David Scott, a Georgia Democrat representing the Atlanta suburbs, a gentleman and a statesman, and I'm looking forward to our work together.\nThe former chair, Rep. Collin Peterson, lost his re-election bid after 30 years representing rural western Minnesota. Mr. Peterson was among 13 Democrats whose seats were flipped, narrowing their House majority.\nIn some sense, that will put us in a position where the majority party will be motivated to work with us, Mr. Thompson said.We tend to be bipartisan.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://reschenthaler.house.gov/media/press-releases/reschenthaler-toomey-spearhead-resolution-supporting-free-trade-taiwan", "Reschenthaler, Toomey Spearhead Resolution Supporting Free Trade with Taiwan", "2020-12-23", "2020", "2020-12", "Republican", "House", "PA", "Guy Reschenthaler", "R000610", "reschenthaler.house.gov", "reschenthaler", "https://reschenthaler.house.gov/media/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON, D.C. \u2013 Rep. Guy Reschenthaler (PA-14) joined with Congressional Taiwan Caucus Chairs Reps. Steve Chabot (OH-1)and Mario Diaz-Balart (FL-25) to introduce H. Res. 1268, which expresses the sense of the House of Representatives that the United States should initiate negotiations to enter into a free trade agreement with Taiwan. This legislation is a critical step toward building a stronger diplomatic partnership with Taiwan, expanding economic growth and job creation through increased access to markets in the Indo-Pacific region, and countering the Chinese Communist Party's hostilities towards Taiwan. Senator Pat Toomey (R-PA), the author of the legislation, and 25 Senate Republicans introduced this resolution in the Senate.\n\n\"As a member of the Congressional Taiwan Caucus, I am proud to introduce this critical legislation that supports expanding economic ties between the United States and Taiwan by lowering trade barriers,\" said Reschenthaler. \"As an important trading partner for the United States and Pennsylvania, a free trade agreement with Taiwan will enhance our economic, diplomatic, and security partnership in the Indo-Pacific while also countering the Chinese Communist Party's aggression in the region. After visiting Taiwan in 2019, I saw firsthand Taiwan's shared economic values and commitment to freedom and democracy. It is past time our nation takes advantage of this opportunity to deepen trade ties with our friend and ally Taiwan. I thank Senator Toomey and Reps. Diaz-Balart and Chabot for joining me to strengthen this enduring partnership.\"\n\n\"Building closer trade ties between the United States and Taiwan is a win-win for both countries,\" said Senator Toomey. \"American workers and manufacturers would have more customers, American consumers would have access to more affordable goods, both economies would grow faster, and America would strengthen its relationship with a key regional ally and increase our economic engagement in the Indo-Pacific region. The Senate should pass this resolution and the incoming Biden administration should make a trade agreement with Taiwan a priority.\"\n\n\"Taiwan is a strong friend and democratic ally of the United States, and I support efforts to further strengthen that relationship with deepened economic ties,\" said Congressman Mario Diaz-Balart. \"While the PRC continues to bully and threaten its neighbors, Taiwan has nonetheless thrived as an economic powerhouse and responsible partner on a variety of key priorities including public health, democracy promotion, and trade. Working toward a free trade agreement with Taiwan will strengthen this crucial relationship and enable Taiwan to better withstand the barrage of threats and hostility from the PRC.\"\n\n\"As a longtime proponent of a U.S.-Taiwan free trade agreement, I am pleased to support this important legislation put forward by Congressman Reschenthaler,\" said Congressman Chabot. \"Taiwan is one of our top trading partners, and consolidating our economic partnership will bring both economic and strategic benefits to both of our countries. Earlier this fall, President Tsai took bold action to address longstanding barriers to U.S. agricultural imports. It is critical that the United States Trade Representatives build on this gesture of goodwill before momentum is lost.\"\n\n\"TECRO sincerely appreciates Senator Toomey and Congressman Reschenthaler for introducing this important resolution,\" said Ambassador Bi-Khim Hsiao. \"As both Taiwan and the United States are making every endeavor to ensure supply chain security and trading relationships that will provide us with more resilience and restore our economic growth in the aftermath of the COVID pandemic, a bilateral trade agreement would be a sensible and necessary move to achieve those goals. Taiwan is ready to start the negotiations towards a high-standard trade agreement. We look forward to working with US Congress and the administration to deepen Taiwan-US trade and economic ties.\"\n\nCurrently, Taiwan is the 10th largest trading partner with the United States in goods and 11th largest trading partner overall. Taiwan is also Pennsylvania's 18th largest export market, with an estimated $367.6 million in 2017. In 2019, bilateral trade in goods between Taiwan and the United States accounted for $86 billion, a $24 billion increase from 2010. According to the U.S. Department of Commerce, Taiwan supports an estimated 208,000 U.S. jobs as of 2015, and Taiwan's foreign direct investment stock accounts for $11.1 billion.\n\nAs a member of the China Task Force (CTF), Congressman Reschenthaler supported including language to recommend increased trade ties with Taiwan in the CTF 2020 report. Specifically, the report stated: \"the Administration should work to deepen trade ties with Taiwan and resolve specific outstanding trade issues, taking the steps to launch trade agreement negotiations once those are addressed.\"\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-06-28T00:42:23Z"], ["https://www.toomey.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/toomey-led-resolution-calls-for-free-trade-agreement-between-the-us-and-taiwan", "Toomey-led Resolution Calls for Free Trade Agreement Between the US and Taiwan", "2020-12-23", "2020", "2020-12", "Republican", "House", "PA", "Patrick Toomey", "T000461", "www.toomey.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Washington,\r\nD.C. \r\nU.S. Senator Pat Toomey (R-Pa.) is leading an effort to expand trade with Taiwan.\r\n  The\r\nConstitution gives Congress control over trade policy, and it is the\r\nresponsibility of the executive branch to pursue trade policies and trade\r\nagreements in line with those supported by Congress. In line with this, Senator\r\nToomey has introduced a Senate resolution detailing the need for a trade\r\nagreement with Taiwan.   Building\r\ncloser trade ties between the United States and Taiwan is a win-win for both\r\ncountries, said Senator Toomey. American workers and manufacturers\r\nwould have more customers, American consumers would have access to more\r\naffordable goods, both economies would grow faster, and America would\r\nstrengthen its relationship with a key regional ally and increase our economic engagement\r\nin the Indo-Pacific region. The Senate should pass this resolution and the\r\nincoming Biden administration should make a trade agreement with Taiwan a\r\npriority.  Senator\r\nToomey's colleague from Pennsylvania, Congressman Guy Reschenthaler (R-Pa. 14th),\r\nhas introduced a companion resolution in the House.   The\r\nSenate resolution, which is available in its entirety below, is cosponsored by\r\nSenators John Barrasso (R-Wyo.), Marsha Blackburn (R-Tenn.), John Boozman\r\n(R-Ark.), Mike Braun (R-Ind.), Shelley Moore Capito (R-W.Va.), John Cornyn\r\n(R-Texas), Tom Cotton (R-Ark.), Kevin Cramer (R-N.D.), Ted Cruz (R-Texas),\r\nSteve Daines (R-Mont.), Deb Fischer (R-Neb.), John Hoeven (R-N.D.), Cindy\r\nHyde-Smith (R-Miss.), Jim Inhofe (R-Okla.), Ron Johnson (R-Wis.), John Kennedy\r\n(R-La.), James Lankford (R-Okla.), Mike Lee (R-Utah), Mike Rounds (R-S.D.),\r\nMarco Rubio (R-Fla.), Ben Sasse (R-Neb.), Tim Scott (R-S.C.), Thom Tillis\r\n(R-N.C.), Roger Wicker (R-Miss.), and Todd Young (R-Ind.).   Background:   The United States\r\nis currently Taiwan's second largest trading partner, and Taiwan is the tenth\r\nlargest trading partner of the United States in goods and the eleventh largest\r\ntrading partner overall.   Trade with Taiwan\r\nsupports an estimated 208,000 United States jobs according to estimates of the\r\nUnited States Department of Commerce as of 2015.  Bilateral trade in\r\ngoods between Taiwan and the United States increased from $62,000,000,000 in\r\n2010 to $86,000,000,000 in 2019, according to the United States Census Bureau.  Title: Expressing the sense of the\r\nSenate that the United States should initiate negotiations to enter into a free\r\ntrade agreement with Taiwan.   Whereas,\r\npursuant to section 2(b)(1) of the Taiwan Relations Act (22 U.S.C. 3301(b)(1)),\r\nit is the policy of the United States to promote extensive, close, and\r\nfriendly commercial, cultural, and other relations between the people of the\r\nUnited States and the people on Taiwan; Whereas\r\nthe friendship between the United States and Taiwan is based on a shared\r\ncommitment to individual and economic freedom, shared values, and an\r\nappreciation for the blessings of liberty and democracy; Whereas\r\nthe United States and Taiwan enjoy a robust trade partnership, marked by the\r\nexchange of goods and services and international travel; Whereas\r\nTaiwan has shown an interest in strengthening its economic relationship with\r\nthe United States by investing in technology manufacturing facilities located\r\nwithin the United States and agreeing to lift restrictions on the importation\r\nof certain United States agricultural products; Whereas\r\nTaiwan has demonstrated a commitment to protecting intellectual property and\r\nindividual freedom by serving as a leader in the responsible development of\r\ntechnology, as evidenced through a Joint Declaration on 5G Security announced\r\nbetween the American Institute in Taiwan and the Taipei Economic and Cultural\r\nRepresentative Office in August 2020; Whereas\r\nTaiwan has played an integral role in the global supply chain during the\r\ncoronavirus disease 2019 (commonly known as COVID19) pandemic, producing\r\nmass amounts of masks at the time when masks were most scarce and ensuring that\r\nthis critical tool was available to individuals around the world; Whereas\r\nthe United States has consistently supported peaceful relations between Taiwan\r\nand the People's Republic of China, and respected the provisions of both the\r\nTaiwan Relations Act (22 U.S.C. 3301 et seq.) and the Six Assurances offered by\r\nPresident Ronald Reagan to Taiwan in 1982; Whereas\r\nthe People's Republic of China has shown a hostility to Taiwan, aggressively\r\nasserting its military power, using coercive economic measures to keep Taiwan\r\neconomically dependent on the People's Republic of China, and seeking to\r\nisolate Taiwan from the rest of the world; Whereas\r\nthe policy of the United States is to advance a free and open Indo-Pacific\r\nregion, and achieving that vision must include working with like-minded\r\ncountries in the region to liberalize trade; Whereas\r\nthe United States is currently Taiwan's 2nd largest trading partner, and Taiwan\r\nis the 10th largest trading partner of the United States in goods and 11th\r\nlargest trading partner overall; Whereas\r\nTaiwan has been a member of the World Trade Organization since 2002; Whereas\r\nbilateral trade in goods between Taiwan and the United States increased from\r\n$62,000,000,000 in 2010 to $86,000,000,000 in 2019, according to the United\r\nStates Census Bureau; Whereas\r\nTaiwan's foreign direct investment stock in the United States was\r\n$11,100,000,000 as of 2019; Whereas\r\ntrade with Taiwan supports an estimated 208,000 United States jobs according to\r\nestimates of the United States Department of Commerce as of 2015; Whereas\r\ncloser engagement with Taiwan through trade negotiations would encourage even\r\ngreater access to Taiwan's market and would benefit both security and economic\r\ngrowth for the United States, Taiwan, and the Indo-Pacific region; Whereas\r\nit is essential that a free trade agreement negotiated between the United\r\nStates and Taiwan lower tariff and nontariff barriers to trade, including\r\nmeaningfully expanded access to agricultural markets and ensuring that\r\nscience-based standards govern international trade in animals and animal\r\nproducts; Whereas\r\nthe Bipartisan Congressional Trade Priorities and Accountability Act of 2015\r\n(19 U.S.C. 4201 et seq.) enables the President to negotiate reciprocal\r\nreductions of nontariff barriers while preserving the authority of Congress\r\nover foreign trade as required by section 8 of article I of the Constitution of\r\nthe United States; Whereas\r\nthe procedures laid out in the Bipartisan Congressional Trade Priorities and\r\nAccountability Act of 2015 were designed by Congress to maintain the\r\nsovereignty of Congress over trade; and Whereas,\r\nfor legislation implementing a trade agreement to qualify for trade authorities\r\nprocedures under the Bipartisan Congressional Trade Priorities and\r\nAccountability Act of 2015, the trade agreement is required to make progress\r\ntoward achieving the applicable objectives, policies, and priorities set forth\r\nby Congress in that Act, and failure by the administration of a President to\r\nadhere to the trade negotiating objectives and notification and consultation\r\nrequirements established by Congress renders a trade agreement ineligible for\r\nfast-track consideration: Now, therefore, be it Resolved,\r\nThat it is the sense of the Senate that the United States should initiate\r\nnegotiations to enter into a free trade agreement with Taiwan.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://dean.house.gov/2020/12/house-passes-budget-includes-rep-dean-s-priorities-pfas-atf-funding-substance", "House Passes Budget that includes Rep. Dean\u2019s Priorities on PFAS, ATF Funding, Substance Abuse Disorders, and, Disability Assistances", "2020-12-22", "2020", "2020-12", "Democrat", "House", "PA", "Madeleine Dean", "D000631", "dean.house.gov", "dean", "https://dean.house.gov/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON \u2014 The House voted on the budget to increase non-defense spending by $12.5 billion, allowing for strong investments in American families and communities. The budget supports better schools, expands access to housing, tackles food insecurity, builds safer communities, and protects the environment.\n\n\u201cIt\u2019s important that we expand funding for 2021 to ensure that American families are the priority.\u201d Rep. Dean said. \u201cI am grateful we were able to include my priorities including the PFAS health study and funding for pregnant and postpartum women struggling with substance use disorders.\u201d\n\nReps. Dean and McBath co-led a letter to increase the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives funding to $1.48 billion. ATF plays a critical role in protecting Americans from gun violence. This $83.9 million increase from last year\u2019s allocation will help ATF investigate gun crime, prevent illegal gun trafficking, and ensure gun dealers comply with federal law and regulations.\n\nReps. Dean and Rose co-led a letter to secure an extra $1 million (from last year\u2019s allocation) for the Pregnant and Postpartum Women program in SAMHSA. This program is specifically targeted at women suffering with substance use disorders and is designed to expand the availability of comprehensive, residential substance abuse treatment, prevention and recovery support with a family-centered approach.\n\nRep. Dean also led a letter to secure $15 million for the CDC-ATSDR PFAS health study which will help study exposure to PFAS, an issue that has impacted Montgomery County for decades.\n\nAdditionally, $6 million for Disability CDFI funds was secured. These funds will go to CDFIs that grant loans for disability related purchases and help organizations like the PA Assistive Technology Foundation.\n\nThe year-end package also included Rep. Dean\u2019s Fostering Stable Housing Opportunities Act which addresses the needs of foster youth by providing vouchers from the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) to those who are at risk of homelessness \u2013 rather than forcing them to spend years on waiting lists.", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-06-28T00:42:23Z"], ["https://dean.house.gov/2020/12/rep-dean-passes-bipartisan-covid-relief-deal", "Rep. Dean Passes Bipartisan COVID Relief Deal", "2020-12-22", "2020", "2020-12", "Democrat", "House", "PA", "Madeleine Dean", "D000631", "dean.house.gov", "dean", "https://dean.house.gov/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON \u2014 Last night, Rep. Dean helped pass the necessary and long-awaited $900 Billion COVID-19 relief package. The package now includes the following measures and more:\n\nSmall Business: $284 billion for first and second forgivable PPP loans, expanded PPP eligibility, modifications to PPP to serve smallest businesses, nonprofits, and independent restaurants; $20 billion for EIDL Grants\n\nRent Assistance: $25 billion in rental assistance and an extension of the eviction moratorium.\n\nDirect Payments: Worth up to $600 per adult and child\n\nUnemployment: $300 per week UI enhancement for Americans out of work.\n\nFood Insecurity: $13 billion in increased SNAP and child nutrition benefits\n\nEducation and Child care: $82 billion in funding for colleges and schools and $10 billion for child care assistance to help get parents back to work and keep child care providers open.\n\nBroadband: $7 billion to increase access to broadband, including a new Emergency Broadband Benefit to help millions of students, families and unemployed workers afford the broadband they need during the pandemic.\n\nState and Local Governments: The bill included Rep. Dean and Rep. Thompson\u2019s LOCAL Act \u2013 which extends the time state and local governments can use CARES Act Coronavirus Relief Fund (CRF) dollars until the end of 2021.\n\n\u201cI voted yes on the relief package because the situation is dire and folks need relief now, but this does not mean the package is sufficient.\u201d Rep. Dean said. \u201cBut, we couldn\u2019t wait any longer to extend funding for unemployment assistance, or to get funding to those who are hungry, or struggling to stay in their homes, and immediate relief for small businesses.\u201d\n\nRep. Dean is hopeful the relief will be out to Americans as quickly as possible. The package also includes billions in funds to accelerate the free and equitable distribution of safe vaccines and funds to implement a strong national testing and tracing strategy. However, the bill fails to go far enough to replenish State and local funding or provide adequate direct payments. However, this emergency relief bill is an important initial step, which will be built upon under the Biden-Harris Administration.\n\nRep. Madeleine Dean is a mother, grandmother, attorney, professor, former four-term member of the Pennsylvania House of Representatives, and U.S. Representative for the Fourth District of Pennsylvania.", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-06-28T00:42:23Z"], ["https://dean.house.gov/media/press-releases/house-passes-budget-includes-rep-dean-s-priorities-pfas-atf-funding-substance", "House Passes Budget that includes Rep. Dean\u2019s Priorities on PFAS, ATF Funding, Substance Abuse Disorders, and, Disability Assistances", "2020-12-22", "2020", "2020-12", "Democrat", "House", "PA", "Madeleine Dean", "D000631", "dean.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "WASHINGTON  The House voted on the budget to increase non-defense spending by $12.5 billion, allowing for strong investments in American families and communities. The budget supports better schools, expands access to housing, tackles food insecurity, builds safer communities, and protects the environment.\nIt's important that we expand funding for 2021 to ensure that American families are the priority. Rep. Dean said. I am grateful we were able to include my priorities including the PFAS health study and funding for pregnant and postpartum women struggling with substance use disorders.\nReps. Dean and McBath co-led a letter to increase the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives funding to $1.48 billion. ATF plays a critical role in protecting Americans from gun violence. This $83.9 million increase from last year's allocation will help ATF investigate gun crime, prevent illegal gun trafficking, and ensure gun dealers comply with federal law and regulations.\nReps. Dean and Rose co-led a letter to secure an extra $1 million (from last year's allocation) for the Pregnant and Postpartum Women program in SAMHSA. This program is specifically targeted at women suffering with substance use disorders and is designed to expand the availability of comprehensive, residential substance abuse treatment, prevention and recovery support with a family-centered approach.\nRep. Dean also led a letter to secure $15 million for the CDC-ATSDR PFAS health study which will help study exposure to PFAS, an issue that has impacted Montgomery County for decades.\nAdditionally, $6 million for Disability CDFI funds was secured. These funds will go to CDFIs that grant loans for disability related purchases and help organizations like the PA Assistive Technology Foundation.\nThe year-end package also included Rep. Dean's Fostering Stable Housing Opportunities Act which addresses the needs of foster youth by providing vouchers from the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) to those who are at risk of homelessness  rather than forcing them to spend years on waiting lists.\nFurthermore, the bill incentivizes young people to participate in self-sufficiency activities such as pursuing education, workforce development opportunities, or employment, by extending their assistance for up to an additional two years.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://dean.house.gov/media/press-releases/rep-dean-passes-bipartisan-covid-relief-deal", "Rep. Dean Passes Bipartisan COVID Relief Deal", "2020-12-22", "2020", "2020-12", "Democrat", "House", "PA", "Madeleine Dean", "D000631", "dean.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "WASHINGTON  Last night, Rep. Dean helped pass the necessary and long-awaited $900 Billion COVID-19 relief package. The package now includes the following measures and more:\n Small Business: $284 billion for first and second forgivable PPP loans, expanded PPP eligibility, modifications to PPP to serve smallest businesses, nonprofits, and independent restaurants; $20 billion for EIDL Grants\n\tRent Assistance: $25 billion in rental assistance and an extension of the eviction moratorium.\n\tDirect Payments: Worth up to $600 per adult and child\n\tUnemployment: $300 per week UI enhancement for Americans out of work.\n\tFood Insecurity: $13 billion in increased SNAP and child nutrition benefits\n\tEducation and Child care: $82 billion in funding for colleges and schools and $10 billion for child care assistance to help get parents back to work and keep child care providers open.\n\tBroadband: $7 billion to increase access to broadband, including a new Emergency Broadband Benefit to help millions of students, families and unemployed workers afford the broadband they need during the pandemic.\n\tState and Local Governments: The bill included Rep. Dean and Rep. Thompson's LOCAL Act  which extends the time state and local governments can use CARES Act Coronavirus Relief Fund (CRF) dollars until the end of 2021.\n I voted yes on the relief package because the situation is dire and folks need relief now, but this does not mean the package is sufficient. Rep. Dean said. But, we couldn't wait any longer to extend funding for unemployment assistance, or to get funding to those who are hungry, or struggling to stay in their homes, and immediate relief for small businesses.\nRep. Dean is hopeful the relief will be out to Americans as quickly as possible. The package also includes billions in funds to accelerate the free and equitable distribution of safe vaccines and funds to implement a strong national testing and tracing strategy. However, the bill fails to go far enough to replenish State and local funding or provide adequate direct payments. However, this emergency relief bill is an important initial step, which will be built upon under the Biden-Harris Administration.\nRep. Madeleine Dean is a mother, grandmother, attorney, professor, former four-term member of the Pennsylvania House of Representatives, and U.S. Representative for the Fourth District of Pennsylvania.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://dean.house.gov/press-releases?ID=7A874B8A-B42B-4354-8677-33857E304699", "House Passes Budget that includes Rep. Deans Priorities on PFAS, ATF Funding, Substance Abuse Disorders, and, Disability Assistances", "2020-12-22", "2020", "2020-12", "Democrat", "House", "PA", "Madeleine Dean", "D000631", "dean.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "WASHINGTON \u2014 The House voted on the budget to increase non-defense spending by $12.5 billion, allowing for strong investments in American families and communities. The budget supports better schools, expands access to housing, tackles food insecurity, builds safer communities, and protects the environment.\n\n\u201cIt\u2019s important that we expand funding for 2021 to ensure that American families are the priority.\u201d Rep. Dean said. \u201cI am grateful we were able to include my priorities including the PFAS health study and funding for pregnant and postpartum women struggling with substance use disorders.\u201d\n\nReps. Dean and McBath co-led a letter to increase the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives funding to $1.48 billion. ATF plays a critical role in protecting Americans from gun violence. This $83.9 million increase from last year\u2019s allocation will help ATF investigate gun crime, prevent illegal gun trafficking, and ensure gun dealers comply with federal law and regulations.\n\nReps. Dean and Rose co-led a letter to secure an extra $1 million (from last year\u2019s allocation) for the Pregnant and Postpartum Women program in SAMHSA. This program is specifically targeted at women suffering with substance use disorders and is designed to expand the availability of comprehensive, residential substance abuse treatment, prevention and recovery support with a family-centered approach.\n\nRep. Dean also led a letter to secure $15 million for the CDC-ATSDR PFAS health study which will help study exposure to PFAS, an issue that has impacted Montgomery County for decades.\n\nAdditionally, $6 million for Disability CDFI funds was secured. These funds will go to CDFIs that grant loans for disability related purchases and help organizations like the PA Assistive Technology Foundation.\n\nThe year-end package also included Rep. Dean\u2019s Fostering Stable Housing Opportunities Act which addresses the needs of foster youth by providing vouchers from the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) to those who are at risk of homelessness \u2013 rather than forcing them to spend years on waiting lists.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-06-28T00:42:23Z"], ["https://dean.house.gov/press-releases?ID=C56A57B5-7274-43E4-9D8D-569FB1899C16", "Rep. Dean Passes Bipartisan COVID Relief Deal", "2020-12-22", "2020", "2020-12", "Democrat", "House", "PA", "Madeleine Dean", "D000631", "dean.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "WASHINGTON \u2014 Last night, Rep. Dean helped pass the necessary and long-awaited $900 Billion COVID-19 relief package. The package now includes the following measures and more:\n\nSmall Business: $284 billion for first and second forgivable PPP loans, expanded PPP eligibility, modifications to PPP to serve smallest businesses, nonprofits, and independent restaurants; $20 billion for EIDL Grants\n\nRent Assistance: $25 billion in rental assistance and an extension of the eviction moratorium.\n\nDirect Payments: Worth up to $600 per adult and child\n\nUnemployment: $300 per week UI enhancement for Americans out of work.\n\nFood Insecurity: $13 billion in increased SNAP and child nutrition benefits\n\nEducation and Child care: $82 billion in funding for colleges and schools and $10 billion for child care assistance to help get parents back to work and keep child care providers open.\n\nBroadband: $7 billion to increase access to broadband, including a new Emergency Broadband Benefit to help millions of students, families and unemployed workers afford the broadband they need during the pandemic.\n\nState and Local Governments: The bill included Rep. Dean and Rep. Thompson\u2019s LOCAL Act \u2013 which extends the time state and local governments can use CARES Act Coronavirus Relief Fund (CRF) dollars until the end of 2021.\n\n\u201cI voted yes on the relief package because the situation is dire and folks need relief now, but this does not mean the package is sufficient.\u201d Rep. Dean said. \u201cBut, we couldn\u2019t wait any longer to extend funding for unemployment assistance, or to get funding to those who are hungry, or struggling to stay in their homes, and immediate relief for small businesses.\u201d\n\nRep. Dean is hopeful the relief will be out to Americans as quickly as possible. The package also includes billions in funds to accelerate the free and equitable distribution of safe vaccines and funds to implement a strong national testing and tracing strategy. However, the bill fails to go far enough to replenish State and local funding or provide adequate direct payments. However, this emergency relief bill is an important initial step, which will be built upon under the Biden-Harris Administration.\n\nRep. Madeleine Dean is a mother, grandmother, attorney, professor, former four-term member of the Pennsylvania House of Representatives, and U.S. Representative for the Fourth District of Pennsylvania.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-06-28T00:42:23Z"], ["https://wild.house.gov/media/press-releases/rep-wild-votes-support-small-businesses-expand-child-care-assistance-send", "Rep. Wild Votes to Support Small Businesses, Expand Child Care Assistance, Send Direct Payments to Pennsylvanians", "2020-12-22", "2020", "2020-12", "Democrat", "House", "PA", "Susan Wild", "W000826", "wild.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "WASHINGTON Today, U.S. Representative Susan Wild (PA-07) released a statement following Congressional passage of a COVID-19 relief package and 2020 omnibus appropriations bill:\n\nWe should have passed this months ago, but last night we passed both a COVID-19 bill and a bill to avoid yet another shutdown and send desperately needed relief to the Lehigh Valley.\n\nLast night's relief package marks a down payment on real reliefstarting, first and foremost, with critical funding to get the COVID-19 vaccine distributed through our communities as quickly as possible. Providing a second round of Paycheck Protection Program loans for our hardest-hit main street businesses. Offering rental assistance supporting not only those struggling to make rent, but our landlords, too. Supporting child care providers so we can help give parents the options they need to return to work. Investing in funding for our schools to repair and replace HVAC systems so we can help get our students back in the classroom. And putting money directly in the pockets of Pennsylvanians.\n\nAnd I'm proud of the wins I secured in the omnibus appropriations bill, including a new $35 million crisis care initiative within the Mental Health Block Grant to help create 24/7 mobile mental health crisis units which can offer outreach and support and can travel to individuals in need, and a $67 million increase in funding for the Social Security Administration's operating expenses along with designated funds to address the disability hearings backlogwhich has left too many Pennsylvanians waiting for years to receive their benefits.\n\nBut let me be clear: While I am encouraged by the long-awaited relief we were able to secure in this package and through appropriations funding, our work is by no means finished. PA-07 needs morenot only to get to the other side of this crisis, but to rebuild and thrive in the aftermath. We need specific assistance tailored to the small businesses that power our economyespecially the restaurants, gyms, barbershops and salons, event centers, community centers, and arts venues that rely on public gatherings. We need stronger funding for our schools. We need direct aid to our state and local governments, so they aren't forced to lay off frontline workers like bus drivers, cops, firefighters, teachers and more.