{"database": "press", "table": "releases", "is_view": false, "human_description_en": "where party = \"Democrat\", state = \"PA\" and year = 2017 sorted by date descending", "rows": [["https://www.casey.senate.gov/newsroom/releases/fiesta-bowl-festivities-senators-casey-cantwell-place-friendly-wager-on-fiesta-bowl", "Fiesta Bowl Festivities: Senators Casey, Cantwell Place Friendly Wager On Fiesta Bowl", "2017-12-29", "2017", "2017-12", "Democrat", "House", "PA", "Bob Casey", "C001070", "www.casey.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Washington, D.C.  With the Penn State Nittany Lions and the University of Washington Huskies set to square off in the 2017 Fiesta Bowl, U.S. Senators Bob Casey (D-PA) and Maria Cantwell (D-WA) have placed a friendly wager on the outcome. The senator with the losing team will deliver a home state product to the other. Casey has wagered an assortment of ice cream from Penn States Berkey Creamery. Cantwell has wagered smoked Pacific salmon from Pike Place Market and craft beer from Elysian Brewing Company.\r\nWhile Id love for my colleague to try some of Pennsylvanias finest ice cream, I have total confidence in the Nittany Lions ability to beat the Huskies, said Senator Casey. I look forward to watching Penn State complete their season with a win.\r\nMore information on Penn State Berkey Creamery here: http://creamery.psu.edu.\r\nMore information on Pike Place Market and Elysian Brewing Company can be found here: http://pikeplacemarket.org and http://elysianbrewing.com.\r\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://cartwright.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/cartwright-announces-44-million-in-hhs-funds-for-luzerne-county-head", "Cartwright Announces $4.4 million in HHS Funds for Luzerne County Head Start", "2017-12-28", "2017", "2017-12", "Democrat", "House", "PA", "Matt Cartwright", "C001090", "cartwright.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Luzerne, Pennsylvania  Today, Representative Matt Cartwright announced that Luzerne County Head Start received $4,448,810 in federal funds from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. These funds are used for the continuation of high quality, comprehensive, early childhood education.\nHead Start is a federal program created in 1965 to address the educational and developmental needs of low-income, pre-school children.Head Starts comprehensive service system provides social, nutritional, and educational services for thousands of children and their families across the United States. Head Start emphasizes the role of parents as their child's first and most important teacher.\nHead Start and Early Head Start programs are an important investment in our community and our economy, said Rep. Cartwright, a member of the Appropriations Committee. I applaud Luzerne County Head Start on their continued award and their dedication to enhancing the quality of life for children and families in Luzerne and WyomingCounties.\"\nOver the past 51 years, Head Start programs have been operating at the local, grassroots level across the country. Through Head Start's comprehensive service system for both children and their families, thousands upon thousands of children have been given the chance to be and to do their best in order to achieve their potential in school.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://www.casey.senate.gov/newsroom/releases/casey-and-collins-demand-information-on-age-targeting-in-online-job-advertisements-following-concerning-investigation", "Casey and Collins Demand Information on Age Targeting in Online Job Advertisements Following Concerning Investigation", "2017-12-22", "2017", "2017-12", "Democrat", "House", "PA", "Bob Casey", "C001070", "www.casey.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Washington, DC  Today, U.S. Senators Bob Casey (D-PA) and Susan Collins (R-ME), Ranking Member and Chairman of the Special Committee on Aging, wrote to Facebook, Google and LinkedIn to express serious concern over the use of advertising targeting tools on these platforms that allow employers to recruit potential employees in specific age ranges. The senators penned the letter in light of recent news reports on how targeted online job postings can become an avenue for age-based hiring discrimination if not properly managed.\r\nAge discrimination continues to occur, and changes in technology and the methods employers use to recruit, hire and manage workers have introduced new avenues by which employers may engage in illegal conduct, the senators wrote. As Americas workforce continues to age, it is imperative that protections for older workers are enforced and updated when necessary.\r\nIn their letter, Sens. Casey and Collins also request information on how often age-targeting is occurring in employment advertising on Facebook, Google and LinkedIn, and information on what steps these companies are taking to prevent age discrimination. \r\nIn February, Sens. Casey, Collins, Grassley and Leahy introduced the Protecting Older Workers Against Discrimination Act (POWADA), which would fully restore the protections of the Age Discrimination in Employment Act (ADEA) and make it easier to fight back against age discrimination. In 2009, a U.S. Supreme Court ruling in Gross v. FBL Financial Services re-interpreted ADEA and weakened it. As a result, workers that allege age discrimination must meet an undue legal burden not faced by workers alleging discrimination based on race, sex, national origin or religion. This year marks the 50th anniversary of the ADEA.\r\nEarlier this month, the Special Committee on Aging held a hearing on aging and employmentduring which Sen. Casey highlighted the issue of age discrimination and released a report that examines ways in which employers, workers and policymakers can work together to ensure that older workers are able to thrive in the workplace.\r\nRead the letters here.\r\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://boyle.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/engel-kinzinger-boyle-royce-offer-bill-support-future-security-syrian", "Boyle, Engel, Kinzinger, Royce Offer Bill to Support Future Security of Syrian People, Hold Assad Regime Accountable", "2017-12-21", "2017", "2017-12", "Democrat", "House", "PA", "Brendan Boyle", "B001296", "boyle.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "WASHINGTONRepresentative Eliot L. Engel (D-NY), Ranking Member of the House Committee on Foreign Affairs; Rep. Brendan Boyle (D-PA), a member of the House Committee on Foreign Affairs; Rep. Adam Kinzinger (R-IL), a member of the Committees on Foreign Affairs and Energy and Commerce;and Rep. Ed Royce (R-CA), Chairman of the House Committee on Foreign Affairs today introduced legislation to ensure that the security of the Syrian people will be central to reconstruction and stabilization efforts in Syria. The No Assistance for Assad Act (H.R. 4681) would condition American support for such efforts in Assad-controlled territories on Syrian commitments to human rights; a political transition; and the safe, unfettered and voluntary return of Syrian refugees and internally displaced people.\n\nAssad purposely and systematically destroyed Syrian communities in order to retain his political power, with the help of his Russian and Iranian supporters, said Rep. Boyle. As co-chair of the Friends of a Free, Stable and Democratic Syria Caucus, I believe we in Congress must do all we can to ensure that the welfare of the Syrian people remains the top priority of our involvement in the region, and condition any engagement with the Assad regime as such. This legislation is a critical safeguard to that end.\n\nUntil Assad respects the rights of his people, until theyre on the path toward a better future for themselves, and until theres accountability for the regimes war crimes, the United States shouldnt spend a dime on reconstruction efforts in areas controlled by the regime, said Rep. Engel. Buoyed by his patrons in Moscow and Tehran, the Butcher in Damascus broke Syria. Now he and his regime have to pay the price. We should not support any scenario that leaves him in power to continue his violence and oppression against the Syrian people.\n\nThe genocide of the Syrian people by Bashar al Assad and his Russian and Iranian backers may be the worst humanitarian crisis of our generation. We cannot and must not allocate any resources to the brutal Assad regime in reconstructing what he has destroyed. As co-chair of the Friends of a Free, Stable and Democratic Syria Caucus, our goal will continue to be in support of the people of Syria who simply seek to live free and in peace. Today, we introduce this legislation to ensure Assad will pay the price for his oppression and violence, said Rep. Kinzinger.\n\nI want to thank Reps. Kinzinger and Boyle for their leadership on this common-sense legislation to ensure that U.S. aid does not strengthen the Assad regime and its Iranian-backed militias. For nearly seven years now, the Syrian people have been subject to widespread atrocities, including chemical attacks. This bill represents the latest in a series of measures Ranking Member Engel and I have worked to pass in the Foreign Affairs Committee to hold Assad and his enablers accountable, said Rep. Royce.\n\nThe legislation would place conditions on American assistance for early recovery, stabilization and reconstruction in Syrian territories controlled by the Assad regime. Such assistance would only be available on the condition that the regime:\n\n Ceases indiscriminate use of weapons and any attacks against civilians and civilian facilities;\n Releases all political prisoners and provides full access to Syrian prisons for investigations by appropriate international human rights organizations;\n Removes senior officials of the Government of Syria who are complicit in human rights abuses;\n Moves to organize free and fair elections for a new government to establish an independent judiciary;\n Respects and compiles with internationally recognized human rights;\n Fulfills its commitments under the chemical weapons convention;\n Halts the development and deployment of ballistic and cruise missiles;\n Removes human rights abusers from positions of authority within the military, intelligence, and security services;\n Minimizes the Government of Syrias reliance on Iran and Iranian proxy forces to act on behalf or in support of Syria; and\n Commences a process to organize the safe, unfettered and voluntary return of Syrian refugees and internally displaced persons to their homes.\n\nThe limitation would not apply to projects administered by the local community or humanitarian assistance. The President would also be required must submit annual reports to Congress detailing any projects that utilize the exceptions and laying out a strategy for getting humanitarian assistance to besieged areas.\n\n# # #", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://boyle.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/reps-boyle-and-graves-introduce-bipartisan-bill-strengthen-us-israel", "Reps. Boyle and Graves Introduce Bipartisan Bill to Strengthen US-Israel Cooperation on High-tech Weapons", "2017-12-21", "2017", "2017-12", "Democrat", "House", "PA", "Brendan Boyle", "B001296", "boyle.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "WASHINGTON, D.C.  Today, Congressman Brendan F. Boyle (D-PA-13) and Congressman Tom Graves (R-GA-14) introduced H.R. 4707, the Procure PGMS for Israel Act, which would authorize the Department of Defense to add precision-guided munitions into the United States War Reserve Stockpile in Israel, enabling it to transfer the high-tech weaponry to Israel in the event of a conflict.\nIsraelis live each day under the threat of attack by rockets, missiles and armed drones. Israel is our steadfast ally and the only strong democracy in the Middle East, said Congressman Boyle, a member of the House Foreign Affairs Committee. We must be exceedingly vigilant about the constant threat it faces from bad actors in the region such as Hezbollah and Hamas. That means improving access to our most advanced weaponry for Israels military in the event of a deadly conflict. This bill would ensure that the U.S. stockpile in Israel includes precision-guided munitions that are constantly at the ready and within reach for Israeli forces, significantly improving their security capabilities and safeguarding millions of lives.\nThe United States and Israel share an unbreakable bond, which Congress is committed to guarding and strengthening, said Congressman Graves. By ensuring Israel has access to precision-guided munitions, were improving security for Israelis, discouraging conflict in the region and reaffirming our sacred relationship with Israel.  \n\t  \n\tThe United States maintains a War Reserve Stockpile in Israel, authorized by Congress in 1989, which it can draw upon to augment Israeli weaponry in the event of war. Precision-guided munitions (PGMs) are not currently explicitly a part of that stockpile. PGMs are guided projectiles that can reach precise targets with significant accuracy and decreases collateral damage to save civilian lives. During the 2006 war against Hezbollah in Lebanon, the United States granted Israel access to the stockpile. Additionally, in July 2014, during Israeli military operations against Hamas in the Gaza Strip, the Defense Department permitted Israel to draw from the stockpile.\nThe legislation introduced today requires a joint U.S.-Israel study on PGM procurement to outline the quantity and type of precision guided munitions that are necessary for Israel to combat Hezbollah in the event of a sustained armed confrontation between Israel and Hezbollah. The bill explicitly authorizes PGMs inclusion in the U.S. War Reserve Stockpile in Israel and allows for transfer of PGMs to Israel from the Stockpile in the event of conflict. Finally, the legislation amends the Department of Defenses acquisition procedures to speed up production of precision-guided munitions.