{"database": "press", "table": "releases", "is_view": false, "human_description_en": "where chamber = \"House\", state = \"WA\" and year = 2024 sorted by date descending", "rows": [["https://adamsmith.house.gov/news/press-releases/rep-smith-rep-jayapal-and-senator-murray-call-us-led-investigation-death", "Rep. Smith, Rep. Jayapal, and Senator Murray Call for U.S. Led Investigation Into the Death of Ay\u015fenur Ezgi Eygi", "2024-12-20", "2024", "2024-12", "Democrat", "House", "WA", "Adam Smith", "S000510", "adamsmith.house.gov", "adamsmith", "https://adamsmith.house.gov/news/press-releases", "scraper", "\"On September 6, Ay\u015fenur Ezgi Eygi was fatally shot in the West Bank while she was peacefully participating in a demonstration against Israeli settlements in the Palestinian village of Beita. Since then, we have requested an independent, thorough, credible, and transparent investigation into what happened that day to both better understand the circumstances of her death and ensure that if any laws were broken those who were responsible are held to account.\n\n\"This week, Ms. Eygi\u2019s family came to D.C. to discuss the challenges they've faced and the questions they still have about what happened. The lack of answers they have received is unacceptable.\n\n\"We call on Israel to complete their investigation and release their report on the cause of her death. Secretary Blinken must insist on the release of any Israeli investigation results. We also continue to urge the U.S. Department of Justice to initiate an independent, U.S.-led investigation into Ms. Eygi\u2019s death. If the Justice Department isn\u2019t going to investigate, then the State Department should release their own findings and seek accountability.\n\n\"Prime Minister Netanyahu and his government have exacerbated tensions in the West Bank with their promotion of rapid Israeli settlement expansion. This dangerous situation in the West Bank has claimed the lives of far too many civilians, including Ms. Eygi.\n\n\"We applaud the sanctions that President Biden has imposed thus far on extremist Israeli settlers, including the settler organization Amana. Clearly, more must be done. The policies of Prime Minister Netanyahu\u2019s government undermine the viability of a Palestinian state and Isarel\u2019s security, violate the rights of Palestinians living in the West Bank, and put the region at even greater risk of further destabilization.\n\n\"It is time for the Biden Administration to thoroughly investigate the shooting of Ms. Eygi.\"", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T19:07:19Z"], ["https://adamsmith.house.gov/news/press-releases/rep-smith-statement-continuing-resolution-passage", "Rep. Smith Statement on Continuing Resolution Passage", "2024-12-20", "2024", "2024-12", "Democrat", "House", "WA", "Adam Smith", "S000510", "adamsmith.house.gov", "adamsmith", "https://adamsmith.house.gov/news/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON, D.C. \u2013 Rep. Smith released the following statement:\n\n\"Tonight, we passed a bipartisan continuing resolution to keep the U.S. government open, ensure our troops and federal employees get paid through the holidays, and delivers urgently needed relief funding across the nation.\n\n\"We cannot get this close to a shutdown again. Congress must pass long-term funding bills as soon as possible to avoid nearing a shutdown again when this Continuing Resolution expires in March.\n\n\"Congress should be working to make life better for working families. I\u2019m committed to passing long-term government funding bills that put working people\u2019s priorities ahead of billionaires and CEOs. I look forward to working with my colleagues to deliver common-sense, responsible government funding bills.\"", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T19:07:19Z"], ["https://delbene.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=4002", "DelBene Statement on House Passage of Continuing Resolution", "2024-12-20", "2024", "2024-12", "Democrat", "House", "WA", "Suzan K. DelBene", "D000617", "delbene.house.gov", "delbene", "https://delbene.house.gov/news/documentquery.aspx?DocumentTypeID=27", "scraper", "Today, Congresswoman Suzan DelBene (WA-01) released the following statement after the House passed legislation to fund the federal government and avoid a shutdown.\n\n\u201cAfter weeks of hard work, Republicans and Democrats in the House and Senate, and the White House had a compromise agreement to fund the government. Then Elon Musk blew up the deal. House Republicans stripped out the support for children, seniors, and others from the original agreement, bringing us chaos and to the brink of a shutdown. Thanks to Leader Jeffries, we were able to negotiate a new agreement that I voted for that supports our troops, farmers, and communities and prevents a dangerous shutdown.\n\n\u201cWe will be at the negotiating table again in the new Congress and I urge House Republicans to accept what has always been true \u2013 the only way we advance policy is by working in a bipartisan way.\u201d", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-07T22:13:55Z"], ["https://jayapal.house.gov/2024/12/20/jayapal-smith-murray-call-for-u-s-led-investigation-into-the-death-of-aysenur-ezgi-eygi/", "Jayapal, Smith, Murray Call for U.S. Led Investigation Into the Death of Ay\u015fenur Ezgi Eygi", "2024-12-20", "2024", "2024-12", "Democrat", "House", "WA", "Pramila Jayapal", "J000298", "jayapal.house.gov", "jayapal", "https://jayapal.house.gov/category/press-releases/", "scraper", "WASHINGTON, D.C. \u2013 Rep. Smith, Rep. Jayapal, and Sen. Murray released the following statement urging the Biden Administration to immediately launch an investigation into the fatal shooting of U.S. Citizen Ay\u015fenur Ezgi Eygi in the West Bank:\n\n\u201cOn September 6, Ay\u015fenur Ezgi Eygi was fatally shot in the West Bank while she was peacefully participating in a demonstration against Israeli settlements in the Palestinian village of Beita. Since then, we have requested an independent, thorough, credible, and transparent investigation into what happened that day to both better understand the circumstances of her death and ensure that if any laws were broken those who were responsible are held to account.\n\n\u201cThis week, Ms. Eygi\u2019s family came to D.C. to discuss the challenges they\u2019ve faced and the questions they still have about what happened. The lack of answers they have received is unacceptable.\n\n\u201cWe call on Israel to complete their investigation and release their report on the cause of her death. Secretary Blinken must insist on the release of any Israeli investigation results. We also continue to urge the U.S. Department of Justice to initiate an independent, U.S.-led investigation into Ms. Eygi\u2019s death. If the Justice Department isn\u2019t going to investigate, then the State Department should release their own findings and seek accountability.\n\n\u201cPrime Minister Netanyahu and his government have exacerbated tensions in the West Bank with their promotion of rapid Israeli settlement expansion. This dangerous situation in the West Bank has claimed the lives of far too many civilians, including Ms. Eygi.\n\n\u201cWe applaud the sanctions that President Biden has imposed thus far on extremist Israeli settlers, including the settler organization Amana. Clearly, more must be done. The policies of Prime Minister Netanyahu\u2019s government undermine the viability of a Palestinian state and Isarel\u2019s security, violate the rights of Palestinians living in the West Bank, and put the region at even greater risk of further destabilization.\n\n\u201cIt is time for the Biden Administration to thoroughly investigate the shooting of Ms. Eygi.\u201d", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T19:07:19Z"], ["https://jayapal.house.gov/2024/12/20/jayapal-statement-on-starbucks-strike/", "Jayapal Statement on Starbucks Strike", "2024-12-20", "2024", "2024-12", "Democrat", "House", "WA", "Pramila Jayapal", "J000298", "jayapal.house.gov", "jayapal", "https://jayapal.house.gov/category/press-releases/", "scraper", "WASHINGTON \u2014 U.S. Representative Pramila Jayapal (WA-07) released the following statement after Workers United announced a strike following Starbucks\u2019s refusal to bargain with unionized workers:\n\n\u201cBaristas at Starbucks\u2019 across the country deserve adequate wages, staffing, and better schedules. In the last fiscal year, Starbucks spent over $1.2 billion on stock buybacks to enrich their shareholders, while telling unionized workers that all the company can afford is a 1.5 percent raise.\n\n\u201cI am proud that Starbucks started as a small business in my district, originally dedicated to taking care of customers and our community. That\u2019s what we need to return to instead of continued union busting, disregarding worker demands for fair working conditions, and mounting an overwhelming number of legal challenges to pro-worker rulings from the National Labor Relations Board to avoid accountability.\n\n\u201cI hope to see Starbucks come to the table to negotiate with unionized workers immediately to protect jobs and keep stores open.\u201d", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T19:07:19Z"], ["https://adamsmith.house.gov/news/press-releases/rep-smith-statement-continuing-resolution", "Rep. Smith Statement on Continuing Resolution", "2024-12-19", "2024", "2024-12", "Democrat", "House", "WA", "Adam Smith", "S000510", "adamsmith.house.gov", "adamsmith", "https://adamsmith.house.gov/news/press-releases", "scraper", "I voted against the partisan Republican proposal today because it was created solely to serve Musk and Trump, not the American people.\n\nTrump and Musk are holding the U.S. government hostage to personally improve their standing. Musk intervened to protect himself from a China provision that would hurt his business interests. And Trump insisted on raising the debt ceiling so that he would be able to make a massive tax cut for billionaires and CEOs as soon as he gets into office in 2025.\n\nThe real tragedy here is that House Republicans are going along with this every step of the way. They have decided to protect Elon Musk\u2019s business interests around China instead of funding childhood cancer research or improving child welfare services. They are prioritizing billionaires over substance-use disorder treatment, 9/11 responder and survivor health funding, workforce development programming, and seniors\u2019 health and wellness services.\n\nThis failed bill cuts critical funding that working families are counting on, raises prescription drug costs for hardworking American taxpayers, and makes it easier for CEOs and billionaires to ship jobs overseas.\n\nMore than anything we are facing a shutdown because of Mike Johnson\u2019s refusal to pass appropriations bills and fund the government the way it\u2019s supposed to be funded. We should not be getting to the point where we need a Continuing Resolution to avoid a shutdown.\n\nWe should pass normal appropriations bills. But the reason we are not passing appropriations bills is the same reason that Mike Johnson allowed Trump and Musk to force forward their own self-interested proposal: he kowtows to the extreme, far-right MAGA Republicans in his conference.\n\nWe have the votes to pass normal appropriations bills and that should be our next step. I am deeply concerned that Johnson will not bring the appropriations bills up because MAGA extremists control him.\n\nI urge my colleagues across the aisle to find a bipartisan, common-sense compromise to keep our government funded responsibly.\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T19:07:19Z"], ["https://jayapal.house.gov/2024/12/19/jayapal-statement-on-amazon-workers-strike-2/", "Jayapal Statement on Amazon Workers\u2019 Strike", "2024-12-19", "2024", "2024-12", "Democrat", "House", "WA", "Pramila Jayapal", "J000298", "jayapal.house.gov", "jayapal", "https://jayapal.house.gov/category/press-releases/", "scraper", "WASHINGTON \u2014 U.S. Representative Pramila Jayapal (WA-07) released the following statement after the Teamsters announced a strike following Amazon\u2019s refusal to bargain with unionized Amazon workers:\n\n\u201cAmazon workers deserve fair pay, safe working conditions, and good benefits. Amazon is one of the largest corporations in the world with the world\u2019s second richest man in the world as Founder and Executive Chair. Amazon should, at a minimum, ensure that the workers powering Amazon and Bezos\u2019s own wealth are paid fairly so they can afford rent, groceries, and a decent life.\n\n\u201cAs a corporation headquartered in my district and with such a massive footprint on communities across the country and such huge profits, it is important that the company treat their workers with dignity and respect. Unions help protect workers, hold corporate leadership accountable, and drive better success for the company as a whole. It is disappointing that over the past year, Amazon has refused to honor rulings from the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) that seek to protect workers and instead joined legal efforts to challenge the NLRB\u2019s constitutionality in court.\n\n\u201cI urge Amazon to come to the table and negotiate in good faith immediately.\u201d", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T19:07:19Z"], ["https://adamsmith.house.gov/news/press-releases/bipartisan-bill-streamline-clearance-process-transportation-workers-passes", "Bipartisan Bill to Streamline Clearance Process for Transportation Workers Passes House", "2024-12-18", "2024", "2024-12", "Democrat", "House", "WA", "Adam Smith", "S000510", "adamsmith.house.gov", "adamsmith", "https://adamsmith.house.gov/news/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON, D.C. \u2013 Today, the Transportation Security Screening Modernization Act passed the U.S. House of Representatives, bringing this important legislation one step closer to becoming law.\n\nRepresentatives Garret Graves (Chairman, House Aviation Subcommittee), Adam Smith (Ranking Member, House Armed Services Committee), along with U.S. Representatives Michael Guest (MS-03), Mark Green (TN-07), Dina Titus (NV-01), and Salud Carbajal (CA-24), introduced the Transportation Security Screening Modernization Act in December 2023 to eliminate redundant fees and background checks for essential transportation workers.\n\nThe bill cuts through red tape to allow workers to apply existing valid background checks to multiple TSA-managed credentialing programs, preventing workers from going through identical processes multiple times. With each of these credentials having varying expiration dates and fees, workers end up spending a significant amount of time and money keeping their credentials up to date, preventing them from fully participating in the workforce.\n\nThis new streamlining legislation reduces costs and hassle for workers like truck drivers, pipeline operators, longshoremen, and warehouse managers, among many others, who must obtain these credentials as a condition of employment.\n\n\u201cToday, as the Transportation Security Screening Modernization Act passes the House, we are one step closer to less redundancy for American workers,\u201d said Rep. Smith (WA-09). \u201cMany transportation workers in my district have spent a significant amount of time and money to keep their credentials up to date. It\u2019s urgent we sign pass this legislation into law so that our transportation workers can have a more streamlined application and renewal process. We need more common-sense bills like this to make it through Congress.\u201d\n\n\"As the Transportation Security Screening Modernization Act moves one step closer to becoming law, we are taking an important stride in reducing unnecessary burdens for our nation's transportation workers,\u201d said Rep. Salud Carbajal (CA-24). \u201cThis legislation will eliminate redundant fees and background checks, saving time and money for hardworking men and women on the Central Coast who are essential to keeping our economy moving.\u201d\n\n\u201cMaking credentialing more efficient for both TSA and transportation workers will reduce costs for multiple industries and ultimately benefit the American people,\" said Rep. Mark Green (TN-07). It\u2019s time to remove as many roadblocks as possible for our hardworking truck drivers, pipeline operators, longshore workers, and warehouse managers, among others. We can and should keep our supply chains secure and our country safe without redundant and burdensome credentialing programs.\u201d\n\n\"I am proud to have helped co-lead the Transportation Security Screening Modernization Act in the House of Representatives and am pleased that we are considering this legislation led by my fellow Mississippian, Senator Roger Wicker,\" said Rep. Michael Guest (MS-03). \"This bill will streamline the credentialing process and eliminate redundancies in the screening and accreditation process of transportation workers. This bill does exactly what President Trump has promised to do which is to save money, eliminate redundancy, and maintain supply chain resiliency.\"\n\n\u201cOur national economy depends on the hard work of thousands of truck drivers, railroad workers, and longshoremen to move goods around the country,\" said Rep. Dina Titus (NV-01). This legislation streamlines redundant background checks by TSA-managed programs and eliminates duplicitous fees to apply for and renew their hazardous materials credentials. It is common-sense legislation that maintains security while lessening the burden on these workers. Supporting them strengthens our economy and lowers costs for consumers.\"The Transportation Security Screening Modernization Act is endorsed by over 150 organizations across the nation. The full list of endorsements can be found here.\n\nSee below for statements of support:\n\n\u201cFor far too long, the truck drivers who keep our country running have been subjected to an outdated, inefficient credentialing system that does not respect their time and money. That begins to change today. By taking the final step needed to eliminate unnecessary bureaucratic hurdles, Congress will provide essential supply chain workers with overdue relief from redundant background checks and fees. The Transportation Security Screening Modernization Act is a bipartisan victory for common sense. We commend Members of Congress, especially Senator Roger Wicker and Congressman Garret Graves, who stood up for truckers, making it easier and less costly for hardworking Americans to obtain the credentials they need to do their jobs.\u201d - ATA President & CEO Chris Spear\n\n\u201cThe hardworking men and women in the trucking industry and other essential members of our supply chain deserve a federal credentialing process that respects their time and money. The Transportation Security Screening Modernization Act will reform the current duplicative system by codifying recommendations repeatedly made by government audits to reduce redundancy, costs, and hassle. I commend Congressman Adam Smith for leading this effort in Congress to support American workers and the resilience of our supply chain.\u201d - Sheri Call, President and CEO, Washington Trucking Associations\n\n\u201cThis common-sense solution is a win for movers. Eliminating administrative redundancies and improving access to our customer\u2019s homes is both reasonable and practical and continues to assure efficient moves, our highest priority, are achieved. We appreciate the work of Congress to get these important reforms finished before year\u2019s end.\u201d - Dan Hilton, Executive Director, Moving and Storage Conference\n\n\u201cThe nation\u2019s transportation security screening system is stuck in the past. We can do better. The Transportation Security Screening Modernization Act helps bring our security screening into the 21st century by removing redundancies and increasing efficiencies, all while making our supply chain stronger, safer, and more resilient. The Border Trade Alliance strongly supports this legislation and urges the House of Representatives to send it to the president\u2019s desk.\" - Britton Mullen, President of the Border Trade Alliance\n\n\u201cPassage of the Transportation Security Screening Modernization Act is a win for our nation\u2019s essential transportation workforce. Thanks to this legislation, these hard-working men and women will no longer be burdened with duplicative background checks and fees that do nothing to increase safety or security. The bill will also help keep critical supply chains moving. IME applauds the work of House and Senate leadership to pass this important legislation and make the lives of our transportation workers a little easier.\" - Clark Mica, President of the Institute of Makers of Explosives\n\n\u201cThe Transportation Security Screening Modernization Act streamlines the TSA credentialing processes for railroaders and other essential workers, saving them time and money while still maintaining the highest security standards. Thank you to Sen. Wicker and Rep. Garret Graves for this legislation that eliminates redundancies to help railroaders focus on doing what they do best - moving the goods that move America.\u201d - Ian Jefferies, AAR President and CEO\n\n\"This important legislative effort will reduce the cost and time that many transportation workers spend to maintain TSA security credentials as a requirement of their frontline jobs. We commend Representatives Smith and Graves for their continued commitment to our national security and transportation workforce.\" - Greg Regan, President of the Transportation Trades Department, AFL-CIO.\n\n\"The workers who keep America's supply chains running deserve a federal credentialing process that respects their time and money. The Transportation Security Screening Modernization Act addresses redundancies and other inefficiencies in the current system to reduce costs and hassles while maintaining effective screening of employees. This is a long-overdue solution for essential workers in the transportation trades who must obtain credentials as a condition of employment. Organized labor strongly supports this legislation and we commend Representatives Garret Graves and Adam Smith plus the other co-sponsors for their leadership on this important issue.\" - April Sims, President of the Washington State Labor Council, AFL-CIO.", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T19:07:19Z"], ["https://jayapal.house.gov/2024/12/18/jayapal-warren-nadler-lawmakers-renew-push-to-make-bankruptcy-less-expensive-for-families/", "Jayapal, Warren, Nadler, Lawmakers Renew Push to Make Bankruptcy Less Expensive for Families", "2024-12-18", "2024", "2024-12", "Democrat", "House", "WA", "Pramila Jayapal", "J000298", "jayapal.house.gov", "jayapal", "https://jayapal.house.gov/category/press-releases/", "scraper", "Bill would simplify the bankruptcy process for individuals and families, address racial and gender disparities in the system, crack down on predatory practices\n\nBill Text | Bill Summary | One-Pager | 2022 Letter of Support from 86 Law Professors\n\nWashington, DC \u2013 Representative Pramila Jayapal (D-Wash.), United States Senators Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.) and Sheldon Whitehouse (D-R.I.), along with Representative Jerry Nadler (D-N.Y.), Ranking Member of the House Judiciary Committee, reintroduced the Consumer Bankruptcy Reform Act, legislation to simplify and modernize the consumer bankruptcy system and make it easier for people forced into bankruptcy to get back on their feet.\n\nOver the last 40 years, consumer credit has skyrocketed as Americans took on more debt to deal with the increasing costs of housing, education, medical care, and child care \u2014 all while wages stayed stagnant. For millions of households, a job loss or a family illness can send them tumbling over a financial cliff, struggling under the weight of medical bills, student loans, mortgages, and car loans.\n\nOriginally introduced in 2020, Senator Warren\u2019s Consumer Bankruptcy Reform Act aims to streamline the consumer bankruptcy process with a single, unified system. This reform will simplify the filing process, reduce filing fees, and ensure filers can take care of themselves and their families during the bankruptcy process, including by helping renters avoid eviction and helping safeguard homes and cars. Notably, the bill will allow individuals struggling with student loans to discharge the debt through bankruptcy, reversing a 2005 change that allowed special treatment for private student loan companies and offering significant relief to many who are burdened by educational expenses.\n\n\u201cBankruptcy is a critical tool to help people who have fallen into debt get back on their feet, but the United States\u2019 consumer bankruptcy system is broken \u2014 it is overcomplicated, outdated, and often inaccessible for poor and working families. It\u2019s past time that we fix this system and make it work for everyday Americans, not the profits of big corporations,\u201d said Representative Jayapal. \u201cThis legislation would make the process of filing for bankruptcy both easier and less expensive, help Americans take care of themselves by protecting their cars and homes, and close loopholes that allow predatory companies to rip people off and exploit the system. I\u2019m proud to be fighting alongside Senators Warren and Whitehouse and Congressman Nadler to level the playing field for everyday people.\u201d\n\n\u201cPeople typically file for bankruptcy for one of three reasons: a job loss, a medical problem, or a family breakup \u2014 and when they do, they\u2019re faced with an expensive and complicated system. My bill would simplify and modernize the consumer bankruptcy system to make it easier and less expensive for people to get relief,\u201d said Senator Warren. \u201cI\u2019ve dedicated my career to fighting for working families, and I\u2019ll keep fighting to make sure people forced into bankruptcy have the tools to get back on their feet.\u201d\n\n\u201cBankruptcy is a key tool that allows individuals and families to get back up and keep working and providing for their families,\u201d said Ranking Member Jerrold Nadler. \u201cToday that promise rings hollow for many people because the bankruptcy system has become complex, unfair, and even punitive for ordinary people. The Consumer Bankruptcy Reform Act ensures that the bankruptcy system works for the American people and not just big corporate creditors. Senator Warren and I have worked on this issue for many years, and I look forward to continuing our fight for consumers with this new legislation.\u201d\n\n\u201cBig corporate debtors continue to reap the rewards of our broken bankruptcy system while everyday Rhode Islanders facing financial hardship struggle to obtain basic relief,\u201d said Senator Whitehouse. \u201cI\u2019m pleased to support this bill that makes the consumer bankruptcy system fairer and easier to access for those facing crushing personal debt.\u201d\n\nThe Consumer Bankruptcy Reform Act would:\n\nMake it easier and less expensive for financially-strapped families and individuals to get financial relief.\n\nHelp filers care for themselves and their families during the bankruptcy process, and protect individuals\u2019 and families\u2019 dignity.\n\nHelp address racial and gender disparities in the bankruptcy system.\n\nClose loopholes that allow the wealthy to exploit the bankruptcy system.\n\nCrack down on predatory practices and hold corporate wrongdoers accountable.\n\n\u201cMany families who struggle with debt don\u2019t get help through bankruptcy because they can\u2019t afford the high costs needed to file or because the relief available has not kept up the debt problems families face today. This Act will ensure that those who need bankruptcy are not denied access simply because they cannot afford entry to the system, and it will give them a meaningful opportunity for a fresh start,\u201d said John Rao, Senior Attorney at the National Consumer Law Center.\n\n\u201cThis legislation will repair some of the harms caused by the 2005 Bankruptcy Act, which allowed big businesses to use the bankruptcy rules, but made it far harder and far more expensive for people \u2014 especially Black, Latine, and lower-income families \u2014 to obtain needed bankruptcy relief,\u201d said Christine Chen Zinner, Senior Policy Counsel for Consumer Financial Justice at Americans for Financial Reform, \u201cEliminating many of the burdensome and expensive hurdles from the 2005 Bankruptcy Act will once again allow everyday people \u2014 and not just powerful corporations \u2014 the opportunity to get a fresh financial start.\u201d\n\n\u201cPublic Citizen is heartened to see Senator Warren\u2019s leadership on the important set of reforms packaged in the Consumer Bankruptcy Reform Act, and is proud to endorse these measures that would reduce the pain faced by those facing economic hardship and provide a more streamlined path forward for them to get back on their feet,\u201d said Elizabeth Beavers, Congress Watch Director at Public Citizen.\n\n\u201cThe Consumer Bankruptcy Reform Act is a lifeline for struggling families, offering a fair shot at financial recovery. It puts an end to predatory loopholes and slams the door on illegal debt collection practices. Most importantly, it wipes out the unjust law that traps Americans under the crushing weight of student loan debt,\u201d said Adam Rust, Director of Financial Services at Consumer Federation of America.\n\n\u201cYoung people have faced unique financial struggles and grappled with finding stability in the uneven and slow recovery from a series of economic crises,\u201d said Kristin McGuire, Higher Executive Director at Young Invincibles. \u201cSenator Warren is taking a bold stance to help young Americans find a path for economic recovery and Young Invincibles is proud to endorse the Consumer Bankruptcy Reform Act of 2024. Ensuring student loan debt is dischargeable like other debts and addressing the racial and gender disparities in the bankruptcy system are long overdue and necessary steps toward financial freedom for young adults and borrowers.\u201d\n\n\u201cThe Consumer Bankruptcy Reform Act is a much-needed step in making sure our bankruptcy system gives individuals a fair shot at a second chance. In addition to simplifying the bankruptcy process, this bill would also ensure that student loan debt is treated equally to other types of debt and make it possible to discharge municipal fees that can be harmful to people\u2019s stability and often have collateral consequences. We appreciate Senator Warren\u2019s dedication to economic justice and fairness, and this bill exemplifies that dedication,\u201d said Ariel Levinson-Waldman, Founding President and Director-Counsel at Tzedek DC.\n\nSenator Sheldon Whitehouse (D-R.I.) cosponsored the legislation in the Senate. Representative Pramila Jayapal (D-Wash.) cosponsored the legislation in the House.\n\nThe Consumer Bankruptcy Reform Act has been endorsed by: Action Center on Race and the Economy, Americans for Financial Reform, AFL-CIO, National Association of Consumer Advocates, Consumer Federation of America, Demos, National Consumer Law Center, National Alliance for Partnerships in Equity, Public Citizen, UnidosUS, Young Invincibles, Tzedek DC, Center for LGBTQ Economic Advancement and Research (CLEAR), Progressive Change Campaign Committee, Center for Responsible Lending, U.S. PIRG, American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees (AFSCME), and the Asian Pacific American Labor Alliance (APALA).", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T19:07:19Z"], ["https://newhouse.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/newhouse-joins-house-agriculture-committee", "Newhouse Joins House Agriculture Committee", "2024-12-17", "2024", "2024-12", "Republican", "House", "WA", "Dan Newhouse", "N000189", "newhouse.house.gov", "newhouse", "https://newhouse.house.gov/media-center/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON, D.C. \u2013 Today, the House Committee on Agriculture announced Rep. Dan Newhouse (WA-04) will rejoin the committee in the 119th Congress. He served on the committee in his first term in Congress.\n\n\"As a third-generation farmer, I am proud to rejoin my colleagues on the House Agriculture Committee. Central Washington is home to over 7,800 farms covering almost 6,000,000 acres, and I am looking forward to bringing their voices to the committee next year. We also have a critical Farm Bill to get across the line, and I am ready to get to work,\" said Rep. Dan Newhouse.\n\nHouse Agriculture Committee Chairman Glenn \u201cGT\u201d Thompson said, \"I\u2019m excited to welcome this strong and diverse group of legislators to the House Committee on Agriculture for the 119th Congress. This is a pivotal time for our farmers, ranchers, and rural communities, so we\u2019ll hit the ground running with rigorous hearings and oversight, all to ensure we deliver legislative victories for rural America and the farm families that guarantee our nation\u2019s food security.\"\n\nRep. Newhouse will retain his seat on the House Appropriations Committee, where he will stay on the Subcommittees on Agriculture, Energy and Water, and Homeland Security. He is uniquely positioned, serving on both the House Agriculture Committee that authorizes the Farm Bill, and the Appropriations Committee that directs funds to carry out its policies.\n\nHe will also remain a member of the Select Committee of the Chinese Communist Party pending its reauthorization in the 119th Congress.\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T19:07:19Z"], ["https://newhouse.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/newhouse-targets-ccp-fentanyl-pipeline-new-bipartisan-legislation", "Newhouse Targets CCP Fentanyl Pipeline in New Bipartisan Legislation", "2024-12-17", "2024", "2024-12", "Republican", "House", "WA", "Dan Newhouse", "N000189", "newhouse.house.gov", "newhouse", "https://newhouse.house.gov/media-center/press-releases", "scraper", "Today, Rep. Dan Newhouse (WA-04), Chairman of The Select Committee on the Chinese Communist Party\u2019s (CCP) Fentanyl Policy Working Group, along with his colleagues introduced bipartisan legislation to hold the CCP responsible for directly subsidizing the fentanyl crisis currently plaguing the United States.\n\n\u201cFor too long, China has profited from the destruction of American lives, and the fentanyl crisis they are manufacturing knows no boundaries. As we continue our work fighting the immediate threat the drug poses, we are also going after the CCP and their central role in subsidizing, producing, and exporting the precursors that fuel this epidemic,\u201d said Rep. Newhouse, Chairman of the Working Group.\n\nThe working group spent months building on the Select Committee\u2019s bipartisan investigation which uncovered for the first time how the CCP directly subsidizes fentanyl precursors and analogues. The lawmakers are now introducing three bipartisan bills aimed at supporting law enforcement, strengthening sanctions on CCP-backed entities engaged in drug trafficking, and leveraging fees against entities that fail to implement appropriate transparency and related safeguards that hinder drug trafficking.\n\n\"Dismantling the fentanyl supply chain starts at the source. The CCP Fentanyl Sanctions Act sanctions Chinese chemical manufacturers that are profiting by poisoning the American people,\" said Rep. Auchincloss Ranking Member of the Working Group.\n\n\u201cEarlier this spring, the Select Committee uncovered new evidence showing how the Chinese Communist Party directly fuels America\u2019s fentanyl crisis. China has programs in place to reward companies with subsidies for exporting fentanyl and other drugs illegal under Chinese law to the United States. It is now abundantly clear that the CCP is not just turning a blind eye to the fentanyl crisis, it is causing it,\u201d said Select Committee Chairman John Moolenaar. \u201cThank you to Rep. Newhouse and Rep. Auchincloss, for their bipartisan leadership and the solutions they have crafted to hold the CCP accountable for the fentanyl crisis.\u201d\n\n\u201cEarlier this year, the Select Committee\u2019s bipartisan investigation proved that the CCP could be doing much more to stop the flow of fentanyl. But if the CCP won\u2019t take action, Congress will,\u201d said Select Committee Ranking Member Raja Krishnamoorthi. \u201cI want to commend Congressmen Auchincloss and Newhouse for their leadership of this working group. Building off the findings of our investigation, the three bills put forth today would help save lives, and help ensure that companies in China that produce and export deadly chemicals are held accountable.\u201d\n\nThe bills developed by the working group are the Joint Task Force to Counter Illicit Synthetic Narcotics Act of 2024 sponsored by Rep. Newhouse, The CCP Fentanyl Sanctions Act, and the International Protecting from PRC Fentanyl and Other Synthetic Opioids Act.\n\nThe Joint Task Force to Counter Illicit Synthetic Narcotics Act of 2024\n\nThe Joint Task Force to Counter Illicit Synthetic Narcotics Act of 2024 would establish a coordinated task force to combat the trafficking of synthetic narcotics like fentanyl. The task force will bring together representatives from relevant federal agencies to conduct joint operations, disrupt trafficking networks, and enforce sanctions. It will focus on international and domestic coordination, including addressing the role of the People\u2019s Republic of China in the opioid crisis.\n\nThe task force aims to streamline interagency collaboration, enhance legal enforcement, and report regularly to Congress.\n\nFull bill text can be found here.\n\nThe CCP Fentanyl Sanctions Act\n\nThe CCP Fentanyl Sanctions Act targets what the Select Committee\u2019s bipartisan fentanyl report described as the \u201cAchilles\u2019 heel\u201d of fentanyl and related synthetic narcotics producers\u2014their exposure to the U.S. banking system courtesy of their licit activity. This legislation would codify important new authorities to address this threat while working to target those responsible for the epidemic.\n\nIt codifies and builds on Executive Order 14059, which established critical new sanctions authorities against actors involved fentanyl trafficking. It also expands existing sanctions authorities to target PRC vessels or ports that knowingly or recklessly facilitate shipment/transportation of illicit synthetic narcotics, as well as PRC online marketplaces and other entities that knowingly or recklessly facilitate sale of illicit synthetic narcotics.\n\nThe legislation also grants Treasury the authority to restrict foreign financial institution correspondent accounts and payable-through accounts if the President determines the account has knowingly facilitated transactions on behalf of individuals engaging in synthetic narcotics trafficking.\n\nFull bill text can be found here.\n\nInternational Protection from PRC Fentanyl and Other Synthetic Opioids Act\n\nThe International Protection from PRC Fentanyl and Other Synthetic Opioids Act aims to combat fentanyl trafficking by imposing civil penalties on PRC entities that fail to implement appropriate transparency and related safeguards that hinder drug trafficking. It introduces compliance requirements for PRC ports, vessels, and exporters, to properly manifest fentanyl precursors and related chemicals, as well as to follow formal entry when shipping to the United States.\n\nPRC entities that fail to follow these requirements would be subject to escalating civil penalties adjusted to the value of goods present on a given vessel. Any such revenues would go towards funding anti-trafficking efforts.\n\nFull bill text can be found here.\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T19:07:19Z"], ["https://schrier.house.gov/media/press-releases/congresswomen-schrier-and-underwood-introduce-bill-lower-costs-increase-access", "Congresswomen Schrier and Underwood Introduce Bill to Lower Costs, Increase Access to Pediatric Care", "2024-12-17", "2024", "2024-12", "Democrat", "House", "WA", "Kim Schrier", "S001216", "schrier.house.gov", "schrier", "https://schrier.house.gov/media/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON, D.C. \u2013 Yesterday, Congresswoman Kim Schrier, M.D. (WA-08) introduced the Helping Families Access Pediatric Care Act alongside Congresswoman Lauren Underwood (IL-14). This legislation intends to make pediatric care more affordable by tackling the financial burden caused by high deductibles.\n\n\u201cAs a pediatrician, I know that costs, such as deductibles, are financial barriers that often prevent families from taking their children to the doctor,\u201d said Congresswoman Schrier. \u201cThis delay in care can be detrimental to children\u2019s health, leading mild illnesses to turn severe. For example, a mild pneumonia that the pediatrician could treat with oral antibiotics could turn into a severe case that would require an ER visit, hospitalization, and IV antibiotics. That\u2019s why I\u2019m proud to introduce this legislation to lower costs and make sure that no parent needs to make the difficult decision between taking their child to the doctor and putting food on the table.\"\n\nSpecifically, the Helping Families Access Pediatric Care Act will:\n\nEnsure all outpatient, pediatric care is not subject to a deductible.\n\nEnsure telehealth visits for pediatric care are not subject to a deductible.\n\nAuthorize a study to track the impact on families.\n\n\u201cAll children should be able to receive the health care they need, when they need it. Yet, pediatricians see first-hand how deductibles and other out-of-pocket costs can create major barriers for families trying to access timely care and services, and we know that children\u2019s health suffers when care is delayed,\u201d said AAP President Ben Hoffman, MD, FAAP. \u201cThe Helping Families Access Pediatric Care Act would work to improve access and affordability for children and families, no matter their source of health care coverage. The American Academy of Pediatrics applauds Representatives Kim Schrier, MD, FAAP (D-Wash.) and Lauren Underwood (D-Ill.) for their ongoing commitment to and leadership on this important issue and calls on lawmakers to advance this bill without delay.\u201d", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T19:07:19Z"], ["https://newhouse.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/newhouse-announces-winner-2024-congressional-app-challenge", "Newhouse Announces Winner of the 2024 Congressional App Challenge", "2024-12-16", "2024", "2024-12", "Republican", "House", "WA", "Dan Newhouse", "N000189", "newhouse.house.gov", "newhouse", "https://newhouse.house.gov/media-center/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON, D.C. \u2013 Today, Rep. Dan Newhouse (WA-04) announced the winner of the 2024 Central Washington Congressional App Challenge, an app-designing competition for middle and high school students. Jeffrey Noah from Kennewick High School designed the winning concept, Canari.\n\nHis app concept would empower the agricultural industry to share issues affecting their crops and our food supply. Canari uses a database to store user reports and displays the most relevant and severe threats to users depending on their location. The platform is designed to be a free resource for anyone from hobbyist gardeners to industrial farmers. You can view his presentation on the application here.\n\n\u201cCongratulations to Jeffrey on winning this year\u2019s Central Washington Congressional App Challenge!