\n\nAs we move into the new year with a new Congress and administration, I am committed to working with my colleaguesDemocrat and Republican aliketo expand upon these bipartisan successes and pass additional legislation to fully address all our community's needs.\n\nMy focus remains on getting our community down the road to recovery.\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://www.casey.senate.gov/news/releases/casey-releases-statement-on-covid-relief-legislation", "Casey Releases Statement on COVID Relief Legislation", "2020-12-22", "2020", "2020-12", "Democrat", "House", "PA", "Bob Casey", "C001070", "www.casey.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", null, 0, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://boyle.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/boyle-statement-stopgap-covid-19-relief-package", "BOYLE STATEMENT ON STOPGAP COVID-19 RELIEF PACKAGE", "2020-12-21", "2020", "2020-12", "Democrat", "House", "PA", "Brendan F. Boyle", "B001296", "boyle.house.gov", "boyle", "https://boyle.house.gov/media-center/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON, D.C. \u2013 Congressman Brendan F. Boyle (PA-02) released the following statement on tonight's bipartisan passage of legislation to fund the government and provide additional, long-overdue pandemic relief for the American people, including survival checks and enhanced unemployment:\n\n\"This is the second-largest bill in American history. While not as historic and encompassing as the HEROES Act passed by the House months ago, it will help provide some relief to the millions of Americans who are suffering. But, Congress must do more. When the first draft of this bill came out over a week ago, it did not contain any direct cash payments to the American people. This was completely unacceptable to me. I banded together with a group of like-minded House Democrats who agreed with me and pledged not to support any bill that failed to include these payments. I'm proud our effort was successful.\n\n\"While I'm glad to have helped lead the fight for direct cash payments, I am disappointed it is only a one-time check for $600. This is nothing but a Band-Aid for struggling families who are months behind on rent, utilities, and car payments. It's a disgrace that in the richest nation on Earth, millions of people will be spending this holiday season wondering if they will be able to keep a roof over their heads or pay for groceries in 2021.\n\nThe bill now moves to the Senate for approval.\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-06-28T00:42:23Z"], ["https://evans.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/evans-relief-package-bridge-next-year-and-biden-s-start", "Evans: Relief Package is Bridge to Next Year and Biden\u2019s Start", "2020-12-21", "2020", "2020-12", "Democrat", "House", "PA", "Dwight Evans", "E000296", "evans.house.gov", "evans", "https://evans.house.gov/media/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON (Dec. 22, 2020) \u2013 Congressman Dwight Evans (D-PA-3rd) welcomed agreement on a new Covid relief package, something he has been advocating and voting for since May:\n\n\"While a new round of $600 direct payments, also known as \u2018stimulus checks,' seems to me to be getting the most attention, that's only about 20 percent of the package. There's much more in this package to deliver help to people NOW.\n\n\"Since we are currently limited by both a Republican president and Republican-controlled Senate, we have to get as much relief for people as we can NOW, and come back for more starting in January. We cannot let the perfect be the enemy of the good when so many people are hurting, when so many people are at risk of homelessness or hunger in this pandemic winter.\n\n\"This package is a bridge to the new Biden-Harris administration that begins in just over four weeks. President-elect Biden has already expressed his determination to do more to provide relief, revive the economy and crush the virus. I look forward to working with him to do exactly that!\"\n\nEvans said the package includes many items he supported and even pressed for. Here are some highlights:\n\nHousing: $25 billion in emergency rental assistance, along with an extension of the eviction moratorium until Jan. 31. Evans recently led a letter with more than 50 of my colleagues urging the CDC to extend its eviction moratorium even further, to March 31, and he plans to continue pursuing that.\n\nEnhanced Unemployment Insurance benefits: Averting the sudden expiration of Unemployment Insurance benefits for millions and adding a $300 per week UI enhancement for Americans out of work. Evans supported a second $1,200 stimulus payment in the Heroes Act the House passed in May and will keep pressing for more. In the meantime, the enhanced and extended unemployment benefits will add up to even more help for many people in need than the stimulus payment.\n\nHelp for hungry families: $13 billion in increased SNAP and child nutrition benefits to help relieve the historic hunger crisis that has left up to 17 million children food-insecure.\n\nEducation and child care: The agreement provides $82 billion in funding for colleges and schools, including support for HVAC repair and replacement to mitigate virus transmission and reopen classrooms, and $10 billion for child care assistance to help get parents back to work and keep child care providers open.\n\nSmall businesses: The agreement includes over $284 billion for first and second forgivable PPP (Paycheck Protection Program) loans, $20 billion for targeted EIDL grants to help small businesses, expanded PPP eligibility for nonprofit organizations, and key modifications to PPP to serve the smallest businesses and struggling nonprofits and better assist independent restaurants.\n\nThe agreement also includes something Evans has pressed for: dedicated PPP set-asides for lending through community-based lenders like Community Development Financial Institutions (CDFIs) and Minority Depository Institutions (MDIs). Evans said this is vital for making sure more of the aid reaches smaller businesses and minority-owned small businesses.\n\nVaccine distribution and Covid testing funding: The package provides billions in urgently needed funds to speed the free and equitable distribution of safe vaccines to as many Americans as possible as soon as possible, to implement a strong national testing and tracing strategy with billions reserved specifically for combating the disparities facing communities of color, and to support health care workers and providers.\n\n\"As far as I'm concerned, this package is not the final word, just a way to get some urgently needed help to people NOW, and I will keep pressing for more relief!\" Evans said.\n\nEvans represents Pennsylvania's 3rd Congressional District, which includes Northwest and West Philadelphia and parts of North, South, Southwest and Center City Philadelphia. He serves on the influential House Ways and Means Committee, which oversees Medicare and much of the U.S. health-care system.\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-06-28T00:42:23Z"], ["https://houlahan.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=1932", "Houlahan Passes Bipartisan COVID Relief Deal", "2020-12-21", "2020", "2020-12", "Democrat", "House", "PA", "Chrissy Houlahan", "H001085", "houlahan.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "WASHINGTON, DC Today, Representative Chrissy Houlahan (D-PA) helped to pass a long-awaited, long-overdue bipartisan COVID relief deal. Representative Houlahan is a member of the bi-partisan and bi-cameral Problem Solvers Caucus, and much of what is in the final negotiated legislation was proposed by this group. Included in the package is her Paycheck Protection Small Business Forgiveness Act, which will expedite forgiveness for recipients of Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) loans of $150,000 or less, further helping small business owners keep their workers employed during this crisis.\r\nI have been clear from the start: our community and Commonwealth needed relief yesterday, said Houlahan. That's why I've been working alongside Democrats and Republicans to get a deal passed. Make no mistake: this deal is not end all be all. It is a down-payment of sorts to deliver immediate relief and to hopefully help Pennsylvanians weather these next very difficult weeks. I am very grateful to have earned wide bipartisan support for my PPP legislation, which will help our smallest of small business owners retain their workers and keep Pennsylvanians employed.\r\nAs we look toward a transition to a new administration, I will continue negotiating to get another, more favorable deal on the table - particularly one that addresses the needs of state and local governments as they navigate vaccine distribution. This crisis is not over, and we as elected representatives have a responsibility to continue to rise to the occasion and meet the needs of the American people.\r\nIncluded in this package: \r\n \r\n    Houlahan's bipartisan Paycheck Protection Small Business Forgiveness Act\r\n    A second round of Paycheck Protection Program loans for smaller and harder-hit businesses that still need relief\r\n    Authorization for certain nonprofit organizations to receive PPP funds and $15B in grants for the live event industry, which has been hit hard by the pandemic \r\n    Modifications to other small business loan programs (such as 7(a) loans) to help more small businesses weather the crisis\r\n    Additional assistance for small businesses in low income communities through the EIDL advance program \r\n    Clarifies that deductions are allowed for expenses paid with proceeds of a forgiven PPP loan\r\n    Extension of the Federal Pandemic Unemployment Compensation program, which will provide an additional $300/week until March 14, 2021, and extends coverage for self-employed and gig workers, as well as those who have exhausted their regular state unemployment benefits\r\n    $166B in direct payments of $600 for individuals making up to $75,000 ($1,200 for couples making up to $150,000) and $600 per eligible child dependent. \r\n    $25B for Emergency Rental Assistance and an extension of the eviction moratorium until January 31, 2021. Rep. Houlahan recently advocated for an extension until March 2021.\r\n    Additional funding for farmers, including $100M for specialty crop farmers, like mushroom growers, and supplemental assistance to the dairy industry\r\n    $1.7B for HBCUs, including Lincoln University\r\n    $3B to provide grants and other financial assistance to CDFIs as they serve consumers, small businesses, and non-profits in their communities, including reserved funds for minority lending institutions\r\n    $300M grant program to support broadband infrastructure deployment to areas lacking broadband, especially rural areas\r\n    15% increase in the monthly Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefit through June 2021 and $400 million for the Emergency Food Assistance Program\r\n    $250M for the FCC's COVID-19 telehealth program and $300M to support broadband infrastructure deployment in underserved areas\r\n    Establish an office to focus on broadband adoption and access to HBCUs and other MSIs\r\n    Extends the date by which state and local governments can use CARES Act Coronavirus Relief Funds through December 2021\r\n    $8.75B for vaccine distribution through state and local governments as well as nearly $20B for vaccine manufacturing and procurement\r\n    $10B for child care providers\r\n    More than $27B for transportation, including airports, highways, Amtrak, and transit agencies\r\n \r\nHoulahan is an Air Force veteran, an engineer, a serial entrepreneur, an educator, and a nonprofit leader. She's in her first term representing Pennsylvania's 6th Congressional District, which encompasses Chester County and southern Berks County. She serves on the House Armed Services Committee, the House Foreign Affairs Committee, and the House Small Business Committee.\r\n\r\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://johnjoyce.house.gov/media/press-releases/dr-joyce-covid-19-vaccine-safe-effective", "Dr. Joyce: The COVID-19 Vaccine Is Safe & Effective", "2020-12-21", "2020", "2020-12", "Republican", "House", "PA", "John Joyce", "J000302", "johnjoyce.house.gov", "johnjoyce", "https://johnjoyce.house.gov/media/press-releases", "scraper", "Washington, DC Congressman John Joyce, M.D. (PA-13) received the COVID-19 vaccine produced by Pfizer/BioNTech, which was granted emergency use authorization from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) on December 11.\n\n\"As a doctor, I want to lead by example. While I would never ask Americans to place blind trust in the U.S. government, I have faith in American exceptionalism and innovation and all Americans can be confident in the COVID-19 vaccine's safety and its lifesaving potential,\" said Dr. Joyce. \"The COVID-19 vaccine is safe and effective and it's also the key to defeating the virus, rebuilding the economy, and saving lives. Operation Warp Speed has harnessed the full power of America's health care heroes, the scientific community, private industry, and the federal government to produce a safe and effective vaccine. All COVID-19 vaccines are subject to the same rigorous safety, quality, and efficacy screenings as any other modern vaccine. At a time when distrust in certain aspects of government is high, I have faith in the scientific community, American exceptionalism, and innovation and confidence in this vaccine's safety and its lifesaving potential.\"\n\nLast week, the Attending Physician of the U.S. Congress encouraged all Members of Congress to receive the vaccine for continuity of government operation purposes. Since September, Dr. Joyce has pledged to receive the COVID-19 vaccine as soon as he was eligible.\n\nDr. Joyce is a strong proponent of the COVID-19 vaccine, and he is working to ensure that Americans are equipped to make informed decisions about the vaccine. Last week, he introduced bipartisan legislation to raise public awareness of the COVID-19 vaccine, combat misinformation, and build confidence in its lifesaving potential.", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-06-28T00:42:23Z"], ["https://johnjoyce.house.gov/media/press-releases/dr-joyce-statement-fy2021-appropriations-covid-19-relief", "Dr. Joyce Statement on FY2021 Appropriations, COVID-19 Relief", "2020-12-21", "2020", "2020-12", "Republican", "House", "PA", "John Joyce", "J000302", "johnjoyce.house.gov", "johnjoyce", "https://johnjoyce.house.gov/media/press-releases", "scraper", "Washington, DC Congressman John Joyce (PA-13) released the following statement after the U.S. House of Representatives advanced the Senate Amendment to H.R. 133, the Consolidated Appropriations Act, which includes COVID-19 relief for American families, workers, farmers, and small businesses.\n\n\"The U.S. Constitution clearly states that Congress is entrusted with ?providing for the common defense' and ?promoting the general welfare' of our nation. Tonight, the House advanced legislation to bolster our national defense, support our law enforcement community, defend the sanctity of life, and provide long-overdue relief to struggling Americans.\n\n\"The FY2021 appropriations bill includes key support for our Armed Forces, including a three percent raise for our servicemembers, as well as funds to continue construction of the southern border wall. It also pushes back on the progressives' radical agenda by blocking Democrats' efforts to defund the police. Importantly, this legislation includes critical pro-life protections that ensure American taxpayer dollars will never fund abortion.\n\n\"After months of fighting for our small businesses, I am grateful that this legislation will reopen the Paycheck Protection Program, saving jobs and providing a lifeline to small businesses struggling under the restrictions of burdensome shutdowns. It also will offer direct assistance for American individuals, families, and children in need a provision championed by President Donald Trump and make additional investments in COVID-19 vaccines, testing, and support for frontline health care heroes. This legislation, though far from perfect, will offer hope to American families as we near the end of this incredibly difficult year.\n\n\"At the same time, the vastly irresponsible process by which this legislation reached a final vote is unacceptable, and I urge Speaker Pelosi to restore regular order in the People's House.\n\n\"Furthermore, it is despicable that Speaker Pelosi and the Democrats squandered months of valuable time while American families, workers, farmers, and small businesses suffered. This breathless political stunt demonstrates the worst of their misguided politics. The American people should never forget that the Democrats proudly withheld relief from children, families, and workers in order to handicap President Trump and other political rivals. The citizens of this great land deserve far better.\"\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-06-28T00:42:23Z"], ["https://johnjoyce.house.gov/media/press-releases/joyce-statement-covid-19-vaccine-arrival-van-zandt-va-medical-center", "Joyce Statement on COVID-19 Vaccine Arrival to Van Zandt VA Medical Center", "2020-12-21", "2020", "2020-12", "Republican", "House", "PA", "John Joyce", "J000302", "johnjoyce.house.gov", "johnjoyce", "https://johnjoyce.house.gov/media/press-releases", "scraper", "Altoona, PA Congressman John Joyce, M.D. (PA-13) today released the following statement after the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) announced that the James E. Van Zandt VA Medical Center in Altoona, PA will receive doses of the Moderna COVID-19 vaccine this week. The Moderna vaccine received emergency use authorization from the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) on Friday evening. The Van Zandt VA Medical Center will soon join other area hospitals in administering our region's first doses of the safe and effective COVID-19 vaccine.\n\n\"With the arrival of a safe and effective COVID-19 vaccine to the Van Zandt VA Medical Center, Pennsylvania veterans and their health care providers will be better protected against the threat of this virus. Defeating COVID-19 will yield immeasurable physical and mental health benefits for our veterans. I commend the VA's collaboration with Operation Warp Speed to begin the vaccination process and protect the men and women who have served our nation.\"\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-06-28T00:42:23Z"], ["https://meuser.house.gov/media/press-releases/meuser-statement-passage-congressional-covid-19-relief-package", "MEUSER STATEMENT ON PASSAGE OF CONGRESSIONAL COVID-19 RELIEF PACKAGE", "2020-12-21", "2020", "2020-12", "Republican", "House", "PA", "Daniel Meuser", "M001204", "meuser.house.gov", "meuser", "https://meuser.house.gov/media/press-releases", "scraper", "POTTSVILLE, Pa. \u2013 Tonight, Congressman Dan Meuser released the following statement after the U.S. House of Representatives passed a targeted COVID-19 relief package:\n\n\"As our nation continues our fight against COVID-19, Congress has delivered overdue support for the American people. This legislation will provide additional funding for hospitals, schools, small businesses, and transportation, while ensuring the efficient distribution of safe and effective vaccines. Importantly, it will add deductibility for PPP expenses and improved PPP initiatives for the hospitality industry, including restaurants, that have suffered from forced shutdowns. This bill also contains extended unemployment and stimulus for individuals and families. The Problem Solvers Caucus played an instrumental role in getting this deal across the finish line by demonstrating that common ground could be found.\n\n\"It is critical to note that this legislation is targeted and truly based upon need. It is not perfect, but the actual new outlay of $325 billion is far less than Speaker Pelosi's original $3.5 trillion proposal. This was accomplished by repurposing roughly $140 billion in unused PPP funds and rescinding $429 billion in unspent funds from the Federal Reserve. Pennsylvanians should know that Senator Pat Toomey played a leading role in ensuring that money from the previous CARES Act was repurposed and not able to be utilized for other non-essential means.\n\n\"In addition to these relief provisions, this package accomplished important Republican priorities in funding the government through the end of the fiscal year, including a pay-raise for our military, Pro-Life protection provisions, and additional border security funding. Language was also included that will shield patients from surprise medical bills.\n\n\"I'd like to thank Leaders McConnell and McCarthy, Secretary Mnuchin, and President Trump for negotiating such tailored and fiscally responsible legislation that prioritizes the lives and livelihoods of the American people.\"", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-06-28T00:42:23Z"], ["https://reschenthaler.house.gov/media/press-releases/reschenthaler-votes-provide-targeted-covid-relief-reopen-our-economy", "Reschenthaler Votes to Provide Targeted COVID Relief, Reopen Our Economy", "2020-12-21", "2020", "2020-12", "Republican", "House", "PA", "Guy Reschenthaler", "R000610", "reschenthaler.house.gov", "reschenthaler", "https://reschenthaler.house.gov/media/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON, D.C. \u2013 Today, Congressman Guy Reschenthaler (PA-14) voted for the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2021, which provides targeted COVID-19 relief to America's small businesses, workers, and families and funds federal programs for the remainder of the fiscal year. The legislation now heads to the Senate for consideration.\n\n\"I am proud to support another round of assistance to hardworking Pennsylvanians whose livelihoods have been devasted by draconian statewide shutdowns,\" said Reschenthaler. \"This legislation provides much-needed relief to our nation's small businesses and families, facilitates the distribution of Operation Warp Speed vaccines, and ensures we can safely reopen schools and our economy. It is unacceptable that Speaker Pelosi's irresponsible brinkmanship and political posturing needlessly delayed these bipartisan relief efforts, but I am glad Congressional Democrats finally put politics aside to help the American people.\"\n\nSpecifically, the legislation includes the following COVID-19 provisions:\n\nProvides $600 Economic Impact Payments for Americans and their children.\n\nEnables another round of PPP loans to help struggling small businesses.\n\nInvests $7 billion in broadband Internet services, including $300 million for rural broadband.\n\nFacilitates vaccine distribution funding, including $20 billion for purchase of vaccines that will make the vaccine available at no charge for anyone who needs it.\n\nExtends $300-per-week supplemental unemployment assistance through March 2021.\n\nRejects Democrats' socialist wish list items, including bailing out blue states and providing checks to illegal immigrants.\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-06-28T00:42:23Z"], ["https://smucker.house.gov/media/press-releases/rep-smucker-supports-covid-19-relief-continued-funding-legislation", "Rep. Smucker Supports COVID-19 Relief, Continued Funding Legislation", "2020-12-21", "2020", "2020-12", "Republican", "House", "PA", "Lloyd Smucker", "S001199", "smucker.house.gov", "smucker", "https://smucker.house.gov/media/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON, DC \u2014 Rep. Lloyd Smucker voted in favor of H.R. 133 which provides additional relief to families and small businesses and continues to fund government operations through September 30, 2021. The legislation passed with strong bipartisan support. Smucker issued this statement following the vote:\n\n\"I'm thankful that at long last, Congress has advanced bipartisan legislation to provide additional support to families and small businesses. The reauthorization of the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) will provide much needed and targeted aid to small businesses who are struggling. I have been personally advocating to allow for a second round of PPP for small businesses with the greatest need, in addition to calling for a fix to ensure expenses paid with forgiven loans remain tax deductible; I am proud to see both provisions included. I was also encouraged to see dedicated support for the live events industry included in this package. The PPP has already helped thousands of small businesses across Pennsylvania's 11th District support approximately 100,000 jobs and I am thankful this legislation will continue to allow this program to deliver for our small business community.\n\nThe legislation also includes further financial assistance which will be swiftly delivered to families. Additional aid to those unemployed through no fault of their own will be temporarily extended into the new year. Pennsylvania's Department of Labor & Industry must ensure those payments are made timely and any attempts of fraud are swiftly investigated and brought to justice. The legislation also provides aid to support safely reopening our schools, funding to aid in the distribution of vaccines, and makes additional investment in rural broadband so that those who need to continue learning remotely can do so.\n\nImportantly, the cost of this stimulus legislation has been offset by repurposing unused funds appropriated by the CARES Act. This legislation only spends approximately $325 billion in new funds, compared to the multi-trillion-dollar packages advanced by Speaker Pelosi earlier this year. This targeted legislation is a win for taxpayers.", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-06-28T00:42:23Z"], ["https://thompson.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/thompson-issues-statement-coronavirus-relief-package", "Thompson Issues Statement on Coronavirus Relief Package", "2020-12-21", "2020", "2020-12", "Republican", "House", "PA", "Glenn Thompson", "T000467", "thompson.house.gov", "thompson", "https://thompson.house.gov/media-center/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON, DC\u2013 Today, the U.S. House of Representatives passed an additional COVID-19 relief package amounting to $900 billion. The legislation includes Congressman Thompson's bill, the LOCAL Act, which will extend the deadline to spend Coronavirus Relief Funds for one year, to December 31, 2021.\n\nThe legislation also includes:\n\n$30 billion for vaccine development and deployment.\n\n$285 billion for the Paycheck Protection Program, helping small businesses and independent contractors.\n\n$300 a week in additional unemployment insurance benefits for 10 weeks.\n\n$600 stimulus payments for individuals making up to $75,000; $1,200 payments for couples making up to $150,000; $600 payments for dependent children.\n\n$13 billion for farmers, ranchers, cattlemen and producers.\n\n$13 billion for additional emergency food assistance.\n\n$7 billion for broadband development.", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-06-28T00:42:23Z"], ["https://thompson.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/thompson-lauds-agriculture-provisions-covid-package", "Thompson Lauds Agriculture Provisions In COVID Package", "2020-12-21", "2020", "2020-12", "Republican", "House", "PA", "Glenn Thompson", "T000467", "thompson.house.gov", "thompson", "https://thompson.house.gov/media-center/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON, DC\u2013 Today, the U.S. House of Representatives passed an additional COVID-19 relief package which includes $13 billion in support for the agriculture industry. The legislation provides continued direct relief for producers, additional emergency nutrition assistance, support for food purchases, and funding for rural broadband.\n\nFollowing the vote, Congressman Glenn \u2018GT' Thompson issued the following statement:\n\n\"Rural America and our agriculture industry have waited far too long for the much needed support included in tonight's legislation. However, I'm pleased to see many agriculture wins were delivered in this Coronavirus relief package,\" said Rep. Thompson. \"Our farmers and ranchers will finally receive additional assistance, along with vital support for rural broadband development, a critical resource not only in the wake of the pandemic, but essential for a robust rural economy.\"", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-06-28T00:42:23Z"], ["https://www.casey.senate.gov/news/releases/casey-releases-statement-following-meeting-with-health-and-human-services-secretary-nominee", "Casey Releases Statement Following Meeting with Health and Human Services Secretary Nominee", "2020-12-21", "2020", "2020-12", "Democrat", "House", "PA", "Bob Casey", "C001070", "www.casey.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", null, 0, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://www.casey.senate.gov/news/releases/casey-when-it-comes-to-the-rights-of-workers-and-womens-economic-empowerment-the-united-states-must-lead-", "Casey: When it Comes to the Rights of Workers and Womens Economic Empowerment, the United States Must Lead", "2020-12-21", "2020", "2020-12", "Democrat", "House", "PA", "Bob Casey", "C001070", "www.casey.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", null, 0, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://www.toomey.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/toomey-statement-on-passage-of-latest-covid-19-relief-bill", "Toomey Statement on Passage of Latest COVID-19 Relief Bill", "2020-12-21", "2020", "2020-12", "Republican", "House", "PA", "Patrick Toomey", "T000461", "www.toomey.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Washington,\r\nD.C.\r\n U.S. Senator Pat Toomey (R-Pa.) issued the following statement after voting\r\nin favor of the latest COVID-19 relief bill:  For\r\nthe fourth time this year, Congress has passed major spending legislation to\r\nhelp the American people cope with the economic and public health fallout of\r\nthe COVID-19 pandemic. While there is much in this bill that I disagree with,\r\nincluding wasteful government spending and misguided policies that will dampen\r\nthe recovery, the good it does outweighs the bad.  I\r\nam glad that Congress is extending unemployment eligibility for the\r\nself-employed and gig workers; reauthorizing the Paycheck Protection Program to\r\nhelp small businesses hurt by government shutdowns; picking up virtually the\r\nentire cost of the distribution and administering of the COVID-19 vaccine to\r\nthe American people; and providing substantial assistance for education so\r\nchildren can safely return to school. In\r\nthis legislation, Senate Republicans also secured an unqualified victory for\r\ntaxpayers with the wind down of the successful emergency lending facilities\r\nestablished in the CARES Act  just as Congress intended and the law requires.\r\nWithout these protections, the risk for mischief with the Fed's extraordinary\r\npowers was far too real. Concerns about possible political interference are\r\ngreatly diminished since the law now redirects more than $429 billion of unused\r\nfunds to offset about half of the cost of this bill and ensures these\r\nfacilities cannot be restarted or replicated in the future without congressional\r\napproval. ###", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://www.casey.senate.gov/news/releases/casey-statement-on-receiving-the-covid-19-vaccine", "Casey Statement on Receiving the COVID-19 Vaccine", "2020-12-20", "2020", "2020-12", "Democrat", "House", "PA", "Bob Casey", "C001070", "www.casey.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", null, 0, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://www.casey.senate.gov/news/releases/casey-releases-statement-following-meeting-with-agriculture-secretary-nominee", "Casey Releases Statement Following Meeting with Agriculture Secretary Nominee", "2020-12-19", "2020", "2020-12", "Democrat", "House", "PA", "Bob Casey", "C001070", "www.casey.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", null, 0, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://johnjoyce.house.gov/media/press-releases/congressman-joyce-announces-us-service-academy-nominations-class-2025", "Congressman Joyce Announces U.S. Service Academy Nominations for the Class of 2025", "2020-12-18", "2020", "2020-12", "Republican", "House", "PA", "John Joyce", "J000302", "johnjoyce.house.gov", "johnjoyce", "https://johnjoyce.house.gov/media/press-releases", "scraper", "Altoona, PA Congressman John Joyce, M.D. (PA-13) today announced that 28 students from Pennsylvania's 13th Congressional District have received nominations for the U.S. Service Academies. These students, if they receive an appointment directly from an academy, will have the opportunity to attend the U.S. Naval Academy in Annapolis, MD, the U.S. Air Force Academy in Colorado Springs, CO, the U.S. Military Academy in West Point, NY, or the U.S. Merchant Marine Academy in Kings Point, NY.