\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://cartwright.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/cartwright-announces-start-of-next-round-of-assistance-to-firefighter-0", "Cartwright Announces Start of Next Round of Assistance to Firefighter Grants (AFG) Application Period", "2017-12-21", "2017", "2017-12", "Democrat", "House", "PA", "Matt Cartwright", "C001090", "cartwright.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Offers Local Hose Companies, EMS and Fire Departments Assistance in the Application Process\nWashington, D.C.  Today, Congressman Matt Cartwright announced the Fiscal Year 2017 Assistance to Firefighters Grants (AFG) application period will open on Tuesday, December 26, 2017 at 8AM ET and will close on Friday, February 2, 2018 at 5 PM ET. Applicants are encouraged to thoroughly review the Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) prior to beginning the application. It contains the latest updates to the FY 2017 AFG Grant Program.\nTheprimary goal of the AFG is to meet the firefighting and emergency response needs of fire departments and nonaffiliated emergency medical service organizations. Since 2001, AFG has helped firefighters and other first responders obtain critically needed equipment, protective gear, emergency vehicles, training, and other resources needed to protect the public and emergency personnel from fire and related hazards.\nEnsuring first responders have reliable and up-to-date equipment should be one of our highest national priorities, said Cartwright, a member of the Congressional Fire Caucus and the House Appropriations Committee. I annually advocate for full funding to the Assistance to Firefighters Grant. We need programs like this to help communities with limited budget reserves get the equipment and training they need to protect lives and property.\nThis year, the Assistance to Firefighter Grant (AFG) Grant Program will award $310,500,000 to assist first-responder organizations that need to improve their capability to respond to fires and emergencies of all types. The goal of the AFG Program is to enhance, through direct financial assistance, the health and safety of the public and firefighting personnel and to provide a continuum of support for emergency responders regarding fire, medical, and all-hazard events. The AFG Program awards grants directly to fire departments, nonaffiliated EMS organizations, and State Fire Training Academies for critically needed resources to protect the public, train emergency personnel, foster interoperability, and support community resilience.\nApplicants can contact Congressman Cartwrights Economic Development Director, April Niver, at 484-546-0776 or the AFG Help Desk at firegrants@fema.gov or 1-866-274-0960. Application assistance tools are available online http://www.fema.gov/firegrants.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://www.casey.senate.gov/newsroom/media/view/casey-floor-remarks-on-national-security", "Casey Floor Remarks on National Security", "2017-12-21", "2017", "2017-12", "Democrat", "House", "PA", "Bob Casey", "C001070", "www.casey.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Senator Robert P. Casey\n\t\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\t\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\t\r\n\t\t\t\t\r\n\t\t\t\t\t \r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\r\n                                    \r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\r\n                                \r\n                                     About\r\n                                    \t\r\n                                        \r\n                                            \r\n                                        \r\n                                    \r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\r\n                                    \r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\r\n                                \r\n                                     Issues\r\n                                    \t\r\n                                        \r\n                                    \r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\r\n                                    \r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\r\n                                \r\n                                     Get Help\r\n                                    \t\r\n                                        \r\n                                    \r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\r\n                                    \r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\r\n                                \r\n                                     Make a Request\r\n                                    \t\r\n                                        \r\n                                            \r\n                                        \r\n                                    \r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\r\n                                    \r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\r\n                                \r\n                                     Newsroom\r\n                                    \t\r\n                                        \r\n                                            \r\n                                        \r\n                                    \r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\r\n                                    \r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\r\n                                \r\n                                     Contact", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://www.casey.senate.gov/newsroom/releases/casey-gop-rushes-home-for-holidays-leaving-long-to-do-list-behind", "Casey: GOP Rushes Home For Holidays, Leaving Long To-Do List Behind", "2017-12-21", "2017", "2017-12", "Democrat", "House", "PA", "Bob Casey", "C001070", "www.casey.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Washington, DC  U.S. Senator Bob Casey is releasing the following statement after Continuing Resolution vote:\r\nIts outrageous that Republicans in Congress are rushing to go home for Christmas instead of fully reauthorizing the Childrens Health Insurance Program and addressing other vital priorities. The Republicans who run Congress had all the time in the world to cut taxes for the super-rich and big corporations and now are urgently skipping town before families who rely on CHIP have peace of mind in knowing that their kids health care coverage will continue beyond a matter of weeks. Instead of passing this bill, which stiffs kids, our law enforcement officers and fails to protect the Dreamers, members of Congress should stay in town and address these issues.\r\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://www.casey.senate.gov/newsroom/releases/casey-isakson-ending-global-hunger-remains-crucial-to-our-national-security", "Casey, Isakson: Ending Global Hunger Remains Crucial To Our National Security", "2017-12-21", "2017", "2017-12", "Democrat", "House", "PA", "Bob Casey", "C001070", "www.casey.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Washington, D.C.  Today, U.S. Senators Bob Casey (D-PA) and Johnny Isakson (R-GA) introduced a five-year reauthorization of their Global Food Security Act. The Senators 2016 legislation, which is now public law, ensures that the life-saving food security programs managed under the Feed the Future Initiative will continue through 2018. This reauthorization is crucial to ensuring the success of the program beyond next year.\r\nFeed the Future and the Global Food Security Act have helped the United States more effectively address hunger around the world and in the process created greater international stability, said Senator Casey. This bipartisan effort was widely supported last Congress. I look forward to my colleagues continued support and urge swift passage of this reauthorization.\r\nThe Global Food Security Act has not only helped our neighbors abroad, but also has been an investment in our own national security, said Senator Isakson, a member of the Senate Committee on Foreign Relations. The strategy helps ensure that every dollar thats invested in our foreign assistance is getting a maximum return for the American taxpayer, including Georgias farmers. Im proud to introduce legislation to reauthorize this program that has already saved lives.\r\nSpecifically, the Global Food Security Act:\r\nRequires the Administration to develop a whole-of-government strategy to address global food insecurity and hunger. The strategy would emphasize agricultural development, improving maternal and child nutrition, building the resilience of communities, and civil society engagement.\r\nEnsures the alignment of U.S. assistance with country-owned strategies to enhance agricultural productivity, household income, local economies, and food and nutrition security to work toward the ultimate goal of transitioning countries and communities away from the need for U.S. assistance under this Act.\r\nImproves upon existing monitoring and evaluation practices to ensure the effective use of U.S. taxpayer dollars. This includes a requirement for the Government Accountability Office (GAO) to issue a report in 2019.\r\nRequires that the Administration report to Congress and to the American people annually about the strategy, its results, and the use of foreign assistance funds.\r\nAuthorizes appropriations through 2021 to carry out international development assistance programs and activities under the strategy.\r\nThis five-year reauthorization would ensure that these oversight measures are authorized through 2023.\r\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://boyle.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/blue-collar-caucus-co-chairs-slam-passage-gop-tax-scam", "Blue Collar Caucus Co-Chairs Slam Passage of GOP Tax Scam", "2017-12-20", "2017", "2017-12", "Democrat", "House", "PA", "Brendan Boyle", "B001296", "boyle.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "WASHINGTON, DC  Today, Blue Collar Caucus co-chairs Congressmen Brendan F. Boyle (D-PA) and Marc Veasey (D-TX) released the following statement in response to the final passage of the Republican tax overhaul:  \n\t  \n\tThe GOP Tax Scam is a shameful betrayal of the middle class and a conscious punch to the gut of the American worker. Despite overwhelming opposition from the vast majority of the American public, President Trump and Republicans in Congress jammed through a bill that slashes taxes for corporations and their mega-wealthy executives while asking 86 million hardworking middle class families to foot the bill. They cross their fingers that workers might eventually get a trickle of the benefits, but we all know better.  \n\t  \n\tThis legislation represents an explicit reversal from Mr. Trumps many promises to the American worker. Rather than close loopholes, end outsourcing, or invest in infrastructure, the bill actually undermines each priority: it creates new loopholes, further enables outsourcing, and squanders our best chance at financing infrastructure investment while simultaneously ballooning our debt a deficit and fueling cuts to discretionary spending.  \n\t  \n\tAs leaders of the Blue Collar Caucus, we have stood ready to work with anyone to lift up the middle class and the American worker, strengthen their hand and help make the American Dream of a higher paycheck and better future for our children attainable again. We introduced the Patriot Employer Act to close loopholes that encourage corporations to send jobs overseas, and provide tax credits to employers that invest in American workers, pay fair wages, and provide employees with robust benefits. This was the kind of tax reform and investment in America that Mr. Trump promised as a candidate. Instead, today he and Congressional Republicans passed legislation that gives a staggering 83% of the tax cuts to the wealthiest 1 percent; raises health insurance premiums; and undermines critical funding for schools, firefighters, and law enforcement agencies in our communities. Actions speak louder than words.  \n\t  \n\tWe vow to continue to hold the President, his administration, and Congressional Republicans accountable to American workers, and to continue to fight for an agenda in Washington that lifts up working families rather than continuing to stack the deck further against them.  \n\t###  \n\t  \n\tThe Blue Collar Caucus was formed to foster member discussion and legislative ideas focused on addressing wage stagnation, job insecurity, trade, offshoring, and dwindling career opportunities for those in the manufacturing and building trades. The caucus focuses on bringing together a diverse array of Democratic members of the House of Representatives to generate solutions that will protect American workers from globalized competition, maintain the viability of domestic manufacturing, and help to cultivate innovative industries that can provide stable employment amid rapid technological advancement.  \n\t  Current Members of the Blue Collar Caucus include: Brendan F. Boyle (PA-13) (Co-Chair), Marc Veasey (TX-33) (Co-Chair), Debbie Dingell (MI-12), Rick Nolan (MN-08), Dan Kildee (MI-05), Jan Schakowsky (IL-09), Tim Ryan (OH-13), John Garamendi (CA-03), Louise Slaughter (NY-25), Matt Cartwright (PA-17), Bill Pascrell (NJ-09), Marcy Kaptur (OH-09), Mark Pocan (WI-02), Ruben Gallego (AZ-07), Dan Lipinski (IL-03), Kathy Castor (FL-14), Brian Higgins (NY-26), John Yarmuth (KY-03), Eric Swalwell (CA-15), Joe Courtney (CT-02), Alan Lowenthal (CA-47), Donald Norcross (NJ-01), Dina Titus (NV-01), Paul Tonko (NY-20), John Larson (CT-01), Chellie Pingree (ME-01), Bonnie Watson Coleman (NJ-12), Luis Gutierrez (IL-04), Cheri Bustos (IL-17), J. Luis Correa (CA-46), Stephen F. Lynch (MA-08), Seth Moulton (MA-06), Carol Shea-Porter (NH-01), Derek Kilmer (WA-06), Vicente Gonzalez (TX-15), and Anthony Brown (MD-04).", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://boyle.