\u201d said Rep. Newhouse.\n\nNewhouse continues, \u201cEach year, students from across Central Washington submit their app concepts and showcase their skills in the STEM field, and Canari is an excellent example of how our region\u2019s high schoolers can utilize technology to solve problems in different industries. Thank you to all who submitted, I truly enjoyed viewing all the different apps and seeing everyone\u2019s creativity. Congratulations Jeffrey, I am confident you will continue to learn and grow your STEM capabilities and inspire others to do the same.\u201d\n\nThe winning app was selected by a panel of expert judges from the Pacific Northwest National Laboratory. The winner will receive a PNNL \u201cswag bag\u201d and the app will also be featured on a video display in the U.S. Capitol building, as well as House.gov and the Congressional App Challenge website.\n\nBackground:\n\nThe CAC was created because Congress recognized that STEM and computer-based skills are essential for economic growth and innovation and that the U.S. has been falling behind on these fronts. By some estimates, the U.S. may be short by as many as 1 million programmers by 2021. These are high-paying, high-demand jobs. To maintain American competitiveness, it\u2019s crucial that the United States invests in our youth now and helps them acquire these valuable skills. The CAC encourages students to pursue those skills and recognizes them for their efforts.\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T19:07:19Z"], ["https://delbene.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=4001", "Prior Auth Champions Celebrate over 500 Endorsements of the Improving Seniors\u2019 Timely Access to Care Act", "2024-12-13", "2024", "2024-12", "Democrat", "House", "WA", "Suzan K. DelBene", "D000617", "delbene.house.gov", "delbene", "https://delbene.house.gov/news/documentquery.aspx?DocumentTypeID=27", "scraper", "Today, Representatives Suzan DelBene (WA-01), Mike Kelly (PA-16), Ami Bera, M.D. (CA-06), and Larry Bucshon, M.D. (IN-08) released the following statement after the Improving Seniors\u2019 Timely Access to Care Act (H.R. 8702), their legislation that would speed up access to quality care for seniors by streamlining prior authorization under Medicare Advantage, was endorsed by over 500 health care and patient advocacy organizations:\n\n\u201cSeniors across America deserve timely access to the care they need, free from bureaucratic delays and administrative red tape. Our bill directly addresses the key issues in the current insurance claims system under Medicare Advantage. It will help improve health outcomes and reduce delays without costing taxpayers anything.\n\n\u201cWe are proud to receive the endorsements of over 500 organizations. This consensus support shows the need for prior authorization reform. We look forward to working with congressional leadership to pass H.R. 8702 and deliver life-saving policies for America\u2019s seniors.\u201d\n\nTo see the list of supporting organizations, click here.\n\nThe legislation is also supported by the majority of Congress, with 60 cosponsors in the Senate and 230 cosponsors in the House of Representatives. The bill passed unanimously in the House of Representatives in the last Congress.", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-07T22:13:55Z"], ["https://strickland.house.gov/2024/12/12/strickland-lawmakers-reintroduce-legislation-addressing-unsafe-conditions-in-privatized-military-housing/", "Strickland, Lawmakers Reintroduce Legislation Addressing Unsafe Conditions in Privatized Military Housing", "2024-12-12", "2024", "2024-12", "Democrat", "House", "WA", "Marilyn Strickland", "S001159", "strickland.house.gov", "strickland", "https://strickland.house.gov/category/press_release/", "scraper", "Washington, DC \u2013 Today, Congresswoman Marilyn Strickland (WA-10), Senator Elizabeth Warren (D-MA), Representative Sara Jacobs (CA-51), and Delegate James Moylan (R-Guam) introduced the Military Housing Oversight and Service Member Protection Act. This bipartisan and bicameral legislation reforms the privatized military housing system and responds to disturbing reports that have revealed unsafe and unsanitary conditions for service members and their families.\n\n\u201cIt is well past time to increase, stabilize, and regulate the housing supply available for servicemembers,\u201d said Congresswoman Marilyn Strickland. \u201cMy district alone is home to over 40,000 active-duty service members and their families who deserve to be securely housed.\u201d\n\n\u201cThe Department of Defense (DOD) owes a responsibility to our servicemembers to provide them and their families with safe and sanitary housing,\u201d said Senator Warren. \u201cThis bill will fundamentally reform a broken system and hold private housing providers accountable for their shameful failures.\u201d\n\n\u201cOur military families sacrifice so much for us \u2013 and the least we can do is ensure their housing is clean, safe, affordable, and meets their needs,\u201d said Congresswoman Sara Jacobs. \u201cWhile we\u2019ve made progress in addressing inadequate housing across the country, we still have more work ahead to conduct necessary oversight, protect and empower tenants, and demand accountability for unacceptable conditions. Our military families deserve the best \u2013 and that\u2019s why I\u2019m proud to introduce the Military Housing Oversight and Service Member Protection Act to deliver comprehensive reform to our privatized military housing system that often overlooks landlords\u2019 negligence and silences military families.\u201d\n\n\u201cI am happy to announce that our office is co-leading with Rep Jacobs the Military Housing & Service Member Protection Act,\u201d said Delegate James Moylan of Guam. \u201cThis act focuses on Increased oversight, Transparency, Tenant Protections, Medical care provisions, and a commitment to ethical practices. Our Warfighters deserve the BEST conditions when away from their appointed places of duty and our office is FULLY committed to ensuring this is realized. I will continue to work with congressional leadership to champion our service members quality of life both now, and always! Lastly\u2026 Go Army, beat Navy, HOOAH!\u201d\n\nCurrent conditions of privatized military housing include toxic mold, rodent infestations, and lead-based paint. The Military Housing Oversight and Service Member Protection Act would:\n\nIncrease oversight by requiring the Secretary of Defense to establish formal written guidance for all housing contracts.\n\nDemand transparency from housing providers by requiring an annual financial statement for each contract the provider has with DOD.\n\nEstablish tenant protections by codifying that all federal, state, and local housing protections also apply to servicemembers including forbidding landlords from closing maintenance requests until an independent inspector has approved the work.\n\nProvide medical care by directing DOD to establish a health registry for all servicemembers and families to screen and track for medical conditions acquired as a result of unsafe housing and environmentally-caused medical conditions associated with residing in privatized military housing.\n\nStrengthen ethics by prohibiting all senior DOD officials and any Member of the House or Senate Armed Services Committees from owning any investments in an entity owned or controlled by a privatized housing provider.\n\nIn the Senate, Senators Sherrod Brown (D-Ohio), Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.), and Tammy Duckworth (D-Ill.) have cosponsored the legislation. The Military Housing Oversight and Service Member Protection Act has been endorsed by the Military Officers Association of America, the National Military Family Association, and the Military Housing Coalition.\n\nBill Text and One Pager\n\nU.S. Representative Marilyn Strickland serves on the House Armed Services Committee and the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee. She is Whip of the Congressional Black Caucus, a member of the New Democrat Coalition, and one of the first Korean-American women elected to Congress.\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-07T22:13:55Z"], ["https://delbene.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=4000", "DelBene, Pfluger, Blackburn, Warner Introduce Legislation to Strengthen U.S. Immersive Technology Leadership", "2024-12-11", "2024", "2024-12", "Democrat", "House", "WA", "Suzan K. DelBene", "D000617", "delbene.house.gov", "delbene", "https://delbene.house.gov/news/documentquery.aspx?DocumentTypeID=27", "scraper", "Today, Representatives Suzan DelBene (WA-01) and August Pfluger (TX-11), and Senators Marsha Blackburn (TN) and Mark Warner (VA) introduced the United States Leadership in Immersive Technology Act, legislation that would establish an advisory panel tasked with creating a national immersive technology strategy.\n\nVirtual reality (VR) and augmented reality (AR), collectively known as immersive technology (XR), allow us to blend the digital and physical worlds into one integrated experience. From automatically generated closed captions of live conversations for the hearing impaired to creating personalized, hands-on training modules for students, the benefits of XR are limitless.\n\nDespite being home to some of the world\u2019s largest XR content and hardware producers, the U.S. lags behind other countries in creating a clear roadmap for applying them to commercial and personal use. Already, South Korea, the United Kingdom, the European Union, and China have strategies that allow them to embrace immersive technologies. The U.S. is relinquishing its role on the international stage to guide the creation of XR standards without a strategy.\n\n\u201cWe cannot allow ourselves to be left behind in the burgeoning XR field,\u201d said DelBene, who serves as Co-chair of the Virtual, Augmented, and Mixed Reality Caucus. \u201cAs our world becomes increasingly technological, it is crucial that we prepare to compete effectively on the global stage while protecting our interests. This legislation will help us catch up to other global leaders and regain our foothold in creating national standards.\u201d\n\n\u201cImmersive Technology is an essential technological tool utilized by thousands of Americans, businesses, and our military for enhanced simulation and training capabilities. Recently, China has been aggressively investing in XR technology, posing a potential threat to our economic and national security interests,\u201d said Pfluger. \u201cOur legislation will ensure the United States maintains global leadership through a national strategy in this emerging technology.\u201d\n\n\u201cWe need to stay two steps ahead of our adversaries when it comes to applying immersive technology in American industries and stimulating economic growth,\u201d said Blackburn. \u201cOur United States Leadership in Immersive Technology Act would make certain we can compete with adversaries like the Chinese Communist Party and safeguard national security as virtual reality and augmented reality become more prevalent on the world stage.\u201d\n\n\u201cThe global technology landscape is rapidly changing. In order to take full advantage of the possibilities of XR, remain competitive globally, and protect our national interests, it\u2019s crucial that we have industry and government leaders working together on the same page. This legislation will help to do just that by creating a national strategy for XR,\u201d said Warner.\n\nThe bill:\n\nDirects the Department of Commerce to create an advisory panel to advise the president on how to utilize XR in commerce, trade, and economic competitiveness, in consultation with relevant Congressional committees.\n\nDirects the advisory panel to study the state of XR and the effects of XR on our national security.\n\nThe legislation is endorsed by the XR Association and The George Washington University\u2019s Digital Trade and Data Governance Hub.\n\n\u201cRecognizing the growing impact of immersive technology on the economy and all sectors from healthcare and education, to manufacturing and national defense, countries around the world, including our global competitors, are enacting strategic initiatives to advance immersive technology,\u201d said Elizabeth Hyman, CEO, XR Association. \u201cThis legislation represents a pivotal moment for the U.S. to take the lead in propelling immersive technologies forward, fostering innovation and societal progress. Establishing this advisory panel will be instrumental in harnessing expertise and steering the industry towards a future where immersive technology delivers widespread benefits.\u201d", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-07T22:13:55Z"], ["https://larsen.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=2937", "Annual Defense Policy Bill Improves Quality of Life for Servicemembers, Veterans and Military Families in the Pacific Northwest", "2024-12-11", "2024", "2024-12", "Democrat", "House", "WA", "Rick Larsen", "L000560", "larsen.house.gov", "larsen", "https://larsen.house.gov/news/documentquery.aspx", "scraper", "Rep. Rick Larsen (WA-02) released the below statement after voting for the Fiscal Year 2025 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA). The bipartisan NDAA passed the House by a final vote of 281 to 140 and now heads to the Senate for consideration.\n\nWASHINGTON, D.C. - Today, Rep. Rick Larsen (WA-02) released the below statement after voting for the Fiscal Year 2025 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA). The bipartisan NDAA passed the House by a final vote of 281 to 140 and now heads to the Senate for consideration.\n\n\u201cI supported the NDAA because it improves the quality of life for servicemembers, veterans and military families in the Pacific Northwest and around the world,\u201d said Larsen, who served for 22 years on the Armed Services Committee (2001-2023). \u201cThis bipartisan bill gives servicemembers a raise, delivers Impact Aid to school districts that serve military communities, enables wounded servicemembers to start a family, strengthens national security and the NATO alliance, and educates servicemembers on artificial intelligence.\n\n\u201cThere was a specific provision in the final bill that limits gender affirming care for military families. I oppose this provision, and I will work to change it.\u201d\n\nSeveral of Larsen\u2019s priorities were included in the House-passed version of the NDAA:\n\nSupporting Servicemembers, Veterans and Military Families\n\nA Raise for Servicemembers \u2013 The NDAA included a 14.5 percent pay raise for junior enlisted and a 4.5 percent pay raise for all other servicemembers.\n\nImpact Aid for WA-02 School Districts \u2013 The NDAA included a total of $70 million in Department of Defense (DoD) Supplemental Impact Aid payments to school districts that serve military-connected students, including Oak Harbor School District.\n\nEnabling Wounded Servicemembers and Veterans to Start a Family \u2013 Larsen has met with servicemembers and veterans who struggle with having children due to medical complications because of their service. Larsen supported a provision to establish a pilot initiative to cryopreserve gametes, which will enable servicemembers to start a family should a dramatic injury occur.\n\nBoosting Servicemembers\u2019 Education\n\nAI Education for Servicemembers \u2013 Larsen is focused on ensuring servicemembers have expertise in emerging technology and have a basic understanding of artificial intelligence (AI). Larsen authored provisions in the NDAA to require the DoD to establish a foundational AI course and to require all branches of the Armed Forces to participate in the DoD\u2019s Digital On-Demand education initiative.\n\nStrengthening U.S. Involvement in NATO\n\nU.S. Involvement in NATO Innovation Fund \u2013 As a member of the NATO Parliamentary Assembly, Larsen is a champion of U.S. involvement in the alliance. The NDAA includes Larsen\u2019s provision that authorizes the U.S. to participate in and contribute up to $200 million over five years to the NATO Innovation Fund, which plays a crucial role in fostering innovation and collaboration across the alliance to strengthen NATO defense and security and enhance resilience against strategic competitors.\n\nInvesting in Pacific Northwest Navy Bases\n\nHomeporting Frigates at Naval Station Everett \u2013 Larsen has long supported efforts to homeport more Navy and Coast Guard vessels at Naval Station Everett. Larsen included language in the NDAA in support of the Navy\u2019s commitment to homeport 12 Constellation-class frigates and crew at Everett, which is part of the Navy\u2019s broader mission of keeping the country safe and investing in Indo-Pacific security.\n\n###\n\nRelated News\n\nLarsen Announces $17.5 Million Investment in Skagit Transit\n\nMarch 12, 2026 | Posted in Press Releases\n\nLarsen Announces Washington Selected as Testing Partner for Next-Generation Aircraft\n\nMarch 11, 2026 | Posted in Press Releases\n\nLarsen Rejects Trump\u2019s Reckless War; Supports U.S. Military\n\nMarch 5, 2026 | Posted in Press Releases\n\nLarsen Reintroduces Bill to End Dark Money in Elections\n\nMarch 5, 2026 | Posted in Press Releases\n\nLarsen Joins Leader Jeffries in Statement on Iran Strikes\n\nFebruary 28, 2026 | Posted in Press Releases", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-07T22:13:55Z"], ["https://schrier.house.gov/media/press-releases/congresswoman-schrier-secures-authorization-lake-chelan-water-reservoir", "Congresswoman Schrier Secures Authorization for Lake Chelan Water Reservoir Project", "2024-12-11", "2024", "2024-12", "Democrat", "House", "WA", "Kim Schrier", "S001216", "schrier.house.gov", "schrier", "https://schrier.house.gov/media/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON, D.C. \u2013 Yesterday, the United States House of Representatives passed the bipartisan Thomas R. Carper Water Resources Development Act of 2024 (WRDA), biennial legislation that authorizes water resource activities of the Army Corps of Engineers. Thanks to the advocacy of Congresswoman Kim Schrier, M.D. (WA-08), the bill included authorization for the design and construction of a water reservoir in the city of Chelan for wildfire preparedness and water supply. The bill is now headed to the Senate and then the President\u2019s desk.\n\n\u201cI\u2019ve heard directly from local officials and my constituents in the Lake Chelan area on how impactful a water reservoir for the east side of town would be,\u201d said Congresswoman Schrier. \u201cThe reservoir would provide a critical, dependable source in case of a wildfire and serve as a water supply for future development in the area while reducing water infrastructure costs. I\u2019m incredibly proud to have pushed for the authorization of this project and will continue to advocate for crucial infrastructure projects throughout the Eighth District.\u201d\n\n\"We are incredibly thankful for the support of Representative Schrier, Senator Murray, and Senator Cantwell,\" said City of Chelan Mayor, Erin McCardle. \"Their efforts have been pivotal to realizing the inclusion of the East Chelan Water Reservoir project in the bill.\"\n\nThe current water system of Chelan relies on booster pump stations to distribute water over increasing elevation and distance all from Lake Chelan. This poses serious risks as a failure of these pump stations, such as from a power outage, could disrupt water distribution to the east side for both emergency firefighting and daily life. The proposed water reservoir will address this vulnerability and assist in mitigating future wildfire risks associated with the unique geographical and infrastructure challenges of the city. This reservoir would also help allow for further development in East Chelan.", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-07T22:13:55Z"], ["https://schrier.house.gov/media/press-releases/congresswoman-schriers-statement-following-permanent-injunction-kroger", "Congresswoman Schrier\u2019s  Statement Following the Permanent Injunction of the Kroger - Albertsons Merger and Fall-Out, Lawsuit between the two Grocery Chains", "2024-12-11", "2024", "2024-12", "Democrat", "House", "WA", "Kim Schrier", "S001216", "schrier.house.gov", "schrier", "https://schrier.house.gov/media/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON, D.C. \u2013 Congresswoman Kim Schrier, M.D. (WA-08) released the statement below following the termination of the Kroger-Albertsons merger and messy fall-out and lawsuit between the two grocery giants:\n\n\u201cThe Kroger-Albertsons merger would have been disastrous for Washingtonians. That is why I have been publicly calling on the FTC to take action and block this merger for over two years. At a time when families in Washington State face some of the highest grocery costs in the nation, this merger would have reduced competition and choice, continuing to squeeze consumers in our state,\u201d said Congresswoman Schrier. \u201cAdditionally, farmers and producers would have faced a smaller, less competitive market for their goods, resulting in unsustainably low prices for their produce. Eighth District families and farmers know I will always take up the fight on their behalf and I will continue to fight corporate greed and price gouging by big corporations that continue to try to manipulate and take advantage of the market.\u201d\n\nCongresswoman Schrier has been a leading voice fighting against this merger for years, warning that it would lead to reduced competition, higher prices for consumers, and lower compensation for Washington farmers and growers. The Congresswoman led a letter to the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) earlier this year, highlighting these concerns and calling on the FTC to halt this 24.6-billion-dollar merger. Congresswoman Schrier previously led a separate letter to the FTC expressing similar concerns in 2022.\n\nA link to Congresswoman Schrier's latest letter can be found here. Congresswoman Schrier\u2019s 2022 can be found here.\n\nYesterday, a federal judge in Seattle issued a permanent injunction preventing the proposed Kroger-Albertsons merger in Washington State. Following this decision, Albertsons terminated its merger Agreement with Kroger and sued the grocery chain for breach of contract. Albertsons and Kroger have since engaged in a back-and-forth, public spat, with Albertsons\u2019 General Counsel and Chief Policy Officer saying \u201cKroger\u2019s self-serving conduct\u201d harmed Albertsons\u2019 shareholders and consumers while Kroger has stated that the lawsuit is \u201cbaseless and without merit.\u201d\n\nWashingtonians would have been particularly hard-hit by this merger, as Washington has 329 Kroger and Albertsons stores, including 10% of all Albertsons locations nationally. An announcement earlier this year highlighted that to complete the merger, Kroger/Albertsons would have sold off 124 of their stores in Washington State. Kroger stores include QFC and Fred Meyer. Albertsons includes Safeway. Out of 34 Kroger/Albertsons stores total just in the Eighth District, 14 were on the sale list.", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-07T22:13:55Z"], ["https://strickland.house.gov/2024/12/11/strickland-presents-zain-shariff-as-2024-congressional-app-challenge-winner/", "Strickland Presents Zain Shariff as 2024 Congressional App Challenge Winner", "2024-12-11", "2024", "2024-12", "Democrat", "House", "WA", "Marilyn Strickland", "S001159", "strickland.house.gov", "strickland", "https://strickland.house.gov/category/press_release/", "scraper", "Lacey, WA \u2013 Today, Congresswoman Marilyn Strickland (WA-10) announced Zain Shariff, as the winner of the 2024 Congressional App Challenge for Washington\u2019s 10th Congressional District.\n\n\u201cAfter considering many outstanding submissions, I am proud to announce Zain as the winner of the Congressional App Challenge,\u201d said Strickland. \u201cCongratulations to all students who participated and thank you to our judges. I look forward to seeing the AICathDesigner cover art in the Capitol.\u201d\n\n\u201cIt\u2019s exciting to win Congresswoman Strickland\u2019s Congressional App Challenge. AICathDesigner uses chest CT Scan images to design a customized catheter sheath. Due to varied anatomies of the coronary sinus, obtaining access could be challenging and may result in poor outcomes. My app aims to build catheters for individual patients. This would help clinicians perform cardiac procedures and surgeries safely and improve patient outcomes. I built this program out of my passion for cardiac sciences,\u201d said Shariff.\n\n\u201cThe deep technical knowledge that Zain demonstrated in their app, AICathDesigner, is exceptionally impressive. Their ability to apply software development practices while integrating concepts from another industry, 3D printing from manufacturing, is a rare and highly sought-after skill. Developing this type of application as a solo developer is equally commendable,\u201d said Joseph Ortiz, Clover Park Technical College Computer Programming Instructor, and competition Judge.\n\n\u201cI want to extend my heartfelt congratulations to all the finalists and winner for their hard work and their courage to challenge themselves by embracingnew technologies. The winner leveraged AI tools to identify the best path and utilized a 3D printer to design a sheath to assist in the process. This project highlights that AI cannot solve problems it doesn\u2019t know exist\u2014it\u2019s human creativity and ingenuity that bring these ideas to life and help make the world a better place. I would be delighted to offer all students a tour of SMA and a place in our Engineering School to study computer science,\u201d said Dr. Radana Dvorak, St. Martins University Chair of Computer Science and competition judge.\n\nThe winning app\u2019s cover photo will be featured in the U.S. Capitol Building for one year. The winner will also receive an invitation to the #HouseofCode celebration, where winners get the opportunity to present their apps to elected officials.\n\nThe first Congressional App Challenge was hosted in 2016, embarking a tradition for students in STEM-related fields to explore their passions and encourage creativity in the computer science field. To learn more about AICathDesigner, visit here.\n\nU.S. Representative Marilyn Strickland serves on the House Armed Services Committee and the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee. She is Whip of the Congressional Black Caucus, a member of the New Democrat Coalition, and one of the first Korean-American women elected to Congress.\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-07T22:13:55Z"], ["https://adamsmith.house.gov/news/press-releases/rep-smith-rep-jayapal-and-senator-murray-call-us-led-investigation-death-0", "Rep. Smith, Rep. Jayapal, and Senator Murray Call for U.S. Led Investigation Into the Death of Ay\u015fenur Ezgi Eygi", "2024-12-10", "2024", "2024-12", "Democrat", "House", "WA", "Adam Smith", "S000510", "adamsmith.house.gov", "adamsmith", "https://adamsmith.house.gov/news/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON, D.C. \u2013 Rep. Smith, Rep. Jayapal, and Sen. Murray released the following statement urging the Biden Administration to immediately launch an investigation into the fatal shooting of U.S. Citizen Ay\u015fenur Ezgi Eygi in the West Bank:\n\n\"On September 6, Ay\u015fenur Ezgi Eygi was fatally shot in the West Bank while she was peacefully participating in a demonstration against Israeli settlements in the Palestinian village of Beita. Since then, we have requested an independent, thorough, credible, and transparent investigation into what happened that day to both better understand the circumstances of her death and ensure that if any laws were broken those who were responsible are held to account.\n\n\"This week, Ms. Eygi\u2019s family came to D.C. to discuss the challenges they've faced and the questions they still have about what happened. The lack of answers they have received is unacceptable.\n\n\"We call on Israel to complete their investigation and release their report on the cause of her death. Secretary Blinken must insist on the release of any Israeli investigation results. We also continue to urge the U.S. Department of Justice to initiate an independent, U.S.-led investigation into Ms. Eygi\u2019s death. If the Justice Department isn\u2019t going to investigate, then the State Department should release their own findings and seek accountability.\n\n\"Prime Minister Netanyahu and his government have exacerbated tensions in the West Bank with their promotion of rapid Israeli settlement expansion. This dangerous situation in the West Bank has claimed the lives of far too many civilians, including Ms. Eygi.\n\n\"We applaud the sanctions that President Biden has imposed thus far on extremist Israeli settlers, including the settler organization Amana. Clearly, more must be done. The policies of Prime Minister Netanyahu\u2019s government undermine the viability of a Palestinian state and Isarel\u2019s security, violate the rights of Palestinians living in the West Bank, and put the region at even greater risk of further destabilization.\n\n\"It is time for the Biden Administration to thoroughly investigate the shooting of Ms. Eygi.\"\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-07T22:13:55Z"], ["https://delbene.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=3999", "DelBene, Heinrich Introduce Legislation to Protect Infrastructure from Beaver Damage, Support Humane Mitigation Efforts", "2024-12-06", "2024", "2024-12", "Democrat", "House", "WA", "Suzan K. DelBene", "D000617", "delbene.house.gov", "delbene", "https://delbene.house.gov/news/documentquery.aspx?DocumentTypeID=27", "scraper", "Today, Congresswoman Suzan DelBene (WA-01) and Senator Martin Heinrich (NM) introduced the Developing Alternative Mitigation Systems (DAMS) for Beavers Act, legislation that would help protect public infrastructure and private property from beaver damage while supporting non-lethal mitigation efforts for these climate-solving animals and saving taxpayers money.\n\nBeavers play a critical role in shaping our environment. From improving water storage and filtration to creating habitats for endangered and vulnerable species, beavers are indispensable ecosystem engineers in our fight against climate change.\n\nHowever, beaver activity has caused substantial damage to private property and public infrastructure, resulting in the federal government and private trappers conducting lethal campaigns that kill tens of thousands of beavers each year. This killing is cruel and frequently fruitless since refuge-seeking beavers quickly recolonize targeted areas, and non-lethal methods are more effective at mitigating the impacts of beaver activity.\n\nThe bill would provide $3 million annually for humane, non-lethal beaver mitigation alternatives, such as water flow control devices, mesh fencing, culvert-protective fencing, and pond levelers. State and federal agencies, local governments, Tribes, landowners, and nonprofits would all be eligible to receive funding.\n\nThese investments have been proven to save taxpayers money:\n\nA study in Virginia compared the costs of repairing road damage caused by beavers at 14 sites before and after using flow devices. The state transportation department saved hundreds of thousands of dollars per year with the non-lethal method. Specifically, the \u2018before\u2019 costs were more than $300,000 per year, which included preventive road maintenance, damage repairs, and lethal removal of beavers. The cost of installing flow devices was less than $45,000 and maintenance costs were $277 per year.\n\nA 20-year project in Billerica, Massachusetts found that the average cost of beaver trapping and dam breaching was $409 per site per year, while the cost of installing and maintaining flow devices was $229 per site per year. By investing in flow devices at sites where they were feasible, Billerica saved its taxpayers $7,740 per year.\n\n\u201cWashington state is at the forefront of the expansion of non-lethal beaver mitigation methods,\u201d said DelBene. \u201cThe DAMS for Beavers Act will invest in cost-effective, long-term solutions that will prevent beaver damage to infrastructure and private property across the nation while allowing beavers to continue their ecologically beneficial restoration work.\u201d\n\n\u201cThe DAMS for Beavers Act will allow organizations like Beavers Northwest to provide low-cost services to landowners to manage flooding, protect infrastructure, and coexist with beavers,\u201d said Elyssa Kerr, Executive Director of Beavers Northwest. \u201cWith the assistance and incentives from this bill, stakeholders will be able to serve more landowners at lower cost resulting in more beavers on the landscape. More beavers mean more wetlands to support salmon, frogs, waterfowl, and all the other wildlife that can benefit from these special habitats. We look forward to being able to offer landowners this opportunity for cost share to address any beaver conflict concerns while retaining critical beaver-created habitats throughout Western Washington and beyond!\u201d\n\n\u201cBeavers play a vital role in maintaining healthy ecosystems,\u201d said Nancy Blaney, Director of Government Affairs, Animal Welfare Institute. \u201cThe DAMS for Beavers Act will make an important investment in long-term, nonlethal solutions that will not only benefit beavers but also support communities, promote climate resilience, and protect infrastructure.\u201d\n\n\u201cThe DAMS for Beavers Act will protect our infrastructure, create jobs, as well as restore and protect our natural resources with proven, cost-effective methods,\u201d said Adam Burnett, Executive Director, Beaver Institute. \u201cOur nonprofit Beaver Institute has trained professionals across the U.S. ready to do this work. We strongly support this much-needed national legislation.\u201d\n\nThis bill is cosponsored by Congresswomen Rashida Tlaib (MI-12) and Suzanne Bonamici (OR-01).\n\nThis legislation has been endorsed by over 60 organizations and Tribes, including the Animal Welfare Institute, Animal Legal Defense Fund, Center for Biological Diversity, California Academy of Sciences, International Marine Mammal Project of Earth Island Institute, Sierra Wildlife Coalition, Trinity County Natural Resources Division, Beaver & Wildlife Solutions, Connecticut Wildlife Rehabilitators Association, Humane Society Legislative Fund, Natural Resources Defense Council, The Humane Society of the United States, Beaver Institute, FOUR PAWS USA, Blackfeet Fish and Wildlife, Western Nebraska Resources Council, Albuquerque Wildlife Federation, Animal Protection New Mexico, Rio Grande Return, The Rewilding Institute, WildEarth Guardians, Wildlife for All, Protect Our Wildlife, Vermont Wildlife Coalition, Human-Beaver Coexistence Fund, Humane Voters of Washington, Snoqualmie Valley Preservation Alliance, Methow Beaver Project, Potomac Valley Audubon Society, Milwaukee Riverkeeper, Wyoming Wildlife Advocates, and Wyoming Untrapped.", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-07T22:13:55Z"], ["https://larsen.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=2936", "Larsen to Host In-Person Town Halls in Ferndale and Edmonds", "2024-12-06", "2024", "2024-12", "Democrat", "House", "WA", "Rick Larsen", "L000560", "larsen.house.gov", "larsen", "https://larsen.house.gov/news/documentquery.aspx", "scraper", "FERNDALE and EDMONDS, WA \u2013 Today, Rep. Rick Larsen (WA-02) announced he will host two in-person town halls to discuss his priorities for the 119th Congress and hear directly from his constituents in Washington\u2019s Second Congressional District.\n\nLarsen will host a town hall on Saturday, December 14, from 3:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. at the Pioneer Pavilion Community Center in Ferndale.\n\nLarsen will then host a town hall on Sunday, December 15, from 1:00 p.m. to 2:00 p.m. at the Edmonds Plaza Room in Edmonds.\n\nThese town halls are open to all constituents who live in the Second District, which includes parts of Snohomish County and all of Whatcom, Skagit, Island and San Juan counties. If you are unable to attend a town hall and need assistance, please contact Larsen\u2019s district office at (425) 252-3188 or at larsen.house.gov/contact.\n\nFor the latest information on the town halls and on Larsen\u2019s work representing Northwest Washington, please visit larsen.house.gov or follow Larsen on X at x.com/RepRickLarsen, on Facebook at facebook.com/RepRickLarsen and on Instagram at instagram.com/repricklarsen.\n\nFerndale Town Hall Details\n\nSaturday, December 14\n\n3:00 p.m. \u2013 4:00 p.m. PST\n\nPioneer Pavilion Community Center\n\n2007 Cherry Street\n\nFerndale, WA\n\n98248\n\nEdmonds Town Hall Details\n\nSunday, December 15\n\n1:00 p.m. \u2013 2:00 p.m. PST\n\nEdmonds Plaza Room\n\n650 Main Street\n\nEdmonds, WA\n\n98020\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-07T22:13:55Z"], ["https://delbene.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=3996", "DelBene Announces WA-01 Winner of 2024 Congressional App Challenge", "2024-12-05", "2024", "2024-12", "Democrat", "House", "WA", "Suzan K. DelBene", "D000617", "delbene.house.gov", "delbene", "https://delbene.house.gov/news/documentquery.aspx?DocumentTypeID=27", "scraper", "Today, Congresswoman Suzan DelBene (WA-01) announced Read Buddy for Neurodivergent, created by Isabella and Nathan Guan from Kirkland, as the winner of the 2024 Congressional App Challenge from Washington\u2019s 1st Congressional District.\n\nRead Buddy is a reading assistant tool designed to support neurodivergent people with reading comprehension support while minimizing distractions. Read Buddy scans printed text and converts it into a digital format. This creates an interactive reading experience to foster comprehension and focus. A demo of Read Buddy can be found here.\n\nThe winning app was selected by a panel of impartial judges from our community. Read Buddy will be displayed in the U.S. Capitol for the next year, along with winning apps from other congressional districts.", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-07T22:13:55Z"], ["https://delbene.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=3994", "DelBene, Bucshon, Schrier, Miller Introduce Bill to Remove Financial Barriers for Living Organ Donors", "2024-12-04", "2024", "2024-12", "Democrat", "House", "WA", "Suzan K. DelBene", "D000617", "delbene.house.gov", "delbene", "https://delbene.house.gov/news/documentquery.aspx?DocumentTypeID=27", "scraper", "Today, Representatives Suzan DelBene (WA-01), Larry Bucshon, MD (IN-08), Kim Schrier, MD (WA-08), and Carol Miller (WV-01) introduced legislation to provide more support to living organ donors and address the increasingly high costs of donation. The Expanding Support for Living Donors Act would remove financial barriers that prevent many people from donating life-saving organs.\n\nEvery day, 17 Americans die waiting for an organ transplant. There are more than 100,000 people on the transplant waitlist, with more than 66,000 people added last year. A transplant provides a new lease on life, but our current system is insufficient to meet the needs of patients.\n\nWhile the rate of deceased donations has improved in recent years following Congressional action, the rate of living donations has flatlined over the past two decades. This is largely due to the high out-of-pocket costs of donating, which can exceed $10,000. Travel expenses, child care, and lost wages from missing work are all major costs that donors can incur in the process. The existing federal donor reimbursement program only provides up to $6,000 for donation-related expenses, which is often not enough, and income restrictions disqualify many people from accessing these benefits.\n\n\u201cDonors give the gift of life to their fellow Americans, but for too long the system hasn\u2019t been designed to fully support them. This legislation would remove unnecessary financial barriers that have prevented many from donating. As the transplant list continues to grow longer and longer, we must take bold steps to support living donors,\u201d said DelBene.\n\n\u201cAs a physician and current Co-Chair of the Congressional Kidney Caucus, I recognize the life-saving impact organ donations have on thousands of Americans each year. Unfortunately, our current system fails to meet patient demand and living donations have flatlined over the past two decades, in part due to out-of-pocket expenses that exceed the current reimbursement cap under the Living Donor Reimbursement Program,\u201d said Dr. Bucshon. \u201cThe Expanding Support for Living Donors Act would broaden eligibility for the program and increase the maximum reimbursement to $10,000, providing living donors with the critical financial support they need to continue saving lives.\u201d\n\n\u201cLiving donors are a blessing to those who have life-threatening diseases and need an organ transplant, but they are also rare given how expensive donating an organ can be. The last thing a donor should have to worry about is whether they can afford this kind of procedure. It\u2019s important that these individuals have access to financial aid along with additional support needed to move forward with the donation process. I joined Congresswoman DelBene in introducing the Expanding Support for Living Donors Act to reauthorize the Living Organ Donation Reimbursement Program and remove the current income restrictions which affect whether a donor is reimbursed. This bill will ensure low-income individuals are appropriately compensated for their life-saving donations and increase the number of donations available to those in need,\u201d said Miller.\n\n\u201cAs a doctor, I have seen firsthand the life-changing impact that organ donations have and know that these donations add years to recipients' lives, giving them a new lease on life and precious, additional time spent with their family and loved ones,\u201d said Dr. Schrier. \u201cHowever, living donors often face financial barriers when trying to donate, such as travel costs and lost wages. I am proud to support this legislation, which will help address this issue and hopefully increase donations by expanding financial assistance to living donors.\u201d\n\nThe bill would:\n\nReauthorize the Living Organ Donation Reimbursement Program through 2035.\n\nIncrease the maximum reimbursement amount to $10,000 (pegged to inflation).\n\nDouble the income eligibility to about $100,000 a year.\n\nMake reimbursement eligibility based on the donor\u2019s income instead of the recipient. This mirrors the Honor Our Living Donors (HOLD) Act (H.R. 6020), which was marked up with unanimous approval in the House Energy and Commerce Committee in July 2024.\n\nThe bill is supported by the following patient advocacy and medical groups: National Kidney Foundation, American Society of Nephrology, American Society of Transplantation, Nonprofit Kidney Care Alliance, American Kidney Fund, Waitlist Zero, Centers for Dialysis Care, Central Florida Kidney Centers, Independent Dialysis Foundation, Northwest Kidney Centers, Puget Sound Kidney Centers, Renal Physicians Association, American Society of Pediatric Nephrology, American Society of Transplant Surgeons, American Association of Kidney Patients, American Liver Foundation, American Nephrology Nurses Association, Dialysis Patient Citizens, Kidney Transplant Collaborative, Ardelyx, and Washington State Hospital Association.