\n\n\"It is an honor to recognize outstanding students who are pursuing the call to serve our nation,\" said Dr. Joyce. \"The U.S. Service Academies equip young men and women with an unparalleled education and provide outstanding preparation for the leaders of tomorrow. After years of hard work and preparation, these students have demonstrated their desire to lead, grow, and serve. It was my privilege to nominate these 28 Pennsylvanians to attend our excellent service academies, and I wish each of them every continued success.\"\n\nStudents living in Pennsylvania's 13th Congressional District who received a Congressional nomination for an appointment to one or more of the service academies include:\n\nU.S. Naval Academy\n\nSienna Chippie, Somerset County - Windber Area High School\n\nAshton Dull, Bedford, County - Bedford High School\n\nRiley Hammond, Adams County - Gerstell Academy\n\nJordan Love, Somerset County - Somerset High School\n\nEmily Malesky, Adams County- Delone Catholic High School\n\nCaroline McClain, Somerset County - Windber Area High School\n\nLuke Moore, Adams County - Adams County Christian Academy\n\nConnor Quinlisk, Westmoreland County - Derry Area High School\n\nAurelia Santoya, Adams County - Gettysburg Area High School\n\nHayden Walker, Franklin County - Waynesboro Area High School\n\nU.S. Air Force Academy\n\nJames Buchheit, Fulton County - Kolbe Academy\n\nGianna Copelli, Westmoreland County - Derry Area High School\n\nAllison Dunlap, Adams County - Gettysburg Area High School\n\nAaron Jones, Franklin County - Waynesboro Area Senior High School\n\nLuke Manning, Franklin County - St. Maria Goretti High School\n\nLuke Myers, Franklin County - Shalom Christian Academy\n\nNathan Rupp, Blair County - Hollidaysburg Area Senior High School\n\nGrace Sedewar, Westmoreland County - Ligonier Valley High School\n\nDerek Sisto, Blair County - Altoona Area High School\n\nHayden Walker, Franklin County - Waynesboro Area High School\n\nU.S. Military Academy\n\nNicholas Carpenter, Adams County- Delone Catholic High School\n\nGianna Copelli, Westmoreland County - Derry Area High School\n\nAshton Dull, Bedford County - Bedford High School\n\nAllison Dunlap, Adams County - Gettysburg Area High School\n\nSarah Fink, Cumberland County - Shippensburg Area Senior High School\n\nBrian Johnson, Blair County - Hollidaysburg Area Senior High School\n\nJordan Love, Somerset County- Somerset High School\n\nGrace Sedewar, Westmoreland County - Ligonier Valley High School\n\nHayden Walker, Franklin County - Waynesboro Area High School\n\nLauren Wetzel, Franklin County - 21st Century Cyber Charter School\n\nU.S. Merchant Marine Academy\n\nConnor Brown, Adams County - Littlestown Senior High School\n\nGabe Dabkowski, Allegheny County - James I. O'Neill High School\n\nRyan Hart, Adams County - Bermudian Springs High School\n\nJordan Love, Somerset County - Somerset High School\n\nMeagan McHale, Franklin County - Chambersburg Area Senior High School\n\nAdam Muir, Blair County - Hollidaysburg Area Senior High School\n\nLuke Myers, Franklin County - Shalom Christian Academy\n\nGrace Sedewar, Westmoreland County - Ligonier Valley High School\n\nAll prospective students wishing to attend an academy must by nominated by a Member of Congress or another U.S. official. These PA-13 students were evaluated by a panel of U.S. Service Academy alumni who volunteered to serve our district in this capacity. Congressman Joyce nominated students upon the recommendation of this expert panel.\n\n\"The Service Academy Panel is comprised of dedicated individuals who have served our nation with distinction, and I am grateful for their continued service to our community. Securing a nomination for a U.S. Service Academy is a competitive process, and no one is better suited to recommend candidates than these alumni. I offer each one my sincere thanks for helping to select the next class of service academy nominees from Pennsylvania's 13th Congressional District,\" added Dr. Joyce.\n\nThe PA-13 Academy Panel includes:\n\nTodd Alexander, a graduate of the U.S. Naval Academy\n\nMichael DelGrosso, a graduate of the U.S. Naval Academy\n\nDave Diedrich, a graduate of the U.S. Military Academy\n\nRod Edminston, a graduate of the U.S. Military Academy\n\nEd Moe, a graduate of the U.S. Merchant Marine Academy\n\nJayme Orr Rhodes, a graduate of the U.S. Military Academy\n\nSteven Sims, a graduate of the U.S. Military Academy\n\nCol. Andrew \"Colby\" Short of Allegheny County, currently serving in the U.S. Corps of Engineers\n\nBill Ward, Jr. of Blair County, a graduate of the U.S. Naval Academy\n\nAll nominees from PA-13 will be vigorously evaluated by the academies before they receive a possible appointment, which are announced on a rolling basis.\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-06-28T00:42:23Z"], ["https://www.casey.senate.gov/news/releases/casey-bill-inspired-by-pittsburgh-family-to-strengthen-investigations-into-sudden-unexpected-infant-and-child-deaths-passes-senate-goes-to-president-for-signature", "Casey Bill, Inspired by Pittsburgh Family, to Strengthen Investigations Into Sudden Unexpected Infant and Child Deaths Passes Senate, Goes to President for Signature", "2020-12-18", "2020", "2020-12", "Democrat", "House", "PA", "Bob Casey", "C001070", "www.casey.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", null, 0, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://www.toomey.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/toomey-statement-on-emergency-lending-facility-provision", "Toomey Statement on Emergency Lending Facility Provision", "2020-12-18", "2020", "2020-12", "Republican", "House", "PA", "Patrick Toomey", "T000461", "www.toomey.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Washington,\r\nD.C.\r\n U.S. Senator Pat Toomey (R-Pa.) issued the following statement about\r\nlegislative language regarding the CARES Act's temporary, emergency lending\r\nfacilities:  The\r\nlanguage Senate Republicans are advocating for affects a very narrow universe\r\nof lending facilities and is emphatically not a broad overhaul of the Federal\r\nReserve's emergency lending authority. Our language, which largely mirrors what\r\nhas been publicly available since September, ensures, as the CARES Act\r\nintended, that the five facilities that received CARES Act money expire at the\r\nend of the year and cannot be re-started or duplicated without authorization by\r\nCongress. Any statement to the contrary is inaccurate. ###", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://johnjoyce.house.gov/media/press-releases/dr-joyce-safe-effective-covid-19-vaccine-there-are-brighter-days-ahead", "Dr. Joyce: With a Safe & Effective COVID-19 Vaccine, There Are Brighter Days Ahead", "2020-12-17", "2020", "2020-12", "Republican", "House", "PA", "John Joyce", "J000302", "johnjoyce.house.gov", "johnjoyce", "https://johnjoyce.house.gov/media/press-releases", "scraper", "Washington, DC Congressman John Joyce, M.D. (PA-13) this week provided an update on COVID-19 vaccine progress and encouraged Americans to stay the course in our shared fight against this virus. Watch his full remarks.\n\nMadam Speaker, this week Americans witnessed a remarkable achievement. Less than a year after the novel coronavirus reached our shores, the first doses of a safe and effective vaccine were administered to frontline health care workers in Pennsylvania and around the country.\n\nThis amazing accomplishment is not only a testament to America's unparalleled health care heroes, researchers, and scientists, but it is also a testament to the promise of American innovation.\n\nIn just a matter of months, Operation Warp Speed has harnessed the full power of the federal government, the private sector, and the scientific community to deliver results for the American people all in record time.\n\nI am sincerely grateful to the leaders at the helm of this historic public/private partnership, including President Donald Trump and Secretary of Health and Human Services Alex Azar, who was born in my district in Johnstown, Pennsylvania. Truly, all of those who have served in Operation Warp Speed have done an incredible job.\n\nAs our nation continues to combat the COVID-19 pandemic, we recognize that a safe and effective vaccine is key to restoring our communities, rebuilding our economy, and ultimately saving lives.\n\nWhile the first COVID-19 vaccine developed by Pfizer already has been granted emergency use authorization from the FDA, we expect more to follow in the coming days and weeks.\n\nNow, it is imperative for the American people to know the facts about these vaccines so that they can make informed consent.\n\nNumber One: As part of Operation Warp Speed, multiple COVID-19 vaccines are being developed by private companies and simultaneously produced accelerating the typical production process so that as soon as a safe and effective option is cleared, it's ready to go.\n\nNumber Two: Each COVID-19 vaccine is undergoing the same rigorous safety, quality, and efficacy screenings as any other modern vaccine.\n\nNumber Three: The FDA will only grant emergency use authorization to a vaccine following the recommendation of an independent advisory board.\n\nAnd, Number Four: The American people can be confident in the safety and the efficacy of the COVID-19 vaccine.\n\nLike many Americans, I recognize that this vaccine has lifesaving potential and I plan to take the vaccine as soon as I am eligible.\n\nAs part of Operation Warp Speed, our nation is equipped to facilitate this vaccine distribution more efficiently than any other country in the world. At the same time, we know that it will take time before everyone can receive it.\n\nAs we wait, this is not the time to grow complacent. COVID-19 cases are rising in Pennsylvania and around the country, and it's up to all of us to do our part to protect our family, friends, and neighbors.\n\nThis year, I have been amazed by Americans' commitment to one another and to their communities. Together, we can defeat this virus. As we wait for widespread immunization, we must continue to stand strong against this invisible enemy.\n\nYes, the coronavirus remains an ever-present threat to Americans and to our economy.\n\nYes, we are in a shared fight to save lives and livelihoods.\n\nAnd, yes, there is hope on the horizon. It is arriving in communities every day, in coolers on UPS and FedEx trucks.\n\nAs we near the end of this incredibly challenging year, Americans have much for which to be grateful. Thanks to our science community, to Operation Warp Speed, and especially to our health care heroes, there are brighter days ahead.\n\nThank you, and I yield.\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-06-28T00:42:23Z"], ["https://perry.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=402520", "OP-ED: Congress lurches from crisis to crisis \u2014 here\u2019s how to fix it", "2020-12-17", "2020", "2020-12", "Republican", "House", "PA", "Scott Perry", "P000605", "perry.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "By Reps. Scott Perry, Chip Roy, Andy Biggs, Ted Budd, and Ben Cline\n\nAs published at FoxNews.com\n\nAmericans have become used to two things in December: the holiday season and a looming government shutdown right before Christmas.\n\nLike a scripted play, the media always portray this in a similar fashion \u2014 shirts and skins, the bad guys versus the good guys, those who want to govern and those who want \"obstruct.\" It\u2019s so predictable at this point that we ought to call it the Capitol Hill Christmas Pageant.\n\nIn reality, these so-called \"crisis\" moments are often manufactured in order to force members to support spending they would otherwise oppose. Bills are presented as \"must-pass,\" but only because congressional leadership lets them linger until the last minute.\n\nA small handful of power brokers hammer out massive, complicated, trillion-dollar bills behind closed doors, only to release them to members hours before they must cast an up-or-down vote.\n\nDon\u2019t like it? Tough. If you choose to stand against the broken legislative process, you\u2019ll be attacked \u2014 at times from some in your own party \u2014 and set yourself up for attack ads.\n\nThose who raise reasonable, principled objections are labeled \"obstructionists.\" They are chastised for trying to do their best to represent the needs of their individual constituencies. The only thing that ever really changes when all is said and done is how many zeros are added to the price tag \u2014 a buck reprehensibly passed to future generations of Americans.\n\nThe truth is that real legislating is difficult. It\u2019s supposed to be.\n\nThe House of Representatives is a consensus-driven body, meaning it should require broad coalitions to get a bill across the finish line. The body accomplishes said consensus working diligently through the committee process \u2014 but even more, the full body is supposed to have a full debate on the House floor.\n\nMembers should then be able to raise substantive objections, debate them, and amend the bill being considered. Once their voices have been heard, every member should have the chance to cast an up or down vote.\n\nUnfortunately, Congress hasn\u2019t operated this way in a long time. Thanks to a process governed primarily by an authoritarian Rules Committee, the House has not had an open debate, nor has it allowed rank-and-file members to amend bills since May of 2016.\n\nThis includes any bill you could name in the past four years \u2014 the CARES Act, which spent trillions of taxpayer dollars; the National Defense Authorization Act; or even last week\u2019s bill on ceiling fan regulations.\n\nThis past September, for example, members received the legislative text of the stopgap government spending bill just minutes before House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., scheduled it for a vote on the floor.\n\nFour months later, as we are about to recess for the holidays, the House hasn\u2019t even gotten that far. Last week we voted on another stopgap bill to avoid a government shutdown in order to give congressional leadership another seven days to drum up some sort of \"deal,\" which the vast majority of members won\u2019t know the details of likely until the day of the vote.\n\nTwo days before the government shuts down unless we approve funding, we have no legislative text and are all but guaranteed there will be no real debate, no amendments, and no time to vet the legislation before we are forced to cast our vote.\n\nEven worse, now our colleagues don\u2019t even have to show up to shortchange the American people, since so many have decided to vote by proxy instead of coming to work to do the people\u2019s business in person. One even decided to phone in his vote from the comfort of his boat.\n\nThe framers of our Constitution \u2014 the ones who spent months carefully deliberating and debating the ends and means of government in a stuffy room with the windows closed in Philadelphia over 200 years ago \u2014 never intended for us to do business this way.\n\nCongress, due to its nature and design, was given the responsibility of thoughtfully deliberating on behalf of the American people. That\u2019s why we were elected to ensure that we address the needs and desires of the whole American people, not just the ones whose representatives have a seat at the table of congressional leadership.\n\nAnd if they could see us now, you can be certain that the creators of this body would be disgusted both at our laziness as legislators and the dereliction of our duty to the American people.\n\nThe current process is nothing short of legislative oligarchy masquerading as representative government.\n\nIn this upcoming session, Congress should pass no bill that has not gone through committee for a full hearing and markup. We should not pass anything we haven\u2019t been given at least 72 hours to review, or that we cannot openly amend and debate on the floor.\n\nWe should ensure that bills cover single subjects so that we can deliberate them on their merits alone, and not on the merits of must-pass provisions that leadership has attached to them. Finally, we should come to work to do our jobs, rather than allowing this chamber to establish quorums with members voting from their boats or elsewhere.\n\nThat is how representative government based on the consent of the governed is supposed to work. That is how Congress used to operate. And that is what the American people should demand that their government do again.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-06-28T00:42:23Z"], ["https://www.casey.senate.gov/news/releases/casey-ernst-introduce-legislation-to-seal-low-level-nonviolent-criminal-records", "Casey, Ernst Introduce Legislation to Seal Low-Level, Nonviolent Criminal Records", "2020-12-17", "2020", "2020-12", "Democrat", "House", "PA", "Bob Casey", "C001070", "www.casey.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", null, 0, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://johnjoyce.house.gov/media/press-releases/joyce-introduces-bill-counter-ccps-influence-bring-pharmaceutical", "Joyce Introduces Bill to Counter the CCP?s Influence & Bring Pharmaceutical Manufacturing Home to America", "2020-12-16", "2020", "2020-12", "Republican", "House", "PA", "John Joyce", "J000302", "johnjoyce.house.gov", "johnjoyce", "https://johnjoyce.house.gov/media/press-releases", "scraper", "Washington, DC Congressman John Joyce, M.D. (PA-13), a member of the China Task Force, today released the following statement after introducing commonsense legislation to strengthen America's medical supply chains and bolster our national security by bringing the production of medicines and health care supplies home to America and our allies and away from the Chinese Communist Party.\n\nThe Enhancing the Security of the U.S. Pharmaceutical Supply Chain Act of 2020 will incentivize the manufacturing of medicines in the United States and enhance the security of the U.S. pharmaceutical supply chain.\n\n\"The American people must never again be beholden to the Chinese Communist Party for lifesaving medicines and health care supplies. By returning our medical supply chains home to America and away from the Chinese Communist Party, we can secure Americans' access to critical drugs and medical equipment, strengthen our national security, and create family-sustaining jobs for American workers.\n\n\"As the only doctor serving on the China Task Force, I am proud to lead our work to develop realistic and achievable solutions to protect American patients from the growing influence of the Chinese communist government. As Americans persevere in our shared fight to save lives and livelihoods during the COVID-19 pandemic, Congress cannot stand by and allow the Chinese Communist Party to control our access to vital medicines and medical supplies. The Enhancing the Security of the U.S. Pharmaceutical Supply Chain Act of 2020 is a commonsense solution that can make a real difference for American patients, and I urge Speaker Pelosi to take up this legislation immediately.\"\n\nAs a member of the China Task Force, Dr. Joyce is working to counter the growing threats of the Chinese Communist Party. The only physician on the task force, he has prioritized legislative solutions to restore America's technology edge, bolster our nation's competitiveness, and strengthen America's supply chains for medicine, technology, and other vital supplies.\n\nBackground:\n\nThis fall, the China Task Force released its final report, which includes more than 400 realistic and achievable solutions to counter the growing threats of the Chinese Communist Party. Read more.\n\nEarlier this year, Dr. Joyce sponsored additional legislation to counter the Chinese Communist Party. In July, Dr. Joyce introduced the Academic Institution Research Integrity Act, which would improve transparency in higher education by closing loopholes in existing law to ensure that adjunct non-profits, research endowments, and alumni foundations must disclose foreign gifts in the same way the main university does under the law.\n\nAdditionally, Dr. Joyce introduced the House companion to the Onshoring Rare Earths (ORE) Act of 2020. Introduced by Senator Ted Cruz in the Senate, the ORE Act seeks to end America's dependence on China for rare earth elements and other critical minerals, used to manufacture medical supplies, defense technology, and high-tech products, by establishing a supply chain for these minerals in the United States. The legislation also requires the Department of Defense to source materials from America.\n\nFor further details, read the full text of H.R. 7813, the Academic Institution Research Integrity Act, and H.R 7812, the Onshoring Rare Earths (ORE) Act of 2020.\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-06-28T00:42:23Z"], ["https://thompson.house.gov/media-center/in-the-news/aba-unveils-bakers-dozen-award-winners", "ABA unveils Bakers Dozen Award winners", "2020-12-16", "2020", "2020-12", "Republican", "House", "PA", "Glenn Thompson", "T000467", "thompson.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Three politicians and a government official were recognized by the American Bakers Association as winners of the 2020 Bakers' Dozen Award. Congressman Glen Thompson of Pennsylvania, Congressman Dwight Evans of Pennsylvania, Senator Joni Ernst of Iowa and Frank Yiannas, deputy commissioner for food policy and response at the US Food and Drug Administration, were honored during the ABA's Bakers' Dozen Awards Reception held virtually on Dec. 14.\nDuring this challenging year, it has been truly amazing to see the resilience of the baking industry and its suppliers, said Robb MacKie, president and chief executive officer of the ABA. They have ensured American families have one less worry at night, that when they head to a store or restaurant, they can count on finding and enjoying your wholesome and nutritious baked goods.\nBradley K. Alexander, chair of the ABA and chief operating officer of Flowers Foods, said the recipients of this year's awards provided much needed assistance and have served the industry's workers throughout the pandemic, while Lee Sanders, senior vice president of government relations and public affairs at the ABA, pointed out the importance of collaboration and communication from the plant floor to the policymakers in Washington.\nMr. Thompson and Mr. Evans were recognized for their collaborative work in introducing the AG CHAIN Act in May 2020. The legislation provides a federal tax holiday and payroll tax exemption for all essential employees in the food and agriculture industry.\nMs. Ernst in July introduced the FRNT Line Act, which offers federal tax relief for all essential workers during the public health emergency, including those in the baking industry. At the virtual ceremony, Tyler Brown from Ms. Ernst's office accepted the award on her behalf.\nMr. Yiannas was recognized for his work helping provide bakers and other food supply sectors with much needed regulatory flexibility, practical solutions, resources and tools during the COVID-19 public health emergency.\nFrank Yiannas' leadership with the support of the FDA team kept our workers safe and our facilities operational so our industry could continue producing a safe, steady supply of baked goods to feed America's families, Mr. MacKie said. His steadfast commitment to partnering with the food industry to ensure there are commonsense solutions for essential businesses is the untold success story.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://johnjoyce.house.gov/media/press-releases/dr-joyce-introduces-bipartisan-legislation-raise-public-awareness-covid-19", "Dr. Joyce Introduces Bipartisan Legislation to Raise Public Awareness of COVID-19 Vaccine", "2020-12-15", "2020", "2020-12", "Republican", "House", "PA", "John Joyce", "J000302", "johnjoyce.house.gov", "johnjoyce", "https://johnjoyce.house.gov/media/press-releases", "scraper", "Washington, DC Representatives John Joyce, M.D. (PA-13), Brad Wenstrup, D.P.M. (OH-02), Ron Kind (WI-03), Roger Marshall, M.D. (KS-01), Scott Peters (CA-52), Andy Kim (NJ-03), Neal Dunn, M.D. (FL-02), and Albio Sires (NJ-08) this week introduced bipartisan legislation authorizing a public advocacy campaign to promote COVID-19 vaccine participation and provide science-backed information. The bill provides necessary funds for the Department of Health and Human Services and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to provide grants to entities to launch public awareness campaigns no less than 30 days after a vaccine is authorized.\n\n\"As our nation combats the COVID-19 pandemic, America's scientists, researchers, and health care heroes have achieved remarkable progress in developing a safe and effective vaccine the key to restoring our communities, rebuilding our economy, and saving lives,\" said Representative John Joyce, M.D. \"Like many Americans, I am planning to take the vaccine as soon as I am eligible. It is imperative that the American people have confidence in the safety and efficacy of the COVID-19 vaccine. To gain their trust, we must cut through misinformation and ensure that Americans have the facts about this vaccine and its lifesaving potential.\"\n\n\"Operation Warp Speed has produced a safe and effective vaccine in record time. A vaccine, however, will only lead us out of this pandemic and allow us to restore our way of life if enough Americans are willing to receive it,\" said Representative Brad Wenstrup D.P.M. \"It is more important than ever that we provide science-based, factual information about COVID-19 vaccines to the American people. I believe providing accurate information about vaccines will help alleviate concerns and empower Americans to make sound medical decisions.\"\n\n\"Today is a turning point in the COVID-19 pandemic as millions of vaccines are shipped across the country and arrive to Wisconsin and we begin to inoculate our health care workers and most vulnerable to the virus. But for these vaccines to ultimately bring an end to the COVID-19 pandemic, it is critical that Americans are willing to receive them,\" said Representative Ron Kind. \"I am proud to support this bipartisan bill to provide resources to trusted local leaders across the country to raise awareness and share factual, evidence-based information about COVID-19 vaccines with the communities they serve.\"\n\n\"A COVID-19 vaccine will only be effective in defeating this virus if people have confidence in its safety and efficacy,\" said Representative Roger Marshall, M.D. \" America is home to world-class scientists and a gold-standard regulatory agency that oversees the drug approval process. As a physician, I understand people's concerns over this unprecedented process, but from the start, pharmaceutical scientists have been in constant contact with officials at the Food and Drug Administration, ensuring multiple layers of safety and oversight. I am proud to co-lead legislation that provides funding for science-based information for our families and communities. I remain confident that we will defeat this virus and return to life as normal.\"\n\n\"Today's distribution of the first COVID-19 vaccines is a national triumph. It speaks to the skill of our public and private scientists, whose efforts to develop, certify and deploy a vaccine will soon help our country get closer to normal and save lives,\" said Representative Scott Peters. \"We must do everything we can to optimize and uplift their work. This legislation will educate and boost awareness and trust in communities disproportionately hurt by this deadly virus.\"\n\n\"Earning the public's trust is key to putting an end to this pandemic, which is why it's so important that we come together in a bipartisan way to make sure every American has the facts about the COVID-19 vaccines,\" said Congressman Andy Kim. \"This bill would make sure that accurate information reaches the American people so that they can take the vaccine with confidence. I hope my colleagues from both sides of the aisle join in passing this critical effort.\"\n\n\"The swift development of a COVID-19 vaccine is a serious progression on our route to curbing the virus and getting back to our normal routines. Now that the vaccine is being administered, it is crucial that we encourage as many Americans as possible to receive one,\" said Representatives Albio Sires. \"We must ensure that Americans have science-based, factual information on the safety and efficacy of the vaccine. This bipartisan legislation will go a long way in funding states public awareness campaigns so that Americans have the information they need to receive the vaccine with confidence.\"\n\nThe bill is a companion to legislation introduced in the Senate by Senators Rob Portman (R-OH), Ben Cardin (D-MD), John Thune (R-SD), and Bob Menendez (D-NJ).\n\nFull text of the bill is available here.\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-06-28T00:42:23Z"], ["https://perry.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=402517", "Perry District Offices Open and Ready to Serve PA-10", "2020-12-15", "2020", "2020-12", "Republican", "House", "PA", "Scott Perry", "P000605", "perry.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "U.S. Representative Scott Perry (PA-10) today reminded constituents of Pennsylvania's 10th that our offices are open and ready to assist. The Cumberland, Dauphin, and York County offices may accept in-person meetings by appointment only, and stand ready to help via phone, email, and in some cases, video conferencing. The Offices follow guidance from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the U.S. House of Representatives' Attending Physician to protect the health of visitors and staff. To schedule a meeting today, constituents may call any office or fill out a meeting request form on Perry's website. As our community adapted to the outbreak of COVID-19, my Offices responded quickly to the changing environment and began utilizing every available technology to communicate and connect with the residents of PA-10. Over the past nine months, I've been able to connect with hundreds of thousands of constituents and help our communities as we continue to face tremendous uncertainty and loss during the pandemic. I'm honored to serve the constituents of PA-10, and look forward to continued service to them, said Congressman Scott Perry. COVID-19 Safety Precautions\r\n \r\n    Constituents with cold, flu, or COVID-19 like symptoms are asked to contact the office via phone or e-mail.\r\n    Face coverings are required for all visitors upon entering the office.\r\n    CDC social distancing guidelines of at least 6 feet will be followed.\r\n    Hand sanitizer will be provided/encouraged upon entrance.\r\n    Disinfectant will be used on frequently-used surfaces.\r\n    The health of staff is monitored daily; sick/presumed sick employees are required to go/stay home.\r\n \r\nServing Constituents During COVID-19\r\nConstituent Services \r\nCongressman Perry and his staff have worked tirelessly to assist constituents during the COVID-19 pandemic. His office has been a one-stop shop for information and assistance on a wide range of issues, including: travel restrictions; business closures; unemployment; federal government health and safety guidance; Economic Impact Payments; and much more. To stay up to date with Congressman Perry's newsletters, click here. \r\nTelephone Town Halls\r\nPerry hosted eight tele-town halls and one Facebook Live Town Hall focused on COVID-19. All told, almost 50,000 constituents joined the events to stay informed on the outbreak in their communities. During each call, Perry welcomed special guests to update listeners on the medical risk of COVID-19 and other important topics. Guests included medical experts from WellSpan Health, Penn State Health, UPMC Pinnacle, and Country Meadows Retirement Communities, as well as, a nationally recognized trauma psychologist, president of The Giant Company, regional director of the Federal Trade Commission (FTC), and PA Secretary of Labor & Industry. Recordings of all eight tele-towns are found on Perry's Youtube channel. Constituents wishing to participate in future tele-town halls may sign up to receive information here.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://www.casey.senate.gov/news/releases/casey-releases-statement-following-meeting-with-deputy-treasury-secretary-nominee", "Casey Releases Statement Following Meeting with Deputy Treasury Secretary Nominee", "2020-12-15", "2020", "2020-12", "Democrat", "House", "PA", "Bob Casey", "C001070", "www.casey.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", null, 0, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://www.casey.senate.gov/news/releases/casey-releases-statement-following-meeting-with-surgeon-general-nominee", "Casey Releases Statement Following Meeting with Surgeon General Nominee", "2020-12-15", "2020", "2020-12", "Democrat", "House", "PA", "Bob Casey", "C001070", "www.casey.