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/boyle-slams-final-passage-gop-tax-scam-handout-mega-wealthy", "Boyle Slams Final Passage of GOP Tax Scam, Handout to the Mega-Wealthy", "2017-12-20", "2017", "2017-12", "Democrat", "House", "PA", "Brendan Boyle", "B001296", "boyle.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "WASHINGTON, D.C.  Today, Congressman Brendan F. Boyle (PA-13), a member of the House Budget Committee and co-chair of the Blue Collar Caucus, released the following statement after final passage of the Trump-GOP tax scam in Congress:  \n\t  \n\tWe may be in the holiday season, but today Republicans controlling Washington ruined the nations good cheer by jamming through a cruel, partisan, $1.5 trillion-plus tax overhaul that will decimate the middle class while further advantaging the mega-wealthy and super rich. Rather than work with Democrats to truly lift up the middle class, the American worker, and domestic industries  even close loopholes and reinvest in our infrastructure  this GOP tax scam is filled with their typical wish list of giveaways and actually creates new loopholes that the mega-wealthy and well-connected will exploit for years to come.  \n\t  \n\tToday, President Trump and Republicans in Congress officially showed their true colors by throwing middle class families under the bus out of sheer desperation for a political win and the satisfaction of their donor base  the only clear winners under this bill. Today, theyve officially raised taxes on 86 million middle class families  giving 83 percent of its tax cuts to the wealthiest 1 percent  and to strip critical middle class tax deductions in order to bankroll massive giveaways to big banks and multinational corporations who ship jobs overseas.  \n\t  \n\tThis tax plan is a scam, a lesson in budget hawk hypocrisy, and a direct assault on the middle class. And, as if the bill is not harmful enough, it will endanger key funding for fire fighters, law enforcement and schools; force 13 million more Americans to lose health insurance and spike premiums for the rest; and, in the words of Speaker Ryan himself, its cost will now be used as justification for fulfilling his vision of cutting Medicare, Medicaid, and Social Security. Merry Christmas to all.  \n\t###", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://cartwright.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/cartwright-announces-57570-hud-grant-to-the-housing-authority-of-the", "Cartwright Announces $57,570 HUD Grant to the Housing Authority of the City of Easton", "2017-12-20", "2017", "2017-12", "Democrat", "House", "PA", "Matt Cartwright", "C001090", "cartwright.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Easton, PA Today, U.S. Representative Matt Cartwright announced that the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) awarded the Housing Authority of the City of Easton a $57,570 Family Self Sufficiency (FSS) grant.\nHUDs FSS program helps local public housing authorities hire service coordinators who work directly with residents to connect them with programs and services that already exist in the local community. The program encourages innovative strategies that link housing assistance with a broad spectrum of services that will enable participating families to find jobs, increase earned income, reduce or eliminate the need for rental and/or welfare assistance, and make progress toward achieving economic independence and housing self-sufficiency.\nAs a member of the Appropriations Committee, I am a strong advocate for programs aimed at helping families find better paying jobs and making progress toward economic independence,said Rep. Cartwright. I will continue to support grants like these that provide the opportunities and tools needed to improve the quality of life in our communities.\nOn behalf of the Housing Authority of the City of Easton, we are grateful for the continued support and assistance from Congressman Matt Cartwright, said Gene Pambianchi, executive director of the Housing Authority of the City of Easton. Once again we are delighted to be given resources that will give families the opportunity to achieve economic independence and housing self-sufficiency.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://cartwright.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/cartwright-announces-70000-eda-grant-to-nepa-alliance", "Cartwright Announces $70,000 EDA Grant to NEPA Alliance", "2017-12-20", "2017", "2017-12", "Democrat", "House", "PA", "Matt Cartwright", "C001090", "cartwright.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Pittston, PA  Today, U.S. Representative Matt Cartwright announced that the Economic Development Council of Northeastern Pennsylvania (NEPA Alliance) received a $70,000 Cooperative Agreement grant for a partnership-planning project from the U.S. Department of Commerces Economic Development Administration (EDA).\nThis EDA grant supports the development and implementation of a comprehensive economic development strategy (CEDS) for the region served by the NEPA Alliance, which includes Carbon, Lackawanna, Luzerne, Monroe, and Schuylkill counties. The CEDS process is designed to bring together the public and private sectors in the creation of an economic development roadmap to diversify and strengthen the regional economy.\nThese funds advance our communities by bringing together public and private sectors to establish an economic development planning framework, process, and strategy that supports private capital investment and job creation in the region, said Rep. Cartwright, a member of the Appropriations Committee. I am proud to support programs that enhance economic expansion and generate family-sustaining jobs.\nNEPA Alliance appreciates our partnership with Economic Development Administration (EDA) in providing regional economic development planning, said Jeff Box, President and CEO of NEPA Alliance. We greatly appreciate the support from Congressman Cartwright in our efforts to promote economic growth in Northeastern PA.\nAs the only federal government agency focused exclusively on economic development, the U.S. Department of Commerces Economic Development Administration (EDA) plays a critical role in facilitating regional economic development efforts in communities across the nation. The EDA investment policy is designed to establish a foundation for sustainable job growth and the building of durable regional economies throughout the United States. This foundation builds upon two key economic drivers - innovation and regional collaboration. The EDA encourages its partners around the country to develop initiatives that advance new ideas and creative approaches to address rapidly evolving economic conditions.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://evans.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/congressman-evans-statement-second-vote-pass-hr-1-gop-tax-scam-2017", "Congressman Evans Statement on Second Vote to Pass H.R. 1, the GOP Tax Scam of 2017", "2017-12-20", "2017", "2017-12", "Democrat", "House", "PA", "Dwight Evans", "E000296", "evans.house.gov", "evans", "https://evans.house.gov/media/press-releases", "scraper", "Today Congressman Dwight Evans (PA-02) released the following statement after voting \u2018No' on H.R. 1, the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act again because the report sent to the Senate violated the Senate's Byrd rule, which prohibits the tax overhaul package from losing revenue outside the budget window.\n\nNot only was the Byrd Rule violated, but so were the American people with this job-killing tax bill which relied on jaded budget gimmicks in order to pass. As I noted in my release yesterday, our country has not seen bipartisan tax reform since 1986, yet my colleagues in the GOP missed the last chance to avert a massive shift of wealth to the rich, while gouging the poor. The way the Republican Party and the Trump Administration are going about tax reform is all wrong. Real tax reform, not the phony charade that we just witnessed, must be comprehensive, simplify our tax code, and ensure a progressive tax code that helps move everyone in our neighborhoods forward, without arbitrarily picking winners and losers. Today, the American people lost and the owners of foreign banks won because that's where many deposits will go as corporations continue to game the system with the advent of territorial taxation, parking money offshore instead of putting it into plant and equipment, and most critically, new American jobs.\n\n\"Governing is all about choices. And once again, we see the Republican Party and the Trump Administration make a choice that I firmly believe is a step in the wrong direction for the people of Philadelphia and America. Their bill H.R.1, the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act, does absolutely nothing to move our country forward\u2014it is a bridge to nowhere. I've said it many times before and I'll say it again there is no such thing as a free lunch. It is our most vulnerable who will pay the price under this bait-and-switch tax scam. The Republican Party always talks a big game about how Democrats are the party of taxing and spending but today it was the Republican Party who peddled a sham bill to hard-working Americans that shifts the financial burden on generations to come. Where is the Tea Party which was up in arms when President Obama and Congress worked to stabilize our economy? I thought they cared about the debt and deficit,\" Congressman Evans said.\n\nBefore the champagne is uncorked I would like my colleagues on the other side to consider this fact: corporate revenues as a percent of total revenues fell for 14.5 percent to 9.2 percent from 2006 to 2016. Despite concerns expressed about the size of the corporate tax rate, current corporate taxes are extremely low by historical standards, whether measured as a share of output or based on the effective tax rate on income, based on historical CBO research. With the huge drop in the corporate tax rate, my guess is that it will only mean less tax receipts overall. That means cuts to programs like CHIP, SNAP, and education, from the early childhood to the later stages of education. What happened to the land of opportunity?\n\n\"Today's vote is an incredibly disappointing step in the wrong direction. We should be in the business of \u2018doing no harm' and working to ensure our neighborhoods have the tools and resources they need to be successful. It is entirely counterintuitive for the Republican Party to vote against their own interests and the interests of our neighborhoods by voting to take away life-lines of success from our cities and suburbs in need. Where are fiscally conservative Members who heckled the Obama Administration about spending? The citizens of Pennsylvania and the American people will not forget the choice that was made here today,\" Evans said.", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-08T22:19:19Z"], ["https://www.casey.senate.gov/newsroom/releases/casey-gop-tax-scheme-is-a-gut-punch-to-the-middle-class", "Casey: GOP Tax Scheme Is A Gut Punch To The Middle Class", "2017-12-20", "2017", "2017-12", "Democrat", "House", "PA", "Bob Casey", "C001070", "www.casey.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Washington, DC  U.S. Senator Bob Casey (D-PA) is releasing the statement below following tonights passage of the Republican tax plan:\r\nThe GOP tax scheme is a raw deal for Pennsylvania families. The middle class is getting the short end of the stick while the super-rich and big corporations get a windfall. Instead of reauthorizing the Childrens Health Insurance Program (CHIP), which has now expired, or investing in infrastructure like our roads and bridges to create jobs, congressional Republicans have passed a tax plan that gives over $36 billion dollars in 2019 to the countrys richest 572,000 households  those making over $1 million a year. The 90 million American households making under $50,000 a year will only see a fraction of that. By 2027, the Republican tax plan gives 83% of the cuts to the top 1%. To make matters worse, the GOP tax plan creates an incentive to offshore jobs.\r\nThis whole scheme is a gut punch to the middle class. And now, Republicans in the House and the Senate are saying their next step is to go after Social Security, Medicare and Medicaid. I will not stand by as Republicans in Washington plot to cut these vital programs for the middle class, especially after they passed into law these tax giveaways for big corporations and the super-rich.\r\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://www.casey.senate.gov/newsroom/releases/casey-rubio-wyden-press-freedom-resolution-passes-senate-unanimously", "Casey, Rubio, Wyden Press Freedom Resolution Passes Senate Unanimously", "2017-12-20", "2017", "2017-12", "Democrat", "House", "PA", "Bob Casey", "C001070", "www.casey.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Washington, D.C. - Today, U.S. Senators Bob Casey (D-PA), Marco Rubio (R-FL) and Ron Wyden (D-OR) announced the unanimous passage of a resolution recognizing the pervasive threats to freedom of the press and expression around the world. The bipartisan resolution calls on governments to investigate and resolve cases of violence against journalists and calls on the President and Secretary of State to commit to making freedom of the press a central pillar of U.S. democracy promotion.