\n\n\u201cThe stakes could not be higher,\u201d said Kevin Longino, CEO, National Kidney Foundation and a transplant recipient. \u201cTwelve people die in the U.S. every day waiting for a kidney. This bipartisan effort to enhance NLDAC is a crucial step toward saving more lives, and we urge lawmakers to act swiftly to pass this critical legislation. Living donors make an extraordinary sacrifice to save lives, and they should never face financial obstacles in the process.\u201d\n\n\u201cDonating a life-saving organ is one of the greatest possible gifts. The American Society of Nephrology believes that living donation should be a cost-neutral act and commends the introduction of the Expanding Support for Living Donors Act. This bill breaks down barriers to living organ donation by covering out-of-pocket costs incurred during the living donation process for most Americans, enshrining our nation\u2019s commitment to those who give the gift of life,\u201d said Deidra Crews, MD, President, American Society of Nephrology. \u201cBy better supporting living donors, this legislation will improve the lives of people with kidney failure by expanding access to the best-known treatment \u2013 a kidney transplant.\u201d\n\n\u201cThe American Kidney Fund is proud to support the Expanding Support for Living Donors Act, which would increase the number of kidneys available for donation by making living donation more affordable for donors,\u201d said LaVarne Burton, President and CEO, American Kidney Fund. \u201cThe kidney transplant waiting list currently has over 90,000 people on it; in 2023, roughly 1 in 4 of those waiting for a kidney were transplanted. This bill could provide renewed hope to those awaiting a lifesaving kidney transplant.\u201d\n\n\u201cEvery day at Northwest Kidney Centers, we watch as so many of our patients await the call that a kidney is available and that they will receive a life-saving transplant. Sadly, many never receive that call. In the last decade, the number of kidney transplants from living donors in the United States has remained flat, despite many more individuals living with kidney failure, which is why we proudly support the Expanding Support for Living Donors Act,\u201d said Matthew Rivara, MD, Chief Medical Officer, Northwest Kidney Centers. \u201cThis legislation will provide a critical reauthorization of the important Living Organ Donation Reimbursement program and will provide needed relief for a greater number of living donors by substantially increasing the income eligibility threshold and allowed amount for expense reimbursement. These changes are essential to a future in which more individuals donate so those awaiting transplant get that life-changing call before it is too late.\u201d\n\n\u201cFor many patients, kidney transplantation can improve survival and quality of life. However, several barriers currently exist that limit the availability of living donor kidneys. This bill would remove many of the constraints for potential organ donation, expanding the pool of donor kidneys and opportunities for organ transplantation. We appreciate our congressional representatives for championing efforts to improve the lives of those suffering with kidney disease and urge their colleagues to also support this bill,\u201d said Raghu Durvasula, MD, Chief Medical Officer, Puget Sound Kidney Centers.", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-07T22:13:55Z"], ["https://strickland.house.gov/2024/12/04/strickland-elected-secretary-of-congressional-black-caucus/", "Strickland Elected Secretary of Congressional Black Caucus", "2024-12-04", "2024", "2024-12", "Democrat", "House", "WA", "Marilyn Strickland", "S001159", "strickland.house.gov", "strickland", "https://strickland.house.gov/category/press_release/", "scraper", "Washington, D.C. \u2013 Today, Congresswoman Marilyn Strickland (WA-10) was elected by her Congressional Black Caucus (CBC) colleagues to serve as the CBC Secretary in the 119th Congress.\n\n\u201cI am honored and grateful to my CBC colleagues for their trust and support,\u201d said Strickland. I look forward to leveraging our power to achieve our goals in the 119th Congress.\u201d\n\nThe CBC is the \u201cconscience of the Congress\u201d and has a longstanding history of effective policymaking and advocacy to address the needs of African Americans and other underserved communities across the country. The caucus will have a record number of 62 members, representing districts as diverse as America. As Secretary, Strickland will work to ensure that the Caucus is united in the fight for equitable access to housing, education, jobs, healthcare, and justice for every American.\n\nStrickland will serve alongside incoming Chair Rep. Yvette Clarke (NY-09), First Vice Chair Rep. Troy Carter (LA-02), Second Vice Chair Rep. Lucy McBath (GA-07), and Whip Rep. Sydney Kamlager-Dove (CA-37) as part of the CBC leadership in the 119th Congress.\n\nIn the 118th Congress Strickland served as the CBC\u2019s Whip. Strickland is the first, and only member from Washington State and the Pacific Northwest to serve on the CBC Executive Board.\n\nU.S. Representative Marilyn Strickland serves on the House Armed Services Committee and the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee. She is Whip for the Congressional Black Caucus, a member of the New Democrat Coalition, and one of the first Korean-American women elected to Congress.\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-07T22:13:55Z"], ["https://jayapal.house.gov/2024/12/03/merkley-jayapal-tlaib-introduce-congressional-resolution-raising-awareness-of-chemical-disasters-in-the-united-states-abroad/", "Merkley, Jayapal, Tlaib Introduce Congressional Resolution Raising Awareness of Chemical Disasters in the United States & Abroad", "2024-12-03", "2024", "2024-12", "Democrat", "House", "WA", "Pramila Jayapal", "J000298", "jayapal.house.gov", "jayapal", "https://jayapal.house.gov/category/press-releases/", "scraper", "Washington, D.C. \u2013 U.S. Senator Jeff Merkley (D-OR), U.S. Representatives Pramila Jayapal (WA-07) and Rashida Tlaib (MI-12) today introduced a bicameral resolution designating December 3rd as National Chemical Disaster Awareness Day. The resolution spotlights the ongoing crisis of chemical disasters nationwide and marks the 40th anniversary of the Bhopal disaster, which is considered the deadliest chemical accident in world history.\n\n\u201cChemical disasters are often the result of corporations cutting corners and prioritizing profits over safety,\u201d said Merkley, Chair of the U.S. Senate Environment and Public Works subcommittee overseeing environmental justice and chemical safety. \u201cThese catastrophes cloud communities with toxic fumes, upending lives and threatening the health and property of those living and working close by. Four decades after the Bhopal disaster, the need for action remains urgent, and we recognize National Chemical Disaster Awareness Day to reaffirm the need for stronger laws to prevent chemical disasters and keep our communities and workers safe.\u201d\n\n\u201cThe Bhopal disaster was one of the worst environmental and industrial catastrophes in human history, killing thousands of people and causing permanent injuries in hundreds of thousands more,\u201d said Jayapal. \u201cAs we mark 40 years since this tragedy, it remains incredibly important that we continue working to both hold Union Carbide Corporation \u2013 a wholly owned subsidiary of the Dow Chemical Company \u2013 accountable for their role in this incident and ensure that all victims and their families are properly compensated and cared for. Far too often, large corporations are able to easily escape accountability for their wrongdoings, especially when those affected are poor and underserved communities. I\u2019m proud to lead my colleagues today in standing alongside these communities to demand justice and raising awareness for this horrible disaster as we fight to right these wrongs and prevent similar incidents from happening ever again.\u201d\n\n\u201cFrom Detroit to Bhopal, we have the right to breathe clean air,\u201d said Tlaib. \u201cIt\u2019s been 40 years since the Bhopal Chemical Disaster and the survivors are still sick and waiting for justice. Union Carbide, driven by corporate greed, caused one of the worst chemical disasters in history, poisoning the residents and local communities. Dow Chemical knowingly took responsibility for this disaster when it bought the company, yet still refuses to compensate the survivors. Dow must pay what\u2019s owed to the people of Bhopal for the countless deaths, sickness, and environmental destruction it profited from when it bought the corporation that caused this tragedy.\u201d\n\nThe National Chemical Disaster Awareness Day resolution is cosponsored in the Senate by Senators Ron Wyden (D-OR) and Peter Welch (D-VT) and in the House of Representatives by Representatives Ilhan Omar (D-MN-05), Barbara Lee (D-CA-12), Jim McGovern (D-MA-02), and Jamie Raskin (D-MD-08).\n\nIn the United States, a chemical disaster occurred almost every day in 2023, including high-profile events such as the train derailment in East Palestine, Ohio. The U.S. Chemical Safety Board\u2019s Reportable Accidental Releases list from April 2021 to October 2024 includes hundreds of reportable events, including 239 events with serious injuries, 63 with fatality, and 206 with substantial property damage.\n\n\u201cTo keep corporate control of its Indian subsidiary, Union Carbide recklessly compromised on safety procedures at its Bhopal plant, setting the stage for history\u2019s worst industrial disaster,\u201d said Rachna Dhingra, International Coordinator for the International Campaign for Justice in Bhopal (ICJB). \u201cBhopal\u2019s survivors, who continue to live with sickness, intergenerational harms, poisoned water, and gross injustice, hold as their dearest hope that no other community anywhere in the world should suffer as they have, or as they still do. By designating December 3rd as the National Chemical Disaster Awareness Day, the U.S. Congress sends a powerful message to Union Carbide, Dow, and to other chemical manufacturers inclined to cut corners and to socialise costs: \u2018We will remember, and you will be held accountable.\u2019\u201d\n\nA full list of the 70+ organizations supporting the National Chemical Disaster Awareness Day resolution can be found by clicking here.\n\nThe full text of the resolution can be found by clicking here.\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-07T22:13:55Z"], ["https://adamsmith.house.gov/news/press-releases/rep-smith-statement-boeing-machinists-contract-agreement", "Rep. Smith Statement on Boeing Machinists Contract Agreement", "2024-11-06", "2024", "2024-11", "Democrat", "House", "WA", "Adam Smith", "S000510", "adamsmith.house.gov", "adamsmith", "https://adamsmith.house.gov/news/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON - Rep. Smith released the following statement celebrating the deal agreed to by Boeing and the Machinists last night:\n\n\u201cCongratulations to the Machinist Union workers for their courage and tenacity. At great personal risk they stood up for each other for two challenging months. They set an example for working people everywhere \u2013 to fight for fair wages and benefits \u2013 and they were hugely successful. The deal that Machinists and Boeing came together last night to agree on delivers better benefits for Boeing workers, including a wage increase, stronger retirement plans, and other significant benefit improvements.\n\n\"I will always support the rights of workers to organize and collectively bargain for better working conditions. I\u2019m grateful today for the many leaders who rose to the occasion during these negotiations. Much is owed to Machinists President Job Holden, Boeing CEO Kelly Ortberg, and the Biden-Harris Administration\u2019s Acting Labor Secretary Julie Su for their expertise and leadership in this process.\n\n\"This new agreement should represent a new chapter for Boeing. For many decades, Boeing was a pillar of American innovation and manufacturing, but in recent times its felt like they have chosen to prioritize shareholders and investors over their own employees. I am hopeful that with this successful negotiation with the Machinists, that Boeing can learn from this experience and get back to where the company came from: a business focused not only on short-term profits but on building the best airplanes in the world. It\u2019s their middle- and working-class employees that build value not only in Boeing but also in our broader economy. I\u2019m glad to see their work being recognized with this agreement that sets a new standard for workers in the aerospace industry.\n\n\"Livable wages, strong retirement options, and good benefits should be the standard for workers everywhere. I am hopeful that this new chapter will bring great success to Boeing and all of its employees.\u201d", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-07T22:07:06Z"], ["https://adamsmith.house.gov/news/press-releases/rep-smith-statement-following-2024-election", "Rep. Smith Statement Following the 2024 Election", "2024-11-06", "2024", "2024-11", "Democrat", "House", "WA", "Adam Smith", "S000510", "adamsmith.house.gov", "adamsmith", "https://adamsmith.house.gov/news/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON, D.C. - Rep. Smith released the following statement:\n\n\"It is one of my greatest honors to work for the people of Washington's Ninth Congressional District. Over the next two years, my team and I will remain dedicated to serving the people of Washington\u2019s Ninth District.\n\n\"We have a lot of work to do as a country to righten the course we are on. We need to lower the cost of living, tackle corporate greed, make our communities safer, and support the working class.\n\n\"Just as crucially, we\u2019ll need to find common ground with people we disagree with. We\u2019ll need to improve the ways we handle political disagreements without resorting to extreme measures. I look forward to working on these challenges over the next two years.\"", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-07T22:07:06Z"], ["https://jayapal.house.gov/2024/11/04/jayapal-statement-celebrating-machinists-vote/", "Jayapal Statement Celebrating Machinists Vote", "2024-11-04", "2024", "2024-11", "Democrat", "House", "WA", "Pramila Jayapal", "J000298", "jayapal.house.gov", "jayapal", "https://jayapal.house.gov/category/press-releases/", "scraper", "SEATTLE, WA \u2013 U.S. Congresswoman Pramila Jayapal (WA-07) released the following statement after the International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers (IAM) voted to ratify Boeing\u2019s recent contract offer.\n\n\u201cTonight, I congratulate the workers in the IAM for winning a hard-fought victory after going on strike for seven weeks to stand up for core principles. Their solidarity in going on strike \u2013 a legitimate step in America\u2019s collective bargaining process \u2013 ensured a contract with 38 percent wage increases, sizable increases in retirement plans and job security. I also congratulate Machinists President Jon Holden as well as Boeing CEO Kelly Ortberg for working to reach a deal that ensures Boeing will continue to build quality planes that contribute to our country\u2019s security and mobility while valuing and respecting the fact that there is no Boeing without the IAM. I also thank Acting Labor Secretary Julie Su for her skilled leadership in bringing both parties to the table and to an agreement.\n\n\u201cBoeing has a long history of building the middle class in Seattle, with generations of workers committed to their jobs and to the company. This contract is a promising sign that the new leadership is committed to returning to that role as a business that is contributing to our region, state and country\u2019s well-being for current and future generations.\u201d\n\nJayapal has supported IAM Machinists throughout the strike, joining them on the picket line and rallying with them. She also sent a letter urging all parties to return to the bargaining table to reach a fair contract and stood behind the Machinists after they rejected Boeing\u2019s initial contract offer.", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-07T22:07:06Z"], ["https://jayapal.house.gov/2024/10/30/jayapal-statement-on-second-death-at-northwest-immigrant-processing-center-in-2024/", "Jayapal Statement on Second Death at Northwest Immigrant Processing Center in 2024", "2024-10-30", "2024", "2024-10", "Democrat", "House", "WA", "Pramila Jayapal", "J000298", "jayapal.house.gov", "jayapal", "https://jayapal.house.gov/category/press-releases/", "scraper", "SEATTLE, WA \u2013 U.S. Representative Pramila Jayapal (WA-07), Ranking Member of the Immigration Integrity, Security, and Enforcement Subcommittee, issued the following statement regarding the death of Jose Manuel Sanchez-Castro at the Northwest Immigrant Processing Center (NWIPC), formerly the Northwest Detention Center, an immigration detention facility in Washington State operated by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE):\n\n\u201cFirst and foremost, I extend my condolences to Mr. Sanchez-Castro\u2019s family and loved ones. While his official cause of death is still unknown, there must be accountability and a full investigation to understand exactly what happened. My office is tracking this closely and is in contact with ICE.\n\n\u201cThis is now the second death at NWIPC in 2024 after Charles Leo Daniel died in custody after spending 1,418 days in solitary confinement. Following his death, I inspected the facility and was not permitted to speak directly with detained people. I remain deeply concerned about reports from detained people regarding conditions at the facility and will continue to closely monitor and engage with federal officials about my concerns.\u201d\n\nIn 2018, another detained person at the facility died by suicide. Detained people at the facility have consistently been forced to resort to hunger strikes to protest conditions, including allegations of medical neglect, unsafe food, and unsanitary conditions among other complaints.\n\nJayapal has been a leader in efforts to end the use of private, for-profit detention centers and to instead utilize alternatives to detention. She has led multiple calls to the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) to urge the closure of facilities with records of abuse. She has also worked to push accountability and transparency at many of these detention facilities.\n\nShe is also the lead sponsor of the Dignity for Detained Immigrants Act, transformative legislation that would end the use of for-profit, private detention facilities and protect the civil and human rights of immigrants.", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-07T21:57:20Z"], ["https://newhouse.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/newhouse-fentanyl-task-force-release-final-report", "Newhouse, Fentanyl Task Force Release Final Report", "2024-10-30", "2024", "2024-10", "Republican", "House", "WA", "Dan Newhouse", "N000189", "newhouse.house.gov", "newhouse", "https://newhouse.house.gov/media-center/press-releases", "scraper", "This week, Rep. Dan Newhouse (WA-04) led the Central Washington Fentanyl Task Force in a meeting and released the taskforce\u2019s final report outlining guidance to help mitigate the ongoing fentanyl crisis.\n\n\u201cWe are proud to release a report which outlines our comprehensive work over the last year and a half to help stop the influence of the fentanyl crisis in our community,\u201d said Rep. Newhouse.\n\nNewhouse continued, \u201cFrom individuals who have firsthand experience in substance recovery, law enforcement officers, tribal representatives, and medical professionals, this task force represents all of us who have been impacted by this issue in one way or another. I am proud of the work we have accomplished.\u201d\n\nMeeting on a quarterly basis, the task force identified four categories to assess the problem and execute solutions: data, funding, policy, and education, at the federal, state, tribal, and local levels.\n\nIn each meeting, the task force compiled datasets to assess current trends of the crisis, mapped out funding mechanisms and resources available, discussed current laws and available programs, both for enforcement as well as prevention and treatment services, and finally, contributed to the all-hands-on-deck education campaign in Central Washington to combat this crisis.\n\nThis report reflects the task force\u2019s collective efforts, recommendations, and conclusions.\n\nBackground\n\nEnough fentanyl was interdicted by U.S. law enforcement last year to kill every American 66 times, 97% of it originates from China, 90% of it enters through U.S. Ports of Entry by vehicle, and 17% of meth, 41% of cocaine, 72% of heroin, and 74% of xylazine tested positive for fentanyl. The Task Force has evidence that shows 7 out of 10 fentanyl pills off the street in the U.S. possess a potentially deadly dose.\n\nThe fentanyl, mental health, and substance use disorder crisis is a multifaceted problem that requires all members of the community, both in the public and private sectors, to bring together their expertise, perspectives, and efforts to execute tangible and attainable solutions. The Central Washington Fentanyl Task Force was formed to bring together all voices of the community to discuss the complex problem of the fentanyl crisis and identify and implement attainable solutions.\n\nWatch the full announcement here.\n\nView the full report here.\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-07T21:57:20Z"], ["https://strickland.house.gov/2024/10/29/tacoma-rail-receives-over-8-3m-in-federal-funding-to-reduce-its-ghg-emissions/", "Tacoma Rail Receives Over $8.3M In Federal Funding to Reduce Its GHG Emissions", "2024-10-29", "2024", "2024-10", "Democrat", "House", "WA", "Marilyn Strickland", "S001159", "strickland.house.gov", "strickland", "https://strickland.house.gov/category/press_release/", "scraper", "Lakewood, Washington \u2013 Today, the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) announced over $8,300,000 for Tacoma Rail through the Consolidated Rail Infrastructure and Safety Improvements (CRISI) Program.\n\nTacoma Rail, a short line operating out of the Port of Tacoma, provides vital services to the local and regional economies. With this funding from DOT, Tacoma Rail will upgrade the diesel engines of four locomotives, significantly improving fuel efficiency and reducing freight rail emissions by over 90 percent.\n\n\u201cThis grant awarded to Tacoma Rail is another example of how federal funding strengthens our local economies,\u201d said Strickland. \u201cI am proud to support Tacoma Rail as they work to modernize their freight rail equipment, reduce greenhouse gas emissions, and improve air quality for surrounding neighborhoods.\u201d\n\n\u201cThis investment is a big deal for Tacoma \u2013 for our port, our rail system, and our competitiveness,\u201d said Rep. Derek Kilmer (WA-06). \u201cI\u2019m proud to have supported this important project alongside Representative Strickland. It will reduce emissions and ensure Tacoma Rail can modernize without the costs being solely borne by local taxpayers. I look forward to the impact this investment will have on the future of the railroad in our region.\u201d\n\n\u201cThis award from the Federal Railroad Administration marks a win for cleaner air in the community Tacoma Rail serves,\u201d said Paul Hoover with Tacoma Rail. \u201cWe are committed to working toward environmental justice, and repowering four 1980\u2019s era locomotives to modern EPA Tier 4 emission standards moves us toward our goal. This project will reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 93 percent, and fine-particle air pollution by 97 percent.\u201c\n\n\u201cThese grant funds will support an important Port partner in significantly reducing emissions of yard locomotives. Tacoma Rail plays a critical role in our supply chain ecosystem, moving goods out from our harbors towards consumer markets, and the investment in cleaner equipment is a win for our regional air quality\u201d said Port of Tacoma Commission President and The Northwest Seaport Alliance Co-chair Kristin Ang.\n\n\u201cThe maritime sector requires significant investment and partnership to reduce diesel emissions, and we are grateful to Representatives Strickland and Kilmer and Tacoma Rail for being partners in emission reduction efforts across our gateway. Investments in air quality improvements greatly impact all those that live and work near our port facilities,\u201d stated Hamdi Mohamed, Port of Seattle Commission President and The Northwest Seaport Alliance Co-Chair.\n\nEarlier this year, U.S. Representatives Marilyn Strickland (WA-10) and Derek Kilmer (WA-06) jointly advocated for this important economic investment to DOT. The CRISI Program \u2013 bolstered by the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA) \u2013 provides funding for projects that improve the safety, efficiency, and reliability of intercity passenger and freight rail.\n\nU.S. Representative Marilyn Strickland serves on the House Armed Services Committee and the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee. She is whip for the Congressional Black Caucus, a member of the New Democrat Coalition, and one of the first Korean-American women elected to Congress.\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-07T21:57:20Z"], ["https://adamsmith.house.gov/news/press-releases/rep-smith-statement-boeing-machinists-rejection-contract", "Rep. Smith Statement on Boeing Machinists Rejection of Contract", "2024-10-24", "2024", "2024-10", "Democrat", "House", "WA", "Adam Smith", "S000510", "adamsmith.house.gov", "adamsmith", "https://adamsmith.house.gov/news/press-releases", "scraper", "I am disappointed that Boeing Machinists and the company could not come to an agreement after yesterday's vote on the latest contract offer. Union members deserve fair wages, safe working conditions, and a voice within their company. I hope both parties return to the table promptly, especially after yesterday's report of a $6 billion loss in the fiscal third quarter. This failure has a profound effect on our nation's aerospace industry, and until negotiations can be successful, there will continue to be serious economic repercussions. Boeing's success depends on its dedicated workforce, many of whom have been loyal to the company for decades. A resolution to the Machinists' strike will restore a critical sector of our district's livelihood, and I hope they can work together to reach an agreement.\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-07T21:57:20Z"], ["https://jayapal.house.gov/2024/10/23/jayapal-statement-on-machinists-vote/", "Jayapal Statement on Machinists Vote", "2024-10-23", "2024", "2024-10", "Democrat", "House", "WA", "Pramila Jayapal", "J000298", "jayapal.house.gov", "jayapal", "https://jayapal.house.gov/category/press-releases/", "scraper", "SEATTLE, WA \u2013 U.S. Congresswoman Pramila Jayapal (WA-07) released the following statement after the International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers (IAM) voted against Boeing\u2019s recent contract offer.\n\n\u201cWhile the recent tentative agreement from Boeing made important strides forward, it is clear from today\u2019s vote that Boeing\u2019s offer did not reach the demands of striking Machinists. Workers are recovering from years without pay increases, the decimation of their defined benefit pension plans, and a previous management who did not respect them or even the quality of work. Today\u2019s vote makes it clear that Boeing still has more work to do to earn the trust of workers and to put more on the table for a fair contract.\n\n\u201cI have been proud to stand with the Machinists throughout this strike. Every worker deserves fair pay, good benefits, and a safe workplace. I hope to see both parties come back to the table to negotiate a deal that is acceptable to the union, because at the end of the day there is no Boeing without the IAM.\u201d\n\nJayapal has supported IAM Machinists throughout the strike, joining them on the picket line and rallying with them. She also sent a letter urging all parties to return to the bargaining table to reach a fair contract.", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-07T21:57:20Z"], ["https://larsen.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=2928", "Larsen and Kuster Introduce Bill to Enhance Federal Response to Close Substance Use Care Gap and Save Lives", "2024-10-23", "2024", "2024-10", "Democrat", "House", "WA", "Rick Larsen", "L000560", "larsen.house.gov", "larsen", "https://larsen.house.gov/news/documentquery.aspx", "scraper", "WASHINGTON, D.C. \u2013 Today, Reps. Rick Larsen (WA-02) and Annie Kuster (NH-02) introduced the Closing the Substance Use Care Gap Act to expand access to lifesaving, community-based harm reduction initiatives and services and enhance the federal response to the opioid and fentanyl epidemic.\n\n\u201cThe opioid crisis is devastating Northwest Washington. This bill helps close the gap between members of our community who want treatment for substance use disorder and those who actually receive it,\u201d said Larsen. \u201cCongress must stay focused on breaking down barriers to effective community-based solutions that meet people where they are, prevent overdoses and save lives.\u201d\n\n\u201cAt a time when overdose deaths are finally falling in New Hampshire and across the country, it\u2019s essential we keep our foot on the gas pedal and use every tool at our disposal to help save lives,\u201d said Kuster. \u201cI\u2019m pleased to help introduce legislation that bolsters access to community-based harm reduction services, overdose reversal medications, and medication-assisted treatments so that we connect more communities with the treatment and recovery services they need to heal and recover.\u201d\n\nWhat Does the Bill Do?\n\nThe Closing the Substance Use Care Gap Act would provide community-based organizations with more resources to administer life-saving harm reduction programs and services to people struggling with substance use. The bill would provide grant funding to support low-barrier health care options like naloxone (an overdose reversal medication), fentanyl test strips and low-threshold buprenorphine initiation to treat addiction. It would also provide funding to organizations to establish procedures and mechanisms for connecting individuals with evidence-based treatment and recovery support services.\n\nThe U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) identifies harm reduction as a key pillar of its Overdose Prevention Strategy, and the White House National Drug Control Strategy argues harm reduction is vital for providing resources to people at the highest risk of overdose or poor health outcomes. Despite the demand and effectiveness of harm reduction services, they remain substantially underfunded at the state and federal level.\n\nFor a fact sheet on the bill, click here.\n\nWhat Stakeholders Are Saying About the Bill\n\nRepresentatives from stakeholder organizations emphasized the importance of the Closing the Substance Use Care Gap Act to combat the opioid epidemic.\n\nNational\n\nNational Association of EMS Physicians President Jos\u00e9 Caba\u00f1as\u200e, MD, MPH, FAEMS:\n\n\u201cEMS clinicians and medical directors are on the front lines of the opioid crisis in our country, caring for our most vulnerable patients and responding to the urgent needs of our communities. There is an ongoing need for federal support to enhance harm reduction programs and to ensure early access to addiction treatment for those suffering from substance use disorders. This bill is a vital step forward in addressing these issues, and NAEMSP fully advocates for federal support as we work together to combat this crisis.\u201d\n\nNational Rural Health Association Chief Executive Officer Alan Morgan:\n\n\u201cThe National Rural Health Association (NRHA) endorses the Closing the Substance Use Care Gap Act, which reauthorizes and expands SAMHSA\u2019s Harm Reduction Grant Program to support harm reduction services and opioid treatment programs. Access to proven treatments, including medications for opioid use disorder (OUD), is required to reduce opioid-related fatalities. However, rural communities face significant barriers to treatment, with 72% lacking a buprenorphine provider and over 90% without an opioid treatment program. NRHA supports Representatives Larsen and Kuster\u2019s steps to improving outcomes for rural Americans living with OUD.\u201d\n\nNational Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) Chief Advocacy Officer Hannah Wesolowski:\n\n\u201cAs we work towards overcoming the opioid epidemic in our country, we must ensure communities have all the resources they need to support people who are impacted. NAMI thanks Reps. Larsen and Kuster for introducing the Closing the Substance Use Care Gap Act to help ensure communities have vital lifesaving harm reduction resources. NAMI is proud to support the Closing the Opioid Treatment Gap Act to turn the tide on our nation\u2019s opioid crisis.\u201d\n\nAmerican Nurses Association President Jennifer Mensik Kennedy, PhD, MBA, RN, NEA-BC, FAAN:\n\n\u201cNurses care for patients impacted by substance use disorders every day and see firsthand how essential harm reduction programs are\u2014not only saving lives but creating pathways to treatment and recovery for those not yet ready to stop using. The American Nurses Association (ANA) stands in support of the Closing the Substance Use Care Gap Act. This legislation supports and expands access to critical programs and services\u2014ensuring nurses specializing in substance use disorder treatment can bridge the treatment gap and connect individuals battling substance use disorders to needed care, especially for those in rural and underserved communities. ANA commends Representatives Larsen and Kuster for introducing this important bill and urges Congress to pass it swiftly.\u201d\n\nAmerican College of Physicians President Isaac O. Opole, MBChB, PHD, MACP:\n\n\u201cThe American College of Physicians supports evidence-based harm reduction strategies. These measures have been shown to prevent overdose, reduce transmission of infectious diseases, encourage safe use protocols, and save lives. As physicians, we see patients every day experiencing significant health issues due to substance use disorder. Expanded federal funding for harm reduction strategies, as proposed in the Closing the Substance Use Care Gap Act, could greatly help to improve the health and safety of those patients.\u201d\n\nAssociation of American Medical Colleges Chief Public Policy Officer Danielle Turnipseed, JD, MHSA, MPP:\n\n\u201cEvidence-based harm reduction strategies, such as overdose prevention programs, play an important role in preventing deaths, reducing spread of infectious diseases, and connecting people to treatment. While no single intervention on its own will fully resolve the challenges that individuals with substance use disorders face in accessing treatment, Rep. Rick Larsen and Rep. Annie Kuster\u2019s bill would take an important step forward to continue and enhance SAMHSA\u2019s support for harm reduction work across the country.\u201d\n\nThis legislation is also supported by the American Society of Addiction Medicine, National Council for Mental Wellbeing and the Overdose Prevention Initiative at Global Health Advocacy Incubator (GHAI).\n\nLocal\n\nSnohomish County Executive Dave Somers:\n\n\u201cWashington is fortunate to have Representative Larsen working at the federal level to combat the opioid epidemic and ensure federal resources are being delivered where they are most needed. I support the Closing the Substance Use Care Gap Act because it is a powerful tool to help fund key components of Snohomish County\u2019s life-saving efforts, including Medication-Assisted Treatment (MAT), overdose reversal medication, and addiction prevention.\u201d\n\nWhatcom County Health and Community Services Health Officer Dr. Amy Harley:\n\n\u201cAccess to federal grant funding for harm reduction services is essential for our community's health. In Whatcom County the opioid overdose death rate is 5 times higher than 5 years ago. Programs that provide harm reduction services are a critical part of our comprehensive response to the overdose crisis. In our county, these programs provide overdose prevention education and opioid overdose reversal medications, as well as health screenings, supplies, and referrals \u2013 we help individuals avoid life-altering infections and get connected to care. Through Whatcom County\u2019s Safety and Support program, we\u2019ve distributed thousands of doses of life-saving opioid overdose reversal medications in the past year. These services are vital engagement points on the path to recovery, fostering community and increasing hope and resilience. Restoring funding opportunities through the Closing the Substance Use Care Gap Act will ensure the stability of these vital programs, and is especially important given current resource limitations at the local level and the severity of the crisis.\u201d\n\nSan Juan County Council and the San Juan County Board of Health:\n\n\u201cThe San Juan County Council and the San Juan County Board of Health are grateful to Representative Larsen for introducing the Closing the Substance Use Care Gap Act. Like every other County in America, we feel the effects of the opioid crisis in the damage it does to our communities and in the loss of precious lives, including those of our children. We support Harm Reduction as a scientifically sound public health strategy and a vital tool in helping people struggling with Substance Use Disorder stay alive to start on the road to recovery.\u201d\n\nThe Board of Island County Commissioners:\n\n\u201cThe Board of Island County Commissioners endorses Representative Larsen\u2019s legislation, Closing the Substance Use Care Gap Act, which will benefit our citizens affected by the opioid epidemic by expanding their access to harm reduction programs and services. We ask Congress to pass this legislation.\u201d\n\nSound Pathways Executive Director Shannon Goforth:\n\n\u201cAt Sound Pathways, we believe that harm reduction is crucial for connecting individuals with the services they need, empowering them to make informed, autonomous choices regarding drug use, mental health and recovery. Increasing grant access to support these services would bolster our capacity to improve the care we currently offer.\u201d\n\nWashington State Medical Association President John Bramhall, MD, PhD:\n\n\u201cThe Washington State Medical Association (WSMA), representing physicians practicing in every specialty and corner of the state, applauds Congressman Rick Larsen\u2019s introduction of the Closing the Substance Use Care Gap Act. The WSMA supports policies that facilitate and improve access to evidence-based harm reduction efforts. This measure will save lives by directly engaging with people who use drugs to prevent overdoses and infectious disease transmission while establishing connections for ongoing care and treatment.\u201d\n\nWashington State Hospital Association CEO Cassie Sauer:\n\n\u201cThe Closing the Substance Use Care Gap Act is a critical step towards ensuring that people struggling with substance use have access to the care and support they need. Harm reduction is a proven strategy to prevent overdoses and life-threatening infections. This bill will help patients across Washington access evidence-based treatment and recovery support services. The Washington State Hospital Association applauds Congressman Larsen\u2019s leadership on this issue.\u201d\n\nWashington State Association of Counties Interim Executive Director Derek Young:\n\n\u201cCounties are on the front line in the opioid epidemic. Our members know that strong federal partners are essential to closing the treatment gap and saving lives. We're grateful for Representative Larsen championing these efforts.\u201d\n\nUniversity of Washington\u2019s Harm Reduction Research and Treatment (HaRRT) Center Co-Directors Susan Collins, PhD, and Seema Clifasefi, PhD, LICSW:\n\n\u201cThe Closing the Substance Use Care Gap Act will ensure the availability of federal funding for evidence-based and life-saving harm-reduction services and treatment programs. It is critical that this reauthorization will support community-led and grassroots harm-reduction agencies and organizations, who work on the frontlines of the overdose epidemic. Funds will bolster services provided by state, Tribal, local and territorial governments to reduce substance-related harm and improve health and well-being for their citizens, families and communities. By investing in these essential harm-reduction services and more inclusive treatment approaches, this bill will better meet the needs of individuals and lift them up in their recovery journeys.\u201d\n\nThe legislation is also supported by the Washington State Association of Local Public Health Officials (WSALPHO).\n\nLarsen Focused on Combating Opioid and Fentanyl Crisis\n\nLarsen continues to focus on supporting local efforts to combat the opioid crisis and save lives. Earlier this year, he introduced a districtwide opioid report that outlines a four-pillar framework to combat the crisis. Larsen has introduced three additional bills aimed at combating the crisis:\n\n\u00b7 In July, Larsen introduced the Workforce Opportunities for Communities in Recovery Act to create employment opportunities for people in recovery and support communities impacted by widespread opioid use.\n\n\u00b7 In August, Larsen introduced the bipartisan Protection for Reservation Occupants against Trafficking and Evasive Communications Today (PROTECT) Act to give Tribal courts and law enforcement more tools and resources to combat the opioid epidemic.\n\n\u00b7 In September, Larsen introduced the End Fentanyl Trafficking with Local Task Forces Act to establish a dedicated federal funding stream to help multi-jurisdictional drug task forces combat opioid trafficking in Washington state and across the country.\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-07T21:57:20Z"], ["https://schrier.house.gov/media/press-releases/congresswoman-schrier-recognized-washington-retail-crime-fighter-national", "Congresswoman Schrier Recognized as Washington Retail Crime Fighter by the National Retail Federation", "2024-10-23", "2024", "2024-10", "Democrat", "House", "WA", "Kim Schrier", "S001216", "schrier.house.gov", "schrier", "https://schrier.house.gov/media/press-releases", "scraper", "ISSAQUAH, WA \u2013 Organized retail crime has become increasingly prevalent across the United States, threatening local businesses and jobs, putting employees and customers at risk, and fueling transnational criminal organizations\u2019 illicit activities, including human, drug, and weapons trafficking. To address this issue, Congresswoman Schrier has co-sponsored the Combating Organized Retail Crime Act, a bipartisan, bicameral bill that takes steps to crack down on organized retail crime. For these efforts, Congresswoman Schrier is being recognized by the National Retail Federation as Washington's Retail Crime Fighter.\n\nThis bill cracks down on organized retail crime by establishing a Coordination Center located within the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), combining expertise from federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies along with the private sector to create a national strategy to curb organized retail crime including increased penalties.