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", null, 0, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://www.casey.senate.gov/news/releases/casey-releases-statement-following-meeting-with-treasury-secretary-nominee", "Casey Releases Statement Following Meeting with Treasury Secretary Nominee", "2020-12-15", "2020", "2020-12", "Democrat", "House", "PA", "Bob Casey", "C001070", "www.casey.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", null, 0, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://www.toomey.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/advisory-toomey-and-stabenow-to-lead-senate-hearing-examining-the-alzheimers-crisis", "Advisory: Toomey and Stabenow to Lead Senate Hearing Examining the Alzheimers Crisis", "2020-12-15", "2020", "2020-12", "Republican", "House", "PA", "Patrick Toomey", "T000461", "www.toomey.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Washington, D.C. U.S. Senator Pat\r\nToomey (R-Pa.), the chairman of the Senate Finance Committee Subcommittee on\r\nHealth Care, will convene a hearing examining the testing and treatment for\r\nAlzheimer's disease and the fiscal implications of the disease on our federal\r\nhealthcare programs onWednesday, December 16that\r\n2:30 PM.  Last year, the Senate Finance Committee Subcommittee on Health\r\nCare held a hearing on thebarriers to treatment and care for Alzheimer's patients.\r\nChairman Toomey and Ranking Member Debbie Stabenow (D-Mich.)also sought inputfrom stakeholdersproviders,\r\nresearchers, patients, patient advocacy groups, states, and othersto\r\ninform the development of regulatory recommendations and potential future\r\nlegislation. The senatorssent a letter to the Administrationin\r\nOctober, requesting certain regulatory actions to improve care for Alzheimer's\r\npatients. What:Hearing: The Alzheimer's Crisis: Examining Testing and Treatment Pipelines and Fiscal Implications.  When:Wednesday, December 16that\r\n2:30 PM.  Witnesses:  Nikolay Dokholyan, Ph.D., M.S. G. Thomas Passananti, Professor and Vice Chair for Research Pennsylvania\r\nState College of Medicine, Hershey, Pa.  Randall\r\nJ. Bateman, M.D. Charles F. and Joanne Knight Distinguished Professor of Neurology,\r\nDirector, Dominantly Inherited Alzheimer's Network (DIAN), DIAN Trials Unit Washington\r\nUniversity School of Medicine, St. Louis, Mo.  Richard Mohs, Ph.D.\r\nChief Scientific Officer Global\r\nAlzheimer's Platform Foundation, Chicago, Ill.  Maria Carrillo, Ph.D. Chief\r\nScience Officer Alzheimer's\r\nAssociation, Chicago, Ill.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://boyle.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/boyle-levin-axne-introduce-suite-legislation-protect-sustainable", "Boyle, Levin, Axne Introduce Suite of Legislation to Protect Sustainable Investing", "2020-12-14", "2020", "2020-12", "Democrat", "House", "PA", "Brendan F. Boyle", "B001296", "boyle.house.gov", "boyle", "https://boyle.house.gov/media-center/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON, D.C. \u2013 Congressman Andy Levin (MI-09), Vice Chair of the House Education & Labor Committee and member of the Subcommittee on Health, Employment, Labor, and Pensions, along with Congressman Brendan Boyle (PA-02), member of the House Ways and Means Committee, and Congresswoman Cindy Axne (IA-03), member of the House Financial Services Committee, today introduced two pieces of legislation to protect and increase sustainable investments. The Sustainable Investment Policy Act and the Retirees Sustainable Investment Policies Act together would give workers a bigger say in where they invest their retirement savings by requiring plan investors and fiduciaries to take into account and explain to beneficiaries how they consider environmental, social and corporate governance (ESG) factors when making investment decisions.\n\nSustainable investing and profitable investing are not mutually exclusive. According to Morningstar, a leading research source on investment performance, on average, investments based on environmental, social and governance goals outperformed conventional offerings during 2019 and the first quarter of 2020. Yet on June 30, the Department of Labor proposed regulations seemingly designed to discourage and block sustainable retirement investing. The Department received more than 8,000 comments on that proposal, 95 percent of which opposed the proposed regulations. Those comments came not just from green investors and advocates, but also giants of the investment industry like Vanguard, Fidelity and BlackRock. On October 30th, the Department finalized a version of this rule.\n\n\"This legislation allows Congress to give teeth to what industries, Wall Street and individual investors have made increasingly clear: taking environmental, social and corporate governance principles into consideration isn't just good public relations, but is the viable, responsible, and profitable approach for America,\" said Rep. Boyle. \"When environmental advocates, corporate leaders and business analysts can all agree that social responsibility cannot coexist without financial responsibility, we need to not just listen to them, but to act to ensure a better future for our economy, our 401(k)s and our environment.\"\n\n\"This is workers' money. The investment process should be transparent to them and in line with workers' values,\" said Rep. Levin. \"Fortunately, we are seeing that there is a convergence of sustainability values and diversity priorities in governance with durable performance over time. Companies perform better if they are aimed at where the economy is going, which is towards sustainability and inclusion across all aspects of how we build, how we make things, how we live and how we move about.\n\n\"When we save for retirement, we want to know that our investment is going to be focused where we want it and will be there when we need it,\" said Rep. Axne. \"It's obvious that companies that invest in their future will do better over the long run, and that's what sustainable investing is all about. We as investors should understand how our advisers are evaluating these risks, and having this information will help ensure people can control what their savings is supporting.\"\n\nThe Sustainable Investment Policies Act amends the Investment Advisers Act, and the Retirees Sustainable Investment Policies Act amends the Employee Retirement Income Security Act (ERISA).\n\nThe bills are supported by the Center for American Progress, which released the white paper entitled, \"Modernizing the Social Contract With Investment Fiduciaries\" in November of 2020, the UNPRI (United Nations Principles for Responsible Investing), and Heartland Capital Strategies (HCS).\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-06-28T00:42:23Z"], ["https://thompson.house.gov/media-center/in-the-news/thompson-sponsors-bipartisan-bill-support-emergency-service-organizations", "Thompson sponsors bipartisan bill to support emergency service organizations", "2020-12-14", "2020", "2020-12", "Republican", "House", "PA", "Glenn Thompson", "T000467", "thompson.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "As volunteer fire departments and other emergency service organizations struggle to maintain operations during the ongoing pandemic, U.S. Rep. Glenn GT Thompson (R-PA) last week sponsored a bipartisan bill to expand the permissible uses of federal pandemic relief funds.\nThe economic impact of COVID-19 has been hardest on organizations that already operate on razor-thin margins, said Rep. Thompson. Congress created a relief fund, which has yet to be exhausted. As a volunteer firefighter, I know we must act immediately to provide more flexibility and extend these deadlines, otherwise volunteer organizations and non-profits will be left out in the cold.\nThe Coronavirus Relief Fund Expansion Act of 2020, H.R. 8950, which Rep. Thompson introduced on Dec. 10 with cosponsor U.S. Rep. Madeleine Dean (D-PA), would extend the deadline to spend COVID-19 relief funds by one year to Dec. 31, 2021, according to a bill summary provided by the congressman's office.\nAdditionally, the bill would permit non-profit and emergency service organizations to use funds to replace lost, delayed or decreased revenues as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, according to the summary.\nFirst responders across the nation are concerned that the current language in the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act is ambiguous, said Jerry Brant, Second Assistant Chief of the Patton Fire Company No. 1 in Patton, Pa., and board member of the Pennsylvania Fire and Emergency Services Institute.\nWe are worried fire and EMS departments have not and will not utilize these funds because of a lack of detail on how this financial assistance may be legally expended by our agencies, Brant said. This legislation would simplify this section of the CARES Act and alleviate these concerns. We applaud Congressman Thompson for his efforts and plead with other members of Congress to join him in passing this critical legislation.\nH.R. 8950 has been referred for consideration to the U.S. House Oversight and Reform Committee.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://thompson.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/thompson-names-republican-staff-director-agriculture-committee", "Thompson Names Republican Staff Director of Agriculture Committee", "2020-12-14", "2020", "2020-12", "Republican", "House", "PA", "Glenn Thompson", "T000467", "thompson.house.gov", "thompson", "https://thompson.house.gov/media-center/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON, DC \u2014 Today, U.S. Rep. Glenn \"GT\" Thompson announced Parish Braden as Republican Staff Director of the House Agriculture Committee in the 117th Congress. Braden currently serves as Republican Staff Director of the House Committee on Natural Resources.\n\n\"Parish is a trusted advisor who will bring a wealth of knowledge and experience to the Agriculture Committee. His management talents and strategic abilities have resulted in legislative victories both in the minority and majority. I look forward to working with him in this role as we carry out the important work of the Agriculture Committee in the coming Congress,\" Rep. Thompson stated.\n\nPrior to his current role, Braden served as Deputy Staff Director for the Natural Resources Committee in the 115th Congress. He worked as Communications Director at the Natural Resources Committee in the 114th Congress. Prior to that, he served as Communications Director and Policy Advisor to Rep. Thompson. Parish also previously served in various other senior legislative and communications roles on Capitol Hill and at the Republican National Committee.", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-06-28T00:42:23Z"], ["https://wild.house.gov/media/press-releases/rep-wild-sen-casey-bill-would-ensure-emergency-preparedness-protocols-schools", "Rep. Wild, Sen. Casey Bill Would Ensure that Emergency Preparedness Protocols in Schools Include Needs of Students with Disabilities, Mental Health Concerns", "2020-12-14", "2020", "2020-12", "Democrat", "House", "PA", "Susan Wild", "W000826", "wild.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "WASHINGTON  Today, U.S. Representative Susan Wild (PA-07) introduced the Promoting Responsible Emergency Protocols (PREP) for all Students Act to keep all students safe when extreme weather strikes or on-campus violence occurs. During the 2017-2018 school year, 16 to 18 percent of children had a disability or developmental delay. As natural disasters such as flooding and wildfires rise in the United States and on-campus violence spikes, safety recommendations for schools and child care settings must evolve to integrate the needs of young children and youth with disabilities. The PREP for all Students Act would ensure that public schools, early child care education centers and institutions of higher education have the tools they need to develop inclusive emergency preparedness protocols. U.S. Senator Bob Casey (D-PA) has introduced companion legislation in the U.S. Senate.\n\nAll too often, emergency protocols are designed with a one-size-fits-all approach  not properly accounting for the unique needs of persons with disabilities, mental health needs, or young children, Wild said. As natural disasters and on-campus violence continues to rise, every level of schooling  from child care centers to institutions of higher education  need the resources to be able to develop trauma-informed emergency preparedness plans to protect young students and students with disabilities. I'm proud of this legislation that would ensure students with disabilities and mental health challenges are included in their schools' emergency planning and creates a safer environment for each and every student.\n\nNo student should feel unsafe or unprotected in a learning environment, Casey said. We must do more to meet the needs of all children and youth, regardless of age, developmental stage and ability. The PREP for all Students Act would ensure that young children and students with disabilities are not left out of emergency preparedness and would support schools and child care centers by providing the resources they need to keep young people safe.\n\nThe PREP for all Students Act would establish a Federal Advisory Council composed of federal agencies, youth with disabilities and mental health considerations, parents, educators and advocates to develop guidelines and recommendations for the implementation of accessible, developmentally appropriate, culturally aware and trauma-informed emergency preparedness protocols in early child care and education centers, public schools and institutions of higher education. The legislation would ensure that Congress is provided a report with the findings of the Federal Advisory Council and that schools are provided with accurate information about the needs of specific populations of children, youth and employees during emergency events.\n\nThe PREP for All Students Act is supported by the following organizations: National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC), Institute for Childhood Preparedness, National Association of State Directors of Special Education (NASDSE), Sandy Hook Promise, National Council on Independent Living (NCIL), National Disability Rights Network (NDRN), Little Lobbyists, National Association of the Deaf (NAD), Association of University Centers on Disabilities (AUCD), Autism Society of America, Autistic Self Advocacy Network (ASAN), Council of Parent and Attorney Advocates (COPAA), Spina Bifida Association and Access Living.\n\nRead more about the PREP for all Students Act HERE.\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://www.casey.senate.gov/news/releases/casey-wild-bill-would-ensure-that-emergency-preparedness-protocols-in-schools-include-needs-of-students-with-disabilities", "Casey, Wild Bill Would Ensure that Emergency Preparedness Protocols in Schools Include Needs of Students with Disabilities", "2020-12-14", "2020", "2020-12", "Democrat", "House", "PA", "Bob Casey", "C001070", "www.casey.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", null, 0, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://www.toomey.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/toomey-and-stabenow-continue-fight-against-alzheimers-disease", "Toomey and Stabenow Continue Fight Against Alzheimers Disease", "2020-12-14", "2020", "2020-12", "Republican", "House", "PA", "Patrick Toomey", "T000461", "www.toomey.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Washington,\r\nD.C. \r\nU.S. Senators Pat Toomey (R-Pa.) and Debbie Stabenow (D-Mich.), the chairman\r\nand ranking member of the Senate Finance Subcommittee on Health Care, are once\r\nagain working together to improve care for Alzheimer's patients and expand\r\nresources for caregivers. In\r\na letter to U.S. Secretary of Health and Human Services Alex Azar, the pair\r\nshares a number of recommendations collected from health care providers,\r\nresearchers and scientists, patient advocacy groups, states, and other experts. The\r\nrecommendations are derived from a February\r\nrequest for information issued by Chairman Toomey and Ranking Member\r\nStabenow seeking input from experts about how to make meaningful improvements\r\nto the detection, education, treatment, and support for patients and families\r\naffected by Alzheimer's disease and related dementias. To date, more than 200\r\npolicy recommendations have been received from over 30 organizations. In\r\nthe letter, Chairman Toomey and Ranking Member Stabenow stated: As the Chair and Ranking Member of the\r\nSenate Committee on Finance Subcommittee on Health Care, we are committed to\r\nadvancing efforts to meet the goals set forth in NAPA as well as improving care\r\nfor existing and future patients. In February, we published a request for\r\ninformation from experts and stakeholders to inform our regulatory and\r\nlegislative efforts. Specifically, we inquired about mechanisms that could\r\npromote care coordination for Alzheimer's disease patients enrolled in federal\r\nhealth programs, improve disease detection, enhance the affordability and\r\naccessibility of long-term care, strengthen protections for vulnerable\r\nindividuals, and incentivize the development of cures. In response, we received\r\n36 comment letters comprised of more than 200 policy recommendations. Today, we\r\nare asking you to review a subset of these recommendations and take specific\r\nactions to make progress toward these important goals. The\r\nletter in its entirety is below. It is available online with footnotes here. October\r\n21, 2020 The\r\nHonorable Alex M. Azar II Secretary U.S.\r\nDepartment of Health and Human Services (HHS) 200\r\nIndependence Avenue, SW Washington,\r\nDC 20201 Dear\r\nSecretary Azar: We\r\nwrite on behalf of the estimated 5.8 million Americans currently living with\r\nAlzheimer's disease. Beyond the individual cognitive decline and vast\r\npsychological and emotional consequences for families, the costs to society of\r\nAlzheimer's disease are staggering. For instance, a 2013 study funded by the\r\nNational Institute on Aging (NIA) estimated the total annual cost of dementia\r\nin the United States to lie between $159 billion and $215 billion, with that\r\nfigure projected to grow to between roughly $379 billion and $511 billion by\r\n2040. Moreover, after adjusting for an individual's underlying health\r\nconditions and demographics, the same study estimated the annual cost of\r\ninformal caregiving attributable to dementia to range between $13,188 and\r\n$27,789 per person. For Medicare, the nation's largest public health care\r\npayer, dementia-specific costs imposed an additional $2,752 per person on the\r\nprogram. Nearly\r\na decade later, much work remains to address the momentous societal costs of\r\nAlzheimer's disease and related dementias. Currently, pharmacological\r\ninterventions are unable to cure or even effectively treat the relentless\r\nprogression of Alzheimer's disease. Congress has long recognized the\r\nchallenges facing Alzheimer's disease patients and their families, and in 2011,\r\npassed the National Alzheimer's Project Act (P.L. 111-375; NAPA). This landmark\r\nlegislation put forth the laudable goal of finding a cure and treatment by\r\n2025. As\r\nthe Chair and Ranking Member of the Senate Committee on Finance Subcommittee on\r\nHealth Care, we are committed to advancing efforts to meet the goals set forth\r\nin NAPA as well as improving care for existing and future patients. In\r\nFebruary, we published a request for information from experts and stakeholders\r\nto inform our regulatory and legislative efforts. Specifically, we inquired\r\nabout mechanisms that could promote care coordination for Alzheimer's disease\r\npatients enrolled in federal health programs, improve disease detection,\r\nenhance the affordability and accessibility of long-term care, strengthen\r\nprotections for vulnerable individuals, and incentivize the development of\r\ncures. In response, we received 36 comment letters comprised of more than 200 policy\r\nrecommendations. Today, we are asking you to review a subset of these\r\nrecommendations and take specific actions to make progress toward these\r\nimportant goals. RECOMMENDATIONS PROMOTE\r\nCOORDINATED, QUALITY CARE Develop\r\nNew Demonstration Projects: We encourage the Centers for Medicare &\r\nMedicaid Services (CMS) or the Center for Medicare & Medicaid Innovation\r\n(CMMI) to create and test alternative payment and coordinated care models\r\ntargeted toward Medicare and/or Medicaid beneficiaries with Alzheimer's disease\r\nthat would improve care coordination, reduce duplicative service utilization,\r\nand increase the quality of care.Develop\r\nQuality Indicators for Dementia Care Services: To ensure quality of care for\r\nenrollees in federal health programs, we encourage CMS to assess the state of\r\nquality indicators for dementia care services. Alzheimer's disease patients\r\noften utilize a variety of services such as adult day programs, meal and\r\ntransportation services, and memory care centers. Yet, CMS has not produced clear\r\nguidance for state Medicaid programs and Medicare Advantage plans on what\r\nmeasures are meaningful for Alzheimer's disease patients' health outcomes and\r\nquality of care. Similarly, new quality measures for Programs of All-Inclusive\r\nCare for the Elderly (PACE) organizations could allow patients and their\r\ncaregivers to make more informed decisions. In a February 2020 report, the\r\nNational Quality Forum's Measure Application Partnership encouraged CMS to\r\nprioritize measure development for this patient population. We urge HHS and CMS\r\nto review existing quality reporting programs and other payment systems in\r\nwhich quality reporting is lacking within the Medicare and Medicaid programs.\r\nMoreover, we urge HHS to establish a plan to implement specific quality care\r\nindicators for services heavily utilized by Alzheimer's disease patients.Issue\r\nGuidance for Comprehensive Care Practices: In 2019, the NAPA Advisory Council\r\nrecommended that HHS form a working group to determine best care practices for\r\nAlzheimer's disease patients. We urge HHS to quickly implement this\r\nrecommendation, and once identified, work with the relevant agencies to issue\r\nguidance to health plans and providers detailing these practices.Increase\r\nCoordination of Care Planning: CMS is reviewing comments from stakeholders\r\nregarding wider adoption of interoperable health information technology (IT)\r\nsystems across long-term care settings. Inclusion of items, such as a\r\npatient's care plan, could enhance care coordination of health and social services\r\nthat support cognitively impaired individuals. We recommend that CMS continue\r\nto work with providers, patients, and their caregivers to facilitate mobility\r\nof this information across care settings. Encouragement from CMS of documenting\r\nin a patient's medical record the name of a family member or caregiver, as well\r\nas any advance directives, could also improve care coordination.Review\r\nPatient Access to Palliative Care: Palliative care encompasses a set of\r\nservices that provide medical, social, emotional, and practical support for\r\npeople living with serious illness. Several of our stakeholders expressed\r\ntheir support for expanding coverage and access to palliative care in federal\r\nhealth programs, including traditional Medicare, Medicare Advantage, and Medicaid.\r\nWe encourage CMS to review current access to palliative care and report to\r\nCongress on areas such as provider prevalence, cost, and quality of care.Create\r\na Nursing Home Staff Database: Nursing home medical directors play an important\r\nrole in the coordination and quality of care for patients with Alzheimer's\r\ndisease residing in long-term care facilities. We urge CMS to establish and\r\noperate a publicly available database for nursing home medical directors so\r\nthat families and caregivers have a reliable source of contact. Such a database\r\ncould be posted to the CMS website in a similar fashion to how CMS posts\r\nMedicare Part D contact information. LEVERAGE\r\nTELEHEALTH SERVICES Revise\r\nthe Limit on Billable Telehealth Visits for Nursing Care Facilities: Currently,\r\nCMS allows just one telehealth visit every 30 days in nursing care\r\nfacilities. Several of our stakeholders argue that this policy is\r\narbitrary and limits access to care for patients living with Alzheimer's\r\ndisease in institutional settings. CMS has attempted to address this concern by\r\nrevising the limit to once every three days in its proposed physician fee\r\nschedule rule for calendar year 2021. CMS has also noted the potentially\r\ngreater acuity and complexity of Medicare beneficiaries in nursing care\r\nfacilities, as well as the importance of in-person care in that context.\r\nWe find access to telehealth in this setting to be important to the care\r\nprovided to Alzheimer's disease patients, and we support CMS efforts to expand\r\ntelehealth access across settings where clinically appropriate and with\r\nadequate beneficiary protections in place. STRENGTHEN\r\nTHE PACE PROGRAM FOR ALZHEIMER'S DISEASE PATIENTS Implement\r\nCongressionally-Intended PACE Pilot Demonstrations: In 2015, the PACE\r\nInnovation Act (P.L. 114-85) authorized CMMI to test the PACE model for\r\nnew populations with complex and special needs. Rather than test PACE-specific\r\nmodels, however, CMMI has requested PACE organizations (POs) apply to a\r\nseparate Direct Contracting model focused on primary care. In a Senate\r\nCommittee on Finance Report, the Committee stated the intent of the\r\nlegislation was to test changes to the PACE model, either through an expansion\r\nof eligibility standards and/or changes to administrative requirements that\r\nwould enable greater enrollment. Based on stakeholder information we have\r\nreceived, we believe the existing Direct Contracting model does not provide the\r\nflexibility necessary to test PACE-specific models. We request that CMMI follow\r\nthe intent of the statute to create a PACE-specific model.Improve\r\nthe PACE Application Process: By law, PACE-eligible individuals must reside in\r\nthe service area of their applicable PACE program. Moreover, CMS only\r\nreviews service area expansion applications on a quarterly basis and POs are limited\r\nto one pending application under CMS review at a time. , Thus, we request\r\nthat CMS review PACE service area expansion applications more frequently and\r\nallow POs to submit more than one service area expansion application at a time.\r\nFurthermore, CMS must prioritize timely review of service expansion\r\napplications and other updates to the program to ensure the federal government\r\nis not a barrier to access for individuals who may benefit from PACE\r\nenrollment. CONSOLIDATE\r\nRESOURCES FOR CAREGIVERS AND PATIENTS Establish\r\na Centralized, Alzheimer's Disease-Specific Portal for Patient and Caregiver\r\nResources: Patients living with Alzheimer's disease, along with their\r\ncaregivers, must often navigate a series of complex decisions involving\r\nlong-term care planning and the various institutional or community-based\r\nservices available to them. Currently, HHS, its agencies, and state and local\r\nhealth departments maintain platforms with information about these issues for\r\npatients and caregivers. Our stakeholders believe that Alzheimer's\r\ndisease patients and their caregivers could benefit from a more unified\r\nplatform that streamlines all the information and resources available to them.\r\nWe urge HHS to undertake a review of its current Alzheimer's disease-related\r\nresources and consolidate the relevant information for patients and caregivers\r\ninto a single online resource portal. This can be done through expansion of an\r\nexisting federal resource portal. Information that our stakeholders believe\r\ncould be valuable in such a portal include the following:Resources\r\nfor long-term care planning and clarification on the long-term care benefits,\r\nand eligibility for such benefits, under Medicare fee-for-service, Medicare\r\nAdvantage, Medicaid, and other relevant federal health care programs;Descriptions\r\nof the types of long-term care facilities and care options available to\r\nAlzheimer's disease patients, including institutional settings and home- and\r\ncommunity-based services;Resources\r\nfor federal- and state-sponsored caregiver support and training programs;Information\r\nabout clinical trial enrollment, including links to existing registries and\r\nsupport for patients currently enrolled in clinical trials;Educational\r\nresources about Alzheimer's disease and developments in the process toward a\r\ncure and treatment;Information\r\non identifying and preventing elder abuse, neglect, and exploitation;Material\r\non services and devices to improve patient safety, like GPS and web-based home\r\nmonitoring services for Alzheimer's disease patients who suffer from wandering\r\nor navigational issues. INCREASE\r\nTHE USE AND EFFECTIVENESS OF COGNITIVE SCREENS  Address\r\nResearch Gaps for Cognitive Screens: The U.S. Preventive Services Task Force\r\nhas concluded that evidence regarding the effectiveness of cognitive impairment\r\nscreening is insufficient to support a recommendation for its routine use. As a\r\nresult, insurers are not required to cover this service and are also allowed to\r\napply cost sharing if they do. Ensuring that appropriate wrap-around services\r\nare provided at the right time in a patient's diagnosis could reduce avoidable\r\nhospital and emergency department visits and as a result, potentially mitigate\r\nfederal health care expenditures. , , Thus, it is imperative that\r\nresearch into the potential benefits of improved cognitive screens and other\r\nmeans by which providers diagnose Alzheimer's disease are prioritized by HHS so\r\nthat a more robust body of literature surrounding their use can be established.Encourage\r\nUse of Evidence-Based Cognitive Assessment Tools: One objective of Medicare's\r\nannual wellness visit (AWV) is to detect cognitive impairment of an individual,\r\na clear symptom of Alzheimer's disease and related dementias. We ask that CMS\r\nrecommend the use of an evidence-based cognitive assessment tool during AWVs\r\nrather than direct observation. Ensuring the results of such assessments\r\nbe made available in the beneficiary's electronic health record (EHR) could\r\nalso aid in care coordination.Encourage\r\nUse of the Health Risk Assessment (HRA) to Assess Cognitive Function: Given the\r\nrelatively low uptake in the AWV, we ask that CMS encourage Medicare\r\nAdvantage plans to use their HRAs to assess cognitive function and the\r\npotential long-term care needs of seniors. Plans are provided significant\r\nflexibility in what they include in the HRA. While some plans provide for a\r\ncognitive screening, not all plans do. These visits and assessments provide\r\nample opportunity for the identification of cognitive disorders such as\r\nAlzheimer's disease, which could lead to more timely coordination of care. FOSTER\r\nINNOVATION FOR ALZHEIMER'S DISEASE THERAPIES AND DIAGNOSTICS Prioritize\r\nAlzheimer's Disease within the Food and Drug Administration's (FDA) Complex\r\nInnovative Trial Designs (CID) and Model-Informed Drug Development (MIDD)\r\nPrograms: The FDA is currently operating two pilot programs, the CID and MIDD,\r\nwhich aim to increase the efficiency of the clinical trial process for\r\ninnovative therapies and improve the likelihood of their success throughout the\r\nregulatory approval process. In particular, the CID provides opportunities for\r\nenhanced dialogue with FDA officials during the trial design process, and the\r\nMIDD provides sponsors the chance to collaborate with officials on precise\r\nrisk-benefit models for the drug. , We urge HHS to consider the merit of\r\nincorporating more Alzheimer's disease therapeutic sponsors into these pilot\r\nprograms.Accelerate\r\nDevelopment of Diagnostics: We encourage the National Institutes of Health and\r\nNIA to establish a program akin to the Rapid Acceleration of Diagnostics (RADx)\r\ninitiative for COVID-19 with the goal of bringing to market an affordable and\r\nnon-invasive point-of-care diagnostic for Alzheimer's disease. If such an\r\ninitiative would require legislation, we urge you to work with us on the\r\ndevelopment and passage of such a law. CLARIFY\r\nAND IMPROVE ACCESS TO CERTAIN SERVICES Review\r\nthe 2014 Qualified Settings Rule for Home- and Community-Based Services: In\r\n2014, CMS finalized a definition for home- and community-based settings.