\r\nWith passage of this resolution, the Senate has made clear that persistent attacks on the media and minimization of journalism as fake news are unacceptable, said Senator Casey. Journalists take incredible risks to tell the truth about major events in the world, and face intimidation and violence for shining light on corruption and exposing abuse. This resolution recognizes the importance of press freedom for both strong and nascent democracies, and affirms that it should be a central pillar of U.S. policy at home and abroad.\r\nPress freedom and freedom of expression are under assault globally, said Senator Rubio. This resolution reaffirms our commitment to promoting democratic values and human rights around the world by reinforcing the vital role of a free press.\r\nCases like that of Emilio Gutierrez make it clearer than ever that freedom of the press and journalists are under attack at home and abroad, said Senator Wyden. My father was a journalist, and I was raised on the foundational notion that free societies depend upon a free and open press. I will never stop working to uphold the rights of journalists to ask the hard questions and report the facts.\r\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://boyle.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/boyle-casey-meehan-and-fitzpatrick-fight-bring-clean-water-funding", "Boyle, Casey, Meehan and Fitzpatrick Fight to Bring Clean Water Funding Increases Over the Finish Line", "2017-12-19", "2017", "2017-12", "Democrat", "House", "PA", "Brendan Boyle", "B001296", "boyle.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "WASHINGTON, DC  Yesterday, Congressman Brendan F. Boyle (PA-13) joined three of his fellow members of Congress representing constituents on or near the former Naval Air Warfare Center in Warminster and the former Naval Air Station in Horsham in their latest joint bipartisan effort to ensure that the final defense funding bill for fiscal year 2018, currently being negotiated, retains the funding increases they secured in earlier versions of the legislation.\n\nThese communities and others like them across the country are grappling with water contamination due to the past and persistent use of AFFF firefighting foam (Aqueous Film-Forming Foam) by the Department of Defense. Boyle led the House effort with Congressmen Patrick Meehan (PA-7) and Brian Fitzpatrick (PA-8) to increase environmental remediation funding for the U.S. Navy and Air Force, and secured a successful bipartisan vote on his amendment on the floor of the House in July. Senator Casey has spearheaded efforts in the Senate. The members also secured language authorizing and funding a nationwide health study on the human health impacts of the contaminants.\n\nThe letter reads as follows:\n\nThe Honorable Thad Cochran                          The Honorable Kay Granger\nChair                                                   Chair\nSubcommittee on Defense                            Subcommittee on Defense               \nCommittee on Appropriations                         Committee on Appropriations\nS-128, The Capitol                                      H-305, The Capitol                          \nU.S. Senate                                            U.S. House of Representatives                 \nWashington, DC 20515                                 Washington, DC 20510\n\nThe Honorable Richard Durbin                         The Honorable Pete Visclosky                 \nRanking Member                                      Ranking Member\nSubcommittee on Defense                            Subcommittee on Defense               \nCommittee on Appropriations                         Committee on Appropriations\nS-128, The Capitol                                      H-305, The Capitol                          \nU.S. Senate                                            U.S. House of Representatives                 \nWashington, DC 20515                                 Washington, DC 20510\n\nDear Chairmen Cochran and Granger and Ranking Members Durbin and Visclosky:\n\nWe write to you on behalf of our constituents to request your support for various provisions in the Fiscal Year (FY) 2018 Defense appropriations bills, which affect communities that are dealing with contaminated drinking water as a result of the Department of Defenses use of firefighting foam (Aqueous Film-Forming Foam, or AFFF).\nSince the 1970s, the Department of Defense (DoD) has used AFFF containing perfluorinated chemicals (PFCs) such as perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) and perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS). These compounds have been found by a growing volume of peer-reviewed studies to be associated with serious human health risks. In May 2016, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) issued a drinking water health advisory for PFOS and PFOA, and it is currently considering the issuance of a more strict regulation under the Safe Drinking Water Act. Both the EPA and DoD have detected elevated levels of PFOS and PFOA in drinking water at or near almost 400 defense installations. The EPA has also found these chemicals in drinking water at non-DoD public water systems across the United States.\n\nThis issue directly affects our constituents on and near the former Naval Air Warfare Center in Warminster and the former Naval Air Station Joint Reserve Base in Horsham. For years, our constituents have been living with too many questions and not enough answers about the use of AFFF and its impact on their local water quality and health. We appreciate your attention to this matter, and seek your continued support of the following throughout the FY18 appropriations conference process:\n\n We respectfully request that you fully fund the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry (ATSDR) for the purpose of conducting a health study on the implications of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) contamination, including PFCs, as denoted in Section 316 of the FY18 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA), at the full authorized level of $7,000,000.\n Furthermore, we ask that you support an increase of $42,234,000 to the Navy Environmental Restoration account and an increase of $30,000,000 to the Air Force Environmental Restoration account for PFOS/PFOA remediation, as provided by Section 4301 of the FY18 NDAA.\n\nWater contamination as a result of the militarys decades-long use of AFFF is a nationwide problem that the Department of Defense must confront head on. As representatives of some of the first and worst communities dealing with this problem today, we ask for your support of our bipartisan requests for any appropriations agreement.\n\nSincerely,\n               \n                        Robert P. Casey, Jr.                                                    Patrick Meehan\n                        United States Senator                                                 Member of Congress\n\n                        Brendan F. Boyle                                                       Brian Fitzpatrick\n                        Member of Congress                                                  Member of Congress\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://doyle.house.gov/press-release/doyle-votes-against-republican-tax-bill", "Doyle Votes Against Republican Tax Bill", "2017-12-19", "2017", "2017-12", "Democrat", "House", "PA", "Mike Doyle", "D000482", "doyle.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Washington, DC  U.S. Representative Mike Doyle (D-PA-14) released the following statement after the House voted 227  203 today to approve the final version of H.R 1, the GOPs $1.5 trillion tax bill.\"I voted against the Republican bill cutting more than a trillion dollars in taxes for corporations and the rich  and putting the burden of paying for it on the middle class, the poor, and our grandchildren.\n\n\"Under the GOP tax bill, more than 80 percent of the cuts will go to households making more than $5 million a year. Thats no Middle Class tax cut.\n\n\"But there are many other reasons behind my vote against this misguided bill:\n it will actually raise taxes on most Middle Class households after a few short years, with more than half of all taxpayers - 86 million households - paying more;\n it wont raise wages;\n it gives a new tax break to corporations for shipping US jobs overseas;\n it will cause a $25 billion cut in Medicare next year; and\n it will cause federal budget deficits to explode, increasing the national debt by more than $1.5 trillion.\n\n\"Enactment of the Republican tax bill will leave most households worse off in the long run. Their tax cuts will be replaced with tax increases, and Republicans plan to use the increased national debt as justification to cut programs like Medicare and Medicaid that most Americans rely on.\n\n\"Moreover, rather than providing the greatest tax relief to families who need it the most  who will pump that money right back into the economy  the GOP tax bill provides the lions share of its tax cuts to corporations and the households that are the most well off.\n\n\"This tax bill is a scam perpetrated on the American People by Republicans in Congress and the White House. When the American People discover what this bill really does, they will hold those who are responsible for it accountable.\n\n\"I will continue to work in Congress to curb these unsustainable giveaways to corporations and the rich  and to redirect federal resources to the millions of families who are struggling to get by. Theyre the ones who need and deserve tax relief and adequately funded federal programs like Medicare and Medicaid.\"\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://evans.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/congressman-evans-statement-house-passage-hr-1", "Congressman Evans Statement on House Passage of H.R. 1", "2017-12-19", "2017", "2017-12", "Democrat", "House", "PA", "Dwight Evans", "E000296", "evans.house.gov", "evans", "https://evans.house.gov/media/press-releases", "scraper", "Today Congressman Dwight Evans (PA-02) released the following statement after voting \u2018No' on H.R. 1, the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act.\n\nOur country has not seen bipartisan tax reform since 1986, and I believe we can all agree that the U.S. tax code is in need of a major facelift. The way the Republican Party and the Trump Administration are going about tax reform is all wrong. Real tax reform, not the phony charade that we just witnessed, must be comprehensive, simplify our tax code, and ensure a progressive tax code that helps move everyone in our neighborhoods forward, without arbitrarily picking winners and losers.\n\n\"Governing is all about choices. And today we saw the Republican Party and the Trump Administration make a choice that I firmly believe is a step in the wrong direction for the people of Philadelphia and America. Their bill H.R.1, the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act, does absolutely nothing to move our country forward\u2014it is a bridge to nowhere. I've said it many times before and I'll say it again there is no such thing as a free lunch. It is our most vulnerable who will pay the price under this bait-and-switch tax scam. The Republican Party always talks a big game about how Democrats are the party of taxing and spending but today it was the Republican Party who peddled a sham bill to hard-working Americans that shifts the financial burden on generations to come. Where is the Tea Party which was up in arms when President Obama and Congress worked to stabilize our economy? I thought they cared about the debt and deficit,\" Congressman Evans said.\n\nBefore the champagne is uncorked I would like my colleagues on the other side to consider this fact: corporate revenues as a percent of total revenues fell for 14.5 percent to 9.2 percent from 2006 to 2016. Despite concerns expressed about the size of the corporate tax rate, current corporate taxes are extremely low by historical standards, whether measured as a share of output or based on the effective tax rate on income, based on historical CBO research. With the huge drop in the corporate tax rate, my guess is that it will only mean less tax receipts overall. That means cuts to programs like CHIP, SNAP, and education, from the early childhood to the later stages of education. What happened to the land of opportunity?\n\n\"Today's vote is an incredibly disappointing step in the wrong direction. We should be in the business of \u2018doing no harm' and working to ensure our neighborhoods have the tools and resources they need to be successful. It is entirely counterintuitive for the Republican Party to vote against their own interests and the interests of our neighborhoods by voting to take away life-lines of success from our cities and suburbs in need. The citizens of Pennsylvania and the American people will not forget the choice that was made here today,\" Evans said.", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-08T22:19:19Z"], ["https://www.casey.senate.gov/newsroom/releases/casey-leads-bipartisan-effort-in-calling-on-congressional-leadership-to-commit-resources-to-opioid-epidemic", "Casey Leads Bipartisan Effort In Calling On Congressional Leadership To Commit Resources To Opioid Epidemic", "2017-12-15", "2017", "2017-12", "Democrat", "House", "PA", "Bob Casey", "C001070", "www.casey.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Washington, D.C. - As the Nations opioid epidemic continues to ravage communities across the country, U.S. Senator Bob Casey (D-PA) led a bipartisan group of his colleagues in calling on Senate leadership to provide states with the resources they need to tackle this ongoing public health emergency.\r\nSenator Casey was joined by Senators Shelley Moore Capito (R-WV), Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH), Lisa Murkowski (R-AK), Maggie Hassan (D-NH), Joe Manchin (D-WV), Susan Collins (R-ME), Angus King (I-ME), and Tammy Baldwin (D-WI).