\n\nIt is estimated that organized retail crime costs the US nearly $70 billion annually, robbing retailers of $720,000 for every $1 billion in sales. Recognizing this is a commonly and increasingly heard issue in the Eighth District with law enforcement and retailers, Rep. Schrier reached out to key stakeholders in the district and got detailed feedback from stakeholders that she then brought back to Congress to help shape this bill.\n\n\u201cI\u2019ve heard from law enforcement, local businesses, and constituents throughout the Eighth District who are concerned about the rise and impact of organized retail crime,'' said Congresswoman Kim Schrier. \u201cThis is a serious issue - not only does organized retail crime harm local businesses and threaten our public safety, but the money stolen in these crimes helps to fund other illegal activities that further increase crime in our communities. I\u2019ve proudly worked alongside local law enforcement to combat this issue by securing federal funds to make sure our officers are well-equipped and by pushing legislation like the Combating Organized Retail Crime Act.\u201d\n\n\u201cOrganized Retail Theft is a growing problem in the region that affects everyone,\u201d said Covington Police Chief Adam Easterbrook. \u201cWe appreciate Congresswoman Schrier meeting with us to discuss finding solutions to this problem.\u201d\n\n\u201cThe King County Prosecuting Attorney\u2019s Office is serious about tackling organized retail theft,\u201d said King County Prosecuting Attorney Leesa Manion. \u201cWe\u2019ve heard very clearly from our partners \u2013 law enforcement, retailers, and community \u2013 about the impact of retail crimes, which can have significant negative financial consequences on businesses of all sizes. The Prosecuting Attorney\u2019s Office is committed to doing our part to address these crimes wherever they occur in King County.\u201d", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-07T21:57:20Z"], ["https://newhouse.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/newhouse-introduces-bill-reform-telework-locality-pay-federal-employees", "Newhouse Introduces Bill To Reform Telework Locality Pay for Federal Employees", "2024-10-20", "2024", "2024-10", "Republican", "House", "WA", "Dan Newhouse", "N000189", "newhouse.house.gov", "newhouse", "https://newhouse.house.gov/media-center/press-releases", "scraper", "This week, Rep. Dan Newhouse (WA-04) introduced The Federal Employee Return to Work Act to crack down on wasteful government spending and incentivize federal employees to return to in-person work. Federal employees who telework from home currently receive annual locality bonuses despite not being required to physically attend their offices located in a high-cost-of-living area. This bill is the House companion to U.S. Senator Bill Cassidy of Louisiana\u2019s bill.\n\n\u201cThe federal government pays for massive offices for agency employees in Washington, D.C. and we now know that 17 of the 24 federal agencies are using less than a quarter of their space because of work from home employees,\u201d said Rep. Newhouse.\n\nNewhouse continued, \u201cIf agencies wish to allow their employees to work from home, that is within their right to do so. But if they do, then the government should not be paying locality bonuses to those employees and they should be treated like any other work from home federal employee that doesn\u2019t receive such a bonus. Taxpayers pay for federal buildings and salaries; it is time to stop wasting their money on empty buildings and unneeded work from home bonuses.\u201d\n\nU.S. Senator Bill Cassidy (R-LA) said, \u201cFederal employees get paid extra to work in higher-cost cities. But what if they don\u2019t show up to work? Why should they get paid?\u201d said Dr. Cassidy. \u201cIf you don\u2019t show up for work, you don\u2019t get paid at the same rate just for teleworking.\u201d\n\nThe U.S. Government Accountability Office (GAO) found that 17 of the 24 federal agencies were using 25% or less of their headquarters building\u2019s capacity at the beginning of 2023.\n\nGAO identified six agencies that were on average 91% vacant while their employees still received a 16.44% locality bonus compared to the rest of the country, regardless of their in-office attendance. These agencies included the Social Security Administration, the Small Business Administration, and the Department of Housing and Urban Development.\n\nThe bill excludes certain federal employees who telework at least one day a week from receiving raises and special locality bonuses for their office location being in a high-cost-of-living area despite working from home.\n\nIn the bill, the term \u201ccovered employee\u201d means \u201can employee who teleworks not fewer than 1 day, or in the case of an alternative work schedule, not less than 20 percent a week.\u201d The term does not include an employee who teleworks not fewer than 1 day a week; is disabled and receives reasonable accommodations; is a member of the Foreign Service; Federal law enforcement; Armed Services; or any other employee, the official worksite of whom is not described in section 531.605(a)(1) of title 5.\n\nIf the employee meets the definition of \u201ccovered employee,\u201d then they may not receive an annual adjustment under section 5303 of title 5. They shall be paid at the rate of basic pay under the applicable grade under the locality pay area designated as \u201cRest of U.S.\u201d\n\nFull bill text can be found here.\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-07T21:57:20Z"], ["https://adamsmith.house.gov/news/press-releases/rep-smith-statement-death-hamas-leader-yahya-sinwar", "Rep. Smith Statement on Death of Hamas Leader Yahya Sinwar", "2024-10-18", "2024", "2024-10", "Democrat", "House", "WA", "Adam Smith", "S000510", "adamsmith.house.gov", "adamsmith", "https://adamsmith.house.gov/news/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON, D.C. \u2013 Rep. Smith released the following statement:\n\n\u201cYesterday, the Israeli Defense Force killed Hamas leader Yahya Sinwar. His death has been confirmed by DNA tests.\n\n\u201cSinwar played a central role in the brutal October 7th massacre in Israel that killed more than 1,200 men, women, and children -- including 46 Americans -- and kidnapped hundreds more. Many hostages remain in captivity, including several Americans.\n\n\u201cThe challenge that now faces Israel is how to move from this moment to finally achieve a ceasefire, a return of the hostages, and deliver necessary aid to the people of Gaza to end the humanitarian crisis. There is a new opportunity to end Hamas\u2019 grip on the Palestinian people of Gaza and a chance for Israel and civilians in Gaza to establish a lasting, secure peace in the region. A ceasefire agreement must be achieved.\u201d", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-07T21:57:20Z"], ["https://jayapal.house.gov/2024/10/18/jayapal-commends-tps-protections-for-lebanese-nationals-currently-in-the-united-states/", "Jayapal Commends TPS Protections for Lebanese Nationals Currently in the United States", "2024-10-18", "2024", "2024-10", "Democrat", "House", "WA", "Pramila Jayapal", "J000298", "jayapal.house.gov", "jayapal", "https://jayapal.house.gov/category/press-releases/", "scraper", "WASHINGTON \u2014 U.S. Representative Pramila Jayapal (WA-07), Ranking Member of the Immigration Integrity, Security, and Enforcement Subcommittee, released the following statement after Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas announced new actions to provide temporary immigration protections to eligible Lebanese nationals currently in the United States.\n\n\u201cToday\u2019s announcement is welcome news amid the dire humanitarian crisis and regional conflict facing the Lebanese people. As the situation on the ground worsens, the United States must fulfill our responsibility to provide refuge to those fleeing violence and unprecedented economic, political, and financial disasters. I thank the Biden-Harris administration for supporting Lebanese nationals in their time of need through a new Temporary Protected Status (TPS) designation, which was one of the Progressive Caucus\u2019 key recommendations on our executive action slate. Combined with President Biden\u2019s previous Deferred Enforced Departure (DED) designation, these measures will provide some level of peace of mind to thousands of Lebanese families.\u201d", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-07T21:57:20Z"], ["https://jayapal.house.gov/2024/10/17/jayapal-lee-statement-on-death-of-yahya-sinwar/", "Jayapal, Lee Statement on Death of Yahya Sinwar", "2024-10-17", "2024", "2024-10", "Democrat", "House", "WA", "Pramila Jayapal", "J000298", "jayapal.house.gov", "jayapal", "https://jayapal.house.gov/category/press-releases/", "scraper", "WASHINGTON \u2014U.S. Representatives Barbara Lee (CA-12) and Pramila Jayapal (WA-07) released the following statement regarding the death of terrorist Yahya Sinwar:\n\n\u201cYahya Sinwar was the leader of Hamas who planned the brutal October 7 terrorist attack. His death should provide new opportunities to work towards peace in the Middle East. As we have maintained from the very beginning of this war, a ceasefire and hostage deal is key to resolving this conflict. Both sides should use this opportunity to agree to President Biden\u2019s proposal for a ceasefire, and immediately reunite surviving hostages with their families.\n\n\u201cHistory shows that the death of a terrorist leader does not necessarily mean the end of violence \u2013 it will only lead to peace and security if the strategy includes smart, principled, and tough diplomacy.\u201d", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-07T21:57:20Z"], ["https://adamsmith.house.gov/news/press-releases/rep-smith-sends-letter-urging-contract-negotiations-between-boeing-and", "Rep. Smith Sends Letter Urging Contract Negotiations Between Boeing and International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers", "2024-10-16", "2024", "2024-10", "Democrat", "House", "WA", "Adam Smith", "S000510", "adamsmith.house.gov", "adamsmith", "https://adamsmith.house.gov/news/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON, D.C. - Yesterday, Representative Adam Smith (D-Wash), alongside Representative Rick Larsen (D-Wash), Senator Maria Cantwell (D-Wash), and Senator Patty Murray (D-Wash), sent a letter to Boeing President and CEO Kelly Ortberg, IAM District W24 President Brandon Bryant, and IAM District 751 President Joe Holden urging further contract negotiations between their organizations.\n\nSee the full letter below.\n\nDear Mr. Ortberg, Mr. Holden, and Mr. Bryant:\n\nWe are writing about the contract negotiations between the Boeing Company and the International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers (1AM) Districts 751 and W24. With the machinist strike now lasting well over a month, and with no further talks currently scheduled, we urge you to redouble your efforts to reach a mutually beneficial resolution.\n\nWith over 42,000 single-aisle and wide body commercial aircraft projected to be manufactured over the next twenty years, valued at $8 trillion, now is the time to rebuild the historic partnership between management and workers in order to restore Boeing's reputation for engineering and manufacturing excellence. This will require investing in next generation manufacturing techniques, innovative new materials, and providing workers with wages and benefits that acknowledge the essential and irreplaceable work they perform for the Company.\n\n1AM 751 and W24 represent a vital workforce in the Pacific Northwest and for nearly a century have made it possible for Boeing to produce aircraft that fly millions of passengers each day, connecting communities and economies around the world. With these contributions in mind, we hope you will expeditiously work out a fair and durable deal that recognizes the importance of the machinist workforce to Boeing's future, the aerospace economy of the Pacific Northwest, and the nation.\n\nThank you for your attention to this matter, we look forward to your timely response.\n\nA full copy of the letter can be found at the link above.", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-07T21:57:20Z"], ["https://adamsmith.house.gov/news/press-releases/rep-smith-letter-urging-further-west-bank-sanctions", "Rep. Smith Letter Urging Further West Bank Sanctions", "2024-10-15", "2024", "2024-10", "Democrat", "House", "WA", "Adam Smith", "S000510", "adamsmith.house.gov", "adamsmith", "https://adamsmith.house.gov/news/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON, D.C. - Last week, Representative Adam Smith (D-Wash) sent a letter to President Joe Biden urging the United States to impose sanctions on individuals and entities destabilizing the Middle East.\n\nSee the full letter below.\n\nDear President Biden,\n\nI write to express my deep concern over escalating violence in the West Bank and the continued expansion of Israeli settlements. In order to bring us closer to a path to peace in the region and the ultimate goal of a two-state solution, I urge you to impose further sanctions on individuals and entities destabilizing the West Bank.\n\nThe only way out of the vicious cycle of regional conflict is by forming a coalition with the U.S., Israel, Saudi Arabia, U.A.E., Jordan, Qatar, and other Arab states as a deterrence to Iran. This coalition will never form without a future for the Palestinian people. While I understand Israel\u2019s motivations to respond to the threat from Iran and their proxies in the region, I am adamantly opposed to Israel\u2019s approach to the West Bank.\n\nIsrael\u2019s actions in the West Bank threaten peace and stability in the region and have no support under international law. Prime Minister Netanyahu, Finance Minister Smotrich, and National Security Minister Ben-Gvir have promoted rapid Israeli settlement expansion, including retroactive legalization of outposts, and tacitly have enabled settler violence.\n\nI support your issuance and implementation of Executive Order (E.O.) 14115, which imposes sanctions on individuals and entities undermining peace, security, and stability in the West Bank.1 Your administration has rightly used this Executive Order to crack down on some of the worst perpetrators of violence, both Israeli and Palestinian, including Palestinian terrorist group Lions\u2019 Den.\n\nI urge your administration to more forcefully leverage E.O. 14115, especially regarding entities such as Amana, in order to discourage Israeli settlement expansion and settler violence. Amana has provided critical support for the settlement movement for decades and is responsible for the construction of 83 of the 146 settlements in the West Bank.3 Notably, Amana is also funding the proliferation of now-sanctioned outposts considered illegal under Israeli law,4 including the expansion of pastoral farms in the West Bank that facilitate the rapid seizure of large swaths of Palestinian lland.5 These outposts and farms are particularly associated with extremist settler violence.\n\nThe U.S. imposing additional sanctions under E.O. 14115 would send a strong signal to the Israeli government that unilateral and often violent seizure of Palestinian lands, whether by the Israeli government or Israeli citizens, cannot continue with impunity. I appreciate your administration\u2019s attention to these matters.\n\n10.10.2024 SMITH Letter on West Bank Sanctions[4123].pdf (415.4 KB)\n\nA full copy of the letter can be found at the link above.", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-07T21:57:20Z"], ["https://adamsmith.house.gov/news/press-releases/rep-smith-releases-statement-regarding-boeing-layoffs", "Rep. Smith Releases Statement Regarding Boeing Layoffs", "2024-10-13", "2024", "2024-10", "Democrat", "House", "WA", "Adam Smith", "S000510", "adamsmith.house.gov", "adamsmith", "https://adamsmith.house.gov/news/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON, D.C. \u2013 Today, Rep. Smith releases a statement regarding Boeing\u2019s employee layoff announcement.\n\n\"I am disappointed by Boeing\u2019s decision to lay off 10 percent of its 170,000-employee workforce over the coming months. This is a hard day for Boeing employees across the world and many of whom reside in King County, Washington. My heart is with those employees and their families who will find themselves out of work.\n\n\"Employees are being forced to absorb the consequences of poor corporate management and oversight. In recent years, the company has prioritized profits and stakeholders over the integrity of their product and the well-being of their employees. This strategy is clearly not working. From production delays, faulty parts, stranded astronauts, ongoing litigation, and investigations, Boeing has struggled to produce high quality products.\n\n\"This failure has a rippling impact on the nation and the strength of American aerospace. Boeing is a giant legacy aerospace company and the way that they do business impacts not only folks in King County, but also people across the world. Our transportation sector and our national defense rely on the strength of Boeing, but any company is only as strong as its workforce.\n\n\"Boeing\u2019s success relies on its dedicated employees, and investing in them is essential for long-term recovery. Boeing employees have put up with a lot for a long time, from cut pensions to insufficient wage increases. Now more than ever, a fair resolution to the machinists\u2019 strike is essential to restore trust and show commitment to those who drive Boeing\u2019s future. I sincerely hope that the parties reach an agreement that respects all employees and ensures the strength of the company as a whole.\"\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-07T21:57:20Z"], ["https://jayapal.house.gov/2024/10/11/jayapal-statement-on-doj-effort-to-rein-in-google/", "Jayapal Statement on DOJ Effort to Rein in Google", "2024-10-11", "2024", "2024-10", "Democrat", "House", "WA", "Pramila Jayapal", "J000298", "jayapal.house.gov", "jayapal", "https://jayapal.house.gov/category/press-releases/", "scraper", "SEATTLE, WA \u2013 U.S. Representative Pramila Jayapal (WA-07) released the following statement following the Department of Justice\u2019s (DOJ) filing of proposed remedies, including a potential breakup of the company to address their monopolistic practices:\n\n\u201cI applaud the Biden-Harris Administration and DOJ for its robust efforts to enforce our antitrust laws. DOJ proved in court that Google is a monopoly that uses its power to enrich shareholders while making products worse for consumers and small businesses.\n\n\u201cDOJ\u2019s comprehensive remedy framework \u2014 including potential structural separation \u2014 to address Google\u2019s search monopoly is an important and necessary development.\n\n\u201cDuring the House Judiciary Committee\u2019s 16-month investigation of Big Tech corporations in the 116th Congress, we reviewed nearly 1.3 million documents, consulted with 60 experts, held 10 hearings, and interviewed over 240 market participants, as well as former employees of the investigated platforms, and other individuals. We saw Big Tech monopolies like Google use their market dominance to pick winning and losing businesses, further entrench their own power, set arbitrary rules, and break them as they saw fit to crush competitors and continue to dominate the market.\n\n\u201cAggressive action to rein in monopolies, like the remedies proposed by DOJ, is essential if we are to protect consumers, promote innovation, and ensure a competitive economy.\u201d\n\nThe DOJ filed a proposed remedy framework on October 8 outlining several potential options to limit Google\u2019s monopoly power.", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-07T21:57:20Z"], ["https://adamsmith.house.gov/news/press-releases/rep-smith-calls-stability-and-de-escalation-tensions-middle-east", "Rep. Smith calls for stability and de-escalation of tensions in Middle East", "2024-10-10", "2024", "2024-10", "Democrat", "House", "WA", "Adam Smith", "S000510", "adamsmith.house.gov", "adamsmith", "https://adamsmith.house.gov/news/press-releases", "scraper", "The continued conflict in Gaza, the conflict between Israel and Hezbollah, the ongoing proxy war with Iran, the fight with the Houthis, the fight with Iranian proxies in Syria \u2014 all of these conflicts are devastating to the civilian population and continue to place significant numbers of civilians at risk across Gaza, the West Bank, Israel, Lebanon, Yemen, and elsewhere. Each of these conflicts runs the risk of massive escalation.\n\nThe international community needs to recognize that Iran remains the main driver of this conflict. They have backed Hezbollah, the Houthis, Hamas, and other Shia militias in Iraq and Syria for years. Israel is threatened by these extremist proxy groups that continually try to exterminate their country, some of whom explicitly have as their motto \u201cdeath to the U.S., death to Israel, a curse upon the Jews.\u201d This rhetoric and their attempts to destroy Israel through missiles or terrorist attacks is abominable. Israel has a right to defend itself against these existential threats. However, even as we understand Israel\u2019s motivations to fight back against these extremist groups, the risk of escalation and the cost to the civilian population puts Israel and others in the region at even greater risk.\n\nThe only way out of this regional conflict is to have a coalition of the U.S., Israel, Saudi Arabia, U.A.E., Jordan, Qatar, and other Arab states as a deterrence to Iran. That will never happen if there isn\u2019t a future for the Palestinian people. While I understand Israel\u2019s response to the threat from Iran and all of their proxies, I am adamantly opposed to Israel\u2019s approach to the West Bank. It is unacceptable for Israel to continue to press claims into the West Bank that have no support in international law. It is also completely unacceptable for Israel to not have a plan for a post-Hamas future for Palestinians in Gaza. Peace will never be achieved unless there is a future for the Palestinian people.\n\nCeasefire negotiations have never been more important. I support the Biden Administration\u2019s continued efforts to bring parties in the region together to achieve that ceasefire in Gaza, Lebanon, and Israel.", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-07T21:57:20Z"], ["https://delbene.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=3977", "Life-saving Medicare Advantage Prior Authorization Bill Reaches Critical Milestone in House", "2024-10-09", "2024", "2024-10", "Democrat", "House", "WA", "Suzan K. DelBene", "D000617", "delbene.house.gov", "delbene", "https://delbene.house.gov/news/documentquery.aspx?DocumentTypeID=27", "scraper", "Today, U.S. Representatives Suzan DelBene (WA-01), Mike Kelly (PA-16), Ami Bera, M.D. (CA-06), and Larry Bucshon, M.D. (IN-08) released the following statement after securing the support of a bipartisan majority for the Improving Seniors\u2019 Timely Access to Care Act (H.R. 8702) with over 218 cosponsors in the U.S. House of Representatives. The legislation would improve care for seniors by streamlining and standardizing the way Medicare Advantage (MA) plans use prior authorization and increasing oversight and transparency.\n\n\u201cWith over 33 million Americans enrolled in Medicare Advantage, modernization of the prior authorization process is long overdue. Lawmakers on both sides of the aisle, hundreds of health care organizations, and Americans from all corners of the country agree \u2013 streamlining this process will allow our Nation\u2019s seniors to receive the care they are entitled to more efficiently. As champions of this legislation, we are grateful to our bipartisan majority of House colleagues for their support and look forward to working with them to get this critical bill signed into law.\u201d\n\nBACKGROUND\n\nPrior authorization is a tool used by health plans to reduce unnecessary care by requiring health care providers to get pre-approval for medical services. However, the current system often results in unconfirmed faxes of a patient\u2019s medical information or phone calls by clinicians which take precious time away from delivering quality and timely care. Prior authorization continues to be the number one administrative burden identified by health care providers, and three out of four Medicare Advantage enrollees are subject to unnecessary delays due to prior authorization. In recent years, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) raised concerns after an audit revealed that Medicare Advantage plans ultimately approved 75% of requests that were originally denied. More recently, HHS released a report finding that MA plans incorrectly denied beneficiaries\u2019 access to services even though they met Medicare coverage rules.\n\nHealth plans, health care providers, and patients agree that the prior authorization process must be improved to better serve patients and reduce unnecessary administrative burdens for clinicians. Additionally, leading health care organizations released a consensus statement to address some of the most pressing concerns associated with prior authorization.\n\nSpecifically, the bill would:\n\nEstablish an electronic prior authorization process for MA plans including standardization for transactions and clinical attachments.\n\nIncrease transparency around MA prior authorization requirements and its use.\n\nClarify CMS\u2019 authority to establish timeframes for electronic prior authorization requests including expedited determinations, real-time decisions for routinely approved items and services, and other prior authorization requests.\n\nExpand beneficiary protections to improve enrollee experiences and outcomes.\n\nRequire HHS and other agencies to report to Congress on program integrity efforts and other ways to further improve the electronic prior authorization process.\n\nThe Improving Seniors\u2019 Timely Access to Care Act unanimously passed the House in the 117th Congress and was cosponsored by a majority of members in the Senate and House of Representatives.", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-07T21:57:20Z"], ["https://jayapal.house.gov/2024/10/08/jayapal-statement-on-lack-of-accountability-for-killing-of-aysenur-ezgi-eygi/", "Jayapal Statement on Lack of Accountability for Killing of Aysenur Ezgi Eygi", "2024-10-08", "2024", "2024-10", "Democrat", "House", "WA", "Pramila Jayapal", "J000298", "jayapal.house.gov", "jayapal", "https://jayapal.house.gov/category/press-releases/", "scraper", "SEATTLE, WA \u2014 U.S. Representative Pramila Jayapal (WA-07) released the following statement more than a month after the killing of U.S. citizen Aysenur Ezgi Eygi in the West Bank:\n\n\u201cIt has been 32 days since Aysenur Ezgi Eygi was killed in the West Bank, and we have seen no movement toward an independent investigation by the U.S. government and no additional information on changes in the practices of the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) units that are using live ammunition on those who are peacefully protesting.\n\n\u201cI have had numerous briefings with State Department officials, and I have been in close touch with Eygi\u2019s family, as her father is my constituent. I am frankly appalled with the lack of movement on this case. I have received no information that gives me any assurance that the killing of a U.S. citizen by the IDF is being treated with the urgency it deserves. Secretary Blinken called the killing of Eygi \u2018unprovoked and unjustified\u2019, and the Israeli government has acknowledged that it is \u2018highly likely\u2019 that Eygi was killed by the IDF. The Washington Post conducted its own investigation into Eygi\u2019s killing, based on eyewitness accounts. That report directly challenged the Israeli government\u2019s account of what happened.\n\n\u201cAs Senator Murray and I detailed in our letter, this is not the first time Israeli forces have killed U.S. citizens. We are seeing history repeat itself in a dangerous and unacceptable way. In 2003, Rachel Corrie, a U.S. citizen from Washington State was killed in Gaza, and despite more than 70 Members of Congress calling for an independent investigation, no such action was taken. Just this year, three U.S. citizens have been killed in the West Bank. U.S. citizens must be safe abroad and if they are killed, our government must act. It is that simple.\n\n\u201cThe U.S. is the largest backer of military assistance to Israel. If the Israeli government is unwilling or unable to follow our own domestic laws as well as international humanitarian laws, we must demand accountability by stopping certain offensive U.S. military assistance. In this situation, to ensure the trust of our own U.S. citizens, we must initiate our own investigation into Eygi\u2019s killing, use our leverage to demand changes to the IDF\u2019s rules of engagement, and apply our domestic laws to this situation for full accountability.\n\n\u201cRecently, 102 members of Congress wrote a letter calling for an independent investigation into Eygi\u2019s killing. My colleagues and I will not rest until we have answers.\u201d", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-07T21:57:20Z"], ["https://strickland.house.gov/2024/10/08/strickland-to-honor-local-vietnam-war-veterans/", "Strickland To Honor Local Vietnam War Veterans", "2024-10-08", "2024", "2024-10", "Democrat", "House", "WA", "Marilyn Strickland", "S001159", "strickland.house.gov", "strickland", "https://strickland.house.gov/category/press_release/", "scraper", "Lakewood, Washington \u2013 On Thursday, November 7th, 2024, Congresswoman Marilyn Strickland (WA-10) will host her annual Vietnam War era Veterans Pinning Ceremony to honor local veterans. Strickland will recognize the service of each veteran or their surviving family member, and present honorees with a ceremonial lapel pin as a symbol of our gratitude.\n\n\u201cThe South Sound is home to one of the largest veteran populations across the nation, and these men and women deserve the utmost respect, gratitude, and recognition,\u201d said Strickland. \u201cIt is an honor to recognize our Vietnam War veterans and their families and to continue this tradition.\u201d\n\nThe pinning ceremony, in partnership with the U.S. Vietnam Veterans Pin Commission, is part of an ongoing national effort to honor all Vietnam War period veterans who served from November 1, 1955, to May 15, 1975. If you or someone you know would like to be honored, please visit Strickland\u2019s website here for more Information.\n\nU.S. Representative Marilyn Strickland serves on the House Armed Services Committee and the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee. She is whip for the Congressional Black Caucus, a member of the New Democrat Coalition, and one of the first Korean-American women elected to Congress.\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-07T21:57:20Z"], ["https://adamsmith.house.gov/news/press-releases/statement-rep-adam-smith-one-year-anniversary-october-7-attack", "Statement from Rep. Adam Smith on the one-year anniversary of the October 7 attack", "2024-10-07", "2024", "2024-10", "Democrat", "House", "WA", "Adam Smith", "S000510", "adamsmith.house.gov", "adamsmith", "https://adamsmith.house.gov/news/press-releases", "scraper", "Today, Representative Smith released a statement on the one-year anniversary of the October 7 attack, reiterating the importance of a ceasefire and a return of the hostages.\n\n\u201cToday marks the one-year anniversary of the horrific attack on Israel by Hamas. On October 7, 2023, over 1,200 men, women, and children were brutally murdered, including 46 U.S. citizens, and hundreds more were taken hostage. My thoughts are with the victims of this staggering act of terrorist violence, as well as their loved ones and survivors.\n\n\"As I have said before, I vehemently condemn that attack, and Israel has a right and a duty to ensure Hamas is never able to commit such an atrocity again. Israel also has a right to defend against hostilities from Iran, Hezbollah, and other threats. I support the U.S.\u2019s financial and military commitment to Israel's security. Attacks on Israel from regional actors have significantly increased, threatening civilians across the Middle East and in Israel. We must continue to assist Israel in their defense against these existential threats.", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-07T21:57:20Z"], ["https://delbene.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=3974", "DelBene Statement on Anniversary of Hamas Terrorist Attack", "2024-10-07", "2024", "2024-10", "Democrat", "House", "WA", "Suzan K. DelBene", "D000617", "delbene.house.gov", "delbene", "https://delbene.house.gov/news/documentquery.aspx?DocumentTypeID=27", "scraper", "Today, Congresswoman Suzan DelBene (WA-01) issued the following statement on the first anniversary of Hamas\u2019 terrorist attack in Israel:\n\n\u201cA year ago, Hamas brutally attacked Israel, murdering nearly 1,200 innocent people and taking over 250 hostages, including American citizens. I remain committed to Israel\u2019s right to defend itself in accordance with international law and bringing home the remaining hostages as soon as possible.", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-07T21:57:20Z"], ["https://jayapal.house.gov/2024/10/07/jayapal-statement-on-one-year-since-october-7th-attack/", "Jayapal Statement on One Year Since October 7th Attack", "2024-10-07", "2024", "2024-10", "Democrat", "House", "WA", "Pramila Jayapal", "J000298", "jayapal.house.gov", "jayapal", "https://jayapal.house.gov/category/press-releases/", "scraper", "SEATTLE, WA \u2014 U.S. Representative Pramila Jayapal released the following statement regarding one year since the October 7th attack:\n\n\u201cOne year ago today, Hamas committed a horrific terrorist attack on Israel that brutally killed nearly 1,200 people, wounded more than 5,000, and took 251 individuals hostage \u2014 many of them children. I strongly condemned Hamas for the attack and called immediately for a return of all hostages.\n\n\u201cIn the year since October 7, 2023, hundreds of hostage families have watched, waited and advocated for the return of their loved ones; hoping and praying every day for the good news that they would see their loved ones released and returned home. Far too few have gotten that news, and far too many have seen their loved ones killed, leaving behind crushed hopes, devastated families, and deep, lasting pain and emptiness.\n\n\u201cI\u2019ve made it a priority to meet with many of the hostage families, including in my own district, and to hear their stories and bear witness to their grief. As a parent, I have wept with those parents who braved the unbearable pain of not knowing what had happened to their children to summon the resilience, courage and determination to come and advocate to Congress that the US government do all it could to bring them home.\n\n\u201cHere at home and across the country, our Jewish community has also been overtaken by grief, fear and trauma. Hate crimes against Jewish Americans have surged, including in the most sacred of places: synagogues and other places of worship. Antisemitic tropes have re-emerged, reminding us that the absolute necessity of eradicating antisemitism\u2014indeed, all forms of hate and discrimination\u2014is painstaking and requires constant education and re-education of all of our communities. Every American of every political stripe must be a part of this. There is no protection for any of us unless we fight for all of us. As Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. said: An injustice against one is an injustice against all.\n\n\u201cI have always believed in achieving peace through diplomatic means, to de-escalate and to recognize that returning violence with violence that injures more innocent civilians\u2014even in the most horrific of circumstances\u2014 only solidifies and fosters hate and makes it even more impossible to achieve peace and security for all involved. That is why I have advocated so strongly for a ceasefire, a return of all hostages, an end to the killing of innocent Palestinians, and a brokered peace plan with real accountability for all parties that provides security and self-determination for both the Israeli and Palestinian people. Without that, no one can be safe and tens of thousands more innocent Israeli, Palestinian, Lebanese and other civilians will die.\n\n\u201cOne year after October 7, I continue to push for this outcome to save as many lives as possible. This past year has been filled with so much devastation and loss, including 40,000 Palestinians who have been killed and over 90,000 who have been injured and thousands of Israelis displaced from their homes. Now, we face an escalating regional war in the Middle East, and we must work harder than ever to find a way forward, toward long-term peace and rebuilding in the region.\n\n\u201cAs tensions continue to rise and innocent civilians are killed around the region, we must be clear that our work is both on the global stage but also right here at home in our communities, with each other, through conversation and understanding, through empathy and solidarity. Let us respect the generational trauma that unites so many otherwise diverse populations. Let us lead with our hearts to denounce hate, to recognize today the specific trauma of October 7 with our Jewish community, and to recommit ourselves to working for a true and sustained peace for all people.\u201d\n\nSince the start of this conflict, Jayapal has been a constant advocate for a negotiated ceasefire, the return of all hostages, and the protection of innocent civilian lives:\n\nTen days after the October 7th attack, Jayapal reaffirmed her condemnation of Hamas and first called for an immediate ceasefire.\n\nShe worked with federal agencies to help evacuate a constituent from Gaza at the outbreak of the war.\n\nJayapal lauded a short-term negotiated ceasefire, which resulted in the return of 50 hostages, and reiterated her call for the release of all hostages and a permanent ceasefire.\n\nJayapal co-led a letter condemning Hamas, calling for Israeli military operations to follow the rules of international humanitarian law, and continuing to work toward peace in the region.\n\nJayapal voted against H.R. 8034, the Israel Security Supplemental Appropriations Act, which provided offensive military aid while humanitarian aid to Gaza was severely limited.\n\nJayapal led an effort calling on the Administration to use all tools possible to dissuade the Israeli government from moving forward with an offensive invasion of Rafah.\n\nShe skipped Prime Minister Netanyahu\u2019s Congressional address, instead spending the day with the families of hostages as well as organizations working toward peace and security.\n\nYou can watch the Congresswoman deliver this full statement here.", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-07T21:57:20Z"], ["https://newhouse.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/newhouse-introduces-bill-protecting-small-and-rural-post-offices-amid", "Newhouse Introduces Bill Protecting Small and Rural Post Offices Amid Increasing Public Concern", "2024-10-04", "2024", "2024-10", "Republican", "House", "WA", "Dan Newhouse", "N000189", "newhouse.house.gov", "newhouse", "https://newhouse.house.gov/media-center/press-releases", "scraper", "Today, Rep. Dan Newhouse (WA-04) introduced the Upholding USPS Delivery Standards and Election Integrity Act in the United States House of Representatives amid heightened public concern over changes to local mail facility processes.\n\n\u201cI have consistently been hearing serious concerns regarding the impact of new USPS mail facility reviews slowing delivery times and potentially impacting election operations here in the state,\u201d said Rep. Newhouse.\n\nNewhouse continued, \u201cThis bill codifies a guarantee that the USPS cannot conduct mail center reviews during an election year. We don\u2019t want to see these reviews lead to a potential change in operations that could interrupt the ballot collection box delivery processes amid an election. I also included a provision to prevent the USPS from closing small and rural post offices. This steers us clear of situations where mail is forced out to more metropolitan areas, slowing down delivery, and protects offices like Wenatchee and Yakima that have experienced such an attempt by the USPS.\u201d\n\nThe bill requires three actions to occur:\n\n1) The USPS may not consolidate or close small rural and other small post offices.\n\n2) The USPS may not perform a mail processing facility review or implement changes pursuant to a mail processing facility review during an election year.\n\n3) The USPS Office of Inspector General must conduct an audit of all collection box removal processes and submit a report to Congress.\n\nThe bill outlines seven Congressional Findings and are summarized below:\n\n1) The mandate of the USPS, as outlined in 39 U.S.C. 101, is described.\n\n2) In 2021, the USPS announces the Delivering For America plan and their use of Mail Processing Facility Reviews, which have the potential to impact delivery standards and ballot collection processes across the Nation.\n\n3) Thousands of concerned American citizens and representatives voice opinions against these reviews to the Postmaster General demanding answers to these legitimate concerns.\n\n4) The Postal Regulatory Commission and the USPS Inspector General possess the statutory authority to audit and issue advisory opinions about USPS practices, as outlined in 39 U.S.C. 501.\n\n5) In March 2024, an Inspector General audit outlined the negative impact of these reviews including worse service, an inadequately informed public, decreased employee availability, and increase in late and canceled mail transportation trips.\n\n6) In April 2024, the Postal Regulatory Commission issued an order regarding these reviewal processes and their negative impact on delivery standards and required the USPS to either submit to an advisory opinion or justify why said opinion is not warranted.\n\n7) In May 2024, the USPS agreed to pause some of the reforms until January 1, 2025, and outlined which reforms remain ongoing in 2024. Yakima and Wenatchee are postponed till 2025.\n\nThe decision to postpone some of the operational changes to the Yakima and Wenatchee offices until 2025 is a direct result of an oversight letter by Rep. Newhouse sent in February 2024 to the Postmaster General that was replicated by numerous Members and Senators. This oversight was successful, and this bill serves to codify the success of that process.\n\nFull bill text can be found here.\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-07T21:57:20Z"], ["https://strickland.house.gov/2024/10/04/congresswomen-strickland-escobar-and-jacobs-introduce-the-access-to-contraception-for-servicemembers-and-dependents-act-of-2024/", "Congresswomen Strickland, Escobar, and Jacobs Introduce the Access to Contraception for Servicemembers and Dependents Act of 2024", "2024-10-04", "2024", "2024-10", "Democrat", "House", "WA", "Marilyn Strickland", "S001159", "strickland.house.gov", "strickland", "https://strickland.house.gov/category/press_release/", "scraper", "Washington, DC \u2013 Congresswoman Marilyn Strickland (WA-10), Congresswoman Veronica Escobar (TX-16), and Congresswoman Sara Jacobs (CA-51) introduced the Access to Contraception for Servicemembers and Dependents Act of 2024. The Senate companion has been introduced by Senator Jeanne Shaheen.