\r\nStakeholders expressed concern that parts of the rule intended to promote\r\ncommunity integration or strengthen facility security are not appropriate for\r\ncognitively impaired individuals. One stakeholder expressed concern that the\r\nrequirement of locks on doors to strengthen privacy can pose a threat to\r\npatients with dementia. We urge CMS to review the regulation and issue guidance\r\nor best practices to states about how settings that provide services to\r\nindividuals with Alzheimer's disease can best meet the requirements in the\r\nregulation. This can either be achieved through setting-specific policies and\r\npractices or through modifications to person-centered service plans.Evaluate\r\nand Expand Access to CPT Code 99483: CPT code 99483 reimburses providers for\r\nundertaking functional assessments and care planning services for individuals\r\nliving with cognitive impairment. Unfortunately, the most recent utilization\r\ndata suggests that only a small fraction of eligible seniors are receiving the\r\nbenefit. We encourage CMS to conduct education and outreach to increase\r\nawareness of and access to the code. Additionally, some stakeholders assert that\r\nthe documentation requirements for the code's billing are too complex and prone\r\nto deficiencies for some providers. We encourage CMS to review the billing\r\nrequirements for CPT Code 99483 to ensure such requirements are not uniquely\r\nonerous. Billing requirements should also require proper documentation in the\r\npatient's medical record or EHR. We\r\nthank you for your continued engagement on one of the most pressing health care\r\nissues of our time  addressing the scourge of Alzheimer's disease. As we continue\r\nour efforts to support the Alzheimer's disease community, we ask that you\r\ntransmit any legislative recommendations that the Administration may have in\r\nthe aforementioned areas of care coordination, long-term care accessibility,\r\nand the development of a treatment and/or cure for Alzheimer's disease. We look\r\nforward to your response and a commitment to improve care delivery for this\r\npatient population.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://www.toomey.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/toomey-statement-on-barr-resignation", "Toomey Statement on Barr Resignation", "2020-12-14", "2020", "2020-12", "Republican", "House", "PA", "Patrick Toomey", "T000461", "www.toomey.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Washington,\r\nD.C.\r\n U.S. Senator Pat Toomey (R-Pa.) issued the following statement regarding\r\nAttorney General Bill Barr's decision to step down in the coming days:   Attorney\r\nGeneral Bill Barr has served the American people and the Department of Justice\r\nwith distinction under two separate administrations  Presidents Donald Trump\r\nand George H.W. Bush. Unfazed by political pressure from either side of the\r\naisle, Attorney General Barr proved time and again that he understood his\r\nultimate obligations were to serve as the nation's top law enforcement officer\r\nand to uphold the Constitution. I particularly appreciated Attorney General\r\nBarr's work to end sanctuary city policies, keep guns away from felons and the\r\ndangerously mentally ill, and support law enforcement officers. I wish Attorney\r\nGeneral Barr well in any future endeavors.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://dean.house.gov/2020/12/rep-dean-appointed-serve-house-democratic-steering-and-policy-committee", "Rep. Dean Elected as Regional Whip and Appointed to the Democratic Steering and Policy Committee", "2020-12-11", "2020", "2020-12", "Democrat", "House", "PA", "Madeleine Dean", "D000631", "dean.house.gov", "dean", "https://dean.house.gov/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON \u2013 Rep. Dean is elected as Regional Whip, and appointed to the Democratic Steering and Policy Committee. The Democratic Steering and Policy Committee is chaired by Speaker Nancy Pelosi, co-chaired by Reps. Cheri Bustos, Eric Swalwell, and Barbara Lee. The committee helps provide guidance on the caucuses, legislative policies and agenda, and provides recommendations for committee appointments.\n\nThe regional whip will be responsible for assisting the Whip in maintaining a united caucus during crucial votes. Rep. Dean\u2019s region will include Pennsylvania, West Virginia, Ohio, and Kentucky.\n\n\"I am grateful for this new opportunity and eager to work alongside mentors and colleagues on policy that looks forward, while keeping the caucus unified,\" Rep. Dean said. \"I will look forward to working each day, for the people and generating real, important change.\"\n\nRep. Dean is eager to help lift up her caucus while making positive change in our nation. Both of these leadership roles will give her the opportunity to work alongside colleagues to advance legislative priorities while maintaining a united caucus.\n\nRep. Madeleine Dean is a mother, grandmother, attorney, professor, former four-term member of the Pennsylvania House of Representatives, and U.S. Representative for the Fourth District of Pennsylvania.", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-06-28T00:42:23Z"], ["https://dean.house.gov/media/press-releases/rep-dean-appointed-serve-house-democratic-steering-and-policy-committee", "Rep. Dean Elected as Regional Whip and Appointed to the Democratic Steering and Policy Committee", "2020-12-11", "2020", "2020-12", "Democrat", "House", "PA", "Madeleine Dean", "D000631", "dean.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "WASHINGTON  Rep. Dean is elected as Regional Whip, and appointed to the Democratic Steering and Policy Committee. The Democratic Steering and Policy Committee is chaired by Speaker Nancy Pelosi, co-chaired by Reps. Cheri Bustos, Eric Swalwell, and Barbara Lee. The committee helps provide guidance on the caucuses, legislative policies and agenda, and provides recommendations for committee appointments.  The regional whip will be responsible for assisting the Whip in maintaining a united caucus during crucial votes. Rep. Dean's region will include Pennsylvania, West Virginia, Ohio, and Kentucky.  \"I am grateful for this new opportunity and eager to work alongside mentors and colleagues on policy that looks forward, while keeping the caucus unified,\" Rep. Dean said. \"I will look forward to working each day, for the people and generating real, important change.\"\nRep. Dean is eager to help lift up her caucus while making positive change in our nation. Both of these leadership roles will give her the opportunity to work alongside colleagues to advance legislative priorities while maintaining a united caucus.\n  Rep. Madeleine Dean is a mother, grandmother, attorney, professor, former four-term member of the Pennsylvania House of Representatives, and U.S. Representative for the Fourth District of Pennsylvania. \n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://dean.house.gov/press-releases?ID=D1784827-1928-464F-974B-90784B42AB58", "Rep. Dean Elected as Regional Whip and Appointed to the Democratic Steering and Policy Committee", "2020-12-11", "2020", "2020-12", "Democrat", "House", "PA", "Madeleine Dean", "D000631", "dean.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "WASHINGTON \u2013 Rep. Dean is elected as Regional Whip, and appointed to the Democratic Steering and Policy Committee. The Democratic Steering and Policy Committee is chaired by Speaker Nancy Pelosi, co-chaired by Reps. Cheri Bustos, Eric Swalwell, and Barbara Lee. The committee helps provide guidance on the caucuses, legislative policies and agenda, and provides recommendations for committee appointments.\n\nThe regional whip will be responsible for assisting the Whip in maintaining a united caucus during crucial votes. Rep. Dean\u2019s region will include Pennsylvania, West Virginia, Ohio, and Kentucky.\n\n\"I am grateful for this new opportunity and eager to work alongside mentors and colleagues on policy that looks forward, while keeping the caucus unified,\" Rep. Dean said. \"I will look forward to working each day, for the people and generating real, important change.\"\n\nRep. Dean is eager to help lift up her caucus while making positive change in our nation. Both of these leadership roles will give her the opportunity to work alongside colleagues to advance legislative priorities while maintaining a united caucus.\n\nRep. Madeleine Dean is a mother, grandmother, attorney, professor, former four-term member of the Pennsylvania House of Representatives, and U.S. Representative for the Fourth District of Pennsylvania.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-06-28T00:42:23Z"], ["https://meuser.house.gov/media/press-releases/meuser-statement-amicus-brief-urging-supreme-court-review-election-proccesses", "MEUSER STATEMENT ON AMICUS BRIEF URGING A SUPREME COURT REVIEW OF ELECTION PROCESSES", "2020-12-11", "2020", "2020-12", "Republican", "House", "PA", "Daniel Meuser", "M001204", "meuser.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "POTTSVILLE, PA.  Today,Congressman Dan Meuser (PA-9)released the following statement after signing on to an amicus briefseeking further review of the constitutionality of various processes which occurred during the last election:\n\"There continue to be many unanswered questions related to the irregular actions taken in the past election across the Commonwealth. Why did Pennsylvania break statute and allow three-day late mail-in ballots to be counted? Why did the Pennsylvania Secretary of State order the curing of ballots 24 hours prior to election day, leading to inconsistent preparedness and effectiveness between counties? Why were verified signature requirements applied differently for in-person ballots versus mail-in ballots?\n\"Millions in Pennsylvania want to know why these actions were taken, were they legal, and will they occur in the next election? It is not arguable that there were inconsistencies in the last election. We can't have arbitrary and irregular actions taken and then think we have integrity in our election process  they don't mix. We must have consistent rules, laws and requirements for what constitutes a legal vote. Free and fair elections are not a partisan or political issue. They are important for Republicans, Democrats and for all. The legitimacy of our institutions of government depends upon the trust our people have in our election system.\n\"The amicus brief merely states our belief that the broad scope of the various allegations and irregularities in the subject states merits careful, timely review by the Supreme Court. There will be a smooth transition of power to the next administration, whatever the outcome of the court's decision. The people need to believe in the integrity of the election and there won't be full confidence in our system until these questions are answered. It's as important for the people to believe in democracy as it is for democracy itself. I will continue to work to assure we have an honest, lawful and fair vote count, now, and in the future.\"\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://meuser.house.gov/media/press-releases/meuser-statement-amicus-brief-urging-supreme-court-review-election-processes", "MEUSER STATEMENT ON AMICUS BRIEF URGING A SUPREME COURT REVIEW OF ELECTION PROCESSES", "2020-12-11", "2020", "2020-12", "Republican", "House", "PA", "Daniel Meuser", "M001204", "meuser.house.gov", "meuser", "https://meuser.house.gov/media/press-releases", "scraper", "POTTSVILLE, PA. \u2013 Today, Congressman Dan Meuser (PA-9) released the following statement after signing on to an amicus brief seeking further review of the constitutionality of various processes which occurred during the last election:\n\n\"There continue to be many unanswered questions related to the irregular actions taken in the past election across the Commonwealth. Why did Pennsylvania break statute and allow three-day late mail-in ballots to be counted? Why did the Pennsylvania Secretary of State order the curing of ballots 24 hours prior to election day, leading to inconsistent preparedness and effectiveness between counties? Why were verified signature requirements applied differently for in-person ballots versus mail-in ballots?\n\n\"Millions in Pennsylvania want to know why these actions were taken, were they legal, and will they occur in the next election? It is not arguable that there were inconsistencies in the last election. We can't have arbitrary and irregular actions taken and then think we have integrity in our election process \u2013 they don't mix. We must have consistent rules, laws and requirements for what constitutes a legal vote. Free and fair elections are not a partisan or political issue. They are important for Republicans, Democrats and for all. The legitimacy of our institutions of government depends upon the trust our people have in our election system.\n\n\"The amicus brief merely states our belief that the broad scope of the various allegations and irregularities in the subject states merits careful, timely review by the Supreme Court. There will be a smooth transition of power to the next administration, whatever the outcome of the court's decision. The people need to believe in the integrity of the election and there won't be full confidence in our system until these questions are answered. It's as important for the people to believe in democracy as it is for democracy itself. I will continue to work to assure we have an honest, lawful and fair vote count, now, and in the future.\"\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-06-28T00:42:23Z"], ["https://www.toomey.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/12/11/2020/toomey-statement-on-ndaa-passage", "Toomey Statement on NDAA Passage", "2020-12-11", "2020", "2020-12", "Republican", "House", "PA", "Patrick Toomey", "T000461", "www.toomey.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Washington,\r\nD.C.\r\n- U.S. Senator Pat Toomey (R-Pa.) issued the following statement on his vote in\r\nfavor of the FY2021 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA):  Congress\r\nhas a responsibility to the American people to ensure our armed forces and\r\nnational security agencies have the tools and resources they need to keep the\r\nnation safe. On balance, this year's NDAA meets this obligation by enhancing\r\nmilitary readiness; increasing pay for the troops; upgrading federal\r\ncybersecurity protections; and establishing clear benchmarks for any troop\r\nwithdrawals in South Korea, Germany, and Afghanistan.   However,\r\nthe NDAA does have a glaring shortcoming in that the Blocking Deadly\r\nFentanyl Imports Act was omitted from the final product after being\r\nincluded in the Senate version. This provision would have permitted any\r\npresident to suspend certain foreign aid to foreign countries that fail to\r\nlimit the flow of illicit fentanyl into the United States. The fact that House\r\nDemocrats objected to this provision, which earned widespread bipartisan\r\nsupport in the Senate, is equal parts baffling and foolish.   Background\r\non Toomey-Supported Provisions in the NDAA:   FIND\r\nTrafficking Act: offered with Senator Catherine Cortez-Masto (D-Nev.)\r\n \r\nDirects\r\nthe Government Accountability Office (GAO) to report on the use of virtual\r\ncurrencies and online marketplaces in sex and drug trafficking  Prohibition\r\non the Department of Defense's Purchase of Russian Natural Gas  \r\nProhibits\r\nthe use of Russian gas at a major Department of Defense hospital under\r\nconstruction in Germany   Chinook\r\nBlock II Upgrade \r\nDirects\r\nthe Department of Defense to provide Congress with an assessment on the\r\nindefinite delay of the Chinook Block II upgrade o The Chinook Block\r\nII upgrade was being done, in part, by Boeing's facility in Delaware County,\r\nPa.   Establishing\r\nan Academic Liaison for the Sharing of Threats with Universities: offered\r\nwith Senator Bob Casey (D-Pa.)  \r\nRequires\r\nthe Department of Defense to task a current official as an academic liaison'\r\nfor the purpose of sharing foreign threat information with universities o Offered with the\r\nsupport of Penn State University   Israeli\r\nAssistance: co-sponsor of provision authored by Senator Marco Rubio (R-Fla.)  \r\nAuthorizes\r\nannual security assistance to Israel until 2028", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://www.toomey.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/toomey-and-van-hollen-issue-statement-on-treasurys-hong-kong-sanctions-report", "Toomey and Van Hollen Issue Statement on Treasurys Hong Kong Sanctions Report", "2020-12-11", "2020", "2020-12", "Republican", "House", "PA", "Patrick Toomey", "T000461", "www.toomey.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Washington,\r\nD.C. \r\nU.S. Senators Pat Toomey (R-Pa.) and Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.) issued the\r\nfollowing statement regarding the Treasury Department's report that did not\r\nname any financial institutions under the Hong Kong Autonomy Act:  The most reasonable justification for Treasury not having named\r\nany foreign banks in today's reportis if all foreign banks ended\r\ntheir relationships with the Hong Kong and Chinese communistofficials\r\nresponsible for the erosion of Hong Kongers' basic freedoms.We know this\r\nvery likely isn't the case. The Treasury Department should use all the\r\ntoolsat its disposal, provided by theHong Kong Autonomy Act,\r\nto investigate and hold accountable those banks, especially Chinese financial\r\ninstitutions, who seek to destroy democratic rights in Hong Kong.Anything\r\nless is unacceptable.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://dean.house.gov/2020/12/reps-dean-and-thompson-introduce-coronavirus-relief-fund-expansion-act", "Reps. Dean and Thompson Introduce Coronavirus Relief Fund Expansion Act", "2020-12-10", "2020", "2020-12", "Democrat", "House", "PA", "Madeleine Dean", "D000631", "dean.house.gov", "dean", "https://dean.house.gov/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON, DC\u2013 Today, Reps. Madeleine Dean and Glenn \u201cGT\u201d Thompson (PA-15) and introduced the Coronavirus Relief Fund Expansion Act, to extend the deadline to spend COVID-19 relief funds by one year to December 31, 2021. This will allow non-profit and emergency service organizations the ability to use funds to replace lost, delayed, or decreased revenues as a result of the global pandemic.\n\n\u201cEmergency services are hurting from the economic side effects of the pandemic. It\u2019s important that we extend the deadline for the Coronavirus Relief Fund (CRF) through December 31, 2021 and allow emergency services \u2013 like Volunteer Fire Departments \u2013 to access these relief funds.\u201d Rep. Dean said. \u201cIt\u2019s not only the right thing to do, it\u2019s economically smart and allows our emergency services to continue to serve the people.\u201d\n\nVolunteer fire departments rely heavily on fundraising activities to support their mission. Due to COVID-19, most of these organizations were forced to cancel in-person community events, which has resulted in significant losses.\n\n\u201cThe economic impact of COVID-19 has been hardest on organizations that already operate on razor thin margins,\u201d Rep. Thompson said. \"Congress created a relief fund, which has yet to be exhausted. As a volunteer firefighter, I know that we must act immediately to provide more flexibility and extend these deadlines, otherwise volunteer organizations and non-profits will be left out in the cold.\u201d", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-06-28T00:42:23Z"], ["https://dean.house.gov/media/press-releases/reps-dean-and-thompson-introduce-coronavirus-relief-fund-expansion-act", "Reps. Dean and Thompson Introduce Coronavirus Relief Fund Expansion Act", "2020-12-10", "2020", "2020-12", "Democrat", "House", "PA", "Madeleine Dean", "D000631", "dean.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "WASHINGTON, DC  Today, Reps. Madeleine Dean and Glenn GT Thompson (PA-15) and introduced the Coronavirus Relief Fund Expansion Act, to extend the deadline to spend COVID-19 relief funds by one year to December 31, 2021. This will allow non-profit and emergency service organizations the ability to use funds to replace lost, delayed, or decreased revenues as a result of the global pandemic.\nEmergency services are hurting from the economic side effects of the pandemic. It's important that we extend the deadline for the Coronavirus Relief Fund (CRF) through December 31, 2021 and allow emergency services  like Volunteer Fire Departments  to access these relief funds. Rep. Dean said. It's not only the right thing to do, it's economically smart and allows our emergency services to continue to serve the people.\nVolunteer fire departments rely heavily on fundraising activities to support their mission. Due to COVID-19, most of these organizations were forced to cancel in-person community events, which has resulted in significant losses.\nThe economic impact of COVID-19 has been hardest on organizations that already operate on razor thin margins, Rep. Thompson said. \"Congress created a relief fund, which has yet to be exhausted. As a volunteer firefighter, I know that we must act immediately to provide more flexibility and extend these deadlines, otherwise volunteer organizations and non-profits will be left out in the cold. \nBoth representatives hope this bipartisan legislation will be immediately taken up by the Senate and signed by the president.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://houlahan.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=1920", "In Annual Defense Bill, Representative Houlahan Authors Language To Amend Insurrection Act, Improve TRICARE, Support Military Families And More", "2020-12-10", "2020", "2020-12", "Democrat", "House", "PA", "Chrissy Houlahan", "H001085", "houlahan.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "WASHINGTON  Today, Representative ChrissyHoulahan(D-PA) passed the annual bipartisan National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA), which includes many of the priorities she has championed. The bill passed through the House of Representatives by a vote of 335-78. In this sweeping legislation, I was proud to author a number of bipartisan provisions that have garnered support in both the House and Senate,said Houlahan.As the sole Pennsylvanian on the Armed Services Committee, I take seriously my commitment to my community and Commonwealth to advocate on their behalves. This bill provides a pay raiseforour servicemembers, improves military family housing, increases access to childcare, invests in research and development to address emerging threats, reasserts the importance of alliances and partnerships, funds smart investments to counter Chinese and Russian aggression and much more. The Senate and the President now have a responsibility to enact this bill into law  our servicemembers and their families deserve nothing less. Rep.Houlahanchampioned the following priorities during House consideration of the bill, which were included in the final, bipartisan compromise:\r\n \r\n    Require that any Federal law enforcement or military personnel deployed in support of Federal authorities during a civil disturbance, like the protests across the country this summer, be clearly and visibly identifiable by agency and name.(Section 1064)\r\n    Require TRICARE to cover Digital Breast Tomosynthesis (DBT) Mammography. DBT, also known as 3D mammography is rapidly becoming the standard of careforbreast cancer screenings, and is covered by the VA, Medicaid and Medicare. Until now, TRICARE was a very visible outlier amongst insurers and as denying women critical preventative health care.(Section 701)\r\n    Improve and coordinate research into cleanup and replacement of PFAS chemicals, which have been found in the drinking water near many military bases and airports, and keeping Congress apprised of research in this area.(Section 332)\r\n    Require the National Space Council to assess the ability of the United States to effectively compete withChina'sspace program and in the emerging commercial space economy and develop a strategyforthe United States to maintain its position as the preeminent global space power. This amendment has also been introduced by Rep.Houlahanas the standalone STAR Act of 2020 (H.R.6388), a bipartisan effort to ensure that the United States is actively leading the world in space technology development with an eye towards protecting our national security.(Section 1614)\r\n    Create a Defense Department U.S.-Israel working group on operations and technology issues to facilitate greater cooperation between the United States and Israeli companies on defense acquisition and innovation. Rep.Houlahanis the Democratic lead on the United States-Israel Military Capability Act of 2020 (H.R. 7148), the standalone bill on this issue.(Section 1299M)\r\n    Require a Department of Defense (DOD) assessment ofoverseas cooperative security locations'force protection measures to ensure the safety of U.S. servicemembers, following the January 2020 terrorist attack on U.S.forces in Kenya, which killed three Americans.(Section 2882H)\r\n    $15M increase in funding to support the CDC-led study of the impact of PFAS on human health.\r\n    Allow the DOD to reimburse military spousesforexpenses incurredforexam fees, continuing education courses and registration fees in order to work in the spouse's profession at the next duty station. Previously, fees associated with required continuing education courses were not reimbursable.(Section 586)\r\n    Amend the My Career Advancement Account Scholarship Program, which is a workforce development programformilitary spouses that provides up to $4,000 of financial assistanceforlicenses, certifications or associate degrees to pursue an occupation or career field. Essentially, this amendment will allowforrequired continuing education courses to be reimbursed.(Section 586)\r\n    Ensure that DOD cannot convert civilian jobs into contractor jobs, cutting into our public service workforce and potentially costing the taxpayer more, without assessing the cost and impact on our servicemembers.(Section 912)\r\n    Exempt contracts awarded to certain small business concerns (8a, HUBZone, Women-owned, and service-disabled veteran-owned) from Category Management (CM) program and requires a plan to ensure small businesses can competeforthese lucrative government contracts.(Section 871)\r\n    Implementation of the Women, Peace and Security Act of 2017. (Section 1210E)\r\n \r\nHoulahan is an AirForce veteran, an engineer, a serial entrepreneur, an educator, and a nonprofit leader. She's in her first term representing Pennsylvania's 6th Congressional District, which encompasses Chester County and southern Berks County. She serves on the House Armed Services Committee, the HouseForeign Affairs Committee, and the House Small Business Committee.\r\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://perry.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=402516", "Perry Statement on Election Integrity", "2020-12-10", "2020", "2020-12", "Republican", "House", "PA", "Scott Perry", "P000605", "perry.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Perry Statement on Election Integrity \r\n  \r\n     \r\n\r\n  \r\n\r\n  \r\n  \r\n  \r\n\r\n  \r\n    \r\n      Washington, D.C. -U.S. Representative Scott Perry (PA-10) today released the following statement on election integrity and the role of Congress in ensuring free and fair elections. The integrity of our elections in America is sacred. Regardless of political affiliation, without free, fair, and transparent elections, the bedrock of our republic and our Constitutional rights and freedoms crumble. In the weeks since the 2020 Election, I've heard from thousands of people in my district and all over Pennsylvania  of all beliefs and political parties  who are gravely concerned about this election. An inordinate number of citizens are deeply concerned about the violation of the Equal Protection Clause by the State's inconsistent application of Pennsylvania Election Law, the unconstitutional process by which it bypassed a statewide ballot to change the election laws, and its failure to allow and protect legal poll watchers. I share these concerns, as do many Members of the Pennsylvania General Assembly. Given the failure of Pennsylvania to address these inconsistencies and irregularities, and the violation of constitutional rights, action at the federal level must be considered. Failing to ensure accountability of our elections and restore trust in our electoral system has long-term and profound ramifications for our Nation.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://thompson.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/thompson-and-dean-call-improvements-coronavirus-relief-fund-guidelines", "Thompson and Dean Call for Improvements to Coronavirus Relief Fund Guidelines", "2020-12-10", "2020", "2020-12", "Republican", "House", "PA", "Glenn Thompson", "T000467", "thompson.house.gov", "thompson", "https://thompson.house.gov/media-center/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON, DC\u2013 Today, Representatives Glenn 'GT' Thompson (PA-15) and Madeleine Dean (PA-04) introduced the Coronavirus Relief Fund Expansion Act, which will extend the deadline to spend COVID-19 relief funds by one year to December 31, 2021. Additionally, this bill will allow non-profit and emergency service organizations the ability to use funds to replace lost, delayed, or decreased revenues as a result of the global pandemic.\n\nEmergency service organizations, including volunteer fire departments, have struggled to maintain operations during these unprecedented times. Volunteer fire departments rely heavily on fundraising activities to support their mission. Due to COVID-19, most of these organizations were forced to cancel in-person community events, which has resulted in significant losses.\n\n\"The economic impact of COVID-19 has been hardest on organizations that already operate on razor thin margins,\" saidRep. Thompson. \"Congress created a relief fund, which has yet to be exhausted. As a volunteer fire fighter, I know we must act immediately to provide more flexibility and extend these deadlines, otherwise volunteer organizations and non-profits will be left out in the cold.\"\n\n\"Emergency services are hurting from the economic side effects of the pandemic. It's import that we extend the deadline for the Coronavirus Relief Fund (CRF) through December 31, 2021 and allow emergency services\u2014like Volunteer Fire Departments\u2014to access these relief funds,\" Rep. Deansaid. \"It's not only the right thing to do, it's economically smart and allows our emergency services to continue to serve the people.\"\n\n\"First responders across the nation have been concerned that the current language in the CARES Act is very ambiguous. We are worried fire and EMS departments have not and will not utilize these funds because of a lack of detail on how this financial assistance may be legally expended by our agencies,\" said Jerry Brant, Second Assistant Chief of the Patton Fire Company No. 1 and Board Member of the Pennsylvania Fire & Emergency Services Institute. \"This legislation would simplify this section of the CARES Act and alleviate these concerns. We applaud Congressman Thompson for his efforts and plead with other members of Congress to join him in passing this critical legislation.\"", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-06-28T00:42:23Z"], ["https://wild.house.gov/media/press-releases/rep-wild-seeking-gold-star-family-fellow", "Rep. Wild Seeking Gold Star Family Fellow", "2020-12-10", "2020", "2020-12", "Democrat", "House", "PA", "Susan Wild", "W000826", "wild.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "LEHIGH VALLEY, PA U.S. Representative Susan Wild (PA-07) is seeking a Gold Star Family Member for a remote position based out of her Lehigh County district office. The person selected for the fellowship will work with constituents to handle veteran-related casework and act as a facilitator between constituents and federal, state, and local agencies.\n\nWe make a covenant with our service members that we will care for them and their families when they return and making sure we honor that commitment is one of my highest priorities, Wild said. That's why I'm pleased to be working with the House of Representatives to bring a Gold Star Family fellow onto my team, and am looking forward to insight they can provide to help lift up our entire veteran community in PA-07.\n\nThe Gold Star Family Fellowship Program was established by the House of Representatives to provide employment opportunities for families of our service members who have paid the ultimate sacrifice to our nation.\n\nGold Star Family Members are eligible for the program if they meet all the following requirements: must be the parent, spouse, sibling, child, or step-child of a service member who either died on active duty or of a service member who received an Honorable Discharge and died due to a service connected disability within four-years of military separation.