\r\nIn their letter, the bipartisan group urge Leaders McConnell (R-KY) and Schumer (D-NY) to include additional funding dedicated to addressing the crisis in the upcoming supplemental and omnibus appropriations legislation.\r\nOpioid misuse is not a partisan issue. It is ravaging communities in every state and preys upon individuals and families regardless of party affiliation, wrote the Senators. We have worked together on this issue in the past, and with the clear statement from Acting Secretary Hargan that the administration is looking for Congress to lead the way, it is time for us to work together again. As the Senate considers pending supplemental and omnibus appropriation legislation, please make every effort to ensure that new, substantial and sustained funding for the opioid epidemic is included in any legislative package.\r\nThe full text of the letter can be seen below:\r\nDear Majority Leader McConnell and Democratic Leader Schumer:\r\nWe write today to discuss our Nations opioid misuse epidemic and the urgent need for Congress to provide our states with the resources they need to deal with this public health emergency. In light of recent statements from the administration asking Congress to act on this issue, we believe the upcoming supplemental and omnibus appropriations legislation present significant opportunities for additional funding.\r\nAs you are aware, the opioid misuse epidemic is taking a toll on individuals, families and communities across the Nation. It is tearing apart families and straining the resources of local governments, law enforcement and public health agencies. Although we are pleased by the recent declaration of the epidemic as a public health emergency, that action needs to be coupled with adequate, sustained resources.\r\nOn December 4, Acting HHS Secretary Eric Hargan stated that the administration is looking forward to hearing from Congress about how they intend to address this. That means it is up to us to act. We urge you to advance a spending package that will provide substantial new resources for our families and our communities who have waited too long for help. Although the measures in the Comprehensive Addiction and Recovery Act (CARA), the 21st Century Cures legislation and the Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2017 were important first steps, we must now build upon those efforts to ensure that states have adequate resources for first responders, enforcement, prevention efforts and treatment and recovery services. We must also provide more resources for research into addiction and pain, to gain a better understanding of the disease and develop innovative new treatments for substance misuse.\r\nOpioid misuse is not a partisan issue. It is ravaging communities in every state and preys upon individuals and families regardless of party affiliation. We have worked together on this issue in the past, and with the clear statement from Acting Secretary Hargan that the administration is looking for Congress to lead the way, it is time for us to work together again. As the Senate considers pending supplemental and omnibus appropriation legislation, please make every effort to ensure that new, substantial and sustained funding for the opioid epidemic is included in any legislative package.\r\nThank you and we look forward to working with you to ensure that our communities receive the resources they need to effectively address this national crisis.\r\nSincerely,\r\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://www.casey.senate.gov/newsroom/releases/senators-urge-administration-to-outline-real-plan-to-address-outsourcing", "Senators Urge Administration To Outline Real Plan To Address Outsourcing", "2017-12-15", "2017", "2017-12", "Democrat", "House", "PA", "Bob Casey", "C001070", "www.casey.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Washington, D.C.  Congressional Republicans tax plan includes provisions that may encourage companies to move production and jobs overseas. To ensure the Administration adheres to its numerous promises to put American workers first, U.S. Senators Bob Casey (D-PA), Sherrod Brown (D-OH), Debbie Stabenow (D-MI), Claire McCaskill (D-MO) and Bob Menendez (D-NJ) have penned a letter asking the Administration to prevent the inclusion of provisions in the tax bill that encourage outsourcing and outline meaningful steps it plans to take to prevent outsourcing.\r\nSpecifically, the GOPs plan will reward U.S. companies that offshore jobs with a large tax cut on old profits unavailable to companies who keep their production in the United States. And it may allow future profits from outsourced manufacturing to never be taxed in the United States.\r\nOutsourcing causes job loss and wage decline and the Administration must have an effective strategy to combat it, wrote the Senators. The tax policies being pursued by Republicans in Congress are at odds with these objectives. We urge you to take steps to ensure that your statements on outsourcing are reflected in the positions Treasury takes in negotiations over the international components of the tax legislation with Senate Republicans.\r\nThe full text of the letter can be seen below:\r\nDear President Trump:\r\nWe write to express our support for the goal of curbing policies that encourage outsourcing and hope the United States Trade Representative will negotiate commitments in the NAFTA that contribute to this objective. However, we are concerned that the tax policy currently being drafted by Treasury and Republicans in Congress may not only undermine any such efforts, but could actually create new and more substantial incentives to outsource that far outweigh any disincentives created by the Administrations trade policies.\r\nOutsourcing causes job loss and wage decline and the Administration must have an effective strategy to combat it. The tax policies being pursued by Republicans in Congress are at odds with these objectives. We urge you to take steps to ensure that your statements on outsourcing are reflected in the positions Treasury takes in negotiations over the international components of the tax legislation with Senate Republicans.\r\nAs you may know, the Republican tax bills, as drafted, will reward U.S. companies that offshored jobs with a large tax cut on old profits unavailable to companies who kept their production in the United States. A company who outsourced to Mexico to take advantage of cheap labor will pay less tax on accumulated profits than a domestic competitor who kept jobs in the United States.\r\nFurther, the permanent shift of our global tax system may allow profits derived from production in a factory overseas to never be taxed in the United States. Meanwhile a company that kept jobs here at home will be taxed at the US corporate tax rate. Specifically, a U.S. company that has or moves a manufacturing facility overseas is likely to only have routine returns on investments, and accordingly, will likely not pay any U.S. tax on profits from those operations under the House and Senate bills.[1]\r\nThis disparity may actually encourage companies to move production and jobs overseas, opening new incentives that reach far beyond a single trade agreement or the inducement of cheap labor.\r\nThe Republican tax plan is in serious conflict with your promise of consequences for sending jobs overseas. This plan may not only break that promise but achieve the opposite by opening significant new avenues and incentives for companies small, and large to offshore production and profits.\r\nGiven the stakes of this negotiation, we ask you to detail the steps your Administration is taking to ensure that the Republican tax bill is consistent with your stated opposition to outsourcing. In addition we ask that you outline efforts undertaken by Executive branch agencies, including Treasury, USTR, and the Office of the President, to develop and execute a coordinated approach to curb outsourcing.\r\nSpecifically we ask that you provide timely answers to the following questions:\r\n(1) Whether Treasury has consulted USTR and other agencies on the impact on outsourcing from the international tax provisions currently being negotiated by Republicans in Congress.\r\n(2) Whether an interagency policy exists to coordinate strategy on curbing outsourcing.\r\n(3) Whether interagency guidelines exist requiring the assessment of outsourcing impact prior to the Administrations endorsement of policy.\r\n(4) Whether Treasury has been directed to provide analysis and assessment of the impact of the tax bill on offshoring of profits and the outsourcing of jobs.\r\nWe urge you hold firm on your promises to workers in our states and across the country and advance our mutual goal of curbing outsourcing and bringing better paying jobs home.\r\n  Sincerely,\r\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://boyle.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/house-foreign-affairs-committee-passes-boyle-bill-bolster-cybersecurity", "House Foreign Affairs Committee Passes Boyle Bill to Bolster Cybersecurity, US-Ukrainian Cooperation", "2017-12-14", "2017", "2017-12", "Democrat", "House", "PA", "Brendan Boyle", "B001296", "boyle.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "WASHINGTON, D.C.  Today, the House Foreign Affairs Committee passed the Ukraine Cybersecurity Cooperation Act, legislation introduced by Congressmen Brendan F. Boyle (PA-13) and Brian K. Fitzpatrick (PA-8). The bill, H.R. 1997, would encourage cooperation between the United States and Ukraine on matters of cybersecurity and require State Department reporting to Congress on best practices to protect against future cyber attacks. The legislation may now go to the House floor for a vote on final passage.  \n\t  \n\tI am proud to advance this important bipartisan legislation with Congressman Fitzpatrick and our HFAC colleagues, said Congressman Boyle, a member of the Congressional Ukrainian Caucus. It is past time we recognize the need and opportunity to work more closely with our great friend and ally Ukraine, which is on the frontlines for nation state-directed cyber attacks. Helping Ukraine buttress its cyber defenses will also help the United States in developing new and more effective technologies and strategies in dealing with cyber security on the modern battlefield. Our cooperation towards this goal will send a strong, important signal of Western support for Ukraine at a time when it is literally fighting to protect its democratic identity from Putin.  \n\t  \n\tCybersecurity is a complex and serious national and economic security issue for any nation. For years, Ukraine has been under siege from nation-state cyber attacks that have sought to weaken its government and undermine hopes for an open and democratic society. The United States must play an important role in this fight. By not adequately responding and adapting to these cyber-threats in Eastern Europe, our nation is both letting down an ally as well as failing to take proactive steps to protect itself, said Fitzpatrick, also a member of the Congressional Ukrainian Caucus. Standing strong with our time-tested allies in freedom's cause is liberty's best defense. Im proud to work with my colleague, Mr. Boyle, in encouraging cooperation between the U.S. and Ukraine on this front, and look forward to continuing to work with members of the Foreign Affairs Committee to keep our focus on this 21st century battle.  \n\t  \n\tUkraine has been repeatedly targeted by cyber-attacks as a part of ongoing aggression from neighboring Russia. Congressman Boyle has been an outspoken advocate for robust U.S. - Ukraine relations and was earlier this year awarded as a Friend of Ukraine for his work in Congress on behalf of a sovereign, Democratic Ukraine. \n  \n\t###", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://doyle.house.gov/press-release/congressmen-doyle-and-costello-introduce-bipartisan-bill-establish-investment-tax", "Congressmen Doyle and Costello Introduce Bipartisan Bill to Establish Investment Tax Credit for Energy Storage", "2017-12-14", "2017", "2017-12", "Democrat", "House", "PA", "Mike Doyle", "D000482", "doyle.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "WASHINGTON DC  U.S. Representatives Mike Doyle (D-PA) and Ryan Costello (R-PA), both members of the House Energy and Commerce Committee, introduced the bipartisan Energy Storage Tax Incentive and Deployment Act of 2017. This bill, H.R. 4649, would establish a separate investment tax credit (ITC) for energy storage infrastructure for utilities, businesses, and homes. The legislation is cosponsored by Representative Mark Takano (D-CA).\n\nThis legislation encourages the use of emerging energy storage technologies and incorporating them into the electric grid. Energy storage technologies are critical to the increased adoption of renewable energy and the improvement of electric grid resilience, said Congressman Doyle. This bipartisan bill will facilitate greater investment and research in energy storage technologies, bolster the advanced energy economy, and support clean energy jobs across Pennsylvania.\n\nSupporting and encouraging the use of innovative energy technologies can help lower energy costs and improve grid resiliency. When paired with recent advancements in clean and renewable energy choices, energy storage can strengthen the security of our electric grid, offer consumers greater choice, and lower the cost of energy bills, said Representative Costello.\n\nEnergy storage systems often serve as complementary reserves to renewable resources like wind and solar power. They can provide backup power and also help lower costs for electricity during peak demand, when energy is most expensive. Energy storage ultimately makes our electric grid more sustainable and resilient, and can help provide power when we need it most  like the hottest afternoons or cold snaps in winter. Additionally, energy storage systems are integral to increasing deployment of advanced grid technologies and enhancing the operation of all types of generating resources.