\n\nStudies have shown that servicemembers face unique challenges accessing contraception and family planning counseling, especially when deployed. With that in mind, the Access to Contraception for Servicemembers and Dependents Act of 2024:\n\nRequires that all people enrolled in TRICARE have coverage of contraceptives without cost-sharing, the same as civilians;\n\nRequires the Department of Defense to develop a comprehensive family planning education program for all servicemembers, ensuring that military families have the information necessary to make informed decisions; and\n\nGuarantees access to emergency contraception for survivors of sexual assault upon their request.\n\nPermanently alleviating these challenges is particularly important at a time when our military continues to confront recruitment and retention challenges.\n\n\u201cAnswering the call to serve often means making a great number of sacrifices for your country, and being able to start a family should not be one of them,\u201d said Congresswoman Marilyn Strickland (WA-10). \u201cAll Americans deserve access to contraceptives.\u201d\n\n\u201cThe Department of Defense provides health care to nearly 1.62 million women of reproductive age, but many military dependents face co-pays on birth control when their civilian counterparts don\u2019t,\u201d Congresswoman Escobar said. \u201cNo military family should have fewer rights than those they serve to protect. That\u2019s why I\u2019m proud to join my colleagues, Sara Jacobs and Marilyn Strickland, in introducing a long overdue, commonsense piece of legislation to ensure military families have access to the care they need.\u201d\n\nRep. Sara Jacobs said: \u201cGiven all that we ask from our service members and their families, it\u2019s absolutely shameful that they can be forced to pay more than civilians for contraception \u2013 an essential part of health care. Research tells us that even small copays of contraception can prevent people from getting the care they need, pushing some to forgo contraception completely, choose less effective methods, or use it inconsistently. That\u2019s an unacceptable risk for our service members and endangers our military readiness. I\u2019m proud to co-lead the Access to Contraception for Servicemembers and Dependents Act to fix this glaring oversight and ensure that our military can get the contraception they need.\u201d\n\n\u201cAt this critical moment for reproductive health access, we are grateful for the introduction of this bill by Representatives Escobar, Jacobs, and Strickland to lift barriers to birth control for service members and their families,\u201d said Jackii Wang, Senior Legislative Analyst for Reproductive Rights & Health at the National Women\u2019s Law Center. \u201cBeing able to decide if, when, and how to become a parent is a decision that everyone should have, including those in the Armed Forces. The Access to Contraception for Servicemembers and Dependents Act is critical to ensuring that service members have the freedom to control their own futures.\u201d\n\n\u201cService members and their families deserve access to the full range of sexual and reproductive health care \u2014 including birth control,\u201d said Alexis McGill Johnson, president and CEO, Planned Parenthood Action Fund. \u201cThey should have the freedom to control if, when, and how they build their families. This should not be up for debate. To truly support our service members and military families, we must protect and expand their access to the health care they need, when they need it. Thank you to Reps. Escobar, Strickland, and Jacobs for reintroducing this bill.\u201d\n\nReproductive Freedom for All President and CEO Mini Timmaraju said: \u201cWith reproductive freedom under attack like never before, it is more urgent than ever that our lawmakers take bold action to safeguard and expand access to contraception for members of our military and their families. We are grateful to Reps. Escobar, Jacobs, and Strickland for fighting to ensure that everybody, including servicemembers, has the freedom to make their own decisions about their bodies, families, and futures.\u201d\n\n\u201cServicemembers deserve equal and affordable access to comprehensive contraceptive services for themselves and for their families,\u201d said Freya Riedlin, Senior Federal Policy Counsel at the Center for Reproductive Rights. \u201cWith the vast majority of servicemembers being of reproductive age, the need to ensure comprehensive access to contraception and family planning services couldn\u2019t be clearer. We commend Congresswomen Escobar, Strickland, and Jacobs for championing this vital bill.\u201d\n\n\u201cEvery person deserves to be able to determine if, when and how they build their families, including our service members and veterans. As physicians, we understand that access to contraceptive care is a key part of safeguarding our basic human right to bodily autonomy. We applaud the steps this bill takes to ensure that servicemembers and their families have meaningful access to the full spectrum of contraceptive care through the Access to Contraception for Servicemembers & Dependents Act,\u201d Dr. Jamila Perritt, President & CEO of Physicians for Reproductive Health and ob/gyn in Washington DC, said.\n\n\u201cEveryone deserves access to the contraceptive method they want and need without cost being a barrier. The fact that this is not possible for all of our servicemembers and their families right now is deeply unfair and disrespectful of what they give to our country,\u201d said Dr. Raegan McDonald-Mosley, CEO of Power to Decide. \u201cAs a practicing OB-GYN, it is so frustrating to see patients on TRICARE, counsel them about contraception and then not know whether they will be able to access the method they need. Thank you to Representatives Escobar, Jacobs, and Strickland for your leadership\u2014it\u2019s time to fix this.\u201d\n\n\u201cBirth control and contraception are essential health care,\u201d said Jocelyn C. Frye, President of the National Partnership for Women & Families. \u201cThanks to the Affordable Care Act, health plans for non-military families must cover contraceptives with no cost sharing. This bill would provide our service members and their dependents with the same benefits, allowing them to make decisions about their health and reproductive care without worrying about the costs they will incur. We appreciate Rep. Escobar\u2019s leadership on this issue to ensure service members faithfully serving our country get the high-quality health care they deserve.\u201d\n\nAlthough the Affordable Care Act (ACA) guarantees that employer-sponsored and marketplace health plans cover preventive services without cost sharing, including all Food and Drug Administration (FDA)-approved, granted, or cleared contraceptive methods, counseling, and related services, these protections do not apply to coverage through TRICARE, a health care program for uniformed servicemembers and their families.\n\nIn July 2022, the Department of Defense took a critical action in eliminating copayments for medical contraceptive services (i.e., intrauterine devices, birth control shot, birth control implant, and diaphragm measurement and fitting), and effective January 2023, certain TRICARE beneficiaries will no longer face cost-sharing or copayments for tubal ligation (surgical sterilization) services when obtaining care through a civilian provider. However, congressional action is needed to completely eliminate copayments for prescription contraceptives and ensure that servicemembers and their loved ones have equitable access to all methods of contraception.\n\nCongresswomen Escobar, Jacobs, and Strickland are joined by co-sponsors Ro Khanna (CA-17), Jennifer McClellan (VA-04), Elissa Slotkin (MI-07), Patrick Ryan (NY-18), Kathy Castor (FL-14), Marc Veasy (TX-33), James McGovern (MA-02), Lori Trahan (MA-03), James Himes (CT-04), Jill Tokuda (HI-02), Annie Kuster (NH-02), Ritchie Torres (NY-15), Frederica Wilson (FL-24), Greg Landsman (OH-01), Mark Pocan (WI-02), Juan Vargas (CA-52), Hank Johnson (GA-04), Debbie Wasserman Schultz (FL-25), Shelia Cherfilus-McCormick (FL-20), Susan Wild (PA-07), Haley Stevens (MI-11), Andy Kim (NJ-03), Scott Peters (CA-50), Salud Carbajal (CA-24), Stephen Lynch (MA-08), Mikie Sherrill (NJ-11), Pramila Jayapal (WA-07), John Larson (CT-01), Susan Wild (PA-07).\n\nThe Access to Contraception for Servicemembers and Dependents Act of 2024 is endorsed by Endorsements: National Partnership for Women & Families, Planned Parenthood Federation of America, Center for Reproductive Rights, Reproductive Freedom for All (formerly NARAL Pro-Choice America), Physicians for Reproductive Health, National Women\u2019s Law Center, Power to Decide, Service Women\u2019s Action Network.\n\nBill text can be found here.\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-07T21:57:20Z"], ["https://jayapal.house.gov/2024/10/03/jayapal-statement-on-machinists-strike/", "Jayapal Statement on Machinists Strike", "2024-10-03", "2024", "2024-10", "Democrat", "House", "WA", "Pramila Jayapal", "J000298", "jayapal.house.gov", "jayapal", "https://jayapal.house.gov/category/press-releases/", "scraper", "Photographs of the Congresswoman at the picket line can be downloaded here.\n\nSEATTLE, WA \u2014 U.S. Representative Pramila Jayapal (WA-07) released the following statement after joining striking Boeing members of the International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers (IAM) Union District 751 on the picket line:\n\n\u201cI was honored to join IAM 751 Machinists on the picket line and support their strike for increased wages, benefits, and pensions. This strike of 33,000 machinist workers is a remarkable showing of the power unionized workers hold when they organize.\n\n\u201cWe have seen in dramatic fashion this year how Boeing has increased pay outs for shareholders and CEOs while workers express concerns over safety. Boeing\u2019s latest offer to workers doesn\u2019t meet the requested raises by the machinists who build their planes, even as their CEO was compensated more than $32 million in 2023.\n\n\u201cI hope to see Boeing and the machinists come back to the table to work in good faith to address the issues of fair wages and pensions.\u201d\n\nIn September, the machinists rejected a contract that did not meet their demands for pay raises of 40 percent over three years and the return to traditional pensions that had been replaced by 401(k) retirement accounts.", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-07T21:57:20Z"], ["https://larsen.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=2926", "Larsen Introduces Bill to Improve and Expand AI Education for U.S. Servicemembers", "2024-10-03", "2024", "2024-10", "Democrat", "House", "WA", "Rick Larsen", "L000560", "larsen.house.gov", "larsen", "https://larsen.house.gov/news/documentquery.aspx", "scraper", "WASHINGTON, D.C. \u2013 This week, Rep. Rick Larsen (WA-02) introduced the Next Generation Military Education Act to improve and expand artificial intelligence (AI) education for U.S. servicemembers.\n\n\u201cArtificial intelligence is no longer the future \u2013 it is the here and now,\u201d said Larsen, who previously served on the Armed Services Committee for 22 years. \u201cThe Next Generation Military Education Act ensures servicemembers get the critical tools they need to meet today\u2019s global challenges while developing in-demand skills and knowledge to master AI.\u201d\n\nLarsen a Champion of AI Education for Servicemembers\n\nThe Next Generation Military Education Act builds on Larsen\u2019s work to develop an AI education strategy for servicemembers. In 2019, Larsen successfully included a provision in the FY20 National Defense Authorization Act that required the Department of Defense (DoD) to develop an AI education strategy. Larsen\u2019s provision also required the underlying curriculum to include ethical issues, bias, and potential strengths and weaknesses of AI.\n\nWhat Does the Next Generation Military Education Act Do?\n\nSpecifically, the Next Generation Military Education Act requires:\n\n\u00b7 The DoD\u2019s Chief Digital and Artificial Intelligence Officer to provide an online AI education course;\n\n\u00b7 All military branches to participate in \u201cDigital On-Demand,\u201d the DoD\u2019s initiative to accelerate AI knowledge; and\n\n\u00b7 The DoD to add an AI risks and threats section to its annual mandatory cybersecurity training.\n\nTo read the Next Generation Military Education Act, click here.\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-07T21:57:20Z"], ["https://schrier.house.gov/media/press-releases/congresswoman-schrier-engages-veterans-suicide-prevention-think-tank-alongside", "Congresswoman Schrier Engages in Veterans Suicide Prevention Think Tank alongside Federal, State, and Local Leaders", "2024-10-03", "2024", "2024-10", "Democrat", "House", "WA", "Kim Schrier", "S001216", "schrier.house.gov", "schrier", "https://schrier.house.gov/media/press-releases", "scraper", "Pierce County\u2014 Congresswoman Kim Schrier (WA-08) participated in a Veterans Suicide Prevention Think Tank hosted by the Washington Department of Veterans Affairs (WDVA) and the VA Puget Sound Health Care System.\n\nThe goal of the 2nd annual Suicide Prevention Think Tank was to identify collective actions that can be taken by all participants to address Veteran suicide, showcase best practices that are making a difference, help remove obstacles by using the expertise and resources across the participating organizations, and identify the next best steps we can take together.\n\n\u201cIn the last few years two Veterans in crisis have been in officer-involved shootings in Central Washington. Just this summer a Veteran in my district died by suicide, and we know many others are suffering,\u201d said Congresswoman Schrier. \u201cThese tragedies, all within the last several years, underscore the immediate need to take action to support Veterans and prevent Veteran suicide. This 2nd annual Suicide Prevention Think Tank is a chance to identify concrete actions we can take.\u201d\n\nAt the Think Tank, Congresswoman Schrier had the chance to discuss collective opportunities to address Veteran suicide and the stressors that contribute to mental health crises among Veterans. Participants included Veterans Benefits Administration, Washington Department of Health, Washington National Guard, Seattle Seahawks, University of Washington, Madigan Army Medical Center, Joint Base Lewis-McChord, American Legion, NineLine Veteran Services, and Washington Cohen Veterans Network leadership along with other nonprofits and elected officials.\n\nEnduring chronic pain is a big risk factor for suicide. Stressful life events like transitioning from active duty, divorce, job loss, substance use, financial struggles, or housing troubles can also be risk factors for suicide. Among Veterans, these challenges can be compounded by stigma around sharing their problems with others and seeking help. Nationwide, in 2021, there were 6,392 Veteran suicides, 114 more Veteran suicides than in 2020.\n\n\u201cBy working together, state leaders can pinpoint shared priorities to help lower suicide rates among service members, Veterans, and their families,\u201d stated David Puente, WDVA Director. \u201cOur message is one of hope. We urge everyone to seek help before a crisis hits. Support is available for you and your loved ones. Don\u2019t wait, reach out!\u201d\n\n\u201cOur Suicide Prevention Think Tank\u2014the largest and most complex such meeting in VA Puget Sound\u2019s history\u2014represents our commitment to focus federal, state, and local attention on the collective actions we can take to prevent suicide among our nation\u2019s heroes,\u201d said VA Puget Sound Health Care System Executive Director Dr. Thomas Bundt. \u201cLife\u2019s challenges\u2014like trouble sleeping or financial stress\u2014can often lead to crisis. By working together, we are positioned to help tackle employment, housing affordability, mental health, food insecurities, and other stressors to support readjustment after separation so Veterans aren\u2019t struggling to the point of a mental health crisis. Our Veterans don\u2019t have to solve these challenges alone!\u201d", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-07T21:57:20Z"], ["https://adamsmith.house.gov/news/press-releases/rep-smith-statement-iran-attack-israel", "Rep. Smith Statement on Iran Attack on Israel", "2024-10-01", "2024", "2024-10", "Democrat", "House", "WA", "Adam Smith", "S000510", "adamsmith.house.gov", "adamsmith", "https://adamsmith.house.gov/news/press-releases", "scraper", "I strongly condemn Iran\u2019s ballistic missile attacks against Israel. It's imperative that Iran halts these actions immediately. The U.S. remains committed to Israel's security and will continue to assist them in their defense. Iran has continued to be a destabilizing influence in the Middle East, supporting terrorist organizations in a half dozen countries. We must continue to stand up against Iran's malign influence in the region and support Israel in its efforts to defend against its attacks. The U.S. also remains committed to working with all partners in the region to try to reduce hostilities and ultimately get to a ceasefire.", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-07T21:57:20Z"], ["https://delbene.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=3971", "DelBene, Clarke Introduce Bill to Expand Smart City Tech", "2024-10-01", "2024", "2024-10", "Democrat", "House", "WA", "Suzan K. DelBene", "D000617", "delbene.house.gov", "delbene", "https://delbene.house.gov/news/documentquery.aspx?DocumentTypeID=27", "scraper", "Smart technologies are revolutionizing urban living by improving community safety, mobility, and resilience against natural disasters, while also expanding communication and services. These innovations help cities cut costs, alleviate traffic congestion, reduce air pollution, and lower energy use, all while generating economic growth and expanding opportunities for communities of all sizes.\n\nWith an estimated $41 trillion expected to be invested globally in smart technology over the next two decades, U.S. cities must catch up. Research shows that every dollar spent on government technology can save nearly $4. Despite these clear benefits, the U.S. is currently lagging in smart city development.\n\nSmart city technologies are already making an impact in cities across the nation, including in Redmond, where an adaptive signal is being deployed to improve traffic management. This system will detect pedestrians in crosswalks, adjust light timings for safer crossing, and modify traffic signals based on real-time volumes to reduce congestion and make our intersections safer and less stressful for roadway users.\n\n\u201cInvesting in smart city technologies is critical opportunity for our nation to maintain its position as a global leader in innovation and improve the livability of our communities,\u201d said DelBene. \u201cEquipping local governments with the necessary tools will allow cities to develop clean infrastructure that cuts pollution, generates good jobs, and strengthens the middle class. The Smart Cities and Communities Act is a great step forward in improving the quality of life for communities throughout America.\u201d\n\n\u201cWe have a responsibility to the American people to improve the quality-of-life of every citizen by providing clean air, resources and tech to make our cities safer, and climate resilient communities to combat the devastating impacts of climate change,\u201d said Clarke. \u201cThat is why I am proud to join my colleague, Congresswoman Suzan DelBene, in reintroducing the Smart Cities and Communities Act \u2013 legislation promoting the use and expansion of smart city technologies. This legislation will deliver equitable opportunities and improve the infrastructure to our American cities as our nation transitions as the global leader of climate policy.\u201d\n\n\u201cBSA applauds Representatives DelBene and Clarke for reintroducing the Smart Cities and Communities Act. This forward-looking legislation will help ensure local communities can widely and fairly access the benefits of smart city technology, and support investments into connected communities that are effective, less expensive, and more environmentally sound,\u201d said Craig Albright, BSA SVP of US Government Relations.", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-07T21:57:20Z"], ["https://larsen.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=2924", "Larsen and Gluesenkamp Perez Introduce Bill to Expand Funding for Local Drug Task Forces to Combat Opioid Epidemic", "2024-10-01", "2024", "2024-10", "Democrat", "House", "WA", "Rick Larsen", "L000560", "larsen.house.gov", "larsen", "https://larsen.house.gov/news/documentquery.aspx", "scraper", "WASHINGTON, D.C. \u2013 Reps. Rick Larsen (WA-02) and Marie Gluesenkamp Perez (WA-03) introduced the End Fentanyl Trafficking with Local Task Forces Act to establish a dedicated federal funding stream to help multi-jurisdictional drug task forces combat opioid trafficking in Washington state and across the country.\n\n\u201cThe opioid epidemic has devastated Northwest Washington,\u201d said Larsen, who released a district opioid report in January. \u201cMembers of local, state and Tribal law enforcement have told me they often lack the funding and resources to stem the flow of opioids and fentanyl that harm the communities they serve. This bill invests in and empowers multi-jurisdictional task forces to get more opioids and fentanyl off our streets \u2013 a critical investment that will protect Northwest Washington communities and save lives.\u201d\n\n\u201cWe have to end the deadly flow of fentanyl into our communities before it takes more of our loved ones and neighbors from us, and we need all of the law enforcement talent possible at the table,\u201d said Gluesenkamp Perez. \u201cI\u2019m introducing this legislation to dedicate federal funds to multi-jurisdictional task forces and expand partnerships and training \u2013 because when law enforcement agencies can coordinate regionally, they can more effectively fight fentanyl trafficking.\u201d\n\nWhat Are Multi-Jurisdictional Drug Task Forces?\n\nIn Washington state and around the country, law enforcement agencies partner across jurisdictions to form task forces that coordinate information, resources and staff to target the illegal distribution of drugs at the local and regional levels.\n\nWashington state currently has 16 active multi-jurisdictional task forces (MJTFs). For example, the Whatcom County Drug Task Force is staffed by investigative personnel from the Whatcom County Sheriff\u2019s Office, Homeland Security Investigations and Bellingham Police Department, with support from local police departments in Blaine, Everson, Ferndale, Lynden and Sumas; the U.S. Border Patrol; the Washington State Patrol; and the Washington State Department of Corrections.\n\nThe Edward Byrne Memorial Justice Assistance Grant (Byrne JAG) program is the leading source of federal justice funding for states, tribes and local governments supporting a range of criminal legal system improvement and community advancement initiatives, including MJTFs. In August 2023, Larsen, Gluesenkamp Perez and five other members of Washington\u2019s congressional delegation sent a letter to Governor Jay Inslee to emphasize the importance of Byrne JAG funding to continuing the important work of Washington\u2019s 16 MJTFs. Larsen and Gluesenkamp Perez both support increasing funding for Byrne JAG.\n\nWhat Does the Bill Do?\n\nThe End Fentanyl Trafficking with Local Task Forces Act would:\n\nExpand and formalize an existing Department of Justice (DOJ) program administered by the Community Oriented Policing Services (COPS) Office \u2013 the Anti-Heroin Task Force (AHTF) \u2013 to fund multi-jurisdictional task forces to target opioid trafficking.\n\nHelp law enforcement expand partnerships across federal, state, Tribal, and local agencies to address opioid trafficking.\n\nAllow funds to be used to create new, or expand existing, muti-jurisdictional drug task forces; hire and train law enforcement offices and other support employees; procure equipment, technology, and support systems; and pay overtime.\n\nRequire 40 percent of funding to be made directly available to Indian Tribes (20 percent) and MJTFs (20 percent), which will help promote local law enforcement goals and limit the administrative burdens and additional requirements associated with using pass-through entities to secure funding.\n\nAuthorize funding that doubles the amount historically provided to the AHTF to robustly support MTJFs and anti-trafficking efforts.\n\nPermit the COPS director to provide technical assistance, including through training centers and facilities, to instruct law enforcement and MJTFs on best practices for combating opioid trafficking\n\nFor a fact sheet on the bill, click here.\n\nWhat Stakeholders Are Saying About the Bill\n\nRepresentatives from MJTFs and stakeholder organizations emphasized the importance of the End Fentanyl Trafficking with Local Task Forces Act to combating the opioid epidemic.\n\nNational\n\nNational Narcotic Officers\u2019 Associations\u2019 Coalition (NNOAC) President Eric Brown:\n\n\u201cThe National Narcotic Officers\u2019 Associations\u2019 Coalition commends Representatives Larsen and Gluesenkamp Perez for their work and introduction of the End Fentanyl Trafficking with Local Task Forces Act. Greater investment in resources for drug enforcement efforts \u2013 particularly multi-jurisdictional drug task forces \u2013 is needed to counter the alarming trend of drug poisoning. Multi-jurisdictional drug task forces have generated best practices in information sharing, case deconfliction, and institutional coordination against local and regional drug threats. Given the diversification of Byrne JAG funding for purposes other than multi-jurisdictional drug task forces in some states, this legislation will provide much needed dedicated funding to address the drug poisoning epidemics in our communities.\u201d\n\nMajor County Sheriffs of America (MCSA) Executive Director Megan Noland:\n\n\u201cThe Major County Sheriffs of America (MCSA) applauds Representatives Larsen and Gluesenkamp Perez for their efforts to combat the fentanyl epidemic and for advocating for essential resources to support our mission of protecting communities across the nation. The End Fentanyl Trafficking with Local Task Forces Act would provide law enforcement with critical tools to target drug traffickers and prevent fentanyl from entering our communities. We appreciate that the bill would provide dedicated resources to support local multi-jurisdictional drug task forces.\u201d\n\nLocal\n\nWashington State Narcotics Investigators Association (WSNIA) President Chris Foreman:\n\n\u201cDrug trafficking has brought tremendous harm to Washingtonians. As such, the Washington State Narcotics Investigators Association enthusiastically endorses Representatives Larsen and Gluesenkamp Perez's efforts to strengthen partnerships and cooperation between federal and local agencies to save lives and prevent more devastation by addressing opioid trafficking in Washington State. His proposals in Congress represent the balance needed to positively impact lives and livelihoods of those in our state devastated by illicit drug trafficking.\n\n\u201cWe urge Congress to pass the End Fentanyl Trafficking with Local Task Forces Act immediately to provide crucial resources to our communities throughout the Pacific Northwest. Failure to do so will cost more lives and devastation caused by overdoses and opioid use disorder, and street crimes in our neighborhoods.\u201d\n\nSnohomish Regional Drug Task Force (SRDTF) Executive Board:\n\n\u201cThe Snohomish Regional Drug Task Force Executive Board supports and values Congressman Larsen\u2019s effort to combat illicit drugs like fentanyl through the \u2018End Fentanyl Trafficking with Local Task Forces Act.\u2019 Fentanyl and its many analogs pose a substantial threat to the citizens of Snohomish County, both directly and indirectly, due to their broad harmful effects. Substance use and opioid use disorders devastate families, businesses, and communities. Congressman Larsen\u2019s balanced approach to addressing this public health dilemma is commendable.\u201d\n\nSkagit County Interlocal Drug Enforcement Unit (SCIDEU) Commander Tobin Meyer:\n\n\u201cThe Skagit County Interlocal Drug Task Force is one of many multi-jurisdictional drug task forces (MJTF\u2019s) comprised of local, state, and federal law enforcement. MJTF\u2019s bring multiple law enforcement agencies and disciplines together to disrupt and dismantle well-funded drug trafficking organizations efficiently and effectively. Frequently, our task force will work together with other MJTF\u2019s across regions in our state and even across state lines with other MJTF\u2019s in our nation to disrupt drug trafficking organizations.\n\nRural multi-jurisdictional drug task forces, like ours, have limited local dollars and resources. We rely heavily on Federal funding to remain effective against well-funded drug trafficking organizations and cartels impacting our communities. Recent challenges with MJTF funding in Washington State have introduced a level of uncertainty for the future of many of our MJTF\u2019s. As such, this legislation comes at a crucial time in allowing us not only to preserve existing services but enhance our capabilities. The End Fentanyl Trafficking with Local Task Force Act will allow us to remain effective against well-funded drug trafficking organizations who continue to poison and kill our community members.\u201d\n\nWhatcom Gang and Drug Task Force Executive Board Member and Whatcom County Sheriff Donnell \u201cTank\u201d Tanksley:\n\n\u201cThe Whatcom Gang and Drug Task Force is a multi-jurisdictional unit of the Whatcom County Sheriff\u2019s Office that is dedicated to preventing drug-related crimes, drug-related overdoses, and deaths\u2014and improving community safety. Our joint efforts with local, state, and federal agencies have successfully disrupted many fentanyl trafficking operations. This achievement underscores our unwavering continued commitment to tackling the opioid crisis and ensuring the safety of our communities, which is why this legislation is tremendously important.\u201d\n\nIsland County Sheriff Rick Felici:\n\n\u201cThe pandemic flood of illicit opioid drugs into American culture is one of the most devastating things to happen to this country in history and it is happening in a time when law enforcement staffing and resources are at an all time low. Organizations that market these drugs run a complex and sophisticated sales and distribution network. Our law enforcement agencies desperately need the tools to intervene in an effective manner. The most effective solution is a regional collaboration of resources and local narcotics enforcement task forces are struggling to keep up. This bill will help fund desperately needed resources to enable local law enforcement professionals to effectively hold mid-level and higher narcotics organizations accountable.\u201d\n\nTulalip Tribes Chairwoman Teri Gobin:\n\n\u201cThe drug trafficking distribution network has expanded throughout Washington State and into our tribal communities, crossing jurisdictional boundaries and exploiting law enforcement resources and jurisdictional gaps. The Tulalip Indian Reservation is located adjacent to Interstate-5, a major thoroughfare for fentanyl and other illicit drugs. The Tulalip Police Department needs improvements to technology and sufficient resources to create a multi-jurisdictional approach to combat the opioid crisis that has had devastating effects on tribal members, their families, and many Washingtonians. The End Fentanyl Trafficking with Local Task Force Act will do just this. We urge Congress to pass this important piece of legislation.\u201d\n\nLummi Indian Business Council Chairman Anthony Hillaire:\n\n\u201cOn behalf of the Lummi Nation, a sovereign government recognized under the Constitution of the United States and a signatory of the Point Elliot Treaty of 1855, I write to formally endorse a proposed Bill drafted for the 118\" Congress 2D session in the House of Representatives, known as the \u2018End Fentanyl Trafficking with Local Task Forces Act\u2019.\n\n\u201cWe recognize the Bill aims to establish essential grants to combat opioid trafficking. This legislation would establish a dedicated federal funding stream for multi-jurisdictional drug task forces (MJTFs) to address opioid trafficking in Washington State and across the country. This legislation is urgently needed. MJTFs represent partnerships across local law enforcement agencies to share staff, information, and resources, and collaborative work plays a pivotal role in fighting the opioid epidemic. While individual law enforcement agencies have been essential to address the flow of opioids, their reach is limited by local resources and jurisdictional boundaries. We concur, opioid distribution is not isolated to any single area, district, or police agency. Traffickers do exploit this decentralization in law enforcement by straddling jurisdictional boundaries, including those between Tribal and non-Tribal law enforcement agencies, which complicates investigations into drug trades and further stretches limited police resources. The End Fentanyl Trafficking with Local Task Forces Act would help fill these gaps and enable law enforcement agencies to better coordinate their efforts across jurisdictional boundaries to combat trafficking.\u201d\n\nOther supporters of the bill include:\n\nAnacortes Mayor Matt Miller\n\nBurlington Mayor Bill Aslett\n\nMount Vernon Mayor Peter Donovan\n\nSedro-Woolley Julia Johnson\n\nSan Juan County Sheriff Eric Peter\n\nSkagit County Sheriff Don McDermott\n\nAnacortes Police Chief Dave Floyd\n\nBurlington Police Commander Jeremy Kramer\n\nLangley Police Chief Tavier Wasser\n\nMount Vernon Police Chief Dan Christman\n\nOak Harbor Police Chief Tony Slowik\n\nSedro-Woolley Police Chief Dan McIlraith\n\nSauk-Suiattle Tribal Police Chief Sherman Pruitt\n\nSwinomish Tribal Police Chief Earl Cowan\n\nUpper Skagit Tribal Police Chief Kurt Butcher", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-07T21:57:20Z"], ["https://newhouse.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/newhouse-statement-new-administration-effort-targeting-lower-snake", "Newhouse Statement on New Administration Effort Targeting the Lower Snake River Dams", "2024-10-01", "2024", "2024-10", "Republican", "House", "WA", "Dan Newhouse", "N000189", "newhouse.house.gov", "newhouse", "https://newhouse.house.gov/media-center/press-releases", "scraper", "Today, Rep. Dan Newhouse (WA-04) released the following statement on the United States Department of Energy\u2019s announcement of a taxpayer funded study on replacing the Lower Snake River dams.\n\n\"This administration insists they are not pursuing breaching the four Lower Snake River dams, yet just announced they are using taxpayer dollars to conduct another study looking for ways to replace the power if the dams are breached,\" said Rep. Newhouse.\n\nNewhouse continued, \"I will be starting oversight of DOE\u2019s Grid Development Office in the coming weeks to get to the bottom of why they are spending more taxpayer money to fund another study that ends with the same conclusion: the Lower Snake River dams provide a critical source of renewable, reliable, and affordable baseload power and strengthen economies in the Pacific Northwest.\"\n\nThe Department of Energy\u2019s Grid Deployment Office announced the launch of the Pacific Northwest Regional Energy Planning Project (PREPP) process that looks at what infrastructure and resources could be needed to replace the power and services provided by the four Lower Snake River Dams.\n\nThe full announcement can be found here.\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-07T21:57:20Z"], ["https://strickland.house.gov/2024/10/01/strickland-statement-on-iran-attacks-on-israel-eve-of-rosh-hashanah/", "Strickland Statement On Iran Attacks On Israel, Eve Of Rosh Hashanah", "2024-10-01", "2024", "2024-10", "Democrat", "House", "WA", "Marilyn Strickland", "S001159", "strickland.house.gov", "strickland", "https://strickland.house.gov/category/press_release/", "scraper", "Washington, D.C.\u2013 Today, U.S. Representative Marilyn Strickland (WA-10) released the following statement on the Iran missile attacks sent to Israel.\n\n\u201cOn the eve of Rosh Hashanah, Israel is being struck with an aggressive, horrific, and direct attack from Iran. Israel has a right to defend itself against this act of terror.\n\nThe United States must remain committed to supporting and protecting democracies in the region.\u201d\n\nU.S. Representative Marilyn Strickland serves on the House Armed Services Committee and the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee. She is whip for the Congressional Black Caucus, a member of the New Democrat Coalition, and one of the first Korean-American women elected to Congress.\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-07T21:57:20Z"], ["https://newhouse.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/newhouse-leads-bill-secure-american-critical-mineral-supply-chain", "Newhouse Leads Bill to Secure American Critical Mineral Supply Chain", "2024-09-27", "2024", "2024-09", "Republican", "House", "WA", "Dan Newhouse", "N000189", "newhouse.house.gov", "newhouse", "https://newhouse.house.gov/media-center/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON, D.C. \u2013Today, Rep. Dan Newhouse (WA-04) alongside Reps. Brett Guthrie (KY-02) and Russ Fulcher (ID-01) introduced the Securing America\u2019s Midstream Critical Materials Processing Act to establish a National Roadmap to provide a pathway to reshore domestic critical material processing facilities away from foreign adversaries like the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) and reduce unworkable permitting barriers to help secure our supply chains.\n\n\u201cIt is no secret the United States is in a dangerous position with our reliance on adversaries like the CCP for the critical minerals we use in everything from our energy sector to our defense industrial base,\u201d said Rep. Newhouse.\n\nNewhouse continued, \u201cThis bill is a big step towards bringing critical mineral processing back to our shores and keeping bad actors out of our supply chains. As a member of the House Select Committee on the CCP, I know we as lawmakers need to be doing all we can to prioritize national security before it is too late.\u201d\n\nRep. Guthrie said, \u201cToday I was proud to introduce the Securing America\u2019s Midstream Critical Materials Processing Act alongside Congressmen Newhouse and Fulcher to help ensure America has control over its manufacturing and energy future. For too long our nation has been reliant on the CCP and other foreign adversaries for the essential facilities to process critical materials into usable resources for our manufacturing industry. This bill will help provide a pathway to reshoring the processing of critical materials and uncovers the extent to which the CCP has exploited this supply chain. If our nation is to become energy independent once again, secure our supply chains, and reshore job creating industries then we must produce and process our critical materials here at home, I am proud to be leading this bill that will help accomplish this.\u201d\n\n\u201cCritical minerals are not only vital to America\u2019s energy supply, but to our national security as they are a key component for defense technologies and weaponry. I am proud to introduce this bill alongside Congressman Guthrie and Newhouse to establish a national roadmap to bring the development and processing of key minerals back to the USA. Securing America\u2019s energy independence starts with securing our critical minerals supply chain,\u201d said Rep. Fulcher.\n\nThe bill will establish a Department of Energy led National Roadmap to reshore domestic critical material processing industry, which will include a comprehensive review of:\n\nCurrent landscape of domestic and global markets for midstream critical material processing.\n\nThe extent to which China and other adversaries employ anti-competitive practices to manipulate critical material markets.\n\nOpportunities and barriers to reshoring domestic industries, including working alongside allied nations.\n\nPermitting challenges facing a domestic critical material processing industry.\n\nThis bill requires a Government Accountability Office (GAO) study on how to improve federal permitting to incentivize more investment including:\n\nHow the Inflation Reduction Act may have fueled Chinese greenfield investment in Free Trade Agreement countries\n\nHow EPA regulations and litigation raise costs on facilities\n\nWays to improve federal collaboration and coordination to leverage expertise in critical material processing.\n\nThe full bill text can be found here.", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-07T21:43:57Z"], ["https://schrier.house.gov/media/press-releases/congresswoman-schrier-introduces-legislation-accurate-penicillin-allergy", "Congresswoman Schrier Introduces Legislation for Accurate Penicillin Allergy Verification", "2024-09-27", "2024", "2024-09", "Democrat", "House", "WA", "Kim Schrier", "S001216", "schrier.house.gov", "schrier", "https://schrier.house.gov/media/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON, D.C. \u2013 Congresswoman Kim Schrier, M.D. (WA-08) alongside Congressman Larry Bucshon (IN-08), Congressman Ami Bera, M.D. (CA-06) and seven additional representatives introduced a bipartisan bill, H.R. 9778, the Penicillin Allergy Verification and Evaluation (PAVE) Act. This legislation would add a penicillin allergy verification component to the \u201cWelcome to Medicare\u201d preventive visit and annual wellness visits.\n\nMillions of patients believe they are allergic to penicillin, but evidence shows that the vast majority of patients with a self-reported allergy can safely take penicillin after verification testing and evaluation. Testing, if needed, and removing an incorrect penicillin allergy label from a patient\u2019s electronic medical record is a relatively easy, low cost and important public health intervention that can improve patient outcomes, reduce healthcare costs, and help prevent antimicrobial resistance (AMR). People who report allergy to penicillins have to bypass a whole class of safe, inexpensive antibiotics and use sometimes more potent, expensive, and otherwise unnecessary antimicrobials.\n\nTo improve antibiotic stewardship and combat AMR, the PAVE Act seeks to identify and de-label Medicare patients who have been previously labeled with a penicillin allergy but who are not truly allergic. The legislation adds \u201cpenicillin allergy verification and evaluation\u201d as part of Medicare\u2019s Initial Preventive Physical Exam (IPPE) and Annual Wellness Visit (AWV). IPPEs are covered for new Medicare Part B enrollees within the 12 months and AWVs are covered annually.\n\nThe PAVE Act is supported by a wide variety of clinician and patient stakeholder groups, including the American Academy of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology, which provided feedback in drafting the bill.