\n\nInterested Gold Star Family Members should go to https://www.usajobs.gov/and search Gold Star Family Fellowship Program for more information on how to apply.\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://www.toomey.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/12/10/2020/toomey-opening-statement-from-todays-congressional-oversight-commission-hearing", "Toomey Opening Statement from Todays Congressional Oversight Commission Hearing", "2020-12-10", "2020", "2020-12", "Republican", "House", "PA", "Patrick Toomey", "T000461", "www.toomey.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Washington,\r\nD.C.\r\nU.S. Senator Pat Toomey (R-Pa.), a member of the bipartisan Congressional\r\nOversight Commission, offered the following opening remarks at today's public\r\nhearing examining loans to businesses critical to maintaining national\r\nsecurity:   In\r\nMarch, unprecedented turmoil in credit markets threatened the ability of\r\nbusinesses, states, and municipalities to obtain capital. Credit markets were\r\non the verge of shutting down, and without intervention, private credit was very\r\nlikely going to stop flowing to businesses, states, and municipalities.   Congress\r\ndid not want these economic disruptions to result in gaps in our national\r\nsecurity. There was a very real concern that established national defense\r\nfirms, essential national defense firms, could even collapse. The CARES Act\r\nprogram announcement succeeded in stabilizing the markets, and averted a crisis\r\nin the national security sector. In fact, the top five national security firms\r\nraised over $40 billion in bond sales since March.   Since\r\ncreditworthy firms have generally been able to access private markets, only\r\nthose with lower grade credit, or limited access to credit in the first place,\r\nappeared to have applied for national security loans. Of the eleven businesses\r\nthat have used the national security loan program, five had negative profits in\r\n2019 before the coronavirus struck. At least three are early stage companies\r\nincluding SpinLaunch Inc., an essentially pre-revenue venture whose products\r\nare commercially unproven.   While\r\nI am glad that the national security sector is now stable, I would like to\r\nunderstand better why the Treasury made loans to what appears to be startups\r\nand what may have been, or close to a, fundamentally insolvent company like the\r\nYRCThe question in my mind is whether or not these loans adhere to the\r\ncriteria set out under the CARES Act and whether or not they were a\r\nprudent use of taxpayer funds. Watch\r\nSenator Toomey's full opening remarks here.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://dean.house.gov/2020/12/house-overwhelmingly-passes-2021-ndaa-rep-dean-s-pfas-efforts-included", "The House Overwhelmingly Passes 2021 NDAA: Rep. Dean\u2019s PFAS Efforts Included", "2020-12-09", "2020", "2020-12", "Democrat", "House", "PA", "Madeleine Dean", "D000631", "dean.house.gov", "dean", "https://dean.house.gov/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON \u2014 Yesterday, the House passed the 2021 National Defense Authorization Act. Included in this defense budget will be necessary pro-labor measures, and PFAS water contamination efforts that were led by Rep. Dean.\n\nRep. Dean led a bipartisan public private partnership incentivizing the research and development of a PFAS Free Firefighting foam, as PFAS has long impacted southeastern Pennsylvania.\n\nAdditionally, Rep. Dean fought for the inclusion of the following provisions:\n\nAuthorization of $15 million for a nationwide PFAS health study.\n\nRequirement of the National Institute of Standard and Technology to study the safety of firefighting equipment to ensure protection of firefighters from PFAS.\n\nEstablishment of an interagency coordinating body for PFAS research.\n\n\u201cThis study is a necessary step to help those affected by these forever chemicals that contaminate our water, as we work to prevent this from reoccurring,\u201d Rep. Dean said. \u201cThe $15 million PFAS Health Study is a study that must turn into action so that we are able to adequately address this health issue, which is plaguing our communities.\u201d\n\nUnfortunately, Rep. Dean\u2019s $10,000 student loan forgiveness provision was not included, but the budget acknowledges the growing burden of student loans. Rep. Dean looks forward to working with the next Congress and the Biden-Harris administration, to further address this important national issue.\n\nThe 2021 National Defense Authorization Act will continue historic progress on key labor and employment priorities for federal workers. The provisions for our nation\u2019s civil servants include:\n\nPandemic Leave: Allows many federal employees to carry over additional annual leave into 2021.\n\nPaid Parental Leave: Extends paid parental leave to approximately 100,000 federal workers.\n\nElijah Cummings Federal Employee Antidiscrimination Act: Requires federal agencies to establish a model Equal Employment Opportunity Program with requirements that address discrimination in the workplace.\n\nRestriction on Civilian Workforce Reductions: Prohibits the Secretary of Defense from reducing the civilian workforce unless the Department assesses the impact of such reduction on workload, military force structure, lethality, readiness, and operational effectiveness.\n\nBy funding PFAS research studies and expanding labors rights for federal workers, the 2021 NDAA shows careful attention to issues that have impacted these communities and civil servants for decades.\n\nRep. Madeleine Dean is a mother, grandmother, attorney, professor, former four-term member of the Pennsylvania House of Representatives, and U.S. Representative for the Fourth District of Pennsylvania.", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-06-28T00:42:23Z"], ["https://dean.house.gov/media/press-releases/house-overwhelmingly-passes-2021-ndaa-rep-dean-s-pfas-efforts-included", "The House Overwhelmingly Passes 2021 NDAA: Rep. Deans PFAS Efforts Included", "2020-12-09", "2020", "2020-12", "Democrat", "House", "PA", "Madeleine Dean", "D000631", "dean.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "WASHINGTON  Yesterday, the House passed the 2021 National Defense Authorization Act. Included in this defense budget will be necessary pro-labor measures, and PFAS water contamination efforts that were led by Rep. Dean.\nRep. Dean led a bipartisan public private partnership incentivizing the research and development of a PFAS Free Firefighting foam, as PFAS has long impacted southeastern Pennsylvania.\nAdditionally, Rep. Dean fought for the inclusion of the following provisions:\n Authorization of $15 million for a nationwide PFAS health study.\n\tRequirement of the National Institute of Standard and Technology to study the safety of firefighting equipment to ensure protection of firefighters from PFAS.\n\tEstablishment of an interagency coordinating body for PFAS research.\n This study is a necessary step to help those affected by these forever chemicals that contaminate our water, as we work to prevent this from reoccurring, Rep. Dean said. The $15 million PFAS Health Study is a study that must turn into action so that we are able to adequately address this health issue, which is plaguing our communities.\nUnfortunately, Rep. Dean's $10,000 student loan forgiveness provision was not included, but the budget acknowledges the growing burden of student loans. Rep. Dean looks forward to working with the next Congress and the Biden-Harris administration, to further address this important national issue.\nThe 2021 National Defense Authorization Act will continue historic progress on key labor and employment priorities for federal workers. The provisions for our nation's civil servants include:\n Pandemic Leave: Allows many federal employees to carry over additional annual leave into 2021.\n\tPaid Parental Leave: Extends paid parental leave to approximately 100,000 federal workers.\n\tElijah Cummings Federal Employee Antidiscrimination Act: Requires federal agencies to establish a model Equal Employment Opportunity Program with requirements that address discrimination in the workplace.\n\tRestriction on Civilian Workforce Reductions: Prohibits the Secretary of Defense from reducing the civilian workforce unless the Department assesses the impact of such reduction on workload, military force structure, lethality, readiness, and operational effectiveness.\n By funding PFAS research studies and expanding labors rights for federal workers, the 2021 NDAA shows careful attention to issues that have impacted these communities and civil servants for decades.  \n\t\nRep. Madeleine Dean is a mother, grandmother, attorney, professor, former four-term member of the Pennsylvania House of Representatives, and U.S. Representative for the Fourth District of Pennsylvania.\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://johnjoyce.house.gov/media/press-releases/dr-joyce-fighting-defeat-drug-crisis-support-pennsylvanians-recovery", "Dr. Joyce is Fighting to Defeat the Drug Crisis & Support Pennsylvanians in Recovery", "2020-12-09", "2020", "2020-12", "Republican", "House", "PA", "John Joyce", "J000302", "johnjoyce.house.gov", "johnjoyce", "https://johnjoyce.house.gov/media/press-releases", "scraper", "Washington, DC Congressman John Joyce, M.D. (PA-13) this week highlighted Americans' shared fight to prevent drug abuse and addiction, equip those on the frontline of this effort, and support individuals and families facing addiction as well as those in recovery. Watch his full remarks on the House Floor.\n\nMr. Speaker, I rise today to address a public health crisis that is taking a tangible toll on every facet of our society. In Pennsylvania, drug abuse and addiction are not abstract concerns the drug crisis is a reality that plays out across our community every single day. Sadly, Pennsylvanians aren't alone. Each day, more than 130 Americans die from an overdose.\n\nAs a nation, we cannot allow illicit drugs to continue tearing apart families, destroying our workforce, and claiming lives. From law enforcement officials to health care providers to educators to community leaders and lawmakers, all of us have an individual part to play. We must combat this crisis, keep drugs off our streets, protect families, safeguard our economy, and most importantly save lives.\n\nEnding this scourge requires a team effort. In Congress, it has been my privilege to work with leaders at the federal, state, and local levels to identify and implement commonsense solutions for the drug crisis.\n\nToday I thank my fellow members of the Freshmen Bipartisan Working Group on Addiction for their collaboration and partnership during the 116th Congress. Together, we worked toward our shared fight against drug abuse and addiction. I'm proud of the legislative achievements that we forged, and I am looking forward to continuing this work in the upcoming 117th Congress.\n\nIn the White House, President Donald Trump and his Administration are incredible leaders in this fight. From day one, President Trump prioritized realistic and achievable solutions to tackle this problem, equip those on the front lines, and support Americans in recovery. I am grateful to President Trump's drug czar, White House Office of National Drug Control Policy Director Jim Carroll, for his steadfast commitment to this issue.\n\nThis fall, it was an honor to host Director Carroll in my district to meet directly with remarkable leaders on the frontlines of the drug crisis. He is a true partner for Pennsylvanians, and I am thankful for his service to our nation in this key role.\n\nAs a nation, Americans have made significant strides in defeating the drug crisis and now our work must continue.\n\nOn the China Task Force, we recognize that the COVID-19 pandemic is not the only public health crisis that was created by the Chinese Communist Party. All too often, illicit drugs originating in China end up on Pennsylvania streets - spurring addiction, harming families, and killing too many of my patients, friends and neighbors. These drugs are trafficked through porous borders and even through the U.S. Postal Service.\n\nAs a direct solution to this problem, I co-sponsored legislation to hold the Chinese communist regime and any other foreign government accountable if it fails to stop deadly drugs from leaving its borders. And, I will continue to push forward with commonsense legislation.\n\nTragically, the drug crisis has been exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic and aggressive mitigation tactics in Pennsylvania and around the country. As Americans battle a pandemic, we must not ignore rising rates of addiction and overdoses. I continue to call on federal and state leaders to ensure that individuals and families facing addiction and those in recovery have the resources and support that they need whether virtual or in-person.\n\nWe cannot afford inaction. The ramifications of the drug crisis transcend all divides. Together, not as Republicans or Democrats - but as Americans, we are in a shared fight to save lives. And together, we must win.\n\nThank you, and I yield.\n\nBackground:\n\nEarlier this fall, Dr. Joyce hosted President Trump's Drug Czar, the White House Office of National Drug Control Policy Director Jim Carroll, in Westmoreland and Somerset Counties to meet with a number of hardworking Pennsylvanians on the frontlines of this fight and discuss opportunities to work together. Read more about Director Carroll's visit to PA-13.\n\nHe also has urged Pennsylvania Governor Tom Wolf to make recovery assistance and resources available both in-person and online during the COVID-19 crisis. Read his letter to Gov. Wolf.\n\nAs a member of the China Task Force, Dr. Joyce sponsored legislation to hold the Chinese Communist Party accountable for trafficking illicit fentanyl and other drugs that originate in China and end up on our streets. Read more here.\n\nIn Congress, Dr. Joyce continues to lead on legislative solutions for the drug crisis, including:\n\nH.R. 1098, the Blocking Deadly Fentanyl Imports Act, to combat the flow of illicit fentanyl into our community.\n\nH.R. 4761, the DHS Opioid Detection Resilience Act of 2019, to empower the Department of Homeland Security to stop the trafficking of illicit drugs at the border.\n\nH.R. 2062, the Overdose Prevention and Patient Safety Act, to support Americans in recovery.\n\nH.R. 3591, the Campus Prevention and Recovery Services for Students Act, to prevent drug abuse and addiction on campuses.\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-06-28T00:42:23Z"], ["https://wild.house.gov/media/press-releases/reps-wild-stevens-call-strengthened-enforceable-workplace-safety-standards", "Reps. Wild, Stevens Call for Strengthened, Enforceable Workplace Safety Standards", "2020-12-09", "2020", "2020-12", "Democrat", "House", "PA", "Susan Wild", "W000826", "wild.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "WASHINGTON Yesterday, U.S. Representatives Susan Wild (PA-07) and Haley Stevens (MI-11) sent a letter to Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi calling for strengthened and enforceable workplace safety standards at the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) in any negotiated COVID-19 relief agreement.\n\nThe COVID-19 pandemic has been the deadliest health emergency to threaten American workers in decades, yet OSHA has failed to issue new standards to protect workers during this crisis. Furthermore, the U.S. Department of Labor's Office of Inspector General found that OSHA has failed to adequately investigate a majority of COVID-19 workplace safety complaints.\n\nOur country's success in controlling community spread depends in large part on our success in controlling workplace infections, the lawmakers wrote. As frontline and essential workers continue putting themselves at tremendous risk each day, it is time for Congress to demand more from OSHA, the only federal agency with the authority to enforce safe working conditions.\n\nThe full text of the letter can be found HERE or below.\n\nDear Speaker Pelosi, \n\nWe thank you for your ongoing efforts to fight for relief from the worsening COVID-19 pandemic on behalf of the American people. As you continue staying true to our shared principles, we specifically urge you to include strengthened and enforceable workplace safety standards at the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) in any negotiated COVID-19 relief agreement. \n\nReports  including by the Department of Labor's Office of Inspector General  have shown that OSHA has failed to investigate or stalled the majority of COVID-19 workplace safety complaints. As such, it is imperative that any negotiated COVID-19 relief package include the COVID-19 Every Worker Protection Act, which was in the House-passed Heroes Act. H.R. 6559 would protect all workers from exposure to COVID-19 in the workplace by requiring OSHA to issue an Emergency Temporary Standard, based on CDC guidance, that requires all workplaces to implement infectious disease control plans to keep workers safe during the COVID-19 pandemic and ensures workers who report infection control problems will not face retaliation. \n\nIn May, the Education & Labor Subcommittee on Workforce Protections, on which we sit, held a hearing entitled Examining the Federal Government's Actions to Protect Workers from COVID-19. This hearing brought to light OSHA's failure to issue new standards to protect workers or to effectively enforce its current limited standards, despite the fact that the COVID19 pandemic has caused more deaths among workers in a shorter time than any other health emergency since the creation of OSHA 50 years ago. \n\nOur country's success in controlling community spread depends in large part on our success in controlling workplace infections. As frontline and essential workers continue putting themselves at tremendous risk each day, it is time for Congress to demand more from OSHA, the only federal agency with the authority to enforce safe working conditions. Thank you for your steadfast leadership and for your attention to this important matter.\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://www.casey.senate.gov/news/releases/casey-to-introduce-police-overhaul-that-would-reform-the-way-law-enforcement-interacts-with-people-with-disabilities-", "Casey to Introduce Police Overhaul that Would Reform the Way Law Enforcement Interacts with People with Disabilities", "2020-12-09", "2020", "2020-12", "Democrat", "House", "PA", "Bob Casey", "C001070", "www.casey.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", null, 0, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://www.toomey.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/bill-to-combat-stalking-of-children-clears-house-goes-to-president-for-signature", "Bill to Combat Stalking of Children Clears House, Goes to President for Signature", "2020-12-09", "2020", "2020-12", "Republican", "House", "PA", "Patrick Toomey", "T000461", "www.toomey.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Washington, D.C.  After a years-long fight,\r\ncriminals who prey on and stalk children will face longer jail sentences. Led\r\nby Senators Pat Toomey (R-Pa.) and Bob Casey (D-Pa.) in the Senate, and\r\nRepresentative Brian Fitzpatrick (Pa.-1) in the House, the Combat Online\r\nPredators Act is heading to the president's desk for his signature.  The legislation enhances federal criminal penalties for stalkers\r\nby up to five years if the victim is a minor, and calls for the U.S. Department\r\nof Justice to evaluate federal, state, and local efforts to enforce stalking\r\nlaws and identify enforcement best practices. The bill passed the Senate last\r\nOctober, and was approved by the House last night.  House passage of the Combat Online Predators Act speaks to the\r\nremarkable dedication of the entire Zezzo family for keeping children safe and\r\nensuring there are strong penalties for monsters who stalk and cyberstalk\r\nchildren, said Senator Toomey. Madison and her parents, Erin and Tony,\r\ndeserve our gratitude for helping get this legislation through Congress, and I\r\nlook forward to the president signing it into law.  Today is an important day in our Nation's endless fight to better\r\nprotect our children and curtail predatory behavior. I am pleased that the\r\nHouse passed the Combat Online Predators Act today and I am grateful to the\r\nZezzo family for their tireless advocacy of this important legislation,\" said\r\nSenator Casey. \"This bipartisan bill will give judges additional tools\r\nto ensure that perpetrators who stalk or cyberstalk children are held\r\naccountable with serious penalties. I urge the President to sign Combat Online\r\nPredators swiftly into law so that we can continue the fight to keep our\r\nchildren safe from predatory behavior.  We have no higher responsibility than to protect our children.\r\nCyber-stalking is a serious crime that needs to be met with stricter penalties\r\nand more cooperation among law enforcement agencies. Sitting with the Zezzo\r\nfamily, I saw the pain in their eyes. After hearing of the disturbing story of\r\ncyberstalking endured by this young girl and her family for years, I knew\r\nsomething needed to be done, said Representative Fitzpatrick. The\r\nCombat Online Predators Act is the first step in making the internet a safer\r\nenvironment for all users, especially the most vulnerable among us. I am\r\nincredibly proud to see our legislation pass both chambers and head to the\r\nPresident's desk to become law.  Our family is so glad the Combat Online Predators Act has made it\r\nthrough Congress, said Erin and Tony Zezzo. As families have navigated\r\nthrough the COVID-19 pandemic, children are spending more time online and in\r\nfront of a webcam. Individuals who stalk and cyberstalk our children are taking\r\nadvantage of these new tools and opportunities to exploit children. This\r\nlegislation has never been more critical than it is today. Our hope is that\r\nthis legislation is the first of more changes to our cyberstalking laws that\r\nwill help prevent such heinous crimes. We appreciate the bipartisan work of\r\nSenators Toomey and Casey and Representatives Fitzpatrick and Murphy.  Congresswoman Stephanie Murphy (Fla.-7) coauthored the Combat\r\nOnline Predators Act in the House.  The\r\nCombat Online Predators Act was inspired by the story of the Zezzo\r\nfamily of Bucks County, Pennsylvania whose teenaged daughter was cyber-stalked\r\nby a friend's father on social media. Despite the stalking being sexual in\r\nnature, the then-51-year-old stalker pleaded guilty only to a misdemeanor\r\nstalking charge and was sentenced to probation and counseling. Three years\r\nlater, in 2016, the same stalker began making contact again. This time, he was\r\narrested in a sting by local police and sentenced to between 18 months and\r\nseven years in a state prison.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://evans.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/evans-welcomes-ruling-favor-einstein-jefferson-merger-says-it-fits-his", "Evans Welcomes Ruling in Favor of Einstein-Jefferson Merger,  Says It Fits His \u2018No More Hahnemanns!\u2019 Effort", "2020-12-08", "2020", "2020-12", "Democrat", "House", "PA", "Dwight Evans", "E000296", "evans.house.gov", "evans", "https://evans.house.gov/media/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON (Dec. 8, 2020) \u2013 Congressman Dwight Evans (D-PA-3rd) welcomed a court ruling in favor of the proposed merger of Jefferson Health and Albert Einstein Healthcare Network in Philadelphia and the region. Evans continues to voice his strong support for the merger.\n\n\"I'm extremely pleased that the federal judge rejected the Federal Trade Commission and state attorney general's shortsighted attempts to block the merger. I hope that neither of them will appeal the ruling and instead clear the way for these hospitals to provide enhanced stability and access to high-quality care for the residents of North Philadelphia for the foreseeable future. This merger would help the hospitals to stay open, and the pandemic has underlined how vital they are to our communities,\" Evans said.\n\n\"This should not continue to be addressed in the courts. Issues of rising costs should be addressed through Congress and the state legislatures, as should solutions to maintain the viability of safety-net hospitals. As a member of the U.S. House Ways and Means Committee, I have been leading an ongoing, bipartisan \u2018No More Hahnemanns!' effort to seek these types of solutions. Hahnemann University Hospital's 2019 closing was the 10th hospital closing in Philadelphia in 20 years, and this problem has affected large cities as well as small towns and rural areas of Pennsylvania.\n\n\"Einstein and Jefferson are historically linked academic medical centers that would work even better together to improve the lives of their patients and the communities they serve. They should not be forced to spend more time or money litigating a merger that the court agreed would benefit the communities they serve \u2013 and the FTC and state attorney general's office should stop spending tax dollars to get in the way of this public-spirited merger.\n\n\"The pandemic has shone a bright spotlight on the wide health disparities among the communities served by these Philadelphia-based hospital systems, and I will continue working with them as trusted partners to address those disparities in our diverse city and region.\"\n\nEvans represents Pennsylvania's 3rd Congressional District, which includes Northwest and West Philadelphia and parts of North, South, Southwest and Center City Philadelphia. He serves on the influential House Ways and Means Committee, which oversees Medicare and much of the U.S. health-care system.\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-06-28T00:42:23Z"], ["https://johnjoyce.house.gov/media/press-releases/dr-joyce-congress-must-support-warfighter-our-national-defense", "Dr. Joyce: Congress Must Support the Warfighter & Our National Defense", "2020-12-08", "2020", "2020-12", "Republican", "House", "PA", "John Joyce", "J000302", "johnjoyce.house.gov", "johnjoyce", "https://johnjoyce.house.gov/media/press-releases", "scraper", "Washington, DC Congressman John Joyce, M.D. (PA-13) released the following statement after the U.S. House of Representatives advanced the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2021.\n\n\"As our nation faces emerging threats, the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2021 will support the warfighter and equip our Armed Forces to defend Americans against our enemies. It includes key provisions to modernize our military capabilities, deter China and Russia, boost our preparedness, and maintain America's competitive edge.\n\n\"The 2021 defense bill will provide a three percent pay raise for our troops and offer much-deserved benefits to the military families who sacrifice each day for our freedom. As we continue to combat the COVID-19 pandemic, it will provide protections and care for our servicemembers while also equipping the Department of Defense to execute Operation Warp Speed and lead the distribution of a safe and effective vaccine.\n\n\"The NDAA will reinforce our region's strong defense manufacturing industry and protect family-sustaining jobs in all ten counties of Pennsylvania's 13th Congressional District. I am proud that this legislation includes my Small Business Category Management Training Act, which ensures that small businesses that provide critical goods and services for our Armed Forces can compete for federal contracts.\n\n\"As America counters the growing threat of the Chinese Communist Party amidst a pandemic it caused, we cannot afford to let down our guard against this aggressive regime. The 2021 defense bill will strengthen America's supply chains for medicine, health care supplies, and technology as well as counter the increasing influence of the Chinese Communist Party in our government, institutions, and businesses.\n\n\"The brave members of our Armed Forces serve and sacrifice for our nation each day. As a key Constitutional responsibility, Congress must support the warfighter and our national defense.\"\n\nThe FY 2021 NDAA includes key priorities for Pennsylvania and the nation, including:\n\nA three percent pay raise for American troops and pay incentives to recruit and retain critically needed military personnelwith science and technology expertise, including pilots, submariners, health care professionals, and those with other vital skills.\n\nCritical childcare, housing, and mental health care resources for military families.\n\nExpansion of VA telemedicine capabilities to improve veterans' access to quality health care, as well as increased mental health care and suicide prevention resources.\n\nCOVID-19 protections for American troops, including personal protective equipment (PPE), testing, and improved health care capacity.\n\nStronger requirements to reduce the total cost of weapons systems and improve reliability and maintainability.\n\nInvestments in equipment and technology that are critical to maintain America's edge in the 21st century, including Long-Range Precision Fires and Integrated Air and Missile Defense (IAMD) priorities of the Army including Precision Strike Missile, Hyper-Velocity Projectiles, Lower-Tier Air Missile Defense Sensor, High-Energy Lasers, Indirect Fire Protection Capability Increment 2, and the IAMD Battle Command System.\n\nFunding for the Navy to procure nine battle force ships including one Columbia class fleet ballistic missile submarine, two Virginia-class submarines, two DDG 51 Arleigh Burke destroyers, one guided missile Frigate (FFG), one Expeditionary Fast Transport (EPF) ship, and two T-ATS towing, salvage, and rescue ships which will be developed with products manufactured in PA-13.\n\nResources to counter the growing threat of the Chinese Communist Party, including key supply chain protections for pharmaceuticals, health care supplies, technology, and other vital products; as well as a prohibition on the Department of Defense from sourcing materials from China.\n\nRequirement for the Department of Defense to conduct an audit and promote fiscal accountability.\n\nBackground:\n\nPennsylvania's 13th Congressional District is home to Letterkenny Army Depot in Chambersburg, PA, which provides responsive and sustainable readiness for the U.S. and Allied Air and Missile Defense Forces to support U.S. global strategic interests. The NDAA includes key support for this depot and those who support its mission.\n\nCongressman Joyce serves on the House Committee on Homeland Security and the House Small Business Committee. He is also a member of the China Task Force.\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-06-28T00:42:23Z"], ["https://reschenthaler.house.gov/media/press-releases/reschenthaler-s-one-stop-shop-bill-reduce-recidivism-passes-house", "Reschenthalers One Stop Shop Bill to Reduce Recidivism Passes House", "2020-12-08", "2020", "2020-12", "Republican", "House", "PA", "Guy Reschenthaler", "R000610", "reschenthaler.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "WASHINGTON, D.C.  Today, the U.S. House of Representatives unanimously passed Rep. Guy Reschenthaler's (PA-14) One Stop Shop Community Reentry Program Act (H.R. 8161). This legislation, which Reschenthaler introduced with Rep. Karen Bass (CA-37), creates resource centers to help formerly incarcerated individuals successfully reenter society.\n\nI know from my time as a district judge in southwestern Pennsylvania that the best way to be tough on crime is to reduce recidivism, which means fewer crimes and fewer victims, said Reschenthaler. Today the House took an important step towards that goal by passing the One Stop Shop Community Reentry Program Act, which will help formerly incarcerated individuals successfully reintegrate into society and contribute to their communities. I am grateful to Chairwoman Bass for working with me to end the revolving door between prison and the streets and empower formerly incarcerated individuals to take control of their futures, all while making our neighborhoods safer.\n\nSpecifically, H.R. 8161 reduces recidivism and invests in the safety of our communities by providing 5-year grants to community-based organizations to create community reentry centers for the roughly 600,000 Americansreleased from prison each year. Absent these programs and other measures,over two-thirds of those released from prison will be arrested for another crime.