\n\nThe Energy Storage Tax Incentive and Deployment Act of 2017 is modeled on the existing investment tax credits for solar energy and can apply to large, utility-scale energy storage projects or smaller battery systems for residential use. The current tax code allows an ITC for energy storage when it is installed in conjunction with a solar energy system; this bill would extend the ITC for energy storage investments in a wider range of applications and provide greater clarity and assurance to prospective investors.\n\nThis legislation is a companion to S.1868, an identical, bipartisan bill introduced in the Senate by Senators Heinrich (D-NM) and Heller (R-NV) earlier this year.\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://doyle.house.gov/press-release/members-congress-condemn-fcc-vote-kill-net-neutrality", "Members of Congress Condemn FCC Vote to Kill Net Neutrality", "2017-12-14", "2017", "2017-12", "Democrat", "House", "PA", "Mike Doyle", "D000482", "doyle.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Washington, DC \u2013 U.S. Representative Mike Doyle (D-PA-14), the Ranking Member on the House Energy and Commerce Committee\u2019s Subcommittee on Communications and Technology, joined a number of other Members of Congress in condemning the Federal Communications Commission\u2019s vote today to kill the Open Internet Order, which guarantees Net Neutrality.  \n\t\u00a0\nRepresentatives Anna Eshoo (D-CA-18), Suzanne Bonamici (D-OR-01), Ro Khanna (D-CA-17), Richard M. Nolan (D-MN-08), Paul Tonko (D-NY-20), Marcy Kaptur (D-OH-09), Jerry McNerney (D-CA-09), Carolyn Maloney (D-NY-12), Betty McCollum (D-MN-04), and Peter Welch (D-VT-AL) joined Congressman Doyle in condemning the FCC\u2019s action and announcing their intention to introduce legislation to overturn the \u201cRestoring Internet Freedom\u201d order the Commission adopted with that vote. Companion legislation will be introduced in the Senate by Senator Ed Markey (D-MA).\n\u00a0\n\u201cThe Open Internet Order has been effective at preserving a level playing field where consumers have access to the content and services they want \u2013 and online businesses are able to compete on the basis of cost and quality of their product rather than how much they can pay Internet Service Providers to block or throttle their competition,\u201d Congressman Doyle said in response to the FCC vote. \u201cI\u2019ve tried repeatedly to convince Chairman Pai to abandon his plans to dismantle the Open Internet Order \u2013 most recently by organizing a letter from 118 Members of Congress urging him not to take this vote today \u2013 and now that the FCC has voted to kill Net Neutrality and give ISPs a green light to control access to the Internet, I will introduce legislation under the Congressional Review Act to overturn today\u2019s order and restore Net Neutrality.\u201d\n  \u201cIt\u2019s clear that the Chairman\u2019s idea to destroy the free and open Internet has been rejected in the court of public opinion, with tens of millions of Americans weighing in,\u201d Representative Eshoo said. \u201cAs representatives of those millions, it is our responsibility to fight this march to folly. I\u2019m proud to join my fellow Members of Congress on this CRA as we continue this new battle in the ongoing fight for net neutrality.\u201d\n  \u201cProtecting net neutrality creates a level playing field for consumers, innovators, and small businesses,\u201d Representative Bonamici observed. \u201cRolling back Title II protections will be detrimental to the free flow of information that underpins our democracy. The FCC has failed the American people and Congress must step up to keep the internet fair and open.\u201d\n  \u201cWith this vote today, the FCC has taken away our free and open internet,\u201d Representative Khanna said. \u201cI refuse to let the founding principles of the internet die, not on our watch. I am supporting a Congressional Review Act Resolution from Rep. Doyle to overturn this vote and put net neutrality back in place. I encourage everyone to call their representatives and ask them to support as well. The free and open internet has been an engine of innovation and creativity for decades. We need to make sure that it stays that way for the future.\u201d\u00a0\u00a0\n  \u201cToday, the FCC chose to repeal net neutrality \u2013 handing huge corporations the power to block consumers from certain websites and slow down their internet speeds,\u201d Representative Nolan said. \u201cIt\u2019s grossly unfair to consumers and small businesses, and we\u2019re going to fight to reinstate net neutrality protections every step of the way.\u201d\n  \u201cThe entire Net Neutrality repeal process has been a disaster and it must be reversed,\u201d Representative Tonko said. \u201cInstead of working to strengthen consumer protections and serve the American people, FCC\u2019s current leadership voted to downsize their rights, jeopardize the future of the open Internet, and hand a huge win to giant corporations. Even the public comment process for this decision was corrupted with thousands of fraudulent comments submitted using stolen identities and information. Several of my own constituents\u2019 deceased family members\u2019 identities were used in advancing this charade. The FCC\u2019s decision to repeal Net Neutrality under these conditions was illegitimate and Congress has a responsibility to protect the American people, reverse the Net Neutrality repeal and demand the truth from the FCC about troubling abuses that were committed during their rule-making process.\u201d\n  \u201cEnding net neutrality undermines the free and open Internet. Today\u2019s FCC decision is yet another example of how Republicans are padding the pockets of big corporations at the expense of consumers and small businesses,\u201d Representative McCollum said. \u201cCongress should now overturn this new rule, preserve net neutrality, and save the internet. I am proud to co-sponsor Representative Doyle\u2019s legislation to do just that.\u201d\n  \u201cRepealing Net Neutrality is the opposite of President Trump\u2019s promise to drain the swamp,\u201d said Congresswoman Kaptur. \u201cInstead, the Trump Administration is taking America backward on key consumer protections and safeguards against corporate overreach. I have heard from citizens across Northern Ohio who have made their voices clear. They support Net Neutrality, and they support an internet that is open and free from overt meddling by big corporations to juice their profits. Congress must protect Net Neutrality.\u201d\n  \u201cA free and open internet safeguards free speech, puts consumers first, and protects small businesses and innovators,\u201d Representative Maloney said. \u201cBut today, the FCC voted to repeal the net neutrality rules that protect the free and open internet we know today. I\u2019m proud to join my colleagues in this effort to roll back the FCC's harmful decision and am pleased to support Rep. Doyle\u2019s bill to keep our Net Neutrality protections in place.\u201d\n  \u201cToday\u2019s decision by the Commission sets us on a dangerous path backwards,\u201d said Congressman McNerney. \u201cNet neutrality protections are essential for ensuring that the internet serves as a forum for the free flow of information and a gateway for economic opportunity. I\u2019m proud to join Congressman Doyle to push to reverse this drastic action.\u201d\n  \u201cToday\u2019s decision to gut net neutrality is a disaster for consumers and an early Christmas present to big broadband companies who can now pick and choose who gets access to the internet and at what speed,\u201d Representative Welch said. \u201cI am proud to cosponsor this legislation which will reverse this horrible decision so that the internet remains open and accessible to all Americans.\u201d\u00a0\n  \n\t\u00a0\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://www.casey.senate.gov/newsroom/media/view/casey-on-urgent-need-to-pass-the-dream-act", "Casey on Urgent Need to Pass the Dream Act", "2017-12-14", "2017", "2017-12", "Democrat", "House", "PA", "Bob Casey", "C001070", "www.casey.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Casey on Urgent Need to Pass the Dream Act \n            In September, President Trump insulted our American values by announcing his cruel decision to end the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals Program (DACA). Congress must move immediately to pass the bipartisan DREAM Act, a bill Senator Casey was proud to vote for in 2007 and 2010.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://www.casey.senate.gov/newsroom/media/view/reauthorize-the-childrens-health-insurance-program", "Reauthorize the Children's Health Insurance Program", "2017-12-14", "2017", "2017-12", "Democrat", "House", "PA", "Bob Casey", "C001070", "www.casey.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Reauthorize the Children's Health Insurance Program \n            The Children\u2019s Health Insurance Program, or CHIP, expired on September 30th. We have a bipartisan bill ready to go: the Keep Kids\u2019 Insurance Dependable and Secure Act of 2017 (KIDS) Act reauthorizes CHIP for five years.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://cartwright.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/cartwright-announces-a-6000-neh-grant-to-quiet-valley-living-historical", "Cartwright announces a $6000 NEH Grant to Quiet Valley Living Historical Farm", "2017-12-13", "2017", "2017-12", "Democrat", "House", "PA", "Matt Cartwright", "C001090", "cartwright.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Stroudsburg, PA Today, U.S. Representative Matt Cartwright announced that Quiet Valley Living Historical Farm in the Pocono Mountains received a $6,000 Preservation Assistance Grant from the National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH). This grant will help Quiet Valley develop a better emergency disaster response plan.\nNEH grants are typically awarded to cultural institutions, such as museums, archives, libraries, colleges, universities, public television, and radio stations as well as to individual scholars. Quiet Valley Living Historical Farm is a non-profit, living-history museum preserving 19th century Pennsylvania German agricultural heritage. They are listed on the National Register of Historic Places and offer a host of tours as well as re-enactments of daily life on the farm.\nWith the support from the NEH, Quiet Valley is able to update their emergency plan to ensure visitor safety and to care for their artifacts and farm animals, said Rep. Cartwright, a member of the Appropriations Committee. I will continue to be an advocate for grants that help organizations like Quiet Valley preserve our regional history and provide access to educational experiences in Pennsylvania and throughout the country.\nQuiet Valley plans to use the funds from this grant to hire a consultant to help develop a more current and all-encompassing Emergency Preparedness Plan to improve the museums ability to respond in a time of extraordinary circumstances such as a fire, flood, or other event. We aspire to do this because it shows a commitment to best practices in our field, said Katherine Muller, Project Director of Quiet Valley. Quiet Valley is excited to receive this award as it moves us one-step closer to accreditation with the American Alliance of Museums. Quiet Valley has received several federal and state grants in the past including the three part Museum Assessment Program, a Department of Environmental Protection grant, and a United States Department of Agriculture grant. \nThe National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH) is an independent federal agency created in 1965. It is one of the largest funders of humanities programs in the United States. Because democracy demands wisdom, NEH serves and strengthens our republic by promoting excellence in the humanities and conveying the lessons of history to all Americans. The Endowment accomplishes this mission by awarding grants for top-rated proposals examined by panels of independent, external reviewers.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://doyle.house.gov/press-release/house-members%E2%80%99-letter-fcc-don%E2%80%99t-kill-net-neutrality", "House Members Letter to FCC: Dont Kill Net Neutrality", "2017-12-13", "2017", "2017-12", "Democrat", "House", "PA", "Mike Doyle", "D000482", "doyle.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Washington, DC \u2013 U.S. Representative Mike Doyle (D-PA-14), the Ranking Member on the House Energy and Commerce Committee\u2019s Subcommittee on Communications and Technology, announced today that he and 117 other Members of Congress had sent a letter to the Federal Communications Commission urging the Commissioners NOT to vote on FCC Chairman Ajit Pai\u2019s \u201cRestoring Internet Freedom Order\u201d at the Commission\u2019s scheduled meeting tomorrow.\u00a0  \n\t\u00a0\nChairman Pai recently released this proposed regulation and announced that it would be voted on at the FCC\u2019s December 14 meeting.\n  \n\tCongressman Doyle, many Members of Congress, and millions of Americans support Net Neutrality and oppose Chairman Pai\u2019s \u201cRestoring Internet Freedom Order, which would repeal the Open Internet Order, which regulates Internet Service Providers (ISPs) under Title II of the Communications Act and protects Net Neutrality.\u00a0\n  \n\tCongressman Doyle believes that Net Neutrality rules protect consumers who use the internet, promote competition among online business service providers, and encourage innovation and entrepreneurship \u2013 all leading to increased economic growth and improved standards of living. He believes that if the FCC\u2019s Net Neutrality rules are eliminated, Internet Service Providers with block or throttle content, provide faster transmission to businesses that pay them more (\u201cpaid prioritization\u201d), and charge consumers more for a number of internet services. He believes that the \u201cRestoring Internet Freedom\u201d Order is profoundly anti-competition and ant-consumer.