\n\n\"Research shows that 95% of patients with a self-reported penicillin allergy in their medical records can actually safely take penicillin,\" said Congresswoman Kim Schrier, M.D. \"This is often due to an allergy that has been outgrown or a misdiagnosis. The PAVE Act will significantly reduce the number of inaccurate penicillin allergies in patient records and will allow those patients to be treated, when necessary, with a very effective, very inexpensive category of antibiotics. By using penicillins instead of jumping straight to higher powered antibiotics, we can also avoid worsening the crisis of antibiotic resistance.\n\n\u201cAs a physician, I know just how important it is to have a full picture of a patient\u2019s health and wellness. Without accurate health information, patients and their health care providers can\u2019t make informed health decisions,\u201d said Congressman Bucshon, M.D. \u201cIt has become apparent that millions of patient records contain inaccurate information about a penicillin allergy\u2014maybe because of a misdiagnosis, or because the individual outgrew the allergy later in life. This legislation will provide our seniors with better access to penicillin allergy verification testing, ensuring that they can receive treatments most appropriate for their situation.\u201d\n\n\"The American Academy of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology (AAAAI) enthusiastically applauds Representatives Bucshon, Bera, Griffith, Peters, Murphy, Schrier, Kelly, DelBene, Miller-Meeks, and Underwood for their leadership in introducing the PAVE Act\", said Dr. Paul Williams, President, AAAAI. \"Millions of patients believe they are allergic to penicillin, but evidence shows that 95% of patients with a self-reported penicillin allergy in their electronic medical record can safely take penicillin. The PAVE Act would add penicillin allergy verification and evaluation for Medicare beneficiaries, which will improve healthcare outcomes for these patients, while also reducing healthcare costs and help fight antimicrobial resistance. As we approach National Penicillin Allergy Day on September 28, the AAAAI looks forward to working with the bill champions to educate the public on penicillin allergy testing and advance this important legislation.\"\n\nAdditional Supporting Organizations:", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-07T21:43:57Z"], ["https://adamsmith.house.gov/news/press-releases/bipartisan-bill-streamline-tsa-security-clearance-process-transportation", "Bipartisan Bill to Streamline TSA Security Clearance Process for Transportation Workers Moves Through Committee", "2024-09-26", "2024", "2024-09", "Democrat", "House", "WA", "Adam Smith", "S000510", "adamsmith.house.gov", "adamsmith", "https://adamsmith.house.gov/news/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON, D.C. \u2013 Yesterday, the Transportation Security Screening Modernization Act passed through the Committee on Homeland Security, bringing this important legislation one step closer to becoming law.\n\nRepresentatives Adam Smith (Ranking Member, House Armed Services Committee) and Garret Graves (Chairman, House Aviation Subcommittee) introduced the Transportation Safety Administration Modernization Act in December 2023 to eliminate redundant fees and background checks for essential transportation workers.\n\nThe bill cuts through red tape to allow workers to apply existing valid background checks to multiple TSA-managed credentialing programs, preventing workers from going through identical processes multiple times. With each of these credentials having varying expiration dates and fees, workers end up spending a significant amount of time and money keeping their credentials up to date, preventing them from fully participating in the workforce.\n\nThis new streamlining legislation reduces costs and hassle for workers like truck drivers, pipeline operators, longshoremen, and warehouse managers, among many others, who must obtain these credentials as a condition of employment.\n\n\u201cI\u2019m thrilled to hear that this bill has passed through the Homeland Security Committee, bringing us one step closer to less redundancy in the TSA screening process,\u201d said Rep. Smith. \u201cI\u2019ve heard from many transportation workers in my district who have had to spend a significant amount of time and money to keep their credentials up to date. It\u2019s urgent we pass this legislation into law so that our transportation workers can have a more streamlined application and renewal process. After this great step forward, I am optimistic and hopeful that this bipartisan, commonsense legislation will pass the Senate and become law.\u201d\n\n\u201cThe Transportation Security Screening Modernization Act unlocks the potential of Louisiana\u2019s transportation workforce by knocking out duplicative processes without sacrificing security,\u201d said Graves. \u201cThis is a huge win for the 1 in 5 Louisianans whose jobs are tied to the efficiency of our ports and a nation who relies on us to ensure the resilience of the American supply chain.\"\n\nBackground\n\nThe Transportation Security Screening Modernization Act does not make any modifications to the back-end security assessment conducted on individual applicants, ensuring that applicants must undergo the same level of review as they do under current law. This bill simply modernizes the consumer-facing applicant process to reduce the burden on American transportation workers who must maintain more than one TSA credential, such as the Transportation Worker Identification Credentials and Hazardous Materials Endorsements.\n\nA fact sheet for the Transportation Security Screening Modernization Act can be found here.\n\nA full list of endorsements can be found here.\n\nThe bill text can be found here.", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-07T21:43:57Z"], ["https://jayapal.house.gov/2024/09/26/jayapal-applauds-more-than-10-million-to-help-older-aanhpi-workers-get-job-training-find-employment/", "Jayapal Applauds More Than $10 Million to Help Older AANHPI Workers Get Job Training, Find Employment", "2024-09-26", "2024", "2024-09", "Democrat", "House", "WA", "Pramila Jayapal", "J000298", "jayapal.house.gov", "jayapal", "https://jayapal.house.gov/category/press-releases/", "scraper", "SEATTLE, WA \u2013 U.S. Representative Pramila Jayapal (WA-07) applauded an investment of $10,091,442 in federal funding for the National Asian Pacific Center on Aging (NAPCA) in Seattle, Washington. This funding will help NAPCA continue its work of assisting older Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander (AANHPI) individuals in accessing community service programs that serve as a bridge to employment opportunities.\n\n\u201cBuilding up and expanding the Seattle area and our country\u2019s workforce means ensuring that everyone has access to the training programs and resources necessary to find employment,\u201d said Jayapal. \u201cThis funding is so important to our community and will help NAPCA continue their meaningful work of connecting our older, low-income AANHPI community with community service programs and job opportunities \u2014 helping to ensure long-term financial stability. The Biden-Harris administration\u2019s Department of Labor, led by Acting Secretary Julie Su, continues to be a strong champion for all workers across the country.\u201d\n\n\u201cThe funding we\u2019re announcing today advances the Biden-Harris administration\u2019s goal of promoting worker-focused training programs that incorporate industry and worker voices,\u201d said Acting Labor Secretary Julie Su. \u201cThe grants will help enhance access to quality jobs for older workers.\u201d\n\n\u201cWe greatly appreciate Congresswoman Jayapal and our partners in Congress for helping us secure funding for AANHPI older adults in this critical worker training program,\u201d said Clayton Fong, President/CEO, NAPCA. \u201cShe brings a unique understanding to the challenges and barriers that many AANHPI older workers face in the workforce as a staunch advocate for immigrant rights.\u201d\n\nThese funds come from the Department of Labor through the Senior Community Service Employment Program (SCSEP), which aims to provide training and career services to low-income older individuals who are seeking to enter or re-enter the workforce.\n\nThis funding will assist NAPCA in their work to help older AANHPI individuals with lower incomes gain work experience and overcome barriers to employment. The program provides access to on-the-job training at community-based organizations and government agencies to assist older Americans in participation in both community service and employment.\n\nNAPCA serves more than 1,200 older workers across the country through the SCSEP every year.\n\nJayapal wrote a letter of support for this funding request earlier this year.", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-07T21:43:57Z"], ["https://jayapal.house.gov/2024/09/26/jayapal-casar-colleagues-introduce-migration-stability-resolution/", "Jayapal, Casar & Colleagues Introduce Migration Stability Resolution", "2024-09-26", "2024", "2024-09", "Democrat", "House", "WA", "Pramila Jayapal", "J000298", "jayapal.house.gov", "jayapal", "https://jayapal.house.gov/category/press-releases/", "scraper", "WASHINGTON \u2013 Today, U.S. Representatives Pramila Jayapal (WA-07), U.S. Representative Greg Casar (TX-35), Jes\u00fas G. \u201cChuy\u201d Garc\u00eda (IL-04), Sydney Kamlager-Dove (CA-37), Delia Ramirez (IL-03), and Juan Vargas (CA-52) introduced a new resolution calling for comprehensive legislation to address the root causes of forced migration and displacement, while affirming the need for a true roadmap to citizenship for immigrants in the United States.\n\n\u201cDemocrats can build an orderly, humane, and stable immigration system. We should create more legal pathways for migration and citizenship, while also changing the failed U.S. policies that cause displacement abroad and force people to flee their home countries,\u201d said Congressman Greg Casar (D-Texas), co-founder of the Congressional Caucus on Global Migration. \u201cLet\u2019s tackle the climate crisis. Let\u2019s remove broad-based sanctions that increase poverty. Let\u2019s prioritize policies to support stability abroad while creating a welcoming and predictable immigration process at home.\u201d\n\n\u201cToo many people around the world face violence, poverty, and persecution and see the United States as a beacon of hope,\u201d said Rep. Pramila Jayapal (D-Wash.). \u201cWe must make the immigration system more humane, more orderly, and more effective to welcome immigrants who come to this country rather than turn them away and to recognize not only the contributions they make to this country, but also the moral duty we have to protect people who come here fleeing horrible conditions. We can and must do better for immigrants.\u201d\n\n\u201cOver the past decades, millions of people have been forced to migrate from their homes\u2014and more people are displaced now than ever before. This is the result of converging crises, including climate change, political instability, and violence, some of which are impacted by U.S. policy,\u201d said Rep. Jes\u00fas \u201cChuy\u201d Garc\u00eda (D-Ill.). \u201cYet, our immigration and asylum policies have become more restrictive and punitive, disregarding the role our government has played in creating this crisis. It\u2019s time we acknowledge the ways in which U.S. policy has contributed to forced migration and displacement, and advance reforms that address the root causes of migration.\u201d\n\n\u201cRepublicans\u2019 dangerous rhetoric about immigration endangers our immigrant communities and completely ignores the root causes of migration,\u201d said Congresswoman Kamlager-Dove (D-Calif.), co-founder of the Congressional Caucus on Global Migration. \u201cMigration is not just a border issue but a foreign policy issue. With migration on the rise worldwide and conflict, food insecurity, climate change, and political violence driving immigration to the U.S., it\u2019s imperative that we reshape our immigration policy to address these global crises. This resolution calls upon Congress to do just that.\u201d\n\n\u201cClimate instability, democratic backsliding, economic exclusion, sanctions, and human rights violations are just some of the conditions driving unprecedented levels of global displacement and migration,\u201d said Congresswoman Delia C. Ramirez (D-Ill.), co-founder of the Congressional Caucus on Global Migration. \u201cStricter border enforcement, harsh asylum laws, and the vilification of immigrants have consistently failed us and our neighbors. Instead, we need to address how our own policies contribute to the crises and adopt a coordinated regional and global strategy to tackle the root causes of displacement.\u201d\n\n\u201cIt\u2019s past time for comprehensive immigration reform. And a critical piece to this is addressing the factors that force families to flee their home countries in the first place,\u201d said Rep. Juan Vargas (D-Calif.). \u201cFrom combating climate change to humanitarian assistance, we need to implement productive policies that address the root causes of forced migration and displacement, while also working to restore faith in our legal immigration system and creating pathways to citizenship.\u201d\n\nSpecifically, this resolution calls for comprehensive legislation that:\n\naddresses U.S. policies contributing to forced migration and displacement;\n\nensures a humane and sustainable immigration system that appropriately addresses the root causes driving migration; and\n\naffirms the need for a true roadmap to citizenship for immigrants in the U.S.\n\nOver the last few weeks, MAGA Republicans have fabricated xenophobic and racist stories about Haitian immigrant families, adding to a long track record of perpetuating false narratives, conspiracy theories, and racist tropes. This MAGA rhetoric has incited physical violence against many migrant families. Now more than ever, it is important to emphasize the value migrants bring to our communities and to call for policies that will make our immigration system more stable and humane.\n\nThe resolution is co-led by U.S. Representatives Greg Casar (TX-35), Pramila Jayapal (WA-07), Jes\u00fas G. \u201cChuy\u201d Garc\u00eda (IL-04), Sydney Kamlager-Dove (CA-37), Delia Ramirez (IL-03), and Juan Vargas (CA-52), and co-sponsored by Nanette Barrag\u00e1n (CA-44), Andr\u00e9 Carson (IN-07), Sheila Cherfilus-McCormick (FL-20), Judy Chu (CA-28), Yvette Clarke (NY-09), Adriano Espaillat (NY-13), Robert Garcia (CA-42), Ra\u00fal Grijalva (AZ-07), Jonathan L. Jackson (IL-01), Henry C. \u201cHank\u201d Johnson (GA-04), Summer Lee (PA-12), James P. McGovern (MA-02), Grace Napolitano (CA-31), Eleanor Holmes Norton (DC), Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (NY-14), Ilhan Omar (MN-05), Ayanna Pressley (MA-07), Mike Quigley (IL-05), Jan Schakowsky (IL-09), Terri Sewell (AL-07), Shri Thanedar (MI-13), Rashida Tlaib (MI-12), and Nydia M. Velazquez (NY-07).\n\nIt is endorsed by ActionAid USA, Ayudemos por una vida mas digna, Border Vigil of Eagle Pass, CASA, Center for Economic Policy and Research, Center for International Policy, Climate Refugees, Eagle Pass Border Coalition, Global Exchange, Justice is Global, Mira Feminisms and Democracies, Movimiento de los pueblos por la paz y la justicia y M\u00e9xico negro ac, National Immigrant Justice Center, National Immigration Project, OXFAM America, Public Citizen, Sisters of Mercy of the Americas \u2013 Justice Team, Transnational Villages Network/Red de Pueblos, United We Dream, and Win Without War.\n\n\u201cThis resolution is the step forward Congress desperately needs to reframe the issue of immigration towards more productive and effective solutions that will ensure migrants\u2019 lives take precedence over politics,\u201d said Juliana Macedo do Nascimento, Deputy Director of Federal Advocacy at United We Dream. \u201cThe vast majority of Americans want to see a humane, efficient and fair policies that honor everyone\u2019s freedoms to live safely in their homes without being forcibly displaced, whether here or abroad, and provides the opportunity to become citizens in the U.S. Congress has a clear roadmap in front of them with this resolution that proves that safety, humanity, fairness and justice in our foreign policy and immigration system are not contradictory values but instead deeply interconnected.\u201d\n\n\u201cWe need to dig in our heels and end the racism and xenophobia that\u2019s rampant in our immigration and asylum debates in the U.S.,\u201d said Eric Eikenberry, government relations director for Win Without War. \u201cThis new resolution lays the groundwork to do just that: welcome people who want to build their lives here, while ensuring that \u2014 from arms sales to climate policy and beyond \u2014 our government doesn\u2019t create the conditions that force them from their homes and communities.\u201d\n\n\u201cFor too long, the U.S. approach to migration has focused on barricading our borders rather than addressing the realities compelling people to leave their homes \u2014 including crises exacerbated by U.S. policies. We applaud Congressman Casar and his colleagues for taking this critical step to review and move toward better U.S. policies to address the conditions giving rise to increased migration and displacement,\u201d said Dylan Williams, Center for International Policy Vice President for Government Affairs.\n\n\u201cThere\u2019s been a lot of talk over the years about \u2018root causes\u2019 of migration, but this is the first legislation of its kind to home in on the elephant in the room: U.S. policy and its role in fueling the involuntary migration and displacement of millions of people in the region and the world,\u201d said Alex Main, Director of International Policy at the Center for Economic and Policy Research. \u201cThis groundbreaking resolution helps us all better understand how vulnerable communities in the Global South have been devastated by U.S. broad-based sanctions, U.S.-backed trade agreements that put corporate greed over people, U.S. security assistance that props up repressive governments, and lax gun laws that provide criminals with easy access to U.S. weapons. Most importantly, this legislation proposes bold strategies to undo harmful policies and help truly mitigate \u2018root causes\u2019 including through far-reaching reforms to US sanctions policy and foreign assistance, the removal of harmful ISDS provisions from US-backed trade agreements, and the provision of robust support to developing countries fighting inequality and climate change, including through new issuances of debt-free IMF Special Drawing Rights. This resolution is long overdue, and we\u2019re proud and delighted to be supporting it today.\u201d\n\n\u201cRather than \u2018blaming the victims\u2019\u2014immigrants, it is important to acknowledge how failed U.S. foreign (or economic and military) policies have contributed to the spiraling poverty and violence from which people have been fleeing for their lives,\u201d Jean Stokan, Justice Coordinator for Sisters of Mercy of the Americas. \u201cForced migration is often the result of U.S. foreign policies that prioritize the interests of foreign investors over those of impoverished populations. Thus, this resolution importantly names U.S. responsibility to address those root causes and the need for justice-based pathways to citizenship.\u201d\n\n\u201cTo design a just and humane policy response to immigration, we have to ask the question \u2013 why are people moving? As an international development organization, ActionAid USA strongly supports this resolution for acknowledging the root causes of migration, including and especially those for which the United States is directly responsible,\u201d said Brandon Wu, Director of Policy and Campaigns for ActionAid USA. \u201cA human rights-based approach to immigration policy should start with fixing harmful foreign policies, ongoing climate inaction, and unjust international economic systems that all contribute to force people to leave their homes.\u201d\n\nBackground:\n\nWashington Post: How four U.S. presidents unleashed economic warfare across the globe\n\nThe Guardian: Guns and weapons trafficked from U.S. fueling Haiti gang violence\n\nOxfam: Refuge from Debt: How the global debt crisis fuels forced migration to New York\n\nInternational Refugee Assistance Project: Enduring Change \u2013 A Data Review of Firsthand Accounts of Climate Mobility Impacts\n\nThe resolution text can be found here.", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-07T21:43:57Z"], ["https://delbene.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=3969", "DelBene on Bipartisan Funding Agreement to Avert Government Shutdown", "2024-09-25", "2024", "2024-09", "Democrat", "House", "WA", "Suzan K. DelBene", "D000617", "delbene.house.gov", "delbene", "https://delbene.house.gov/news/documentquery.aspx?DocumentTypeID=27", "scraper", "Today, Congresswoman Suzan DelBene (WA-01) issued the following statement after the House of Representatives passed a bipartisan funding agreement to avert a government shutdown:\n\n\u201cAmericans want governance that works, and I joined House Democrats today to prevent a shutdown, once again demonstrating that bipartisan solutions are necessary to address the issues before Congress. It is unacceptable that House Republicans played games for weeks and risked a government shutdown that could have jeopardized the well-being of middle-class families, veterans, and our national security to advance their harmful Project 2025 agenda.\n\n\u201cWhile we successfully prevented a shutdown today, we must work together to reach an agreement to fund the government for the entirety of Fiscal Year 2025. House Republicans must accept the reality that in a divided government, bipartisan solutions are the only way to pass legislation through both the House and Senate and get it to President Biden\u2019s desk.\u201d\n\nThis temporary funding agreement now heads to the Senate for approval ahead of the September 30 funding deadline.\n\nRelated News\n\nDelBene Discusses Tariffs, AI with WA Small Businesses\n\nApril 2, 2026 | Posted in Press Releases\n\nAnniversary of Trump\u2019s Tariffs Marked by Higher Prices, Weaker Economy\n\nApril 1, 2026 | Posted in Press Releases\n\nDelBene, Miller, Schrier Introduce Bill to Remove Financial Barriers for Living Organ Donors\n\nMarch 17, 2026 | Posted in Press Releases\n\nDelBene Leads Bipartisan Warning that NIH Council Vacancies Threaten Medical Research\n\nMarch 6, 2026 | Posted in Press Releases", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-07T21:43:57Z"], ["https://jayapal.house.gov/2024/09/25/jayapal-statement-on-vote-to-keep-government-funded/", "Jayapal Statement on Vote to Keep Government Funded", "2024-09-25", "2024", "2024-09", "Democrat", "House", "WA", "Pramila Jayapal", "J000298", "jayapal.house.gov", "jayapal", "https://jayapal.house.gov/category/press-releases/", "scraper", "WASHINGTON \u2014 U.S. Representative Pramila Jayapal released the following statement after voting for H.R. 9747, a Continuing Resolution (CR), to prevent a government shutdown. The legislation passed 341-82.\n\n\u201cToday the GOP majority in the House of Representatives was bailed out by Democrats, as we voted to keep our government from shutting down. A government shutdown would delay flights, stall food safety inspections, increase wait times for Social Security benefits, and much more. Yet Republicans insisted on playing politics with this vote, last week attaching it to poison pill legislation that they knew would fail.\n\n\u201cMany of their members still refused to vote for this legislation today since it no longer had extreme MAGA measures attached. Democrats once again stood up for poor and working people, seniors, and all those across the country who would\u2019ve been affected by a government shutdown and kept our government open.\n\n\u201cHowever, this CR only serves to kick the can down the road. I hope that in December when it expires, Republicans are able to work with us to pass a full budget that works for poor and working families.\u201d", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-07T21:43:57Z"], ["https://schrier.house.gov/media/press-releases/congresswoman-schrier-introduces-access-claims-data-act", "Congresswoman Schrier Introduces The Access to Claims Data Act", "2024-09-25", "2024", "2024-09", "Democrat", "House", "WA", "Kim Schrier", "S001216", "schrier.house.gov", "schrier", "https://schrier.house.gov/media/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON, D.C. \u2013 Today, Congresswoman Kim Schrier, M.D. (WA-08) alongside Congressman Larry Bucshon (IN-08) announced a bipartisan bill, The Access to Claims Data Act, which would require the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) to establish a program that allows clinician-led clinical data registries access to Medicare claims data for research, quality of care measurement, and reporting. Clinician-led clinical data registries are data repositories operated by physician groups that collect information about particular diseases and therapies.\n\n\"As a doctor, I understand how beneficial and effective quality data is for physician researchers to develop best practices so that all physicians can provide their patients with the best care possible,\" said Congresswoman Schrier, M.D. \"That's why I'm proud to introduce this commonsense, bipartisan legislation which will help improve patient outcomes in both the immediate and long-term future.\"\n\n\u201cWhen it comes to health information, nobody is more qualified to assess and evaluate than those who provide direct patient care,\u201d said Congressman Bucshon, M.D. \u201cThat is why I am proud to introduce the Access to Claims Data Act\u2014commonsense legislation that will increase transparency of health care reimbursement claims, better informing clinicians and ultimately improving outcomes for patients.\u201d\n\n\u201cFolks in our region deserve a federal government that is providing them with access to affordable and effective healthcare,\u201d said Congressman Kilmer. \u201cThat\u2019s why I\u2019m supporting bipartisan legislation that will help support the necessary research to ensure that today\u2019s medical treatments and interventions are effective, accessible, and reliable, by providing medical professionals with the information they need to make informed decisions about the best course of action for their patients. Having these decisions based on data and facts will better serve people across the country in the long run and allow for advancements in patient safety and outcomes.\u201d\n\n\"The reintroduction of the Access to Claims Data Act is a pivotal step towards enhancing patient care and advancing longitudinal research,\u201d said Jennifer Romano, MD, MS, President of The Society of Thoracic Surgeons (STS). \u201cBy providing surgeons and other providers with comprehensive access to federal claims data, we can identify trends, improve treatment protocols, and ultimately ensure better patient outcomes. This legislation empowers clinicians with the information necessary to make informed decisions, driving quality and efficiency in our healthcare system.\"", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-07T21:43:57Z"], ["https://adamsmith.house.gov/news/press-releases/rep-smith-urges-us-independently-investigate-fatal-shooting-aysenur-ezgi-eygi", "Rep. Smith urges U.S. to independently investigate the fatal shooting of Aysenur Ezgi Eygi", "2024-09-24", "2024", "2024-09", "Democrat", "House", "WA", "Adam Smith", "S000510", "adamsmith.house.gov", "adamsmith", "https://adamsmith.house.gov/news/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON, D.C. - Today, Representative Adam Smith (D-Wash) sent a letter, cosigned by 102 of his colleagues, to urge the U.S. to investigate the fatal shooting of Aysenur Ezgi Eygi.\n\nSee below for the full letter.\n\nDear President Biden, Secretary Blinken, and Attorney General Garland:\n\nOn September 6, we learned about the fatal shooting in the West Bank of American citizen Aysenur Ezgi Eygi, a Seattle resident and recent graduate of the University of Washington. We extend our deepest condolences to Ms. Eygi\u2019s family during this moment of tragedy, and our thoughts are with her family and loved ones.\n\nWe are deeply disturbed by the Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) preliminary investigation that found \u201cit is highly likely\u201d Ms. Eygi \u201cwas hit indirectly and unintentionally by IDF fire which was not aimed at her\u201d during a \u201cviolent riot.\u201d This contradicts credible, independent eyewitness accounts that suggest the shooting was intentional without provocation. A Washington Post investigation based on interviews with eyewitnesses and West Bank residents, photos, and videos indicates the shooting occurred \u201cmore than a half-hour after the height of confrontations in Beita, and some 20 minutes after protesters had moved down the main road \u2014 more than 200 yards away from Israeli forces.\u201d\n\nGiven the evidence, we believe the United States must independently investigate whether this was a homicide. To walk away without asking further questions gives Israeli forces unacceptable license to act with impunity. There must be accountability for Ms. Eygi\u2019s death. We therefore call on the White House, State Department, and Department of Justice to lead an independent, thorough, credible, and transparent investigation into the killing of Ms. Eygi. This investigation should include all evidence found and rationale for how findings were determined in a written report to the family.\n\nWe request a written explanation provided to the family and the undersigned members to the following questions no later than October 4, 2024:\n\nWhat does the U.S. government currently know about the circumstances surrounding Ms. Eygi\u2019s killing?\n\nWill the U.S. government conduct an independent, thorough, credible, and transparent investigation into the killing of Ms. Eygi?\n\nWhat would be the proposed timeline and plan for such an investigation?\n\nHow will the U.S. government seek accountability if the Israeli government refuses to cooperate with such an investigation?\n\nWe appreciate your attention to these matters and look forward to your prompt response.\u201d\n\nA full copy of the letter can be found at the link above.", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-07T21:43:57Z"], ["https://newhouse.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/newhouse-applauds-passage-major-forest-restoration-bill", "Newhouse Applauds Passage of Major Forest Restoration Bill", "2024-09-24", "2024", "2024-09", "Republican", "House", "WA", "Dan Newhouse", "N000189", "newhouse.house.gov", "newhouse", "https://newhouse.house.gov/media-center/press-releases", "scraper", "\u201cAs Chairman of the Congressional Western Caucus and a lifelong resident of Central Washington where we are affected by these disasters, wildfire risk remains top of mind as states across the West are ravaged by wildfires year after year,\u201d said Rep. Newhouse.\n\n\u201cIn Washington state alone, wildfires have destroyed hundreds of thousands of acres in recent years, and there is no sign of it slowing down. We need proactive forest management now, and the Fix Our Forests Act will help achieve this goal.\u201d\n\n\u201cThis bipartisan effort will enable desperately needed active forest management by expediting permitting reviews and limiting senseless lawsuits from extreme environmentalists.\u201d", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-07T21:43:57Z"], ["https://newhouse.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/newhouse-introduces-resolution-honor-gold-star-families-2", "Newhouse Introduces Resolution to Honor Gold Star Families", "2024-09-23", "2024", "2024-09", "Republican", "House", "WA", "Dan Newhouse", "N000189", "newhouse.house.gov", "newhouse", "https://newhouse.house.gov/media-center/press-releases", "scraper", "Rep. Dan Newhouse (R-WA) led 44 members in introducing the Gold Star Families Remembrance Week Resolution to honor the sacrifices made by families of U.S. military servicemembers who lost their lives in service to the nation. It designates September 22 - 28, 2024 as Gold Star Families Remembrance Week.\n\n\u201cOur service members and their families have made great sacrifices in service to their country, and it is important that they are not forgotten,\u201d said Rep. Newhouse.\n\nNewhouse continues, \u201cBy designating September 22-28 as Gold Star Families Remembrance Week, we recognize the extraordinary courage and resilience of our Gold Star Families and reflect on those we have lost. These families bear an unimaginable burden\u2014enduring the loss of their loved ones who gave their lives in service to our nation\u2014and we have a responsibility to ensure their memory is preserved.\u201d\n\nThe following are quotes of support from Gold Star Family members:\n\n\u201cI am very pleased that Congress is choosing to recognize Gold Star Families Remembrance Week. Every Memorial Day, we honor our warriors who gave their lives in defense of America. We should also honor the families of those fallen warriors, who stood behind them as they served, suffered the pain of their loss, then picked up the pieces and carried on. I'm a Gold Star son who lost my father in Vietnam. Life has taught me three truths. Grief fades. Love never dies. Courage shines on forever.\u201d \u2013 Retired Army Lieutenant Colonel Hank Cramer, Washington, Gold Star Son of Captain Harry Griffith Cramer Jr. (U.S. Army Special Forces), who was Killed in Action in 1957 in Vietnam.\n\n\u201cI was just a year old when my father was declared Missing in Action in December 1945 in Germany. I have no memory of him but would like to honor his legacy by sharing his story with others who want to know the experiences of Gold Star families.\u201d \u2013 Karen Oberg, California, Gold Star Daughter of Pvt. Worrell F. Oberg (Army) who was Killed in Action on December 22, 1945, and whose remains have yet to be recovered.\n\n\u201cMy brother had just turned one and I was two and a half when our father was killed. As we got older, we often wondered what kind of man he was. In a letter to his sister just before he was killed, dad wrote that he had been wounded and had to build up his courage to go back in combat because he had seen so much death and destruction. From that letter, and in that moment, we knew our dad was a hero and we brought him off the shelf and back into life.\u201d \u2013 Walt Linne, Indiana, Gold Star Son of Sgt. Walter John Linne (Army) who was Killed in Action in Germersheim, Germany on March 24, 1945.\n\n\u201cIn 2022, when I visited South Korea and observed for myself the freedom, liberty, prosperity and gratitude of the South Korean people, I further realized that the supreme sacrifice by my father and its effect on our family was not in vain.\u201d \u2013 Robert James Johnston, Tennessee, Gold Star Son of Sgt. James Fred Johnston (Army) KIA/MIA, December 2, 1950, at the Chosin Reservoir, North Korea.\n\n\u201cSince I was only two when my Dad went missing, I have no personal memories of him other than what my Mom told me often that to do my best as my Dad would expect or when I did something good, she would tell me how proud he would be of me. David, my brother, and I grew up loving the same things our Dad did, Boy Scouts, the outdoors, hunting, fishing and family.\u201d \u2013 Mike Logan, Tennessee, Gold Star Son of Maj. Samuel P. Logan, Jr. (USAF). He was the pilot of a B-29 shot down and taken captive while on a mission over North Korea on September 9, 1950. In 1954 he was declared Killed in Action. Maj. Logan was survived by his Gold Star Wife and two Gold Star Sons.\n\n\u201cBeing a Gold Star family member signifies profound sacrifice and loss as we bear the enduring grief of losing a loved one in service to the nation. Gold Star families' identities are shaped with both pride and sorrow.\u201d \u2013 Carol Brenneman Reed, California, Gold Star Daughter of Captain Austin E.E. Brenneman (USMC) who was Killed in Action on May 28, 1951, in Anak, North Korea.\n\n\u201cIn July 1951, the 2nd Inf Div deployed to Korea, leaving a pregnant, newlywed wife on a lifetime path of uncertainty, grief, loss, and life challenges. Ellen Marie Blissenbach handled her loss by joining the Gold Star Wives of America, becoming very active in supporting other families and veterans, as well as seeking information on my missing father, ultimately achieving some closure before her passing.\u201d \u2013 Maj. Paul K. Blissenbach US Army (Retired), Kentucky, Gold Star Son of SFC Joseph A. Blissenbach, who gave his life on November 30, 1950, in Kunu-ri, North Korea.\n\n\u201cLosing my father in the Battle of Ia Drang Valley during the Vietnam War was an indescribable blow, not only to my family but to the very fabric of my life. His absence left a profound void, a loss that reverberated through every milestone, forever shaping who I became. The sacrifice he made in such a fierce and historic battle deepens the sorrow, as his life was cut short defending a cause that took him far from home, never to return.\u201d \u2013 Army veteran Thomas Barrett, Ph. D., Maryland, Gold Star Son of SSGT Thomas J. Barrett, Jr. (Army), Killed in Action November 15, 1965, Vietnam.\n\n\u201cDuring Gold Star Families Remembrance Week, we honor the parents, spouses, siblings and children of those service members who lost their lives defending the United States and her allies. For nearly a century, \u2018The Long Gold Line\u2019 of these Gold Star Families has personified the resilience of the American spirit. Here on the home front, they endured the worst possible news delivered from a faraway war front. Yet they moved forward supporting each other and carrying on the legacies of their fallen heroes who, in the name of freedom, gave their last full measure of devotion.\u201d \u2013 Tony Cordero, California, Gold Star Son of Maj. William E. Cordero (USAF) who was killed on a bombing mission over North Vietnam on June 22, 1965. He is the founder of Sons and Daughters In Touch - America\u2019s Gold Star Children from the Vietnam War.\n\n\u201cOur son held a strong sense of honor and service and would have no regrets. We honor his valor and sacrifice every day. We gratefully support this resolution to honor and remember the sacrifices of all of our fallen and of the 7068 men and women Killed In Action in the Global War on Terror and the ongoing sacrifices of the families they left behind. It is this nation\u2019s responsibility to Never Forget, to honor their valor, and to always support the families left behind.\u201d \u2013 Barbara and Col. Mark Roland (USAF, Retired), Kentucky, Gold Star Mother and Father of Captain Matthew Roland, USAF, Killed In Action in Afghanistan on August 26, 2015.\n\n\u201cMy father flew 22 missions along the coastal waters of Vietnam to clear the area of enemy submarines before the US could bring in the 7th Fleet at the onset of the Vietnam War. His body was never recovered after his plane plunged into the South China Sea. My life and my family crumbled before my eyes and to this day I continue to live a life never knowing my father. Three months after the attack on the Twin Towers, my son joined the US Army, following his grandfather\u2019s footsteps as he was also willing to die for his country. Unfortunately, it ended horrifically when he was killed by an enemy IED while on patrol near the Hor Rijeb Canal in Iraq. There is no greater love than this: that a person would lay down his life for the sake of his country.\u201d \u2013 Elaine M. Roach, California, Gold Star Mother of PFC Joel Brattain, Killed in Action on March 13, 2004, and Gold Star Daughter of Lt. Harold S. Roach (Navy), lost in the South China Sea on October 2, 1964.\n\nThe following Members are co-sponsors of the legislation:\n\nReps. Andy Barr (R-KY), Mike Bost (R-IL), Vern Buchanan (R-FL), Larry Bucshon (R-IN), Troy Balderson (R-OH), Juan Ciscomani (R-AZ), Jake Ellzey (R-TX), Randy Feenstra (R-IA), Chuck Fleischmann (R-TN), Mike Flood (R-NE), Brett Guthrie (R-KY), Mark Green (R-TN), Michael Guest (R-MS), Young Kim (R-CA), Greg Lopez (R-CO), Julia Letlow (R-LA), Nick LaLota (R-NY), Mike Lawler (R-NY), Greg Murphy (R-NC), John Moolenaar (R-MI), Tracey Mann (R-KS), Zach Nunn (R-IA), Elise Stefanik (R-NY), Greg Steube (R-FL), Glenn Thompson (R-PA), Daniel Webster (R-FL), Roger Williams (R-TX), Brandon Williams (R-NY), David Valadao (R-CA), Salud Carbajal (D-CA), Jim Costa (D-CA), Chris Deluzio (D-PA), Don Davis (D-NC), Josh Harder (D-CA), Glenn Ivey (D-MD), Derek Kilmer (D-WA), William Keating (D-MA), Joe Morelle (D-NY), Kathy Manning (D-NC), Wiley Nickel (D-NC), Scott Peters (D-CA), Deborah Ross (D-NC), Linda Sanchez (D-CA), Paul Tonko (D-NY), and Juan Vargas (D-CA).\n\nClick here to read the full text of the bill.\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-07T21:43:57Z"], ["https://delbene.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=3966", "DelBene Seeks Veteran or Gold Star Family Member for District Office Position", "2024-09-20", "2024", "2024-09", "Democrat", "House", "WA", "Suzan K. DelBene", "D000617", "delbene.house.gov", "delbene", "https://delbene.house.gov/news/documentquery.aspx?DocumentTypeID=27", "scraper", "Today, Congresswoman Suzan DelBene (WA-01) announced she is seeking a veteran, Gold Star Family member, or an active-duty spouse living in Washington\u2019s 1st Congressional District for a position in her Kirkland district office through the Green & Gold Congressional Aide Program.\n\nThis position will work with military and veteran constituents to handle veterans-related casework and act as a facilitator with federal, state, and local agencies.\n\n\u201cWe made a promise to our veterans, Gold Star Families, and active-duty spouses that we will support them and make sure we honor their commitment to our nation,\u201d DelBene said. \u201cThat\u2019s why I\u2019m excited to be working with the Green & Gold Congressional Aide Program to offer an opportunity to join my district office team in Kirkland.\u201d\n\nThe Green & Gold Congressional Aide Program was established by the House of Representatives to provide employment opportunities for veterans, Gold Star Families, and active-duty spouses within member offices.\n\nThe program is limited to veterans, Gold Star Families, and spouses of active-duty servicemembers who meet all the following requirements:\n\nVeterans must be honorably discharged, released from active duty within the last six years, terminal pay grades at or below E-5, O-3, or W-2.\n\nVeterans promoted to the pay grades of E-6, O-4, and W-3 within 6 months of separation from active duty are eligible, granted they meet ALL other eligibility requirements.\n\nVeterans who are in receipt of a 20-year or Temporary Early Retirement Authorization (TERA) retirement are not eligible for the program.\n\nGold Star applicants must be the spouse, parent/step-parent, sibling/step-sibling, child or step-child of a service member who died in the line of duty, or died from a service-connected disability. Active-duty spouses must be a spouse of a service member serving on active duty in a regular component of the armed forces.", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-07T21:43:57Z"], ["https://jayapal.house.gov/2024/09/20/jayapal-bonamici-merkley-introduce-legislation-to-stop-predatory-payday-lending-practices/", "Jayapal, Bonamici, Merkley Introduce Legislation to Stop Predatory Payday Lending Practices", "2024-09-20", "2024", "2024-09", "Democrat", "House", "WA", "Pramila Jayapal", "J000298", "jayapal.house.gov", "jayapal", "https://jayapal.house.gov/category/press-releases/", "scraper", "WASHINGTON, DC \u2013 Congresswomen Pramila Jayapal (D-WA) and Suzanne Bonamici (D-OR) and Senator Jeff Merkley (D-OR) introduced legislation to protect consumers from predatory payday lending practices.