\n\nThese centers will offer a number of services aimed at facilitating reintegration into society including:\n\n Assistance with finding and maintaining employment, including job skills training\n\tAssistance locating and retaining housing\n\tMedical and mental health services and substance abuse treatment\n \n###", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://reschenthaler.house.gov/media/press-releases/reschenthalers-one-stop-shop-bill-reduce-recidivism-passes-house", "Reschenthaler\u2019s \u201cOne Stop Shop\u201d Bill to Reduce Recidivism Passes House", "2020-12-08", "2020", "2020-12", "Republican", "House", "PA", "Guy Reschenthaler", "R000610", "reschenthaler.house.gov", "reschenthaler", "https://reschenthaler.house.gov/media/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON, D.C. \u2013 Today, the U.S. House of Representatives unanimously passed Rep. Guy Reschenthaler's (PA-14) One Stop Shop Community Reentry Program Act (H.R. 8161). This legislation, which Reschenthaler introduced with Rep. Karen Bass (CA-37), creates resource centers to help formerly incarcerated individuals successfully reenter society.\n\n\"I know from my time as a district judge in southwestern Pennsylvania that the best way to be tough on crime is to reduce recidivism, which means fewer crimes and fewer victims,\" said Reschenthaler. \"Today the House took an important step towards that goal by passing the One Stop Shop Community Reentry Program Act, which will help formerly incarcerated individuals successfully reintegrate into society and contribute to their communities. I am grateful to Chairwoman Bass for working with me to end the revolving door between prison and the streets and empower formerly incarcerated individuals to take control of their futures, all while making our neighborhoods safer.\"\n\nSpecifically, H.R. 8161 reduces recidivism and invests in the safety of our communities by providing 5-year grants to community-based organizations to create community reentry centers for the roughly 600,000 Americans released from prison each year. Absent these programs and other measures, over two-thirds of those released from prison will be arrested for another crime.\n\nThese centers will offer a number of services aimed at facilitating reintegration into society including:\n\nAssistance with finding and maintaining employment, including job skills training\n\nAssistance locating and retaining housing\n\nMedical and mental health services and substance abuse treatment\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-06-28T00:42:23Z"], ["https://perry.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=402515", "Perry Joins Bipartisan, Bicameral Call for \"No Budget, No Pay\" Provision", "2020-12-07", "2020", "2020-12", "Republican", "House", "PA", "Scott Perry", "P000605", "perry.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "U.S. Representative Scott Perry (PA-10) joined Senator Rick Scott (R-FL) and 14 bipartisan Members of Congress to call on Congressional Leadership to include a No Budget, No Pay provision in any negotiations for the end-of-year government funding bill. A No Budget, No Pay proposal would withhold Members' pay if Congress failed to pass a budget to fund the federal government. Hardworking Americans wake up every day and work their fingers to the bone to earn their paycheck. They know if they don't show up and do their jobs, they won't be paid. That Congress is not held to this same standard is unacceptable, which is why I've joined with a bipartisan group to hold Members accountable to our constitutional duties. Passing a budget that funds the federal government is a primary role of Congress, yet year after year, it fails to meet the October 1 fiscal deadline. It's time to get serious about controlling our Nation's spending and debt, and getback to building budgets through regular order, said Congressman Perry. Rep. Perry first supported a No Budget, No Pay provision in the first month of his first term in Congress, and has forgone pay during government shutdowns in2013and 2018-2019. The letter is also signed by Senators Kyrsten Sinema, Mike Braun, Ted Cruz, Steve Daines, Joni Ernst, David Perdue and Kelly Loeffler, as well as Representatives Jack Bergman, Vern Buchanan, Brian Fitzpatrick, Mike Gallagher, Kevin Hern, Lance Gooden, and Ralph Norman. The full text of the letter here.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://reschenthaler.house.gov/media/press-releases/reschenthaler-fitzpatrick-scanlon-moore-introduce-bill-stop-driver-s-license", "Reschenthaler, Fitzpatrick, Scanlon, Moore Introduce Bill to Stop Drivers License Suspensions for Non-Payment", "2020-12-07", "2020", "2020-12", "Republican", "House", "PA", "Guy Reschenthaler", "R000610", "reschenthaler.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "WASHINGTON, D.C.  Today, Representative Guy Reschenthaler (PA-14) joined with Reps. Brian Fitzpatrick (PA-01), Mary Gay Scanlon (PA-05), and Gwen Moore (WI-04) to introduce the Driving for Opportunity Act of 2020, the House companion to a bill introduced by U.S. Senators Chris Coons (D-DE) and Roger Wicker (R-MI), to encourage states to stop debt-based driver's license suspensions.\n\nEvery year, millions of Americans have their licenses suspended for unpaid court fines and fees, not based on conduct related to driving. This makes it harder to get to work and pay off the fines while also placing an unnecessary burden on our courts, jails, and law enforcement agencies.\n\nIn 2018, Pennsylvania passed legislation eliminating driver's license suspensions for non-driving infractions, an effort I was honored to be a part of, said Rep. Reschenthaler. The Driving for Opportunity Act will incentivize other states to follow Pennsylvania's lead and eliminate debt-based driver's license suspensions. By ending this counterproductive practice, we can make it easier for struggling Americans to hold down a job and pay off their debts while also ensuring police departments can target their resources where they are needed most.\n\nPunishing people for failing to pay debts in a way that limits their ability to obtain gainful employment only sets up a cruel cycle of failure and results in the criminalization of poverty, said Rep. Scanlon. Particularly during the ongoing global pandemic, we need to work to eliminate barriers to employment and find legislative solutions to break the cycle of poverty. I'm proud to be joined by Rep. Fitzpatrick in introducing this common sense bipartisan legislation.\n\nFor too long, many Americans have had their driver's licenses suspended for non-public safety reasons and have suffered the economic setback of debt-based driver's license suspensions, said Rep. Fitzpatrick. Incentivizing states to end the suspension of driver's licenses for unpaid fines is a commonsense reform that will improve livelihoods across this country and has widespread support from law enforcement, civil rights, and criminal justice reform organizations. I am proud to join my colleagues to introduce the bipartisan Driving for Opportunity Act.\n\nSuspending driver's licenses for unpaid fines and fees makes it harder for Americans to hold down a job and care for their families, and places an undue burden on our police officers, said Senator Coons. Today's introduction of the Driving for Opportunity Act in the House moves us one step closer to ending this counterproductive practice and the harm it causes in communities across the country. The broad, bipartisan coalition backing this bill underscores the strong support for swiftly passing it into law.\n\nBesides not being an effective debt collection tool, these too poor to drive suspensions can hinder an individual's ability to keep working or get work and can lead to interactions with the criminal justice system, both of which have far reaching impacts on our communities, said Rep. Moore. In Milwaukee and around the country, these policies disproportionately impact minorities and the most financially vulnerable. The Driving for Opportunity Act would encourage states to end the suspension of driver's licenses for unpaid fees to lift the burden off of drivers and to reinstate such licenses and ensure resources are better allocated towards promoting public safety.\n\nA copy of the bill can be found here.\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://reschenthaler.house.gov/media/press-releases/reschenthaler-fitzpatrick-scanlon-moore-introduce-bill-stop-drivers-license", "Reschenthaler, Fitzpatrick, Scanlon, Moore Introduce Bill to Stop Driver\u2019s License Suspensions for Non-Payment", "2020-12-07", "2020", "2020-12", "Republican", "House", "PA", "Guy Reschenthaler", "R000610", "reschenthaler.house.gov", "reschenthaler", "https://reschenthaler.house.gov/media/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON, D.C. \u2013 Today, Representative Guy Reschenthaler (PA-14) joined with Reps. Brian Fitzpatrick (PA-01), Mary Gay Scanlon (PA-05), and Gwen Moore (WI-04) to introduce the Driving for Opportunity Act of 2020, the House companion to a bill introduced by U.S. Senators Chris Coons (D-DE) and Roger Wicker (R-MI), to encourage states to stop debt-based driver's license suspensions.\n\nEvery year, millions of Americans have their licenses suspended for unpaid court fines and fees, not based on conduct related to driving. This makes it harder to get to work and pay off the fines while also placing an unnecessary burden on our courts, jails, and law enforcement agencies.\n\n\"In 2018, Pennsylvania passed legislation eliminating driver's license suspensions for non-driving infractions, an effort I was honored to be a part of,\" said Rep. Reschenthaler. \"The Driving for Opportunity Act will incentivize other states to follow Pennsylvania's lead and eliminate debt-based driver's license suspensions. By ending this counterproductive practice, we can make it easier for struggling Americans to hold down a job and pay off their debts while also ensuring police departments can target their resources where they are needed most.\"\n\n\"Punishing people for failing to pay debts in a way that limits their ability to obtain gainful employment only sets up a cruel cycle of failure and results in the criminalization of poverty,\" said Rep. Scanlon. \"Particularly during the ongoing global pandemic, we need to work to eliminate barriers to employment and find legislative solutions to break the cycle of poverty. I'm proud to be joined by Rep. Fitzpatrick in introducing this common sense bipartisan legislation.\"\n\n\"For too long, many Americans have had their driver's licenses suspended for non-public safety reasons and have suffered the economic setback of debt-based driver's license suspensions,\" said Rep. Fitzpatrick. \"Incentivizing states to end the suspension of driver's licenses for unpaid fines is a commonsense reform that will improve livelihoods across this country and has widespread support from law enforcement, civil rights, and criminal justice reform organizations. I am proud to join my colleagues to introduce the bipartisan Driving for Opportunity Act.\"\n\n\"Suspending driver's licenses for unpaid fines and fees makes it harder for Americans to hold down a job and care for their families, and places an undue burden on our police officers,\" said Senator Coons. \"Today's introduction of the Driving for Opportunity Act in the House moves us one step closer to ending this counterproductive practice and the harm it causes in communities across the country. The broad, bipartisan coalition backing this bill underscores the strong support for swiftly passing it into law.\"\n\n\"Besides not being an effective debt collection tool, these \"too poor to drive\" suspensions can hinder an individual's ability to keep working or get work and can lead to interactions with the criminal justice system, both of which have far reaching impacts on our communities,\" said Rep. Moore. \"In Milwaukee and around the country, these policies disproportionately impact minorities and the most financially vulnerable. The Driving for Opportunity Act would encourage states to end the suspension of driver's licenses for unpaid fees to lift the burden off of drivers and to reinstate such licenses and ensure resources are better allocated towards promoting public safety.\"\n\nA copy of the bill can be found here.\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-06-28T00:42:23Z"], ["https://wild.house.gov/media/press-releases/rep-wild-introduces-bipartisan-bill-bolster-workforce-pipeline-essential-health", "Rep. Wild Introduces Bipartisan Bill to Bolster Workforce Pipeline for Essential Health Care Workers", "2020-12-07", "2020", "2020-12", "Democrat", "House", "PA", "Susan Wild", "W000826", "wild.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "WASHINGTON Today, U.S. Representative Susan Wild (D-PA) joined U.S. Rep. Fred Keller (R-PA) in introducing H.R. 8874, the Nurses CARE Act, bipartisan legislation that would help prevent dangerous workforce shortages in long-term care facilities and allow America's essential healthcare workforce to do its important work uninterrupted.\n\nIn response to COVID-19, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) issued Section 1135 waivers to provide states with greater flexibility to direct personnel and resources to patients in need. While this regulatory flexibility has been an essential tool in preventing critical health care shortages by employing Temporary Nurse Aides (TNAs) to offer care during the pandemic, it is set to expire when the national emergency declaration is lifted.\n\nThroughout this entire pandemic, so many have selflessly joined the front lines in our nursing homes and long-term care facilities to get our most vulnerable through this health care crisisand they deserve their work and on-the-job training to be fully recognized, Wild said. I'm proud to join this bipartisan, commonsense effort to help prevent critical health care shortages or gaps in Pennsylvania and ensure those who answered the call in this emergency have a pathway for full-time employment once this pandemic ends.\n\nThe Nurses CARE Act works to build on the success of CMS's Section 1135 waivers and provide states with the necessary flexibility to ensure that competent TNAs who provided critical services during the pandemic can retain their certification after the national emergency declaration has expired. Additionally, this legislation would also allow states and facilities to offer on-the-job experience as a partial substitute for certification courses, testing, and other evaluationsthus providing a pathway to full-time employment for TNAs who answered the call during the COVID-19 pandemic and have already received extensive on-the-job training.\n\nThe COVID-19 pandemic has changed so much about how we deliver health care at nursing homes, skilled nursing facilities, and long-term care centers, Keller said. We need to do everything we can to protect our most vulnerable populations, like our seniors and those with pre-existing conditions. I am proud of this bipartisan legislation that gives American families across our nation the peace of mind that their loved ones in long-term care are receiving the care they need to remain safe and healthy.\n\nSince the temporary nurse aide position was formally approved in the Commonwealth, more than 4,000 Pennsylvanians have completed the training program, and many have been hired to assist long-term care providers in their response to COVID-19, said Zach Shamberg, President and CEO of the Pennsylvania Healthcare Association. This legislation not only recognizes the heroic and compassionate work these caregivers have performed since the pandemic began, but also puts them on a path to full-time employment as certified nurse aides. We are grateful to both Congressman Keller and Congresswoman Wild for their bipartisan leadership and united approach in standing up for our long-term care providers and healthcare heroes on the front lines of the COVID-19 pandemic in Pennsylvania and throughout the country.\n\nFull text of this legislation is available HERE.\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://www.toomey.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/12/07/2020/new-toomey-brown-measure-aims-to-reduce-maternal-deaths-improve-health-outcomes-for-mothers", "New Toomey-Brown Measure Aims to Reduce Maternal Deaths, Improve Health Outcomes for Mothers", "2020-12-07", "2020", "2020-12", "Republican", "House", "PA", "Patrick Toomey", "T000461", "www.toomey.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Washington, D.C. U.S. Senators Pat Toomey\r\n(R-Pa.) and Sherrod Brown (D-Ohio) are teaming up to help reduce maternal\r\ndeaths and improve the health outcomes of pregnant women and mothers enrolled\r\nin Medicaid.  In recent years, physicians and researchers have placed a heightened\r\nfocus on preventable pregnancy-related deaths in the United States. Research\r\nshows that the leading causes of death related to pregnancy are\r\ncardiovascular and coronary conditions, following by infections, hemorrhage, pre-eclampsia\r\nand eclampsia, and cardiomyopathy. Decreasing severe maternal morbidity will\r\nhelp decrease maternal mortality. In 2018, Medicaid financed nearly half of all\r\nUS births, and in some states, provided coverage for more than 60 percent of\r\nbirths.While the Medicaid program plays a critical role in addressing our\r\nnation's maternal mortality crisis,pregnant women on Medicaid aremore likely to experience higher ratesof\r\nsevere maternal morbidity and mortality than pregnant women with private health\r\ninsurance.Medicaid beneficiaries, overrepresented by low-income\r\ncommunities and people of color, experience higher rates of chronic illnesses,\r\nand are at higher risk of adverse health challenges. Senators Toomey and Brown\r\nhave introduced theSupporting Best Practices for Healthy Moms\r\nActto bolster the federal government's effort to assist states in\r\nreducing these rates.  Nearly 700 women died last year in the United States as a result\r\nof complications from pregnancy and childbirth. But we know that as many as\r\ntwo-thirds of these deaths may be preventable,said Senator Toomey.\r\nThis legislation will help improve health outcomes for pregnant women and\r\nmothers enrolled in Medicaid by increasing information and resources to better\r\nmonitor and treat at-risk pregnancies, as well as inform Congress on policies\r\nthat may assist states in reducing maternal deaths.  A mother's chance of surviving pregnancy shouldn't depend on her\r\nzip code or the type of insurance she has, said Brown.Too many\r\nmothers are dying. As the death rate continues to skyrocket, the disparities in\r\nmaternal mortality have increased along with it, further contributing to the\r\nBlack maternal health crisis - and that has to change. By meeting moms where\r\nthey are, listening to health experts, and establishing best practices, we can\r\nimprove health outcomes and keep more of our mothers and children healthy and\r\nsafe.  The following organizations have provided integral information and\r\nsupport for theSupporting Best Practices for Healthy Moms Act:  America's\r\nEssential Hospitals  American\r\nCollege of Obstetricians and Gynecologists  Einstein\r\nHealthcare Network  Good\r\nShepherd Rehabilitation Network  The\r\nHospital and Healthsystem Association of Pennsylvania (HAP)  The\r\nJoint Commission  Nemours\r\nChildren's Health System  Penn\r\nState Health  The\r\nPennsylvania Medical Society  Temple\r\nUniversity Health System  University\r\nHospitals Cleveland Medical Center  UPMC\r\nMagee-Womens Hospital TheSupporting Best Practices for Healthy Moms Actwould: 1.Create\r\na diverse, representative National Advisory Committee on Reducing Maternal\r\nDeaths to: a.Establish\r\nbest practices for all Medicaid-covered maternal care providers and clinicians\r\nto screen, monitor, and treat at-risk pregnancies; b.Generate\r\nculturally competent materials to help inform pregnant women of potential risks\r\nduring pregnancy, birth, and postpartum; and c.Identify\r\nbest practice for tracking maternal mortality and severe maternal morbidity\r\ntrends. 2.Report\r\nto Congress on potential payment disincentives or regulatory barriers to the\r\ntransfer of pregnant women between facilities before and during birth, as well\r\nas during the postpartum period.  A one-pager on this legislation is availablehere. You can also view the bill texthere.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://www.toomey.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/toomey-backed-fema-grant-nets-pittsburgh-nearly-10-million-for-mount-washington-landslide-mitigation", "Toomey-Backed FEMA Grant Nets Pittsburgh Nearly $10 Million for Mount Washington Landslide Mitigation", "2020-12-07", "2020", "2020-12", "Republican", "House", "PA", "Patrick Toomey", "T000461", "www.toomey.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Washington,\r\nD.C.\r\n U.S. Senator Pat Toomey (R-Pa.) applauded the decision by the Federal\r\nEmergency Management Agency (FEMA) to award nearly $10 million to the City of\r\nPittsburgh to help protect against landslides at Mount Washington.   Senator\r\nToomey said:   Just\r\nabout every motorist from in and around Pittsburgh has experienced the misery\r\nof a Mount Washington road closure. These funds will help to stabilize the\r\nhillside and keep traffic flowing between Mount Washington, the South Side, and\r\nDuquesne Heights. I was happy to support the City of Pittsburgh's application\r\nfor this grant and I thank FEMA for approving it.  The\r\nCity of Pittsburgh's Resilient Infrastructure: Mount Washington Mitigation Plan\r\nis centered around three critical and vulnerable hillsides on Mount Washington:\r\nGrandview Avenue, William Street, and Greenleaf Street. The cost of the entire\r\nproject is $13,331,000. This FEMA grant will cover 75 percent of the cost or\r\n$9,998,250.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://boyle.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/boyle-statement-support-marijuana-opportunity-reinvestment-and", "BOYLE STATEMENT IN SUPPORT OF THE MARIJUANA OPPORTUNITY REINVESTMENT AND EXPUNGEMENT (MORE) ACT OF 2020", "2020-12-04", "2020", "2020-12", "Democrat", "House", "PA", "Brendan F. Boyle", "B001296", "boyle.house.gov", "boyle", "https://boyle.house.gov/media-center/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON \u2013 Congressman Brendan F. Boyle (PA-02) released the following statement after House passage of the Marijuana Opportunity Reinvestment and Expungement (MORE) Act of 2020. Congressman Boyle is a co-sponsor of the MORE Act, a bipartisan bill that decriminalizes marijuana at the federal level, while enabling states to set their own regulatory policies without threat of federal intervention.\n\n\"With a total of 47 states now having reformed their laws pertaining to marijuana use in one way or another, it is now time for Congress to take action at the federal level,\" Boyle said. This legislation will right the scales for people who have been imprisoned at a disproportionate rate for marijuana-related offenses; clear the way for patients to more readily obtain medical cannabis treatments; and ensure that the cannabis market will be an equal-opportunity industry moving forward.\"\n\nThe MORE Act takes long-overdue steps to address the devastating injustices of the criminalization of marijuana and the impact it has had on communities of color. The MORE Act would make three important changes to federal law:\n\nprovide for the expungement of Federal marijuana convictions and arrests\n\nremove marijuana, or cannabis, from the list of federally controlled substances\n\nauthorize the provision of resources, funded by an excise tax on marijuana, to address the needs of communities that have been seriously impacted by the War on Drugs, including increasing the participation of communities of color in the burgeoning cannabis market", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-06-28T00:42:23Z"], ["https://evans.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/evans-house-passes-landmark-cannabis-bill-more-act", "Evans: House Passes Landmark Cannabis Bill, the MORE Act", "2020-12-04", "2020", "2020-12", "Democrat", "House", "PA", "Dwight Evans", "E000296", "evans.house.gov", "evans", "https://evans.house.gov/media/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON (Dec. 4, 2020) \u2013 Congressman Dwight Evans (PA-03) welcomed today's House passage of a landmark cannabis bill, the Marijuana Opportunity Reinvestment and Expungement (MORE) Act. The bill includes Evans' Homegrown Act, which would help small businesses and people of color share in the booming cannabis industry.\n\n\"The MORE Act is a jobs bill and a criminal justice reform bill,\" Evans said. \"And with the pandemic-fueled recession, America needs jobs! Legal cannabis sales totaled $9.5 billion in 2017 and are projected to reach $23 billion by 2022. Let's get the federal government out of the way by decriminalizing cannabis at the federal level.\"\n\nEvans noted that four more states voted last month to outright legalize adult-use cannabis, bringing the total to 15 states, plus Washington, D.C., where legalization is in effect or is pending, as it is in New Jersey. To date, Pennsylvania has only legalized medical marijuana, in 2016. The federal government hasn't decriminalized cannabis or even allowed medical use, even though the laws of 36 states and Washington, D.C. allow medical use. The most recent Pew Research Center poll on the subject, released at the end of 2019, showed 67 percent support for marijuana legalization, up 5 percent from the year before.\n\n\"The federal government needs to catch up, and so does Pennsylvania. The MORE Act would represent real reform at the federal level,\" Evans said. \"The federal government criminalized marijuana in 1937 and has passed no significant reforms in the 83 years since. That's ridiculous. The MORE Act's decriminalization is a good place to start on reform.\"\n\nAccording to the ACLU, enforcing cannabis prohibition laws costs taxpayers about $3.6 billion a year. The continued enforcement of these laws results in over 600,000 arrests a year. This has a disproportionately impact on people of color, who are almost four times more likely to be arrested for cannabis possession than their white counterparts, despite equal rates of use across populations.\n\nEvans said the MORE Act would make several important reforms:\n\nRemove marijuana, or cannabis, from the list of federally controlled substances;\n\nAuthorize the provision of resources, funded by an excise tax on marijuana, to address the needs of communities that have been seriously impacted by the War on Drugs, including increasing the participation of communities of color in the booming cannabis market; and\n\nProvide for the expungement of federal marijuana convictions and arrests.\n\nThe MORE Act would also establish an Opportunity Trust Fund to provide funding for:\n\nServices to individuals, including job training, reentry services and substance use disorder services;\n\nLoans to assist small businesses that are owned and controlled by socially and economically disadvantaged individuals; and\n\nPrograms that minimize barriers to marijuana licensing and employment for individuals adversely impacted by the War on Drugs, including in states like Pennsylvania that currently have only legalized medical marijuana. This provision is because of the inclusion of Evans' Homegrown Act.\n\n\"The MORE Act would represent a major change once we can get it enacted into law, and I'm pleased the House has taken this important, bipartisan step that shows the bill can pass. The two-thirds of Americans who want these reforms should let their senators know.\n\n\"State laws like Pennsylvania's prohibition also need to be changed \u2013 hopefully legalization next door in New Jersey will show Harrisburg that the days of \u2018reefer madness' need to end. Jobs and people's ability to live free of unnecessary criminal records are at stake.\"\n\nEvans represents Pennsylvania's 3rd Congressional District, which includes Northwest and West Philadelphia and parts of North, South, Southwest and Center City Philadelphia.\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-06-28T00:42:23Z"], ["https://johnjoyce.house.gov/media/press-releases/dr-joyce-rejects-democrats-push-legalize-marijuana-urges-action-covid-19", "Dr. Joyce Rejects Democrats? Push to Legalize Marijuana, Urges Action on COVID-19 Relief", "2020-12-04", "2020", "2020-12", "Republican", "House", "PA", "John Joyce", "J000302", "johnjoyce.house.gov", "johnjoyce", "https://johnjoyce.house.gov/media/press-releases", "scraper", "Washington, DC Congressman John Joyce, M.D. (PA-13) today released the following statement after voting NO on Democrats' legislation to legalize marijuana.\n\n\"As American communities face an alarming surge of drug abuse and addiction during the COVID-19 pandemic, it is reprehensible that Speaker Pelosi and House Democrats are pushing to legalize marijuana. Their out-of-touch legislative agenda not only demonstrates a blatant disregard for those struggling with the ramifications of the drug crisis, but it also is detracting from efforts to pass desperately-needed relief for families, workers, farmers, and small businesses enduring unprecedented challenges during this pandemic. Rather than waste time on partisan bills that have absolutely zero chance of becoming law, I implore Speaker Pelosi to allow the House of Representatives to refocus our efforts on delivering targeted aid for hardworking Americans.\"\n\nThe Marijuana Opportunity Reinvestment and Expungement (MORE) Act of 2019, H.R. 3884, would decriminalize marijuana and remove the drug from the list of scheduled substances under the Controlled Substances Act, as well as eliminate criminal penalties for an individual who manufactures, distributes, or possesses marijuana.\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-06-28T00:42:23Z"], ["https://www.casey.senate.gov/news/releases/caseys-bipartisan-rosie-the-riveter-congressional-gold-medal-act-signed-into-law", "Caseys Bipartisan Rosie the Riveter Congressional Gold Medal Act Signed Into Law", "2020-12-04", "2020", "2020-12", "Democrat", "House", "PA", "Bob Casey", "C001070", "www.casey.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", null, 0, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://houlahan.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=1910", "RELEASE: Representative Houlahan Responds To Trump Administration\u2019s Use Of Federal Troops Without ID By Securing Bipartisan Legislation To Require Clear and Recognizable Identification On Federal Authorities", "2020-12-03", "2020", "2020-12", "Democrat", "House", "PA", "Chrissy Houlahan", "H001085", "houlahan.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "WASHINGTON  Today, Representative Chrissy Houlahan (D-PA)announced that the National Defense Authorization Act, the annual defense bill, includes her historic, bipartisan legislation to require greater transparency when Federal authorities are deployed in crisis situations. This bill, which was adopted unanimously to the House bill in June requires any law enforcement official deployed under the Insurrection Act to be clearly identified by name and agency. Recognizing the value in this bipartisan proposal, the final NDAA includes a requirement that any Federal law enforcement or military personnel who provides support to Federal authorities in response to a civil disturbance visibly display their agency and a unique identifier, like their name. Like many Americans, I was disturbed to see unidentified, uniformed personnel on our streets during protests this summer,said Houlahan.This is a huge victory for transparency and public safety, ensuring that civilians, law enforcement and military alike can identify who is who in a crisis situation. I'm proud to have led this effort in the House and thank the leadership of the Armed Services Committees for their work to ensure this important provision was included in the final bill. Representative Houlahan discussed these actions by the President onMSNBCback in June. Full videohere. Houlahan is an Air Force veteran, an engineer, a serial entrepreneur, an educator, and a nonprofit leader. She's in her first term representing Pennsylvania's 6th Congressional District, which encompasses Chester County and southern Berks County. She serves on the House Armed Services Committee, the House Foreign Affairs Committee, and the House Small Business Committee.\r\n\r\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://johnjoyce.house.gov/media/press-releases/dr-joyce-urges-ag-barr-take-action-election-fraud-investigation", "Dr. Joyce Urges AG Barr to Take Action in Election Fraud Investigation", "2020-12-02", "2020", "2020-12", "Republican", "House", "PA", "John Joyce", "J000302", "johnjoyce.house.gov", "johnjoyce", "https://johnjoyce.house.gov/media/press-releases", "scraper", "Washington, DC Congressman John Joyce, M.D. (PA-13) joined Congressman Michael Cloud (TX-27) and 35 fellow Members of Congress in urging U.S. Attorney General Bill Barr to take \"bold and courageous action\" to investigate claims of fraud and irregularities in the election.