\n  \n\tCongressman Doyle organized the letter to the FCC urging the Commission to delay its vote on the Restoring Internet Freedom Order \u2013 in other words, to not vote on the draft order tomorrow. He announced yesterday that if the FCC does vote to adopt the Restoring Internet Freedom Order tomorrow, he would introduce legislation to overturn it.\n  \n\tClick\u00a0here to see the text of the letter and the list of signers.\n\u00a0\n\u00a0\n\u00a0\n\u00a0\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://evans.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/congressman-evans-statement-net-neutrality", "Congressman Evans Statement on Net Neutrality", "2017-12-13", "2017", "2017-12", "Democrat", "House", "PA", "Dwight Evans", "E000296", "evans.house.gov", "evans", "https://evans.house.gov/media/press-releases", "scraper", "I support a free and open internet for all Americans. I have been and will continue to be a strong supporter of Net Neutrality and the opportunities a fair and open internet affords to each and every American in our neighborhoods nationwide. I believe limiting internet access and giving priority to those who can afford to pay more will only hurt the open marketplace of our internet and turn it in to yet another platform for the rich to get ahead and potentially spur inequality.\n\nI will continue to do all I can to oppose the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) Chairman's unilateral attempt to roll back the carefully crafted rules put in place under the Obama Administration to ensure that all Pennsylvanians have an on-ramp to the information superhighway.", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-08T22:19:19Z"], ["https://boyle.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/congressman-boyle-fights-defend-endangered-species-protections", "Congressman Boyle Fights to Defend Endangered Species Protections", "2017-12-12", "2017", "2017-12", "Democrat", "House", "PA", "Brendan Boyle", "B001296", "boyle.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "WASHINGTON, D.C. \u2013 Today, Congressman Brendan F. Boyle sent a letter to Greg Shaheen, acting director of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS), demanding action to close a pay-to-play loophole that compromises critical protections for animals under the Endangered Species Act.\u00a0\nCongress enacted the Endangered Species Act in 1973 to protect species through strict regulation and enforcement, including a ban on exporting endangered creatures. The law allows for a narrow exception to this prohibition in the event the transfers would \u201cenhance the propagation or survival of the affected species.\u201d However, the FWS has long allowed far too many applicants seeking these permits to violate the ESA so long as they make a monetary contribution to entities, often unvetted and foreign, that merely purport to have a conservation mission that constitutes a benefit to the species.\u00a0\n\u201cEvery permit exemption granted by taking advantage of this loophole has the potential to push endangered species closer to extinction,\u201d said Congressman Boyle. \u201cCommercial trafficking of endangered species using this loophole is absolutely anathema to the spirit of the ESA and deeply undermines conservation efforts across the globe. I will continue to object and call attention to this practice until the Fish and Wildlife Service brings it to an end.\u201d\nCongressman Boyle first contacted FWS to express his concerns about the loophole in June of 2016 in a letter requesting a commitment from FWS to end the practice, as well as the full details of which companies and countries have profited from the pay-to-play exemptions. His office received no formal response and the practice has not been ended. The full text of his most recent letter is below.\n\u00a0\nDecember 12, 2017\n  Greg Sheehan\n\tU.S. Fish & Wildlife Service\n\t1849 C. Street, NW, ROOM 3331\n\tWashington, DC 20240\nDear Acting Director Sheehan,\n\t\u00a0\n\tI am writing to follow up on my letter to your agency dated June 27, 2016, as well as to express my concerns with what appears to be another example of \u201cpay-to-play\u201d taking place with regard to the enhancement permits issued by the Fish & Wildlife Service (FWS). I am appreciative of the good work the agency does to preserve species and interpret the Endangered Species Act (ESA) in a meaningful way. However, I remain concerned that FWS is failing to achieve many of the aims and ideals of the ESA by maintaining the pay-to-play loophole in its issuance of enhancement permits.\n\t\u00a0\n\tMy original letter requested that FWS end the practice of pay-to-play, provide a list of countries and entities involved in this practice, and maintain current records regarding the issuance of enhancement permits. More than one year has passed since this initial letter, and FWS has not fulfilled either of the two first requests. As for the last request, it is my understanding that no systematic database for such permitting exists, although I hope your agency has implemented such a database after follow-up inquiries from my staff.\n\t\u00a0\n\tIt is also clear that, despite my letter over one year ago, this loophole is still in effect. For example, it has come to my attention that Feld Entertainment, Inc., the parent company of the Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus, recently applied for a FWS permit to export members of three species that are protected by the ESA (one leopard, six lions and eight tigers) from the U.S. to Europe, apparently for circus exhibitions.\n\t\u00a0\n\tAs you know, Congress intended the Endangered Species Act to protect species through strict prohibitions, including a ban on exports. The law allows for a narrow exception to this prohibition of permits in the event the transfers would \u201cenhance the propagation or survival of the affected species.\u201d However, when Congress enacted this exception, it put in place myriad safeguards, underscoring that it intended to \u201climit substantially the number of exemptions.\u201d The Supreme Court has likewise recognized that permits are only to be granted \u201cin extremely narrow circumstances.\u201d The law is clear that permits for these exempted activities should only be granted if the otherwise prohibited activity would itself be of benefit to the species.\n\t\u00a0\n\tIt deeply concerns me that FWS is continuing its practice of allowing applicants seeking these permits to violate the ESA so long as they make a monetary contribution to entities, often unvetted and foreign, that simply purport to have a conservation mission that constitutes a benefit to the species. FWS\u2019s apparent reasoning is that a donation to charity justifies an action that harms a species. Yet, such a justification has not been documented or supported by FWS. Moreover, FWS has previously acknowledged that it does not vet these foreign entities receiving the funds, and thatit has issued thousands of these permits under this arrangement in recent years. To be clear, Congress never authorized an interpretation of this sort. I remain concerned that this loophole created by FWS through executive fiat undermines the agency\u2019s progress to date in protecting animals entitled to protection under the ESA, as well as ongoing and future efforts.\n\t\u00a0\n\tFeld Entertainment\u2019s most recent application for a permit of this kind \u2013 and FWS\u2019s subsequent granting of this permit \u2013 illustrates the issues inherent in FWS\u2019s current practice. In this application, Ringling primarily sought to justify the permit based upon funding that it previously donated, much of it years ago. The application also stated that Ringling has \u201c$20,000.00 earmarked in the 2017 budget\u201d for an Indian-based conservation organization. It is my understanding that there was no grant proposal, agreement, or plan included for the earmarked funds. The Director of the recipient organization merely stated that it would be used for equipment \u2013 including, among other things, t-shirts with Feld\u2019s logo. Regardless, even if this donation is made, it has nothing to do with exhibiting tigers, lions, and leopards in a European circus.The ESA, the clarifying statements of its original drafters, and subsequent Supreme Court decisions all make clear that exemption permits are to be granted for the sole purpose of directly aiding in the conservation of the implicated species \u2013 for example, transporting a particular animal to another country in order to perform life-saving medical work for that animal or species. The loose interpretation of direct conservation efforts made by FWS in the case of Feld\u2019s application illustrates an ongoing pattern and cause for concern.\n\t\u00a0\n\tIn short, FWS\u2019s practice of issuing permits to export endangered animals to circuses and roadside zoos in exchange for nominal cash donations is an incorrect interpretation of the ESA\u2019s allowance for enhancement permits, and directly contradicts the spirit and intent of the ESA. With that said, I renew my request for the agency to, in writing, provide me a list of countries and entities involved in its enhancement permit program, as well as a commitment to ending pay-to-play exemptions. Thank you for your attention to this matter. Please direct your response to Alana Byrd of my Washington, DC office.\n\t\u00a0\n\t\u00a0\n\tSincerely,\u00a0\n\tBrendan F. Boyle  \n\t\u00a0  \n\t###", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://doyle.house.gov/press-release/doyle-announces-legislative-effort-save-net-neutrality", "Doyle Announces Legislative Effort to Save Net Neutrality", "2017-12-12", "2017", "2017-12", "Democrat", "House", "PA", "Mike Doyle", "D000482", "doyle.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Washington, DC \u2013 December 12, 2017 \u2013, U.S. Representative Mike Doyle (D-PA-14), the Ranking Member on the House Energy and Commerce Committee\u2019s Subcommittee on Communications and Technology, announced today that he would introduce legislation to reverse FCC regulations to kill the Open Internet Order if the FCC votes to proceed with those regulations at its scheduled meeting on Thursday, December 14.\u00a0\n  \u201cNet Neutrality is essential for promoting innovation, competition, and economic growth on the Internet,\u201d Congressman Doyle said earlier today in announcing his plans. \u201cThe Open Internet Order, which currently protects Net Neutrality, was adopted only after years of efforts by Internet Service Providers to circumvent previous net neutrality rules in order to stop potential competitors and extract greater profits from their choke-hold on the \u201clast mile\u201d connecting consumers to online services. All you have to do is look at what went on over the last 10 or 15 years to see how the ISPs repeatedly sought to crush potential competitors and challenged the FCC\u2019s previous Net Neutrality rules in court to understand why the Open Internet Order was needed \u2013 and to see what will happen if the Open Internet Order is repealed.\n  \u00a0\u201cI was a vocal advocate for strong Net Neutrality rules for years before that, and I strongly supported the Open Internet Order when it was proposed in 2015,\u201d Congressman Doyle added.\n\t\u201cThis year, I\u2019ve been a vocal opponent of FCC Chairman Pai\u2019s misnamed \u201cRestoring Internet Freedom Order,\u201d which would repeal the Open Internet Order and abdicate the FCC\u2019s responsibility to ensure the kind of real competition that would increase Broadband speed and capacity, improve customer service, reduce prices, and promote innovation. Today, tens of millions of American homes have only one option for Internet Access. We used to call that a monopoly. Monopolies are notorious for charging high prices, providing lousy customer service, fighting off potential competitors, and stifling innovation and economic growth. The Chairman\u2019s plan could more accurately be called the \u201cRestoring Internet Service Providers\u2019 Freedom Act. Freeing up ISPs to block services, throttle content, and make \u2018paid prioritization\u2019 their Internet business model will block competition, throttle innovation, and make customers and online businesses pay more for less. That\u2019s not in the public interest, and it\u2019s perversely contrary to the FCC\u2019s mission.\u201d\n  \u201cThe answer to monopolies has always been regulation and competition, and as much as some of the FCC Commissioners don\u2019t want to acknowledge it, Net Neutrality and the regulation of ISPs under Title II are essential for providing real competition in the Broadband marketplace.\n  \u201cI am sending a letter signed by dozens of Members of Congress to the Commissioners tomorrow urging them not to vote on Chairman Pai\u2019s plan to repeal Net Neutrality at their meeting this week. If the FCC does adopt the Chairman\u2019s proposal to repeal the Open Internet Order, I plan to introduce legislation under the Congressional Review Act to overturn the so-called Restoring Internet Freedom Order.\u201d  \n\t\u00a0\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://cartwright.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/cartwright-introduces-bipartisan-bill-to-enhance-orthotic-and-prosthetic", "Cartwright Introduces Bipartisan Bill to Enhance Orthotic and Prosthetic Care for Veterans", "2017-12-11", "2017", "2017-12", "Democrat", "House", "PA", "Matt Cartwright", "C001090", "cartwright.