\n\nThe Stopping Abuse and Fraud in Electronic (SAFE) Lending Act of 2024 would safeguard consumers as predatory payday lenders have continued to flourish online despite laws passed by many states to stop abusive lending. Internet lenders hide behind layers of anonymously registered websites and \u201clead generators\u201d to evade enforcement and can empty consumers\u2019 bank accounts before they have a chance to assert their rights.\n\n\u201cPayday lenders take advantage of working families, struggling to pay medical bills or rent, by trapping them in a seemingly endless cycle of debt,\u201d said Congresswoman Pramila Jayapal. \u201cI\u2019m proud to lead this legislation with Congresswoman Bonamici that would protect consumers across the country by closing loopholes, increasing transparency, and putting an end to these predatory lending practices. Congress has a responsibly to protect hardworking people from bad actors, and that\u2019s exactly what we will accomplish with our SAFE Lending Act.\u201d\n\n\u201cPredatory payday lenders rob hard-working individuals and families of their resources at a time when they are financially vulnerable,\u201d said Congresswoman Suzanne Bonamici. \u201cThe SAFE Lending Act would finally put an end to the unscrupulous practices payday lenders use to trap consumers in an unending cycle of debt.\u201d\n\n\u201cPredatory payday lenders trap hardworking Americans in an inescapable vortex of debt,\u201d said Senator Jeff Merkley. \u201cBefore we kicked payday lenders out of Oregon, they preyed on families in my blue-collar neighborhood. We need strong consumer protections to break this cycle of endless debt for families across America.\u201d\n\nThe SAFE Lending Act is endorsed by the National Consumer Law Center (on behalf of its low-income clients), Consumer Action, Consumer Federation of America, Main Street Alliance, U.S. PIRG, and UnidosUS. It would:\n\n1. Give Consumers Control of Their Own Bank Accounts\n\nPrevent third parties from gaining control of a consumer\u2019s account through remotely created checks (RCCs) \u2013 checks from a consumer\u2019s bank account created by third parties. To prevent unauthorized RCCs, consumers would be able to preauthorize exactly who can create an RCC on his or her behalf, such as when traveling.\n\nAllow consumers to cancel an automatic withdrawal in connection with a small-dollar loan. This would prevent an internet payday lender from stripping a checking account without a consumer being able to stop it.\n\n2. Allow Consumers to Regain Control of their Money and Increase Transparency\n\nRequire all lenders, including banks, to abide by state rules for the small-dollar, payday-like loans they may offer customers in a state. Many individual states currently have much tougher laws than the federal government. There is currently no federal cap on interest or limit on the number of times a loan can be rolled over.\n\nIncrease transparency and create a better understanding of the small-dollar loan industry by requiring payday lenders to register with the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau.\n\nBan overdraft fees on prepaid cards issued by payday lenders who use them to gain access to consumers\u2019 funds and to add to the already exorbitant costs of payday loans.\n\nRequire the CFPB to monitor any other fees associated with payday prepaid cards and issue a rule banning any other predatory fees on prepaid cards.\n\n3. Ban Lead Generators and Anonymous Payday Lending\n\nSome websites describe themselves as payday lenders but are actually \u201clead generators\u201d that collect applications and auction them to payday lenders and others. This practice is rife with abuse and has led to fraudulent debt collection.\n\nThe SAFE Lending Act bans lead generators and anonymously registered websites in payday lending.\n\nThe bill also requires the Government Accountability Office to conduct a study on access to capital on Tribal lands and directs the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau to promulgate rules to implement this legislation.\n\nA one-page summary of the SAFE Lending Act can be found here. The full text of the legislation can be found here.\n\nIn the House, the legislation is cosponsored by Representatives Susan Wild (D-PA) and Katie Porter (D-CA).\n\nThe Senate, the legislation is cosponsored by Senators Tammy Baldwin (D-WI), Richard Blumenthal (D-CT), Ron Wyden (D-OR), Chris Van Hollen (D-MD), Bernie Sanders (I-VT), Dick Durbin (D-IL), Edward J. Markey (D-MA), Martin Heinrich (D-NM), and Tina Smith (D-MN).", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-07T21:43:57Z"], ["https://jayapal.house.gov/2024/09/20/jayapal-lee-jacobs-omar-and-kildee-urge-renewed-calls-for-peace-in-sudan/", "Jayapal, Lee, Jacobs, Omar, and Kildee Urge Renewed Calls for Peace in Sudan", "2024-09-20", "2024", "2024-09", "Democrat", "House", "WA", "Pramila Jayapal", "J000298", "jayapal.house.gov", "jayapal", "https://jayapal.house.gov/category/press-releases/", "scraper", "WASHINGTON \u2013 U.S. Representatives Pramila Jayapal (WA-07), Barbara Lee (CA-12), Sara Jacobs (CA-51), Ilhan Omar (MN-05), and Daniel T. Kildee (MI-08), are today applauding the Biden Administration\u2019s work to advance efforts for peace in Sudan and urging him to raise concerns over support from the United Arab Emirates (UAE) for the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) in Sudan.\n\n\u201cWe are grateful that your Administration has advanced efforts to rally international partners, end hostilities, protect civilians, expand humanitarian access, elevate civil society voices, and support over $1.6 billion in emergency assistance to Sudan in the last two years,\u201d wrote the Members. \u201cWe are concerned that the UAE\u2019s actions in Sudan run counter to these actions and your stated goals of an end to the violence and freedom, peace, and justice for the Sudanese people.\u201d\n\nThe Sudanese people have been enduring this conflict since April 15, 2023. According to the World Food Programme, over 25 million people, half of Sudan\u2019s population, are facing acute hunger and more than 10 million people have been displaced both internally and abroad since the onset of this conflict between warring military forces, the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) and the RSF.\n\n\u201cAs you have noted, the RSF has committed war crimes, crimes against humanity, and ethnic cleansing in Sudan. It is essential that our partnership with the UAE be built on our many shared interests but also our shared values and vision for a stable Sudan,\u201d the Members continued.\n\nSpecifically, the Members are asking ahead of President Biden\u2019s meeting with UAE President Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, that he raise these concerning reports, urge the UAE to cease their support to the RSF, and reiterate the shared goal of a secure Sudan.\n\nThe full letter can be read here.", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-07T21:43:57Z"], ["https://jayapal.house.gov/2024/09/20/reps-jayapal-carson-schakowsky-introduce-unrwa-funding-bill/", "Reps. Jayapal, Carson, Schakowsky Introduce UNRWA Funding Bill", "2024-09-20", "2024", "2024-09", "Democrat", "House", "WA", "Pramila Jayapal", "J000298", "jayapal.house.gov", "jayapal", "https://jayapal.house.gov/category/press-releases/", "scraper", "WASHINGTON, DC \u2014 Representative Pramila Jayapal (WA-07), along with Reps. Andr\u00e9 Carson (IN-07) and Jan Schakowsky (IL-09), introduced H.R. 9649, the UNRWA Funding Emergency Restoration Act of 2024. This bill will end the congressionally and administratively mandated pause on funding for the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNWRA).\n\nThe United States has historically been one of the largest financial supporters of UNRWA, which serves nearly 6 million Palestinian refugees across the West Bank, East Jerusalem, Syria, Jordan, and Lebanon. In March of this year, the U.S. paused UNRWA funding after the Israeli government alleged that 12 agency employees had direct involvement in Hamas\u2019 October 7 terrorist attack.\n\nFollowing the UN\u2019s investigation and proactive commitments made by UNRWA toward complete accountability and reform, all countries except the U.S. have resumed their UNRWA funding, including the European Union, United Kingdom, Canada, Australia, Finland, Germany, Japan, and Sweden. Approximately 1.9 million people \u2013 9 in 10 Gazans \u2013 have been displaced at least once, and an estimated 43,580 are pregnant women. UNRWA has served as the primary humanitarian aid organization operating in Gaza, and without funding, hundreds of thousands of Gaza civilians are left vulnerable. It is estimated that over 1 million Gazans will not have enough food this month, and availability of basic hygiene items has dropped to 15%. In addition to a polio outbreak, Gazans are suffering from malnutrition and treatable diseases due to \u201csystematic dismantling of healthcare\u201d from bombardments on civilians.\n\n\u201cUNRWA has played a unique and integral role in supporting the welfare of Palestinian refugees for decades. Their on-the-ground understanding is invaluable to ensure that humanitarian aid makes it to the people who need it most \u2014 in the West Bank, East Jerusalem, Syria, Jordan, Lebanon, and critically in this moment in Gaza,\u201d said Congresswoman Jayapal. \u201cThere is no question in my mind that revoking funding for UNRWA will lead to more devastation and loss of life in Gaza. We must ensure that those acting in good faith to save civilian lives are not undermined by a lack of US funding.\u201d\n\n\u201cThe scale of this devastating, man-made crisis in Gaza cannot be overstated,\u201d said Congressman Carson. \u201cProviding humanitarian aid to a starving nation \u2013 with funding Congress has appropriated year after year \u2013 should not be controversial. I urge my colleagues who care about basic human rights, the rights of pregnant women, and the wellbeing of innocent children to join our bill. UNRWA has taken appropriate and proactive steps towards accountability and transparency, conducting multiple independent reviews that continue to prove the organization is both in compliance and imperative to provide the region with lifesaving assistance. It\u2019s past time we restore funding and save lives.\u201d\n\n\u201cFor decades, the United Nations Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA) has been a lifeline for Palestinians, providing food, clean water, healthcare, shelter, education, and livelihoods. Today, UNRWA remains the backbone of the humanitarian response in Gaza as it endures ongoing war and a dire humanitarian crisis. UNRWA and the United Nations have taken swift and decisive actions to address the concerns raised by the U.S. government when it paused funding in January and our allies have all resumed funding for UNRWA. The U.S. must follow suit and resume funding for this critical humanitarian agency,\u201d said Congresswoman Schakowsky. \u201cI am proud to co-lead the UNRWA Funding Emergency Restoration Act to restore funding to UNRWA and help Gazans get the humanitarian assistance they need at a time of unprecedented crisis.\u201d\n\n\u201cJ Street is proud to be supporting the UNRWA Emergency Restoration Act of 2024 introduced by Representatives Carson, Jayapal, and Schakowsky. We should restore funding, as all our major allies have, and stop playing politics with Palestinian welfare and Israel\u2019s security,\u201d said J Street President Jeremy Ben-Ami. \u201cAs UNRWA\u2019s largest donor and Israel\u2019s key security guarantor, the United States has a special obligation to address this crisis.\u201d\n\n\u201cGaza isn\u2019t starving. It\u2019s being starved,\u201d said Hassan El-Tayyab, legislative director for Middle East policy at the Friends Committee on National Legislation. \u201cOver two million Palestinian civilians are enduring a man-made humanitarian catastrophe, with famine and disease spreading due to blocked aid access. Meanwhile, the Biden administration and Congress continue to withhold all U.S. funding for the largest aid operation in Gaza\u2014the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA). UNRWA is the backbone of aid delivery in Gaza, ensuring that millions receive desperately needed assistance. Blocking U.S. funding for UNRWA\u2019s critical work is a cruel and unjustified decision that only deepens Gaza\u2019s humanitarian suffering. Congress and the Administration must act swiftly to correct this wrong by supporting the UNRWA Funding Emergency Restoration Act and restoring this urgently needed aid.\u201d\n\n\u201cRestoring funding to UNRWA is a humanitarian imperative,\u201d said Sharif Aly, President of the International Refugee Assistance Project (IRAP). \u201cFor over six decades, the United States has been one of the strongest supporters of UNRWA, which provides lifesaving aid and social services to millions of Palestinian refugees across the Middle East. Those services are desperately needed in Gaza right now, and UNRWA is the only organization with the capacity and expertise necessary to provide them at scale. The United States must uphold its commitment to the human rights of the Palestinian people and pass this legislation to reinstate funding to the humanitarian agency immediately. Failing to do so would lead to further human suffering.\u201d\n\n\u201cIn restoring funding for food, water, shelter, and medical care for Palestine refugees, the UNRWA Restoration Act honors this most basic and inalienable truth \u2014 that the people of Palestine are human beings, just like all of us, and all lives are sacred, not just some,\u201d said Mara Kronenfeld, Executive Director UNRWA USA.\n\n\u201cUNRWA is indispensable to providing Palestinians in Gaza, the West Bank, Lebanon, Jordan, and Syria with the education, healthcare, and other critical services that are key to successful, productive livelihoods and citizenry, and a future of peace and prosperity, which should be in everyone\u2019s interests. We support full restoration of funding to UNRWA,\u201d said Sean Carroll, President and CEO of Anera.\n\n\u201cWe express our gratitude to Representatives Andr\u00e9 Carson, Pramila Jayapal, and Jan Schakowsky for introducing the UNRWA Emergency Restoration Act of 2024,\u201d said James Zogby, President of the Arab American Institute. \u201cThis lifesaving legislation aims to restore critical U.S. financial support to the United Nations Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA) by repealing previous funding restrictions and encouraging the Secretary of State to lift the temporary pause on federal funding. UNRWA plays a vital role in providing essential services to millions of Palestinian refugees across the Occupied Palestinian Territory, Lebanon, Jordan, and Syria. The ongoing genocide in Gaza has resulted in increased displacement, starvation, and death. It is both inhumane and unconscionable to continue withholding financial support from UNRWA. We recognize that the majority of Americans are horrified by the death and destruction they witness daily in Gaza and the West Bank. UNRWA\u2019s humanitarian aid and services often mean the difference between life and death for these vulnerable populations. Restoring U.S. funding to UNRWA is urgent, just, and the only morally responsible option. We urge lawmakers to prioritize the passage of this crucial legislation and ensure that UNRWA can continue to provide life-saving assistance to Palestinian refugees in the region.\u201d", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-07T21:43:57Z"], ["https://newhouse.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/newhouse-esa-reform-bill-advances-through-committee", "Newhouse ESA Reform Bill Advances Through Committee", "2024-09-20", "2024", "2024-09", "Republican", "House", "WA", "Dan Newhouse", "N000189", "newhouse.house.gov", "newhouse", "https://newhouse.house.gov/media-center/press-releases", "scraper", "Yesterday, the House Natural Resources Committee approved the Endangered Species Act (ESA) Amendments Act of 2024, a bill by Rep. Dan Newhouse (WA-04) that makes reforms to the ESA to incentivize conservation, protect landowners' rights, and implement transparency in the recovery of species.\n\n\u201cThe ESA is in dire need of serious changes, and I am thankful that the committee understands that. Our species and landowners have suffered far too long from misuse of the ESA and my bill puts an end to that. If we are to truly prioritize species recovery and de-listing, then we must prioritize advancing this legislation,\u201d said. Rep. Newhouse.\n\nNewhouse continued, \u201cI thank House Natural Resources Committee Chairman Bruce Westerman for taking up this important bill, and I look forward to working to get it across the finish line.\u201d\n\nThis legislation is the final product of the ESA Working Group co-founded by Congressional Western Caucus Chairman Dan Newhouse and Chairman Bruce Westerman in July 2023.\n\nOriginal co-sponsors include Reps. Pete Stauber (MN-08), Tom Tiffany (WI-07), Cliff Bentz (OR-02), Jeff Duncan (SC-03), Paul Gosar (AZ-09), and Harriet Hageman (WY-AL).\n\nBackground:\n\nThis legislation:\n\nIncentivizes wildlife conservation on private lands.\n\nPrevents the Secretary of the Interior from designating privately owned or controlled land as critical habitat, protecting landowners\u2019 rights.\n\nEmpowers states to enact species recovery plans as state and local officials know best how to manage populations without harming communities.\n\nRequires that removal of a species is not subject to judicial review.\n\nCreates greater transparency and accountability in recovering listed species.\n\nAppropriations authorizing number- $431,755,000 \u2013 which is the total authorized in House FY25 bills for Fish and Wildlife Service and National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) ESA activities.\n\nFull original bill text can be found here.\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-07T21:43:57Z"], ["https://delbene.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=3964", "Lawmakers Urge CMS to Increase Support for Living Kidney Donors", "2024-09-19", "2024", "2024-09", "Democrat", "House", "WA", "Suzan K. DelBene", "D000617", "delbene.house.gov", "delbene", "https://delbene.house.gov/news/documentquery.aspx?DocumentTypeID=27", "scraper", "Today, Representatives Suzan DelBene (WA-01), Carol Miller (WV-01), Brad Schneider (IL-10), and Larry Bucshon, M.D. (IN-08) led 47 of their colleagues in expressing their support for the newly proposed Increasing Organ Transplant Access (IOTA) Model that aims to increase access to kidney transplants and reduce Medicare spending. In a bipartisan letter, the lawmakers also urged the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) to increase support to living organ donors.\n\nEvery day, 17 Americans die waiting for an organ transplant. Most of these patients suffer from kidney failure and are going through grueling and expensive dialysis treatments to stay alive, which collectively cost Medicare more than $50 billion annually.\n\nWhile the rate of deceased organ donation has improved in recent years, the rate of living donations has flatlined over the past two decades at around 6,000 per year, which is insufficient to meet the needs of the 100,000 Americans on the transplant waitlist.\n\n\u201cWe are optimistic about the IOTA Model, yet we remain concerned that the model design does not include the specific waivers or incentivize the needed tools to increase living donations,\u201d the lawmakers wrote to CMS.\n\nThe members recommend CMS add two critical policies to the IOTA Model to increase support for living kidney donors and increase the total number of donations:\n\nEnable Medicare to reimburse donors for costs associated with donation; and\n\nFund transplant navigators to assist patients and donors wade through the complicated process of donation and transplant.\n\nIf added to the proposed model, these policies could improve patient outcomes and save lives.\n\n\u201cThe leadership shown by this growing bipartisan coalition sends a clear signal that this crisis will only continue to grow if CMS does not advance essential policy changes to support kidney patients and living donors. KTC applauds Representatives DelBene, Bucshon, Miller, Schneider, all of the letter's signatories, and the entire Congressional Kidney Caucus for recognizing the critical role living donors play in our transplant system and for highlighting the need for comprehensive action to expand transplant access,\u201d said Andrew Howard (MD, FACP), Co-Chair, Kidney Transplant Collaborative. \u201cThis includes addressing disparities in kidney transplantation and ensuring that living donors are fully supported throughout the process. The recommendations in this letter are vital to saving lives, and KTC looks forward to working with Congress, CMS, and other stakeholders to make them a reality.\u201d\n\nDelBene and Bucshon are Co-Chairs of the Congressional Kidney Caucus.", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-07T21:43:57Z"], ["https://delbene.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=3965", "House Passes DelBene Bill to Strengthen Tribal, State Child Support Services", "2024-09-19", "2024", "2024-09", "Democrat", "House", "WA", "Suzan K. DelBene", "D000617", "delbene.house.gov", "delbene", "https://delbene.house.gov/news/documentquery.aspx?DocumentTypeID=27", "scraper", "WASHINGTON, DC \u2013 Today, the House of Representatives passed the Strengthening State and Tribal Child Support Enforcement Act (H.R. 7906), bipartisan legislation introduced by Congresswoman Suzan DelBene (WA-01) to strengthen state and tribal child support services. The bill was approved as part of the Protecting America\u2019s Children by Strengthening Families Act (H.R. 9076) by a bipartisan vote of 405-10.\n\nDelBene\u2019s bill would improve child support programs for states and tribal communities by granting them the ability to hire contractors, bringing them in parity with federal agencies. In addition, this bill would also explicitly grant those state and tribal contractors access to individuals\u2019 relevant tax data, which federal, state, and local agency employees are already authorized to use. This access will allow tribal child support programs to track and collect unpaid child support and prevent potential disruptions to critical financial support. By allowing these resources, the bill would support millions of families and ensure that children in tribal areas receive the financial assistance they need.\n\n\u201cState and tribal agencies across the country will now be better equipped to collect and manage child support payments effectively,\u201d said DelBene. \u201cBy leveling the playing field, we are ensuring that all children, including those in tribal communities, receive the financial support they need to thrive. I will keep advocating for the resources necessary to support every family and will continue working to ensure that all children get the assistance they deserve.\u201d\n\nThe bill now heads to the Senate for consideration.", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-07T21:43:57Z"], ["https://strickland.house.gov/2024/09/19/strickland-moore-introduce-bipartisan-legislation-to-address-military-housing-affordability/", "Strickland, Moore Introduce Bipartisan Legislation to Address Military Housing Affordability", "2024-09-19", "2024", "2024-09", "Democrat", "House", "WA", "Marilyn Strickland", "S001159", "strickland.house.gov", "strickland", "https://strickland.house.gov/category/press_release/", "scraper", "Washington, DC \u2013Today, Congresswoman Marilyn Strickland (D-WA-10) and Congressman Blake Moore (R-UT-01) introduced the Low Income Housing for Defense Communities Act of 2024, a bipartisan piece of legislation to address military housing affordability by diversifying housing options for servicemembers serving in high-cost areas.\n\n\u201cServicemembers and their families should be able to afford to live where they are stationed. This is important for their quality of life, and affects readiness,\u201d said Congresswoman Marilyn Strickland. \u201cThis credit encourages the building of more affordable housing near large military installations.\u201d\n\n\u201cWhen I got onto the Ways and Means Committee, Clearfield Mayor Mark Shepherd approached me with an idea to address the housing affordability challenges burdening our lower-enlisted servicemembers. Since then, my team and I ran with his idea and drafted legislation that we are introducing today. The Low Income Housing for Defense Communities Act will bring much needed relief and productivity to military families serving near major bases. I am so grateful Mayor Shepherd approached me with this idea, and I\u2019m proud of the work we\u2019ve done advancing it to this point,\u201d said Congressman Blake Moore. \u201cHousing has become a national security issue, as it impacts the readiness of Hill Air Force Base (HAFB) in Utah\u2019s First District. As hundreds of lower-enlisted servicemembers are struggling to afford housing near the base and officers are being forced to turn down assignments in Utah because of the difficult real estate market, this bill will spur development interest for Low-Income Housing Tax Credit construction near large installations like HAFB. I thank Congresswoman Marilyn Strickland (WA-10) for her partnership in introducing this bill, and I look forward to seeing this bill make a meaningful impact in the lives of our servicemembers in Utah and across the nation.\u201d\n\nThis legislation will diversify the housing options available to lower-enlisted servicemembers serving in high-cost areas while also creating an increased Low-Income Housing Tax Credit (LIHTC) for buildings located within 15 miles of large military installations. Reps. Moore and Strickland have partnered with local stakeholders to create an additional arm of the LIHTC program to stimulate developer interest in building affordable housing near military installations.\n\n\u201cThe introduction of the Low Income Housing for Defense Communities Act that Congresswoman Strickland co-sponsors addresses an acute affordable housing shortage impacting lower enlisted service members at Joint Base Lewis McChord,\u201d stated Bill Adamson, Program Director for the South Sound Military & Community Partnership (SSMCP).\n\n\u201cAcross the nation, our military members continue to struggle with housing. Their Basic Allowance for Housing (BAH) continues to fall short of the rents in the surrounding communities, and as such, two, three and even four Airmen are forced to share an apartment so they can afford the rent. While there may be low-income housing in the areas surrounding the installations, the list of applicants for these units is long and the military members either won\u2019t qualify because their BAH is included in their income calculations or they are so far down the list that they have been relocated to their next assignment before they make it to the top of the list,\u201d said Clearfield Mayor Mark Shepard. \u201cThis bill will allow developers using Low Income Housing Tax Credits to build high quality rental units where the military members can have priority for the units. It also allows those military members to qualify for existing housing, in areas where it is available, by changing the income calculation to exclude their housing allowance. Having our military members who have volunteered to put their lives on the line to defend our nation live in sub-par housing, or struggle to afford food because all of their available income goes to housing, sends the wrong message to the military members and to the communities in which they live. I applaud Congressman Moore on his commitment to ensure our military members are treated with dignity and respect when it comes to their housing needs.\u201d\n\n\u201cWe appreciate Congressman Moore\u2019s attention to the growing affordable housing crisis, and his commitment to finding a solution based on what we know works \u2013 the Low-Income Housing Tax Credit,\u201d said Emily Cadik, CEO of the Affordable Housing Tax Credit Coalition. \u201cMilitary families are experiencing the same challenges finding affordable housing faced by millions of Americans, and expanding affordable housing supply through this proven program would provide sorely needed relief.\u201d\n\nBackground:\n\nConstrained by geographic limitations and military installation footprint, housing development around many growing defense communities is unaffordable for lower-enlisted service members. At the same time, the MILCON backlog and military dormitory crisis has resulted in servicemembers being forced off base to seek housing they cannot afford. Fueled by pandemic population shifts and Department of Defense programs at Hill Air Force Base, Utah experienced a 27% increase in housing costs and 18% increase in population in 2021 alone. Accordingly, approximately 70% of Joint Base Lewis-McChord\u2019s population in Washington, which consists of nearly 55,000 personnel, live off base.\n\nThe bill excludes BAH from the income calculation for LIHTC purposes. While BAH provides uniformed service members compensation based on housing costs in local markets, this provision would help military members secure housing in existing and future LIHTC properties for which they may not otherwise qualify. With anecdotal evidence suggesting that military members are hesitant to self-identify as \u201clow-income,\u201d the bill\u2019s intent is to help classify lower-enlisted military members as low-income households.\n\nThe bill also provides any development within 15 miles of a qualifying military installation with a 30% \u201cbasis boost\u201d under Section 42D of the Internal Revenue Code. This would encourage additional new LIHTC development near \u201cLarge Site\u201d military bases such as Hill Air Force Base and Joint Base Lewis-McChord. \u201cLarge Sites\u201d are defined in the DOD\u2019s Annual Base Structure Report as having a total Plant Replacement Value of greater than $2.833 billion.\n\nThe bill text can be found here.\n\nU.S. Representative Marilyn Strickland serves on the House Armed Services Committee and the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee. She is whip for the Congressional Black Caucus, a member of the New Democrat Coalition, and one of the first Korean-American women elected to Congress.\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-07T21:43:57Z"], ["https://delbene.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=3961", "DelBene Calls for Release of Dr. Seif Fateen After Nearly Six Years in Prison in Egypt Without Trial, Reports of Torture", "2024-09-18", "2024", "2024-09", "Democrat", "House", "WA", "Suzan K. DelBene", "D000617", "delbene.house.gov", "delbene", "https://delbene.house.gov/news/documentquery.aspx?DocumentTypeID=27", "scraper", "Today, in remarks to the U.S. House of Representatives, Congresswoman Suzan DelBene (WA-01) called for the immediate release of Dr. Seif Fateen, who has been detained in Egypt without trial for nearly six years.\n\nDr. Fateen, a distinguished MIT-educated chemical and environmental engineering professor, has been held in prison since his house was raided without a warrant in November 2018. His pre-trial detention far exceeds Egypt\u2019s legal two-year maximum and has been marked by severe violations of his due process rights, including reports of torture and isolation.\n\nIn July, DelBene met with the Egyptian Ambassador to the U.S. to urge the Egyptian government to take action on the case. Today, she is again calling on the government to release Dr. Fateen and to ensure that his due process rights are fully respected until then. The full text of her letter is available here.\n\nMembers of Dr. Fateen\u2019s family, who live in Washington\u2019s 1st Congressional District, have been deeply impacted by his ongoing detention and engaged in getting justice for Dr. Fateen. DelBene hopes that ongoing engagement and collaboration with the Egyptian government can lead to Dr. Fateen being safely reunited with his family.\n\nWatch DelBene\u2019s remarks here. Her remarks as delivered are below:\n\nThank you, Mr. Speaker,\n\nI rise today to demand justice for Seif Fateen, an MIT-educated professor who has been unjustly detained in Egypt since 2018.\n\nDr. Fateen served in Egypt\u2019s Ministry of Education before the government was overthrown in a coup in 2013.\n\nHis home was later raided without a warrant and he was arrested.\n\nFor the last six years, he has been held without a trial date despite an Egyptian law that sets a two-year maximum for pretrial detention.\n\nDr. Fateen has experienced various forms of mistreatment, torture, and near-total isolation during his detention, and continues to be denied basic due process.\n\nI want to thank Dr. Fateen\u2019s family, who lives in Redmond, Washington, in my district, for bringing his case to my attention.\n\nI recently met with the Egyptian Ambassador to advocate for Dr. Fateen, and I will continue to demand justice so that he can be reunited with his family as soon as possible.", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-07T21:43:57Z"], ["https://jayapal.house.gov/2024/09/18/jayapal-statement-on-continuing-resolution-vote/", "Jayapal Statement on Continuing Resolution Vote", "2024-09-18", "2024", "2024-09", "Democrat", "House", "WA", "Pramila Jayapal", "J000298", "jayapal.house.gov", "jayapal", "https://jayapal.house.gov/category/press-releases/", "scraper", "WASHINGTON, D.C. \u2013 U.S. Representative Pramila Jayapal released the following statement regarding today\u2019s Continuing Resolution (CR) vote, H.R. 9494, which failed 202-220.\n\n\u201cToday I voted \u2018NO\u2019 on the CR. Speaker Mike Johnson is simply playing to the extremists in his party, attaching poison pill legislation to what should be a clean continuing resolution to keep the government funding. This legislation is already a non-starter in the Senate, increasing Social Security wait times, ending funding for food access for low-income families, jeopardizing veterans\u2019 medical care, and blocking necessary funding for disaster recovery work.\n\n\u201cNow that this vote has failed, we need Speaker Johnson to stop threatening Americans\u2019 lives and to put forward a clean continuing resolution that keeps our government open. That\u2019s the only way forward and Speaker Johnson should stop playing games with this critically important government funding.\u201d\n\nToday\u2019s CR was attached to the SAVE Act, legislation unrelated to the federal budget that aims to target non-citizen voting, which is already illegal and is extremely rare. It also failed to include appropriate funding levels to maintain medical care for veterans and services provided by the Social Security Administration, emergency funds for the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), and an extension of Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) program payments.", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-07T21:43:57Z"], ["https://strickland.house.gov/2024/09/17/house-unanimously-passes-strickland-military-life-insurance-bill/", "House Unanimously Passes Strickland Military Life Insurance Bill", "2024-09-17", "2024", "2024-09", "Democrat", "House", "WA", "Marilyn Strickland", "S001159", "strickland.house.gov", "strickland", "https://strickland.house.gov/category/press_release/", "scraper", "Washington, DC \u2013 Today, the U.S. House of Representatives voted to pass the Fairness for Servicemembers and their Families Act of 2024, introduced by Congresswoman Marilyn Strickland (WA-10) and Congressman Don Bacon (NE-02). The legislation is bipartisan and bicameral and ensures life insurance packages for servicemembers and veterans account for changes in the economy.\n\nClick here to watch Congresswoman Strickland\u2019s remarks\n\n\u201cOur servicemembers put their lives on the line for their country, and we must secure the well-being of the families and loved ones in the event of a tragedy,\u201d said Strickland. \u201cThe passage of this bill makes it clear that Congress continues to stand by our military families.\u201d\n\nCompanion legislation was introduced in the Senate by Senators John Cornyn (R-TX), Maggie Hassan (D-NH), Mike Braun (R-IN), Ted Cruz (R-TX), Angus King (I-ME), Mazie Hirono (D-HI), and Mark Kelly (D-AZ).\n\nThe bill improves the financial safety net for veterans, servicemembers, and their families by helping to ensure coverage amounts for the Servicemembers\u2019 Group Life Insurance (SGLI) and the Veterans Group Life Insurance (VGLI) account for changes in economic trends.\n\nU.S. Representative Marilyn Strickland serves on the House Armed Services Committee and the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee. She is whip for the Congressional Black Caucus, a member of the New Democrat Coalition, and one of the first Korean-American women elected to Congress.\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-07T21:43:57Z"], ["https://delbene.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=3959", "DelBene Announces $1 Million in Federal Landslide Preparedness Funding", "2024-09-16", "2024", "2024-09", "Democrat", "House", "WA", "Suzan K. DelBene", "D000617", "delbene.house.gov", "delbene", "https://delbene.house.gov/news/documentquery.aspx?DocumentTypeID=27", "scraper", "Today, Congresswoman Suzan DelBene (WA-01) announced that Washington will receive $300,000 from the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) as part of a nearly $1 million federal investment in landslide preparedness and research efforts nationwide that will save lives and better protect communities. This funding was made possible through DelBene\u2019s National Landslide Preparedness Act, which was signed into law in January 2021.\n\nThe nine total state grants will help improve landslide hazard maps, strengthen early warning systems, and enhance community resilience to landslides. The Washington funds will be used by the Washington Geological Survey to survey potential landslide hazards in Clark County.\n\n\u201cClimate change is making landslides more frequent and severe, putting communities at greater risk,\u201d said DelBene. \u201cThis federal investment, made possible from legislation I championed in the wake of the 2014 Oso landslide, will strengthen our ability to prepare for and respond to these hazards. By supporting research and preparedness efforts, these grants will help protect lives and property, ensuring our communities are better equipped to handle these challenges.\u201d\n\n\u201cLandslides are dangerous, destroy infrastructure, and cut off access for emergency services and transportation. Southwest Washington has recently experienced several landslides which can be devastating for small businesses, impact entire communities, and take all hands on deck to overcome,\u201d said Congresswoman Marie Gluesenkamp Perez (WA-03). \u201cWith federal funds from the National Landslide Preparedness Act on their way to Clark County, we\u2019ll be able to better prepare for these disasters and identify landslide-prone areas before it\u2019s too late. I\u2019ll keep working with my colleagues to ensure our House-passed provisions to reauthorize this vital program are signed into law to support more projects like this one.\u201d\n\n\u201cLandslides are one of the most common and devastating natural hazards in Washington. Mapping existing landslide hazards and understanding where future landslide dangers are present is foundational for informed decision making by planners, local officials, and emergency managers,\u201d said Washington State Geologist and Director of the Washington Geological Survey Casey Hanell. \u201cThe Washington Geological Survey is grateful to receive grant funding from the newly established Cooperative Landslide Hazard Mapping and Assessment Program authorized by the National Landslide Preparedness Act. The program furthers partnerships among those working to mitigate harm from landslide hazards, allowing for efficient use of funds and the ability to accomplish more working together across all levels of government.\u201d\n\nDelBene\u2019s National Landslide Preparedness Act authorized two grant programs designed to improve preparedness and mitigation efforts. This funding represents the first round of grants from the Cooperative Landslide Hazard Mapping and Assessment Program.", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-07T21:43:57Z"], ["https://schrier.house.gov/media/press-releases/icymi-congresswoman-schrier-calls-out-kroger-albertsons-merger-corporate-price", "ICYMI: Congresswoman Schrier Calls Out Kroger-Albertsons Merger, Corporate Price Gouging", "2024-09-16", "2024", "2024-09", "Democrat", "House", "WA", "Kim Schrier", "S001216", "schrier.house.gov", "schrier", "https://schrier.house.gov/media/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON, D.C. \u2013 At a recent Energy and Commerce Energy, Climate, and Grid Security Subcommittee hearing, Congresswoman Kim Schrier, M.D. (WA-08) spoke on the destructive impacts that the proposed merger between Kroger and Albertsons would have on the Eighth District and called for the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) to stop the merger. Kroger and Albertsons combined have 329 stores in Washington, making up more than half the grocery stores in the state. Kroger stores include QFC and Fred Meyer. Albertsons includes Safeway. During her remarks, Representative Schrier also highlighted broader economic factors that have raised prices across the country, including corporate price gouging and corporate consolidation.\n\nLINK: Video of Congresswoman Schrier\u2019s remarks.\n\n\u201cThe Kroger-Albertsons merger would be disastrous for Washingtonians, which is why I have been calling on the FTC to take action and block this merger for two years. At a time when families in Washington State face some of the highest grocery costs in the nation, this merger would reduce competition and choice, continuing to squeeze consumers in our state,\u201d said Congresswoman Schrier. \u201cAdditionally, farmers and producers would face a smaller, less competitive market for their goods. I\u2019ll continue to fight for Eighth District families and farmers who are already struggling while big corporations continue to try to manipulate and take advantage of the market.\u201d", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-07T21:43:57Z"], ["https://adamsmith.house.gov/news/press-releases/rep-smith-statement-stalled-labor-negotiations-between-boeing-and-union-workers", "Rep. Smith Statement on Stalled Labor Negotiations Between Boeing and Union Workers", "2024-09-13", "2024", "2024-09", "Democrat", "House", "WA", "Adam Smith", "S000510", "adamsmith.house.gov", "adamsmith", "https://adamsmith.house.gov/news/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON \u2013 Representative Adam Smith (D-Wash) released the following statement on the stalled labor negotiations between Boeing and union workers that has resulted in a strike:\n\nToday, more than 33,000 union workers, mostly in Washington, brought Boeing airplane production to a halt with a strike.