\n\n\"In Pennsylvania and around the country, we must ensure that this election is free, fair, safe, secure, legitimate and transparent,\" said Dr. Joyce. \"U.S. Attorney General Barr and the Department of Justice must take courageous action to safeguard the integrity of the election and ensure that every American's legally-cast ballot is counted once. For the sake of our nation, we must work together across the federal, state, and local levels to ensure that the results of this election are legitimate and fair.\"\n\nIn their letter, the Members of Congress expressed concerns over alleged irregularities and potential voter fraud, as well as a shocking lack of action from the Justice Department following Attorney General Barr's November 9 directive to authorize federal prosecutors to pursue substantial allegations of fraud.\n\n\"We appreciate an Attorney General who reveres the Constitution, who understands the rule of law and is able to skillfully and forcefully convey these ideals. What the American people need in this moment, however, is bold and courageous action,\" they wrote. \"Unfortunately, too often the American people have seen many of our most powerful institutions corrupted against the People. In the case of alleged election improprieties, justice delayed truly would be justice denied. The American people deserve, and justice demands, action now.\"\n\nRead the full letter below:\n\nDecember 1, 2020\n\nThe Honorable William Barr\n\nAttorney General\n\nU.S. Department of Justice\n\n950 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW\n\nWashington, D.C. 20530\n\nDear Attorney General Barr,\n\nOn November 6, you received a letter signed by 39 Members of Congress asking you to use the tools at your disposal to secure the integrity of the 2020 election. We appreciated the news on November 9, that you had authorized federal prosecutors to pursue substantial allegations of fraud.\n\nWe are writing today because we are concerned about the shocking lack of action from the Justice Department following your directive. There are a number of anomalies, statistical improbabilities and accusations of fraud that bring the election results in several states into question. Affidavits of irregularities in the voting and tabulation processes have been sworn in a number of jurisdictions. Threats of retribution by leftist groups with a history of violence have been made against election officials and attorneys for President Trump. And a number of last-minute changes in balloting and counting requirements raise questions about the overall integrity of federal elections.\n\nWith any of the concerns raised about the integrity of ballots cast, it is critical to ensure that we have all the facts and evidence necessary to review. More than enough evidence has been presented to warrant the issuing of subpoenas, search warrants and the impounding of ballot materials and election devices for forensic analysis. Notably, in Georgia where officials will be preparing for the Senate runoff election, it is important that election materials, including voting machines, be preserved for analysis. If any of this investigative activity is currently taking place at any level of the Justice Department, it has not been made known to the American people.\n\nThere is no doubt that it is the duty of the Justice Department to ensure that the right to vote is sacred. There is also no doubt that the Justice Department must investigate violence or threats of violence against election officials and any citizens participating in the election process.\n\nThe post-Election Day delay and inaction is particularly suspect after the long-awaited release of the Durham report remains tragically behind schedule. For three years, the American people watched as our taxpayer funded Justice department was weaponized against their duly elected President. They have waited with high hopes that those who violated the law in the prosecution of the Russian collusion hoax would be held accountable.\n\nIn your speech at Hillsdale College Constitution Day Event on Wednesday, September 16, you eloquently noted that \"The great guarantees of the Bill of Rights... are critical safeguards of liberty. But as President Reagan used to remind people, the Soviet Union had a constitution too, and it even included some lofty-sounding rights. Ultimately, however, those promises were just empty words, because there was no rule of law to enforce them.\"\n\nWe appreciate an Attorney General who reveres the Constitution, who understands the rule of law and is able to skillfully and forcefully convey these ideals. What the American people need in this moment, however, is bold and courageous action.\n\nUnfortunately, too often the American people have seen many of our most powerful institutions corrupted against the People. In the case of alleged election improprieties, justice delayed truly would be justice denied. The American people deserve, and justice demands, action now.\n\nThe full text of the letter and list of signers is available here.\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-06-28T00:42:23Z"], ["https://thompson.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/thompson-elected-republican-leader-house-agriculture-committee", "Thompson Elected Republican Leader of the House Agriculture Committee", "2020-12-02", "2020", "2020-12", "Republican", "House", "PA", "Glenn Thompson", "T000467", "thompson.house.gov", "thompson", "https://thompson.house.gov/media-center/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON, DC \u2014 Today, Congressman Glenn 'GT' Thompson was elected by the Republican Steering Committee to serve as Republican Leader of the House Agriculture Committee in the 117th Congress. At the conclusion of the vote, Congressman Thompson issued the following statement:\n\n\"As a lifelong resident of a small town in rural Central Pennsylvania and the descendant of a long line of dairy farmers, I am incredibly humbled to have been elected by my Republican colleagues to be their leader on the House Agriculture Committee in the 117th Congress,\" said Rep. Thompson. \"The challenges ahead of us are considerable, but we will continue to put farm families first and ensure our country has the most safe and affordable food supply chain on the planet.\"", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-06-28T00:42:23Z"], ["https://meuser.house.gov/media/press-releases/meuser-asks-clarification-how-pennsylvania-utilizing-federal-funding-covid-19", "MEUSER ASKS FOR CLARIFICATION ON HOW PENNSYLVANIA IS UTILIZING FEDERAL FUNDING FOR COVID-19 TESTING", "2020-12-01", "2020", "2020-12", "Republican", "House", "PA", "Daniel Meuser", "M001204", "meuser.house.gov", "meuser", "https://meuser.house.gov/media/press-releases", "scraper", "POTTSVILLE, Pa. \u2013 Yesterday, Congressman Dan Meuser sent a letter to Governor Tom Wolf and Secretary of Health Rachel Levine, asking whether the Commonwealth is utilizing all available federal resources to expand testing capacity and help our healthcare system mitigate the spread of COVID-19:\n\n\"The current increase in COVID-19 cases across Pennsylvania is challenging our healthcare system. In particular, hospitals in my district have expressed significant need for increased testing capacity. I am writing to inquire whether the Commonwealth is utilizing all available federal resources to expand testing capacity and help our healthcare system mitigate the spread of COVID-19.\n\n\"The U.S. Department of Health & Human Services (HHS) is providing both tests and funding to implement state testing plans directly to states and local jurisdictions. I would like to know how the Commonwealth is utilizing these resources to expand testing in Pennsylvania. Specifically, I am aware that HHS is distributing shipments of approximately 250,000 Abbott BinaxNOW rapid tests per week to the Commonwealth. I also understand that Pennsylvania and Philadelphia have access to federal funds to implement their testing plans but have utilized little of this funding to date.\n\n\"I am concerned that neither Pennsylvania nor Philadelphia is maximizing its use of federal funding made available in April through the Paycheck Protection Program & Health Care Enhancement Act. It is my understanding that, as of November 20, 2020, the Commonwealth has utilized approximately $2.4 million of its total $301,036,686 allocation, or 0.08%. Similarly, Philadelphia has spent $1,500 of its allotted $92,417,870. It is critical these funds be used now to augment our testing capabilities during this surge in cases and as many healthcare workers are tested two times per week to limit spread.\n\n\"Congress approved this funding to enable states and local jurisdictions to improve testing through state plans and I am aware that the Pennsylvania Department of Health has developed a plan to utilize these funds in their entirety. There are several FDA-approved options for COVID-19 testing and a critical need among healthcare providers for these supplies in Pennsylvania. If there are challenges in procuring or distributing testing supplies, please let my office know how we can help accelerate the process to provide these resources without delay.\n\n\"I appreciate your timely response to my inquiry and your swift action to utilize these federal resources to expand testing capabilities in Pennsylvania.\"\n\nTo read the full letter, click HERE.\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-06-28T00:42:23Z"], ["https://www.toomey.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/12/01/2020/toomey-intended-purpose-of-cares-act-lending-facilities-has-been-achieved", "Toomey: Intended Purpose of CARES Act Lending Facilities Has Been Achieved", "2020-12-01", "2020", "2020-12", "Republican", "House", "PA", "Patrick Toomey", "T000461", "www.toomey.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Washington, D.C.  At today's Senate Banking\r\nCommittee hearing, U.S. Senator Pat Toomey (R-Pa.) applauded Treasury Secretary\r\nSteven Mnuchin and Federal Reserve Chairman Jerome Powell for shutting down the\r\nremarkably successful CARES Act's temporary emergency lending facilities\r\nby year-end, as Congress and the law requires.  During the hearing, Senator Toomey said:  I want to applaud Secretary\r\nMnuchin for closing the 13(3) facilities by year-end, exactly as the law\r\nrequires, and as Congress clearly intended. I want to thank Chairman Powell for\r\nreturning the unused CARES funds back to the treasury.   The fact is Congress\r\nentrusted both of you with some extremely powerful, unprecedented emergency,\r\nand yet temporary, tools. And I commend you for working together to deploy\r\nthose tools for their intended purposes, and then putting them away now that\r\nthat specific purpose has been achieved.   I also think it's important to underscore\r\nhow remarkably successful these facilities were in achieving that intended\r\npurpose of stabilizing credit markets and restoring the flow of private credit.\r\nIn fact, it worked better than, I think, most of us even thought possible. Markets\r\ndidn't just improve, they didn't just restore liquidity, but we reached record\r\nvolumes of debt issuance, we did so at low spreads, low yields, affordable\r\ninterest rates, regional banks extended credit to their customers, and\r\naccording to business surveys, unmet demand for credit among credit-worthy\r\nborrowers is almost non-existent.   So, let's be clear. These\r\nfacilities were designed for a very specific purpose, they achieved that\r\npurpose more successfully than we could have reasonably hoped, and we should\r\nnot use them to morph into some other purpose, like as a supplement and or\r\ncompliment to fiscal policy. You can watch Senator Toomey's full remarks here.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://www.toomey.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/congressional-oversight-commission-publishes-seventh-report", "Congressional Oversight Commission Publishes Seventh Report", "2020-12-01", "2020", "2020-12", "Republican", "House", "PA", "Patrick Toomey", "T000461", "www.toomey.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "The Congressional Oversight Commission is a\r\nfive-person panel that was established by the CARES Act. The Commission is\r\nfocused specifically on the economic stabilization efforts of the Treasury\r\nDepartment and the Federal Reserve. The members of the commission are Senator\r\nPat Toomey (R-Pa.), Congresswoman Donna Shalala (D-Fla.), Congressman French\r\nHill (R-Ark.), and Bharat Ramamurti. The Commission's chairperson has not been\r\nappointed yet.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://boyle.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/boyle-introduces-bill-ban-rubber-bullets", "Boyle Introduces Bill to Ban Rubber Bullets", "2020-11-27", "2020", "2020-11", "Democrat", "House", "PA", "Brendan F. Boyle", "B001296", "boyle.house.gov", "boyle", "https://boyle.house.gov/media-center/press-releases", "scraper", "November 27, 2020\n\nWASHINGTON, D.C. \u2013 Today, Congressman Brendan Boyle (PA-02) introduced legislation to prevent the use of non-lethal (rubber or plastic) bullets in crowd control situations. Congressman Boyle's legislation would also incentivize individual states to enact similar public safety measures regarding non-lethal bullets. As a 2017 study from the National Institutes of Health shows, these bullets can most definitely be lethal: Out of 1,984 people shot by non-lethal bullets between 1990 and 2017, 53 of them died from their injuries.\n\n\"Rubber bullets must be treated like any other lethal ammunition,\" said Congressman Boyle. \"The right to protest, which is guaranteed under the First Amendment of the Constitution, is essential to a free and fair democracy. Both rubber bullets and plastic bullets were invented by British forces for crowd control in the North of Ireland. This is not the example law enforcement should be following in any official policy or procedures involving crowd control. In addition, numerous human rights organizations have demanded a ban on rubber bullets as a result of the numerous deaths they have caused.\"\n\nThis legislation would prevent federal law enforcement officers from using rubber bullets in crowd control situations. It would also create incentives for states to create similar bans and would prohibit law enforcement from firing into crowd-control situations using non-lethal bullets like:\n\n\u2022 Rubber bullets\n\n\u2022 Plastic bullets\n\n\u2022 Bullets with metal core\n\n\u2022 Bullets made with hardened foam\n\n\u2022 Beanbag bullets\n\n\u2022 Sponge bullets\n\nCongressman Boyle's legislation would also require law enforcement to document when they use non-lethal bullets. Nothing in this act should be construed as permitting or encouraging law enforcement to use any other type of bullet in crowd control situations\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-06-28T00:39:51Z"], ["https://johnjoyce.house.gov/media/press-releases/dr-joyce-launches-new-website-serve-pennsylvanians", "Dr. Joyce Launches New Website to Serve Pennsylvanians", "2020-11-25", "2020", "2020-11", "Republican", "House", "PA", "John Joyce", "J000302", "johnjoyce.house.gov", "johnjoyce", "https://johnjoyce.house.gov/media/press-releases", "scraper", "Altoona, PA Congressman John Joyce, M.D. (PA-13) today unveiled a new website to better serve the people of Pennsylvania's 13th Congressional District.\n\n\"It is my privilege to serve the people of Pennsylvania's 13th Congressional District, and my updated website will make resources and support more accessible,\" said Dr. Joyce. \"Website visitors easily can find information on constituent services, navigate to legislative updates, and share their comments and questions directly with me. Communicating with Pennsylvanians is a key part of my job, and I hope that JohnJoyce.House.gov will be a helpful resource for all of us.\"\n\nOn the website, constituents can find important information and connect with Dr. Joyce.\n\nConstituent Services: Find details on assistance with federal agencies, service academy nominations, help with Capitol tours, and more.\n\nLegislative Updates: Find updates on Dr. Joyce's legislation and the latest news from Washington.\n\nContact Dr. Joyce: Share your comments, concerns, and questions with Dr. Joyce.\n\nTo keep in touch with Dr. Joyce, Pennsylvanians also can subscribe to his weekly e-newsletter updates and connect with him on Facebook and Twitter.\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-06-28T00:39:51Z"], ["https://www.casey.senate.gov/news/releases/casey-statement-on-pa-reaching-10000-covid-19-deaths", "Casey Statement on PA Reaching 10,000 COVID-19 Deaths", "2020-11-25", "2020", "2020-11", "Democrat", "House", "PA", "Bob Casey", "C001070", "www.casey.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", null, 0, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://www.toomey.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/toomey-and-republican-colleagues-on-senate-banking-committee-applaud-mnuchin-and-powell-for-shutting-down-temporary-emergency-lending-facilities-by-year-end", "Toomey and Republican Colleagues on Senate Banking Committee Applaud Mnuchin and Powell for Shutting Down Temporary Emergency Lending Facilities by Year-End", "2020-11-25", "2020", "2020-11", "Republican", "House", "PA", "Patrick Toomey", "T000461", "www.toomey.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Allentown,\r\nPa.\r\n U.S. Senator Pat Toomey (R-Pa.), Senate Banking Committee Chairman\r\nMike Crapo (R-Idaho), and the Republican members of the Senate Banking\r\nCommittee are applauding Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin and Federal Reserve\r\nChairman Jerome Powell for shutting down the CARES Act's temporary emergency\r\nlending facilities by year-end, as Congress intended and the law requires. In\r\na letter to Secretary Mnuchin and Chairman Powell, the lawmakers said: As\r\nmembers of the Senate Banking Committee, we write to you regarding the\r\ntemporary emergency lending facilities funded and authorized by the CARES Act\r\n(P.L. 116-136). These facilities, which were established in response to the\r\nunprecedented market turmoil caused by the COVID-19 pandemic earlier this year,\r\nhave been extremely successful in achieving their intended purpose of\r\nstabilizing credit markets so businesses, states, and municipalities could\r\naccess private capital. Congress's intent was clear: these facilities were to\r\nbe temporary, to provide liquidity, and to cease operations no later than the\r\nend of 2020. With liquidity restored, we strongly support Treasury Secretary\r\nMnuchin's decision to close these facilities by year-end, as Congress intended\r\nand the law requires, and the Federal Reserve's decision to return unused CARES\r\nAct funds to Treasury.  With\r\nthe CARES Act, Congress demonstrated a willingness to act swiftly to address\r\nthe financial fallout from the pandemic. If a critical need arises again in the\r\nfuture for these facilities, Congress can once again take action to revive\r\nthem. In\r\naddition to Senator Toomey and Chairman Crapo, the letter was also signed by\r\nevery other Republican member of the Senate Banking Committee: Senators Tom\r\nCotton (R-Ark.), Kevin Cramer (R-N.D.), Martha McSally (R-Ariz.), Jerry Moran\r\n(R-Kan.), David Perdue (R-Ga.), Mike Rounds (R-S.D.), Ben Sasse (R-Neb.), Tim\r\nScott (R-S.C.), Richard Shelby (R-Ala.), and Thom Tillis (R-N.C.). You may read the letter here.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://perry.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=402513", "Perry Joins Bipartisan Letter Urging NPRC to Resume Military Personnel Records Processing", "2020-11-24", "2020", "2020-11", "Republican", "House", "PA", "Scott Perry", "P000605", "perry.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "U.S. Representative Scott Perry (PA-10) joined Representatives Van Taylor (TX-03), Jimmy Panetta (CA-20), and 231 bipartisan Members of Congress to urge the National Personnel Records Center (NPRC) to resume processing military personnel, health and medical records requests during the COVID-19 pandemic. On March 23, 2020, the NPRC stopped processing requests for military personnel records except for a limited number of requests related to medical emergencies and burials. While the health and safety of NPRC staff is paramount, the Agency's decision to halt operations resulted in a growing backlog of unprocessed requests and delays in Veteran benefits from the VA and Department of Defense. The letter urges NPRC Director Scott Levins to implement new policies and procedures that can both protect NPRC's workforce and ensure our Nation's Veterans are getting the records they need and deserve in a timely fashion. Our Nation is indebted to the men and women who selflessly serve(d) and protect(ed) our Nation, and we must ensure the care and benefits they earned. COVID-19 has impacted everyone, but our Veterans shouldn'thave to wait on their benefits. Veterans in my district are impacted by the NPRC's delay, and my office is working tirelessly to advocate for them and ensure that they receive their records in a timely manner. I thank Reps. Taylor and Panetta for their leadership on this issue, and I'm proud to join a large, bipartisan group of colleagues to advocate for the care of our Veterans, said Rep. Perry. The full text of the letter can be found by clicking here.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://thompson.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/reps-thompson-peterson-and-comer-push-leadership-delay-ligado-0", "Reps. Thompson, Peterson, and Comer Push Leadership to Delay Ligado Application", "2020-11-24", "2020", "2020-11", "Republican", "House", "PA", "Glenn Thompson", "T000467", "thompson.house.gov", "thompson", "https://thompson.house.gov/media-center/press-releases", "scraper", "HOWARD, PA \u2014 Today, U.S. Representatives Glenn \u2018GT' Thompson (R-PA), Collin Peterson (D-MN), and James Comer (R-KY) sent a letter to House Leadership and the Appropriations Committee requesting language delaying implementation of the April 2020 Federal Communications Commission (FCC) Order granting Ligado's application to deploy a terrestrial nationwide network to provide 5G services.\n\nIn July, the Congressmen expressed serious concerns surrounding the FCC's decision, questioning the reliability of GPS for millions of Americans, especially the farmers and ranchers who rely on this technology each and every day for precision agriculture.\n\n\"Investments in 5G and GPS are critically important to the American economy, especially the agriculture industry,\" said Rep. Thompson. \"However, the Ligado decision will have negative impacts on GPS and satellite communications, hindering reliability and slowing progress on current and future innovation of this technology. I urge my colleagues in Leadership and on the Appropriations Committee to delay this harmful implementation.\"\n\n\"There is no room for error when discussing safety and reliability of service for GPS signals. Aviation, agriculture, and other vital industries rely on consistent signal quality,\" said Rep. Peterson. \"Safety and national security issues remain unresolved under the current order, which is why it is vital that we delay Ligado's 5G deployment.\"\n\n\"Our farmers are vitally important to providing the food supply for America and the world, and a reliable GPS network is critical to precision agriculture,\" said Rep. Comer. \"I understand the importance of improving telecommunications operations, especially for advancing rural economies. But critical tools like GPS technology must not be disrupted, as our farmers are essential workers who must have the tools they need to do their jobs. It is our responsibility as policymakers to fight to ensure that federal agency decisions do not negatively impact Americans' livelihoods. It is my hope that this language to delay implementation of the Ligado order will be addressed in a year-end appropriations package.\"\n\n\"The FCC's ill-advised decision on the Ligado matter risks serious negative impacts to the communication of real-time environmental data from satellites that are a primary tool by the American Weather Enterprise in the creation and timely dissemination of accurate weather forecasts and severe weather warnings,\" said Jonathan Porter, Vice-President and General Manager, AccuWeather, Inc. \"Any degradation in these communications will endanger critical economic and societal benefits for weather-sensitive businesses from family farms to large corporations and reduce the ability for people to stay safe during severe weather.\"\n\n\"GPS is critical to precision agriculture applications that deliver centimeter level accuracy that enables farmers to maximize crop yields while lowering costs and environmental impact,\" said Dale Leibach, spokesperson for the Keep GPS Working Coalition. \"The FCC's decision represents a sweeping governmental and regulatory assault on farmers who are already facing unprecedented challenges including severe weather, low commodity prices, and supply chain vulnerability as a result of COVID-19. The order must be stopped, and Congressman Thompson and Chairman Peterson have been relentless champions for farmers in the effort to reverse the FCC's decision.\"\n\n\"GPS technology is a key component to precision agriculture, a sustainable practice that benefits both farmers and the environment,\" said Dennis Slater, President of the Association of Equipment Manufacturers. \"The recent Ligado decision will hinder these hardworking Americans from being able to properly utilize the tractors, combines, harvesters, and other modernized equipment we manufacture. We urge House leadership to include language to delay Ligado implementation. Farmers are already struggling due to the pandemic, natural disasters, and other factors. Let's not add to their economic pain.\"\n\n\"Protecting the public interest and our economic security requires defending and protecting critical GPS, satellite communications services, aviation navigation equipment and essential weather apparatus. But Ligado's reckless venture puts that at risk,\" said Jordan Hassin, Director, Corporate Communications, Public Relations, and Industry Affairs for Iridium Communications. \"As more users of services in the L Band discover the threat Ligado presents to their livelihoods, more of our policymakers are recognizing that they need to demand this threat be addressed either in the NDAA or in an end of year spending package. This is not just a defense issue. We are grateful to the leaders of the Agriculture Committee for adding their voices to the call for a change to the FCC's misguided and destructive decision.\"", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-06-28T00:39:51Z"], ["https://houlahan.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=1898", "Houlahan Pushes Forward In Fight Against Opioid Epidemic", "2020-11-23", "2020", "2020-11", "Democrat", "House", "PA", "Chrissy Houlahan", "H001085", "houlahan.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Houlahan Pushes Forward In Fight Against Opioid Epidemic\r\n\r\nWASHINGTON  Representative Chrissy Houlahan (D-PA)helped pass two crucial pieces of legislation this week H.R. 7990, the FENTANYL Results Act andH.R. 2466, the State Opioid Response Grant Authorization Act of 2020  which will work towards her goal of ending the opioid epidemic in Pennsylvania and across the country. Unfortunately, the opioid crisis has intensified during the COVID-19 pandemic, with many states reporting increases in overdoses and opioid-related deaths.  \r\n\r\nAs our community faces a historic and unprecedented public health and economic crisis, we must remember that we are still in the midst of battling an opioid epidemic that has touched far too many lives and families in our community,said Houlahan.These bipartisan bills mark an important step towards addressing this crisis and meeting the needs of affected Pennsylvanians. I will continue to work in Congress and with our health care experts to support those who are suffering from substance abuse. We must collectively work to end this epidemic.\r\n\r\nAt a time when COVID-19 has caused so many things to be paused, it is critical that we keep sight on ending the opioid epidemic,said Bonnie Triebig, MS, Clinical Director, Berks Counseling Center. Legislation, such as H.R. 7990 and H.R. 2466, is an important step in accomplishing that goal. Those of us on the front lines of the opioid epidemic know that we must continue to fight, even as COVID-19 pulls focus and adds an added layer of barriers to accessing care and maintaining the safety of our clients and staff. We continue to be grateful to US Representative Chrissy Houlahan for her efforts and dedication to this important issue.\r\n\r\nIn May of 2019, Representative Houlahan and Pennsylvania Attorney General Josh Shapiro met with health care providers and community leaders on the front lines of the opioid epidemic in Reading, PA where she announced her support for H.R. 2466.  \r\n\r\nThe opioid, heroin, and fentanyl epidemic claims the lives of twelve Pennsylvanians every day and our communities are struggling to address this important health crisis,said Shapiro.These bills provide important resources in Pennsylvania and across the country to address the opioid epidemic by helping shut down the sources of these drugs and making it possible for individuals struggling with addiction to get the help that they need. I'm thankful for the work of Representative Houlahan and the bipartisan coalition in the House for getting critical legislation passed.\r\n\r\nAbout the legislation:  \r\n\r\nThe FENTANYL Results Act helps to combat the international trafficking of fentanyl, similar synthetic drugs, and new psychoactive substances, including by increasing collaboration with the international community via shared anti-trafficking initiatives and capacity building measures.  \r\n\r\nThe State Opioid Response Grant Authorization Act of 2020 authorizes the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) State Opioid Response Grants program to align with the grant authority provided through the 21st Century Cures Act. The grant program is authorized through FY 2026.  \r\n\r\nHoulahan is an Air Force veteran, an engineer, a serial entrepreneur, an educator, and a nonprofit leader. She's in her first term representing Pennsylvania's 6th Congressional District, which encompasses Chester County and southern Berks County. She serves on the House Armed Services Committee, the House Foreign Affairs Committee, and the House Small Business Committee.\r\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"]], "truncated": false, "filtered_table_rows_count": 2800, "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": "2020"}}, "facet_results": {"party": {"name": "party", "type": "column", "hideable": false, "toggle_url": "/press/releases.json?chamber=House&state=PA&year=2020", "results": [{"value": "Republican", "label": "Republican", "count": 1925, "toggle_url": "http://dpwillis-congress-press-search.hf.space/press/releases.json?chamber=House&state=PA&year=2020&party=Republican", "selected": false}, {"value": "Democrat", "label": "Democrat", "count": 875, "toggle_url": "http://dpwillis-congress-press-search.hf.space/press/releases.json?chamber=House&state=PA&year=2020&party=Democrat", "selected": false}], "truncated": false}, "chamber": {"name": "chamber", "type": "column", "hideable": false, "toggle_url": "/press/releases.json?chamber=House&state=PA&year=2020", "results": [{"value": "House", "label": "House", "count": 2800, "toggle_url": "http://dpwillis-congress-press-search.hf.space/press/releases.json?state=PA&year=2020", "selected": true}], "truncated": false}, "state": {"name": "state", "type": "column", "hideable": false, "toggle_url": "/press/releases.json?chamber=House&state=PA&year=2020", "results": [{"value": "PA", "label": "PA", "count": 2800, "toggle_url": "http://dpwillis-congress-press-search.hf.space/press/releases.json?chamber=House&year=2020", "selected": true}], "truncated": false}, "year": {"name": "year", "type": "column", "hideable": false, "toggle_url": "/press/releases.json?chamber=House&state=PA&year=2020", "results": [{"value": "2020", "label": "2020", "count": 2800, "toggle_url": "http://dpwillis-congress-press-search.hf.space/press/releases.json?chamber=House&state=PA", "selected": true}], "truncated": false}}, "suggested_facets": [], "next": "2020-11-23,https~3A~2F~2Fhoulahan~2Ehouse~2Egov~2Fnews~2Fdocumentsingle~2Easpx~3FDocumentID~3D1898", "next_url": "http://dpwillis-congress-press-search.hf.space/press/releases.json?chamber=House&state=PA&year=2020&_next=2020-11-23%2Chttps~3A~2F~2Fhoulahan~2Ehouse~2Egov~2Fnews~2Fdocumentsingle~2Easpx~3FDocumentID~3D1898&_sort_desc=date", "private": false, "allow_execute_sql": true, "query_ms": 598.0894309468567, "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"}