\n\nI strongly urge the parties to return to the negotiating table and participate in good faith discussions that result in a strong agreement.\n\nAcross corporate America, so much of the wealth has wound up in the hands of so few people. Large corporations have increasingly prioritized their own profits and shareholders at the expense of workers. It is crucial that Boeing behaves as a responsible steward for its employees, so that every employee at their company is respected with fair wages and working conditions.\n\nUnions remain essential for workers and their families, and I will always champion the right to organize and collectively bargain for better working conditions.\n\nI sincerely hope that the parties reach an agreement that respects all employees as well as the company as a whole.", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-07T21:43:57Z"], ["https://jayapal.house.gov/2024/09/11/murray-jayapal-call-for-independent-investigation-accountability-in-the-killing-of-aysenur-ezgi-eygi/", "Murray, Jayapal Call for Independent Investigation, Accountability in the Killing of Aysenur Ezgi Eygi", "2024-09-11", "2024", "2024-09", "Democrat", "House", "WA", "Pramila Jayapal", "J000298", "jayapal.house.gov", "jayapal", "https://jayapal.house.gov/category/press-releases/", "scraper", "WASHINGTON, D.C. \u2013 U.S. Senator Patty Murray (D-WA) and U.S. Representative Pramila Jayapal (WA-07) are calling on President Joe Biden and Secretary of State Antony Blinken to conduct an independent, U.S.-led investigation into the killing of Aysenur Ezgi Eygi, a Washington State resident and U.S. citizen, by the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) in the West Bank.\n\n\u201cOur hearts are with her family, friends, colleagues, and community, all of whom are devastated by her killing and deserve to know their government has done everything it can to fully understand what led to her killing, pursue accountability for those involved, and seek to ensure this does not happen again.\u201d wrote the Members. \u201cThat is why we request an immediate, transparent, credible, and thorough independent U.S. investigation, led by the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), into the killing of Ms. Eygi, which as Secretary Blinken said was \u2018unprovoked and unjustified.\u2019\u201d\n\nMs. Eygi was killed on September 6, 2024, and the Israeli government has acknowledged that it is \u201chighly likely\u201d she was killed by IDF fire. Ms. Eygi is the most recent in a pattern of American citizens being killed without accountability. Murray and Jayapal\u2019s letter outlines five other similar instances, including the killing of Rachel Corrie, a U.S. citizen also from Washington State who was killed in 2003. Despite more than 70 Members of Congress calling for an independent investigation into Ms. Corrie\u2019s killing, no such action was taken.\n\n\u201cWe fear that if this pattern of impunity does not end with Ms. Eygi, it will only continue to escalate. It is imperative that the United States take concrete and decisive action to better protect American citizens,\u201d the Members concluded.\n\nThe letter specifically requests written explanations by September 24 outlining how the administration plans to address this tragedy.\n\nThe full letter can be read here.", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-07T21:43:57Z"], ["https://newhouse.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/newhouse-bill-protecting-american-farmland-foreign-adversaries-passes", "Newhouse Bill Protecting American Farmland from Foreign Adversaries Passes House", "2024-09-11", "2024", "2024-09", "Republican", "House", "WA", "Dan Newhouse", "N000189", "newhouse.house.gov", "newhouse", "https://newhouse.house.gov/media-center/press-releases", "scraper", "Today, Rep. Dan Newhouse (WA-04) released the following statement after the House of Representatives passed his bill, the Protecting American Agriculture from Foreign Adversaries Act.\n\n\u201cToday, the United States took a stand against one of our greatest foreign adversaries, the Chinese Communist Party (CCP),\u201d said Rep. Newhouse.\n\nNewhouse continues, \u201cThe CCP has been quietly purchasing American agricultural land at an alarming rate, and this bill is a crucial step towards reversing that trend. We know that USDA\u2019s foreign purchase tracking is wildly flawed, and by adding the Secretary of Agriculture to CFIUS, we can begin to correct course. Food security is national security, and it is incumbent upon us to keep our adversaries far away from the lands that feeds our country, and the world.\u201d\n\n\u201cI\u2019m thankful for Rep. Newhouse\u2019s leadership in protecting our agriculture from China and its proxies,\u201d said House Speaker Mike Johnson.\n\nSpeaker Johnson continues, \u201cAgriculture is the backbone of America, and we should take every possible measure necessary to protect it.\u201d\n\nWatch Rep. Newhouse\u2019s floor speech on the legislation here.\n\nThe bill adds the U.S. Secretary of Agriculture to CFIUS for transactions, including land, biotechnology, transportation, storage, and processing. It also requires the Secretary to report any transaction that can be considered a threat to national security.\n\nRep. Newhouse is a member of the House Select Committee on the Chinese Communist Party, tasked with finding bipartisan solutions to the threat posed by the Chinese Communist Party and develop a plan of action to defend the American people, our economy, and our values.\n\nThe Senate companion bill, S. 5007, was introduced by Sen. Mike Braun (R-IN) on September 10, 2024, and co-sponsors include: Sens. Tom Cotton (R-AR), Roger Marshall (R-KS), Chuck Grassley (R-IA), Tommy Tuberville (R-AL), Marsha Blackburn (R-TN), Pete Ricketts (R-NE), John Barrasso (R-WY), Jon Tester (D-MT), John Fetterman (D-PA), Joe Manchin (I-WV), Deb Fischer (R-NE), Katie Britt (R-AL), Tammy Baldwin (D-WI), Todd Young (R-IN), Cynthia Lummis (R-WY), and Joni Ernst (R-IA).\n\nFull House bill text can be found here.\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-07T21:43:57Z"], ["https://delbene.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=3955", "DelBene, DeLauro, Torres Statement on Census Bureau Child Poverty Data", "2024-09-10", "2024", "2024-09", "Democrat", "House", "WA", "Suzan K. DelBene", "D000617", "delbene.house.gov", "delbene", "https://delbene.house.gov/news/documentquery.aspx?DocumentTypeID=27", "scraper", "Today, U.S. Representatives Suzan DelBene (WA-01), Rosa DeLauro (CT-03), and Ritchie Torres (NY-15) released a statement in response to new data from the U.S. Census Bureau that shows that child poverty rate remains high following a lapse in extension for the expanded, monthly Child Tax Credit. The new data shows that the child poverty rate increased 1.3 percentage points to 13.7 percent in 2023.\n\n\u201cThe expanded, monthly Child Tax Credit was the largest middle class tax cut ever. It cut child poverty in half and generated $10 in economic benefits for every $1 spent. The delivery of monthly checks gave families unprecedented economic security, allowing them to better balance their budgets and deal with rising costs. Following Congress\u2019s failure to extend the credit, we saw the largest increase in the child poverty rate in a single year \u2013 the largest increase on record which has sustained itself ever since.\n\n\u201cThe lapse in this policy has had devastating consequences, particularly as families and children face high prices and are thrust back into preventable poverty. The expanded, monthly Child Tax Credit met its mission in a way we have never seen any other federal program work. This is about prioritizing everyday Americans, not the biggest corporations and billionaires. It is time to bring back the expanded, monthly Child Tax Credit so that we can end child poverty and once again provide working- and middle-class families with permanent economic security.\u201d", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-07T21:43:57Z"], ["https://newhouse.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/newhouse-esa-reform-bill-protects-species-and-landowners", "Newhouse ESA Reform Bill Protects Species and Landowners", "2024-09-10", "2024", "2024-09", "Republican", "House", "WA", "Dan Newhouse", "N000189", "newhouse.house.gov", "newhouse", "https://newhouse.house.gov/media-center/press-releases", "scraper", "Today, Rep. Dan Newhouse (WA-04), alongside House Natural Resources Committee Chairman Bruce Westerman (AR-04), introduced the Endangered Species Act (ESA) Amendments Act, making reforms to the ESA to protect landowner rights, incentivize conservation, and increase transparency in the recovery and de-listing of species.\n\nThis legislation is a policy proposal from the ESA Working Group co-founded by Congressional Western Caucus Chairman Dan Newhouse and Chairman Bruce Westerman in July 2023.\n\n\u201cIn the fifty years since its enactment, the Endangered Species Act has overwhelmingly failed in its mission to recover vulnerable species,\u201d said Rep. Newhouse.\n\nNewhouse continues, \u201cIn order to ensure that reforms to the ESA work for our species while also ending abuse of the law by anti-development activists, the Congressional Western Caucus and House Natural Resources Committee created the \u2018ESA Working Group\u2019 to propose solutions after hearing feedback from subject matter experts. The ESA Amendments Act is the result of this group, and I\u2019m proud to introduce the bill along with Chairman Westerman. This bill will help recover species while allowing rural America to prosper.\u201d\n\n\u201cWe can all agree that America\u2019s rich biodiversity needs to be conserved for generations to come,\u201d said Rep. Westerman.\n\nWesterman continues, \u201cHowever, while initially well-intentioned, radical environmentalists have weaponized the Endangered Species Act to the point where the current law has patently failed to achieve its goals for species recovery. With the modernizing legislation we\u2019re introducing today, we will make long-overdue reforms to the ESA and ensure the continued abundance of America's wildlife.\u201d\n\n\u201cIt is beyond clear that the Endangered Species Act is broken,\u201d said Rep. Stauber.\n\nStauber continues, \u201cA half-century after being signed into law, very few species listed as threatened or endangered have ever made it off the list. And whether it be the Gray Wolf or the Northern Long-Eared Bat, Minnesotans are facing the consequences of a broken ESA every day. I am proud to join Chairmen Westerman and Newhouse in introducing the ESA Amendments Act, which will make commonsense reforms to the ESA and close the loopholes that activist judges and radical environmentalists have abused to keep species listed indefinitely for decades.\u201d\n\n\u201cOver the last 50 years, the Endangered Species Act has failed to be a celebration of recovery and instead has been weaponized for political activism,\u201d said Rep. Tiffany.\n\nTiffany continues, \u201cThe ESA Amendments Act is much-needed legislation to give states more management, and help ensure that animals, like the gray wolf, who have met and exceeded their recovery goal are removed from the list of federal endangered species. This long-overdue modernization will not only allow for more critical infrastructure projects and economic development, but also protect rural communities and all species.\u201d\n\n\u201cBack in July, the Subcommittee on Water, Wildlife and Fisheries discussed bills that continued Republican efforts to address the federal usurpations of state control and authority over a state\u2019s water resources, combatting the Nutria infestation, and reauthorizing essential U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service conservation programs,\u201d said Rep. Bentz.\n\nBentz continues, \u201cThese measures strengthen transparency, improve species recovery efforts, and respond to recent Supreme Court rulings (Chevron). Congress must continue to enact reforms that protect our communities while safeguarding our natural environment.\u201d\n\n\u201cFor far too long the federal government has been making listing decisions based on secret science and pseudo-science, including studies that do not allow for peer-review of the underlying data,\u201d said Rep. Gosar.\n\nGosar continues, \u201cEven more troubling is the fact that attorneys have been making millions of dollars based on frivolous lawsuits associated with the Endangered Species Act, yet the federal government doesn\u2019t even know how much money has been paid out. The Endangered Species Act Amendments Act makes commonsense changes that increase transparency, save taxpayer money, ensure local involvement in species conservation and the designation process, limit the hourly rate attorneys can charge the taxpayers for lawsuits and require the federal government to make available to Congress and the public any data it uses to determine which species to list as endangered.\u201d\n\n\u201cI am proud to cosponsor and vote in favor of the ESA Amendments Act,\" said Rep. Hageman.\n\nHageman continues, \u201cStates, not the federal government, know best how to manage species and ensure their recovery. Allowing states to develop and submit their own recovery strategies, and requiring agencies to establish objective, incremental recovery goals for threatened species while decreasing overly stringent regulations, combined with limiting judicial review during the five year recovery period, will allow more species to be delisted when their recovery goals are met. Had this bill already been in place, the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem Grizzly \u2013 a species that surpassed recovery goals years ago \u2013 would have already been delisted.\u201d\n\nOriginal co-sponsors include: Reps. Pete Stauber (MN-08), Tom Tiffany (WI-07), Cliff Bentz (OR-02), Jeff Duncan (SC-03), Paul Gosar (AZ-09), and Harriet Hageman (WY-AL).\n\nBackground:\n\nThis legislation:\n\nIncentivizes wildlife conservation on private lands.\n\nPrevents the Secretary of the Interior from designating privately owned or controlled land as critical habitat, protecting landowners\u2019 rights.\n\nEmpowers states to enact species recovery plans as state and local officials know best how to manage populations without harming communities.\n\nRequires that removal of a species is not subject to judicial review.\n\nCreates greater transparency and accountability in recovering listed species.\n\nAppropriations authorizing number- $431,755,000 \u2013 which is the total authorized in House FY25 bills for Fish and Wildlife Service and National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) ESA activities.\n\nFull bill text can be found here.", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-07T21:43:57Z"], ["https://schrier.house.gov/media/press-releases/congresswoman-schrier-brings-together-local-law-enforcement-and-business", "Congresswoman Schrier Brings Together Local Law Enforcement and Business Leaders to Combat Organized Retail Crime", "2024-09-10", "2024", "2024-09", "Democrat", "House", "WA", "Kim Schrier", "S001216", "schrier.house.gov", "schrier", "https://schrier.house.gov/media/press-releases", "scraper", "COVINGTON, WA \u2013 Today, Congresswoman Kim Schrier, M.D. (WA-08) hosted a press conference to highlight the challenges that organized retail theft poses to law enforcement and local businesses. Congresswoman Schrier was joined by local leaders, including Covington Police Chief Adam Easterbrook, King County Prosecutor Leesa Manion, Covington Mayor Jeff Wagner, Covington City Manager Regan Bolli, and Vice President of Washington Organized Retail Crime Association Carl Kleinknecht.\n\nLINK: Video of the press conference can be found here.\n\nOrganized retail crime has become increasingly prevalent across the United States, threatening local businesses and jobs, putting employees and customers at risk, and fueling transnational criminal organizations\u2019 illicit activities, including human, drug, and weapons trafficking. To address this issue, Congresswoman Schrier has co-sponsored the Combating Organized Retail Crime Act, a bipartisan, bicameral bill that takes steps to crack down on organized retail crime by establishing a Coordination Center located within the DHS, combining expertise from federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies along with the private sector to create a national strategy to curb organized retail crime including increased penalties.\n\n\u201cI\u2019ve heard from law enforcement, local businesses, and constituents throughout the Eighth District who are concerned about the rise and impact of organized retail crime,'' said Congresswoman Schrier. \u201cThis is a serious issue - not only does organized retail crime harm local businesses and threaten our public safety, but the money stolen in these crimes helps to fund other illegal activities that further increase crime in our communities. I\u2019ve proudly worked alongside local law enforcement to combat this issue by securing federal funds to make sure our officers are well-equipped and by pushing legislation like the Combatting Organized Retail Crime Act.\u201d\n\n\u201cOrganized Retail Theft is a growing problem in the region that affects everyone,\u201d said Covington Police Chief Adam Easterbrook. \u201cWe appreciate Congresswoman Schrier meeting with us to discuss finding solutions to this problem.\u201d", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-07T21:43:57Z"], ["https://delbene.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=3951", "DelBene: Claims that Expanded Child Tax Credit Would Harm Families, Reduce Work are \u2018Untethered from Reality\u2019", "2024-09-09", "2024", "2024-09", "Democrat", "House", "WA", "Suzan K. DelBene", "D000617", "delbene.house.gov", "delbene", "https://delbene.house.gov/news/documentquery.aspx?DocumentTypeID=27", "scraper", "Today, Congresswoman Suzan DelBene (WA-01) responded to a recent American Enterprise Institute article that claims that Democrats\u2019 efforts to bring back and make permanent the enhanced Child Tax Credit \u201cpunishes working families\u201d and would \u201cdiscourage parental employment and risk harming the long-run prospects of children.\u201d\n\n\u201cThe idea that permanently expanding the Child Tax Credit would harm families or discourage parents from working is untethered from reality. We don\u2019t need to guess how the expanded Child Tax Credit would work because Democrats put this program in place in 2021 and the results couldn\u2019t have been clearer. The expanded Child Tax Credit was one of the largest tax cuts for working families and cut childhood poverty nearly in half during some of the most challenging times of the pandemic. This is in large part because the expansion reached the one-in-three kids left behind by the existing credit.\n\n\u201cThe consistent claim from conservatives that the expanded credit discouraged parents from working is also disproven by the data. A review of the impacts of the 2021 program clearly shows that the expanded Child Tax Credit had no significant impact on parental employment. Instead, the expanded credit empowered parents with the resources they needed to get back to work by paying for child care and other necessities of raising children.\n\n\u201cThe pervasive use of this disproven claim aligns with Republicans\u2019 consistent disregard for the facts. We have a proven solution in Democrats\u2019 expanded Child Tax Credit, and we must make it permanent to give our kids the best chance at a bright future.\u201d\n\nBackground:", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-07T21:43:57Z"], ["https://adamsmith.house.gov/news/press-releases/rep-smith-statement-death-aysenur-ezgi-eygi", "Rep. Smith Statement on the Death of Aysenur Ezgi Eygi", "2024-09-07", "2024", "2024-09", "Democrat", "House", "WA", "Adam Smith", "S000510", "adamsmith.house.gov", "adamsmith", "https://adamsmith.house.gov/news/press-releases", "scraper", "SEATTLE, WA \u2013 Representative Adam Smith (D-Wash.) issued the following statement in response to the death of Aysenur Ezgi Eygi:\n\n\u201cYesterday we learned about the fatal shooting in the West Bank of Aysenur Ezgi Eygi, a Seattle resident and constituent of Washington's Ninth District. Eygi graduated from the University of Washington last May. My thoughts are with her family and loved ones.\n\n\"Reports indicate that Eygi was killed while protesting settlements in the West Bank. As we learn more about this shooting, I urge the Israeli government to deliver answers quickly and thoroughly. The perpetrators must be held accountable with a full, thorough, and transparent investigation.\n\n\"More broadly, what Prime Minister Netanyahu is allowing to happen in the West Bank with Israeli settlement expansion is illegal, destabilizing, and violates the rights of Palestinians living in the West Bank. Israeli settlement expansion has to stop. Continuing down this path undermines the viability of a Palestinian state. Without durable states for both the Israeli and Palestinian people, the region will continue to face the violence and instability it has suffered for generations. The continued hostilities and violence in the West Bank puts lives and the regional security at risk. Countless civilians have been killed in the West Bank since October 7, escalating regional violence - it must stop. We must take steps that bring us closer to the ultimate goal of creating a path to peace in the region.\"", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-07T21:43:57Z"], ["https://jayapal.house.gov/2024/09/06/jayapal-statement-on-u-s-citizen-killed-in-west-bank/", "Jayapal Statement on U.S. Citizen Killed in West Bank", "2024-09-06", "2024", "2024-09", "Democrat", "House", "WA", "Pramila Jayapal", "J000298", "jayapal.house.gov", "jayapal", "https://jayapal.house.gov/category/press-releases/", "scraper", "SEATTLE, WA \u2013 U.S. Representative Pramila Jayapal (WA-07) released the following statement after Aysenur Eygi, a recent University of Washington graduate, was killed while protesting occupation in the West Bank:\n\n\u201cMy heart goes out to Aysenur\u2019s family, friends, and loved ones. This is a terrible tragedy, and I extend my condolences to all those in mourning today. My office is actively working to gather more information on the events that led to her death.\n\n\u201cI am very troubled by the reports that she was killed by Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) soldiers. The Netanyahu government has done nothing to stop settlement expansion and settler violence in the West Bank, often encouraged by right-wing ministers of the Netanyahu government. The killing of an American citizen is a terrible proof point in this senseless war of rising tensions in the region.\u201d\n\nAysenur Eygi was a U.S. citizen who graduated from the University of Washington in 2024.", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-07T21:43:57Z"], ["https://schrier.house.gov/media/press-releases/congresswoman-schrier-tours-local-planned-parenthood-clinic-highlights-need", "Congresswoman Schrier Tours Local Planned Parenthood Clinic, Highlights Need to Ensure Access to Care", "2024-09-05", "2024", "2024-09", "Democrat", "House", "WA", "Kim Schrier", "S001216", "schrier.house.gov", "schrier", "https://schrier.house.gov/media/press-releases", "scraper", "PUYALLUP, WA \u2013 Yesterday, Congresswoman Kim Schrier, M.D. (WA-08) toured a local Planned Parenthood health center together with Congresswoman Marilyn Strickland (WA-10). During her visit, Representative Schrier heard from staff about the impact of the Dobbs decision on Washington State and the healthcare workforce issues they\u2019ve encountered. She also discussed her work in Congress to strengthen reproductive rights.\n\nDirect to camera from Representatives Schrier and Strickland can be found here.\n\nFollowing the Supreme Court\u2019s Dobbs decision, states across the country have enacted extreme abortion restrictions and outright bans. These restrictions have put the health and lives of millions of women at risk. Lawmakers have continued their attacks on women\u2019s health by targeting the long ago approved medication Mifepristone, and treatments like in vitro fertilization (IVF).\n\n\u201cSince the Supreme Court\u2019s Dobbs decision, reproductive rights have been under attack across the country. Clinics like the Planned Parenthood in Puyallup play an essential role in providing primary care for millions of women, and I\u2019m proud to have met to discuss how we can work together to expand access to the full spectrum of reproductive care,\u201d said Congresswoman Schrier. \u201cWhile extreme Republicans continue to attack all aspects of women\u2019s health care, I will continue to fight in Congress to restore reproductive rights nationwide.\u201d\n\n\u201cPlanned Parenthood provides essential healthcare for patients,\u201d said Congresswoman Strickland. \u201cI remain committed to ensuring that all women, regardless of where they live or their economic background, have equitable access to safe and affordable reproductive healthcare.\u201d\n\n\"We were excited to welcome Rep. Marilyn Strickland and Rep. Kim Shrier to our Puyallup Health Center yesterday. We are grateful for their strong history of support for bodily autonomy and reproductive freedom \u2014 especially as we witness the devastating effects of abortion bans in neighboring states,\u201d said Courtney Normand, State Director for Planned Parenthood Alliance Advocates - Washington. \u201cRep. Strickland and Rep. Schier's continued championing of sexual and reproductive health has a positive ripple effect across our affiliate as Washington has stepped up to need the rising demand for essential health care, including abortion.\"\n\nIn the wake of the Dobbs decision, Representative Schrier has worked in Congress to strengthen women\u2019s access to reproductive care. Congresswoman Schrier has introduced the bicameral Let Doctors Provide Reproductive Health Care Act, which would protect health care providers in states where abortion is legal from laws that try to prevent them from providing reproductive health care services or make them liable for providing those services to patients from any other state.", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-07T21:43:57Z"], ["https://strickland.house.gov/2024/09/05/strickland-schrier-tour-puyallup-planned-parenthood/", "Strickland, Schrier Tour Puyallup Planned Parenthood", "2024-09-05", "2024", "2024-09", "Democrat", "House", "WA", "Marilyn Strickland", "S001159", "strickland.house.gov", "strickland", "https://strickland.house.gov/category/press_release/", "scraper", "Lakewood, WA \u2013Congresswoman Marilyn Strickland (WA-10) and Congresswoman Kim Schrier, M.D. (WA-08) visited Planned Parenthood\u2019s Puyallup Health Center for a clinic tour and a roundtable discussion on reproductive rights with local providers.\n\n\u201cPlanned Parenthood provides essential healthcare for patients,\u201d said Strickland. \u201cI remain committed to ensuring that all women, regardless of where they live or their economic background, have equitable access to safe and affordable reproductive healthcare.\u201d\n\n\u201cSince the Supreme Court\u2019s Dobbs decision, reproductive rights have been under attack across the country. Clinics like the Planned Parenthood in Puyallup play an essential role in providing primary care for millions of women, and I\u2019m proud to have met today to discuss how we can work together to expand access to the full spectrum of reproductive care,\u201d said Congresswoman Schrier. \u201cWhile extreme Republicans continue to attack all aspects of women\u2019s health care, I will continue to fight in Congress to restore reproductive rights nationwide.\u201d\n\n\u201cWe were excited to welcome Rep. Marilyn Strickland and Rep. Kim Shrier to our Puyallup Health Center today. We are grateful for their strong history of support for bodily autonomy and reproductive freedom \u2014 especially as we witness the devastating effects of abortion bans in neighboring states. Rep. Strickland and Rep. Schier\u2019s continued championing of sexual and reproductive health has a positive ripple effect across our affiliate as Washington has stepped up to the rising demand for essential health care, including abortion,\u201d said Courtney Normand, State Director for Planned Parenthood Alliance Advocates \u2013 Washington.\n\nThe lawmakers toured the waiting room, reception, and surgical area. This Puyallup Clinic, like most Planned Parenthood locations, also offers hormone therapy and other gender-affirming care for patients needing transition support.\n\nFollowing the Dobbs decision, Congresswoman Strickland and Dr. Schrier are both working to codify women\u2019s right to choose through the Women\u2019s Health Protection Act, protect the right to travel for reproductive healthcare, and support LGBTQIA+ healthcare.\n\nU.S. Representative Marilyn Strickland serves on the House Armed Services Committee and the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee. She is whip for the Congressional Black Caucus, a member of the New Democrat Coalition, and one of the first Korean-American women elected to Congress.\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-07T21:43:57Z"], ["https://newhouse.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/newhouse-introduces-bill-protecting-american-farmland-foreign", "Newhouse Introduces Bill Protecting American Farmland from Foreign Adversaries", "2024-08-30", "2024", "2024-08", "Republican", "House", "WA", "Dan Newhouse", "N000189", "newhouse.house.gov", "newhouse", "https://newhouse.house.gov/media-center/press-releases", "scraper", "Today, Rep. Dan Newhouse (WA-04) introduced the Protecting American Agriculture from Foreign Adversaries Act to add the Secretary of Agriculture to the Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States (CFIUS) and to take necessary actions to prohibit the purchase of U.S. agricultural land by foreign adversaries.\n\n\u201cFood security is national security, and for too long, the federal government has allowed the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) to put our security at risk by turning a blind eye to their steadily increasing purchases of American farmland,\u201d said Rep. Newhouse.\n\nNewhouse continues, \u201cIt is not enough to just discuss this issue\u2014we must take immediate action to stop the CCP from further encroachment. By adding the Secretary of Agriculture to CFIUS, we can ensure much-needed oversight of agricultural land purchases by foreign adversaries, which will protect American farmers and the industry as a whole. The Chinese Communist Party has long sought to undermine our institutions and very way of life, and I am proud to lead this effort to support farmers in Central Washington and across the nation.\u201d\n\nThe bill adds the U.S. Secretary of Agriculture to CFIUS for transactions, including land, biotechnology, transportation, storage, and processing. It also requires the Secretary to report any transaction that can be considered a threat to national security.\n\nRep. Newhouse is a member of the House Select Committee on the Chinese Communist Party, tasked with finding bipartisan solutions to the threat posed by the Chinese Communist Party and develop a plan of action to defend the American people, our economy, and our values.\n\nFull bill text can be found here.\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-07T21:36:13Z"], ["https://jayapal.house.gov/2024/08/29/jayapal-helps-secure-4-million-for-washington-states-efforts-to-support-asylum-seekers/", "Jayapal Helps Secure $4 Million for Washington State\u2019s Efforts to Support Asylum Seekers", "2024-08-29", "2024", "2024-08", "Democrat", "House", "WA", "Pramila Jayapal", "J000298", "jayapal.house.gov", "jayapal", "https://jayapal.house.gov/category/press-releases/", "scraper", "SEATTLE \u2013 U.S. Representative Pramila Jayapal, Ranking Member of the Immigration Integrity, Security, and Enforcement Subcommittee, announced $4,039,516 in federal funding for the Washington State Department of Social & Health Services (WA-DSHS). This funding comes from the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) through the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) and U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP), and will support migrants arriving in King County.\n\n\u201cWashington State has a long history of welcoming immigrants to the United States,\u201d said Jayapal. \u201cI am proud to have worked with the Washington delegation to advocate for and secure this much-needed funding for Washington. This federal investment will continue to support the efforts of the state and local governments, in addition to critical community and non-profit partners, in providing migrants, especially those from the Congo and Venezuela, with essential shelter and services. Seeking asylum is a right and all individuals must be able to do so with dignity.\u201d\n\nThis funding will support local communities in Washington State that have provided critical resources such as food, shelter, clothing, acute medical care, and transportation to individuals who have recently arrived in Washington and are awaiting their immigration court proceedings.\n\nJayapal signed a letter of support for this grant in June. She also joined a letter advocating for increasing the availability of Shelter and Services Program funds (SSP-C) to additional entities in November of 2023. In January, Jayapal toured the Riverton Park United Methodist Church which has played an integral role in providing emergency shelter and services to asylum seekers. She met with community organizations, volunteers, advocates, and migrants to discuss the urgent need for federal investments to support the work of community organizations and local governments.", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-07T21:36:13Z"], ["https://larsen.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=2921", "Larsen, Peltola and Smith Introduce Bipartisan Bill to Combat Childhood Hunger, Expand Access to Meals Outside of Regular School Hours", "2024-08-28", "2024", "2024-08", "Democrat", "House", "WA", "Rick Larsen", "L000560", "larsen.house.gov", "larsen", "https://larsen.house.gov/news/documentquery.aspx", "scraper", "WASHINGTON, D.C. \u2013 Reps. Rick Larsen (D-WA), Mary Peltola (D-AK) and Chris Smith (R-NJ) introduced the Summer Meals Act of 2024, a bipartisan bill to fight childhood hunger by expanding access to healthy, nutritious meals and snacks offered to students during the summer months.\n\n\u201cKids should be focused on learning and getting good grades instead of worrying about where their next meal will come from,\u201d said Larsen, who represents Washington state\u2019s Second Congressional District. \u201cOne in six children in Washington state faces hunger. With schools out, summer months are especially hard for children in low-income and underserved communities. The Summer Meals Act builds partnerships and breaks down barriers to ensure children in the Pacific Northwest and across the country get regular, healthy meals, regardless of the season.\u201d\n\n\u201cAs a mom to seven, I understand the stress and financial commitment that it takes to feed a family,\u201d said Peltola, who represents Alaska\u2019s At-Large Congressional District. \u201cThe summer should be a time for families to be together, but for too many Alaska kids, it brings uncertainty and hunger. Our bill will ensure Alaska's future leaders have the nutrients they need to grow all year long.\u201d\n\nWhat Does the Summer Meals Act Do?\n\nThe Summer Meals Act reforms and expands the Summer Food Service Program (SFSP), a federal initiative that funds meals served by nonprofit organizations, school districts and public agencies to children during the summer months.\n\nSummer months are especially hard for low-income children to access meals because they lose access to free and reduced-price school meals. In July 2023, only 1 in every 7 children who relies on free or reduced-price lunch during the school year received a meal through the SFSP. The Summer Meals Act aims to close this gap.\n\nSpecifically, the Summer Meals Act:\n\nAllows site sponsors to operate year-round, enabling SFSP participants to operate more efficiently.\n\nLowers the area eligibility threshold from 50 percent to 40 percent, allowing areas with at least 40 percent of students receiving free or reduced lunch to participate in the SFSP.\n\nAllows summer meal sites to serve three, rather than two, meals per day.\n\nFunds grants to encourage innovative meal delivery, such as through mobile meal trucks, to help increase food access for children in rural and underserved areas.\n\nTo read the Summer Meals Act, click here. For a fact sheet on the Summer Meals Act, click here.\n\nWhat Stakeholders Are Saying About the Summer Meals Act\n\nStakeholders from nonprofit organizations, school districts and public agencies emphasized how important the Summer Meals Act is to reducing childhood hunger in their communities.\n\nNational\n\nNational Recreation and Park Association Director of Government Affairs Kyle Simpson\n\n\u201cThe National Recreation and Park Association (NRPA) is proud to endorse the Summer Meals Act. Local park and recreation departments play a crucial role in delivering meals through the Summer Food Service Program (SFSP). Last year, local park and recreation departments served over 180 million meals to over 17 million community members. The Summer Meals Act would provide much-needed reforms that would enable local park and recreation departments and other sponsors to deliver more meals more effectively to more community members. Key reforms like lowering the eligibility threshold and allowing sites to serve three rather than two meals per day will ensure that millions more kids will have access to healthy meals during the summer. NRPA calls for the swift passage of this critical piece of legislation.\u201d\n\nYMCA of the USA President & CEO Suzanne McCormick\n\n\u201cNothing is more fundamental to ensuring that children can learn, grow and thrive than regular access to healthy meals, and YMCAs are proud to serve millions of meals and snacks each year through USDA child nutrition programs. But updating these programs is long overdue. I want to thank Representatives Larsen, Peltola, and Smith for introducing this important legislation to make the improvements we most need: decreasing administrative burden for providers, giving more kids access to meals, allowing for a third meal to be served in full-day summer programs, and eliminating transportation barriers so kids can get to summer programs.\u201d\n\nBoys & Girls Clubs of America President and CEO Jim Clark\n\n\u201cSummer is a pivotal time for kids and teens to develop new skills, reinforce what they've learned in school, and create lasting memories with friends at Boys & Girls Clubs. Boys & Girls Clubs is one of the largest organizations offering safe spaces, caring mentors, and access to nutritious meals, all of which are essential for their growth. Today's introduction of The Summer Meals Act is a vital step toward ensuring that more young people have access to these crucial meals, especially during the summer when families often struggle to access food and youth programs. We deeply appreciate Representatives Larsen, Peltola, and Smith for their steadfast commitment to supporting youth and out-of-school time initiatives.\u201d\n\nFood Research & Action Center Interim President Crystal FitzSimons\n\n\u201cThe Summer Nutrition Programs combined with summer programming are critical to reducing childhood food insecurity and keeping children learning, engaged, active, and safe during summer break. According to FRAC\u2019s latest Summer Nutrition Status Report, just over 2.8 million children participated in the Summer Nutrition Programs on an average day in July 2023. This was a decrease of 170,926 children compared to July 2022. \u201cThe provisions in the Summer Meals Act of 2024 will make it easier for summer programs to provide summer meals. FRAC commends the bill's sponsors for their efforts to strengthen and expand access to the Summer Nutrition Programs through the Summer Meals Act of 2024, and encourage Members of Congress to cosponsor this important bill.\u201d\n\nAfterschool Alliance Executive Director Jodi Grant\n\n\u201cThe bipartisan Summer Meals Act would make it possible for many more children and youth to access quality summer learning programs that provide a nutritious meal,\u201d said. \u201cBy simplifying eligibility requirements, reducing paperwork burdens, improving transportation, and offering an additional meal to children who attend evening programs, this bill would address the painful fact that today in the United States, for every child in a summer enrichment program, another is unable to attend due to cost or lack of programs, according to the 2021 America After 3PM Special Report: Time for a Game-Changing Summer.\u201d\n\nWashington State\n\nFood Lifeline CEO Robert Ojeda\n\n\u201cWe count on lawmakers to solve food access problems and Representative Rick Larsen's Summer Meals Act does just that. So complicated is the interplay between the Summer Food Service Program and the Afterschool Meal Program that many nonprofit organizations, like ours, are overwhelmed by requirements that don't align. With his bill, Rep. Larsen finds the synergy needed to make summer meal programs work better and easier to implement.\u201d\n\nEdmonds School District Superintendent Dr. Rebecca Miner\n\n\u201cThe Summer Meals Act is a vital step toward ensuring that no child goes hungry, regardless of where they live or the time of year. In our district, over 8,200 students qualify for free and reduced lunch but we know many more could benefit from this proposed legislation. This initiative aligns closely with our district's mission to support the well-being and success of every student. I am confident it would have a lasting, positive impact on our students and their learning.\u201d\n\nStanwood-Camano School District Superintendent Dr. Deborah Rumbaugh\n\n\u201cThe Stanwood-Camano School District proudly supports the Summer Meals Act, which promises to streamline operations and allow year-round meal service to eligible students. This bipartisan legislation will significantly reduce bureaucratic barriers and ensure that children in our community have consistent access to nutritious meals. We believe it will enhance our ability to serve students more effectively.\u201d\n\nOak Harbor School District Superintendent Dr. Michelle Kuss-Cybula\n\n\u201cThis summer, we proudly served 23,283 breakfasts and 27,158 lunches to the students of our community. By supporting this bill, we believe that the children and families of Oak Harbor will continue to receive the nourishment and support they need to thrive. Moreover, the benefits of this program extend far beyond today, contributing to the long-term well-being and success of our society.\u201d\n\nBoys & Girls Clubs of Skagit County President & CEO Ron McHenry\n\n\u201cFood insecurity is severe in our area. Kids can\u2019t learn or grow without proper nourishment. Because of programs like the Summer Food Service Program, students in Skagit County receive nutritious scratch-made meals each day.\u201d\n\nBoys & Girls Clubs of Whatcom County CEO Heather Powell\n\n\u201cAs an extended day summer program provider who is open 50 hours per week, being able to provide three meals per day will help us to reduce hunger which will reduce behavior challenges and increase program participation. 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