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Washington, DC \u2013 Last week, U.S. Representative Matt Cartwright introduced a bipartisan bill to fund and advance orthotic and prosthetic (O&P) research for veterans. The Wounded Warrior Research Enhancement Act (H.R. 4587) would establish the first centralized collection of outcomes-based research on O&P.\nThe Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) serves approximately 40,000 individuals with limb loss due to combat-related injuries or chronic illness each year. Fortunately, advances in medical technology have greatly increased the survival rate for these wounded servicemembers, but our country is facing a shortage of O&P-trained practitioners. There are just over 7,100 practitioners specially trained in O&P nationwide. Of those, one in five is either past retirement age or eligible to retire in the next five years.\nMany O&P practitioners rely on personal experience and trial-and-error methods, rather than empirical data, to determine which prosthetic device would work best for a patient. The Wounded Warrior Research Enhancement Act would award $30 million in grants to establish a centralized O&P outcomes-based research collection in order to capture the useful information gained by today\u2019s seasoned practitioners.\n\u201cWe have a moral obligation to provide our soldiers with the best quality health care available,\u201d said Rep. Cartwright. \u201cWith a large portion of orthotic and prosthetic practitioners facing retirement, we need to harness this tremendous resource of institutional knowledge before we lose it forever. Comprehensive research would save time and money by providing practitioners with the knowledge they need to improve the likelihood that a veteran\u2019s first prosthetic device will also be the best match.\u201d\nEarlier this year, Rep. Cartwright introduced the Wounded Warrior Workforce Enhancement Act (H.R. 3696), which would support colleges and universities seeking to establish degree programs to train specialists in O&P. Senator Dick Durbin (D-Ill.) introduced companion legislation to H.R. 4587 and H.R. 3696 in the Senate.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://evans.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/congressman-evans-statement-house-impeachment-vote", "Congressman Evans Statement on House Impeachment Vote", "2017-12-08", "2017", "2017-12", "Democrat", "House", "PA", "Dwight Evans", "E000296", "evans.house.gov", "evans", "https://evans.house.gov/media/press-releases", "scraper", "This week, Congressman Dwight Evans (PA-02) released the following statement after voting not to table a House resolution calling for the impeachment of President Trump. A decision the Congressman reached on the basis that Congress should have a discussion as to whether the impeachment process should move forward.\n\nUnder the U.S. Constitution, impeachment is the responsibility of the House of Representatives, where a simple majority can approve the articles. The Senate then tries the impeachment with two-thirds required for conviction. It applies only to the \"President, Vice President, and all civil Officers of the United States.\" The grounds for impeachment are limited to \"Treason, Bribery, or other high Crimes and Misdemeanors\".\n\nIn the current situation, it is the job of this Congress to fully ascertain whether any of the conduct by the president has demonstrated falls within three impeachable zones, and those are improperly exceeding or abusing the powers of the presidency, acting in a manner that is incompatible with the function and purpose of the office, and misuse for personal gain.\n\n\"My vote this week reflects my sincere belief and the feedback that I have received from residents in the Second Congressional District of Pennsylvania that President Trump's conduct infringes on the laws, standards, and values our nation holds dear. The Liberty Bell which sits in the middle of downtown Philadelphia is a constant reminder of our nation's humble origins and how we continue our march towards equality and fairness for all. I do not take this vote lightly, and indeed it is with a heavy heart but clean conscience that I made my decision,\" Congressman Evans said.\n\nOur nation faces, \"\u2026an Article I, Section I moment.\" Over the past few months several prominent individuals have pointed out President Trump's vulnerabilities:\n\nSenator Bob Corker stated the President could be leading our nation down a path to World War III.\n\nVenture capitalist Tom Steyer called Mr. Trump a \"clear and present danger to the republic\" and has called on Democrats to pledge that they would seek to remove him from office if Democrats take back control of the Congress.\n\nFormer Ambassador Thomas Pickering said that President Trump's approach to North Korea was too confrontational.\n\nRepublican Senator from Nebraska, Ben Sasse, has openly questioned the President asking him, \"Are you recanting of the Oath you took on January 20 to preserve, protect, and defend the 1st Amendment?\"\n\nAdditionally, Antonio Guterres rebuked the President, when he said, \"instead of closed doors and open hostility, we need to reestablish the integrity of the refugee protection regime and the simple decency of human compassion.\"\n\n\"I am proud to stand with residents in Philadelphia and Montgomery County, our Commonwealth, and Americans nationwide who are incredibly concerned by President Trump's judgement, decision-making skills, demeanor, fitness to lead, and his Administration's overall disregard for what the implications of these actions mean for the American people. I want to let you know I do not come to the decision of impeachment lightly. I firmly believe that no one is above the Constitution not even the President of the United States. After careful and thoughtful consideration of President Trump's actions over the last 322 days, I voted not to table a House resolution that would have started the impeachment process of President Trump. After being in Congress for over a year and observing President Trump's questionable actions I strongly believe there should at least be a discussion about whether or not President Trump's actions met the bar of impeachment. That is what this week's vote was all about\u2014whether or not the President's actions are an impeachable offense. I am disappointed to see my colleagues in the House overwhelmingly voted to table this measure, but rest assured the impeachment process and discussion is far from over,\" Evans said.", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-08T22:19:19Z"], ["https://boyle.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/congressman-boyle-demands-ppa-chairman-ashdale-resign-or-be-fired-wake", "Congressman Boyle Demands PPA Chairman Ashdale Resign or Be Fired in Wake of Auditor General Report", "2017-12-07", "2017", "2017-12", "Democrat", "House", "PA", "Brendan Boyle", "B001296", "boyle.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "PHILADELPHIA, PA \u2013 Congressman Brendan F. Boyle (PA-13) released the following statement in response to Pennsylvania State Auditor General Eugene DePasquale\u2019s findings regarding the Philadelphia Parking Authority (PPA):\n\u201cIt is painfully clear that sweeping and immediate changes must begin at the PPA and they must start at the top with Chairman Joseph Ashdale\u2019s resignation\u00a0or removal,\u201d said Congressman Boyle. \u201cThese latest findings by Auditor General DePasquale leave no doubt that, under Chairman Ashdale\u2019s leadership, the Philadelphia Parking Authority allowed a sexual harasser to continue as its executive director. This broken culture of demeaning and degrading women is beyond comprehension for any reasonable person. There must be consequences for his disgraceful leadership.\u201d\n\u201cThe handling of sexual harassment complaints against the former executive director boggles the mind on so many levels,\u201d said Auditor General DePasquale. \u201cI would have fired him on the spot once the investigation confirmed the accusations and he admitted it.\"  \n\t# # #", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://brady.house.gov/press-release/congressman-brady-cosponsors-bill-fund-chip-community-health-center-reauthorization", "Congressman Brady Cosponsors Bill to Fund CHIP & Community Health Center Reauthorization", "2017-12-07", "2017", "2017-12", "Democrat", "House", "PA", "Robert Brady", "B001227", "brady.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Philadelphia---\u00a0Congressman Bob Brady (D., PA) is a co-sponsor of H.R. 4541, a bill that reauthorizes funding for the Children\u2019s Health Insurance Program (CHIP), Community Health Centers and other important public health programs while paying for it in a common sense way that does not strip funds from other health care programs.\u00a0 Funding for CHIP expired on September 30, putting health care for nearly nine million American children at risk.\u00a0 \u00a0\u00a0\nThe legislation fully extends CHIP for five years, and Community Health Centers (CHCs) and other important public health programs for two years. It also takes important steps to address the critical health care needs of Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands.\u00a0 \u00a0\n\u201cAs our Republican colleagues continue to stonewall on reauthorizing CHIP, we have to do all we can to ensure that Congress does its job and funds health care for children in families living on the economic edge, including the nearly 350,000 children enrolled in public health programs in Pennsylvania,\u201d Brady said. \u201cIt\u2019s unconscionable for Congress to turn its back on funding health care for children who are living healthier lives because of CHIP, a program that works.\u201d\nThe bill responsibly pays for these programs by shifting the timing of payments to Medicare Advantage and Medicare Part D plans, as recommended by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Office of Inspector General and the Government Accountability Office.\u00a0\u00a0\nThis proposal stands in stark contrast to the House Republican plan that raids the Affordable Care Act (ACA) and Medicare. House Republicans want to strip health coverage from as many as 688,000 people by reducing the time that people have to pay their premiums, cut $6.35 billion from the ACA\u2019s Prevention Fund, and cut $5.8 billion from Medicare by raising premiums and undercutting the program.\n\u201cFor months, Congressional Republicans have refused to agree to any meaningful bipartisan action, and instead have decided to strip health care away from hundreds of thousands of people, sabotage the Affordable Care Act, and undermine Medicare,\u201d Brady said. \u201cH.R. 4541, reauthorizes CHIP, Community Health Centers and other important public health programs while funding them in a reasonable way that doesn\u2019t take health insurance and services away from children and families.\u201d", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://www.casey.senate.gov/newsroom/releases/casey-introduces-legislation-to-help-grow-domestic-production-of-organic-foods-", "Casey Introduces Legislation To Help Grow Domestic Production of Organic Foods", "2017-12-07", "2017", "2017-12", "Democrat", "House", "PA", "Bob Casey", "C001070", "www.casey.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Washington, D.C. \u2013 Over the course of the last two decades, U.S. demand for organic products has surged. Unfortunately, a lengthy certification process and complex regulations have prevented many American farmers from making the transition to organic farms - forcing U.S. food companies to turn to overseas suppliers. In an effort to make this transition easier and help grow the U.S. production of organic products, U.S. Senator Bob Casey (D-PA) introduced The Homegrown Organic Act of 2017. This legislation would make minor changes to existing agriculture conservation programs that assist producers in making the transition.\r\n\u201cThere\u2019s no reason food companies should look overseas when the best farmers in the world are right here in Pennsylvania,\u201d said Senator Casey. \u201cAs demand for organic products grows, we must do all we can to help American farmers and ranchers meet this demand.\r\n\u201cWhen Applegate started selling natural and organic meat 30 years ago, organic food was a niche market, and now it\u2019s a $47 billion industry, far outpacing the conventional food channel in terms of growth,\u201d said Steve Lykken, president of Applegate, the nation\u2019s leading natural and organic meat company. \u201cOrganic is truly a model for growing all parts of the economy, from farm to retailer.\u00a0 With more farmers converting to organic, we can produce more organic food, bringing more jobs to plants and distribution warehouses, like Applegate\u2019s in Allentown, Pennsylvania. We\u2019re grateful for Senator Casey\u2019s support of the Homegrown Organic Act, which will help not only farmers, but\u00a0consumers and the environment.\u201d\r\n\u201cPennsylvania Certified Organic\u00a0supports Senator Casey\u2019s Homegrown Organic Act of 2017,\u201d said Kyla Smith, Certification Director of PCO. \u201cThe simple changes called for in this bill will level the playing field for organic and non-organic farmers, expand opportunities for farmers seeking to transition to organic farming and provide valuable technical and financial assistance throughout their transition period.\u201d\r\nSpecifically, The Homegrown Organic Act of 2017 would:\r\n \r\nModify the Conservation Stewardship Program by directing the Secretary of Agriculture to create \u201csuites\u201d of conservation practices specific to producers wishing to transition to organic. While the USDA\u2019s Natural Resources Conversation Service currently provides bundles to organic producers, it does not offer any bundles specifically designed for transitioning producers. This would provide producers with valuable conservation technical and financial assistance throughout their transition period.\r\n \r\n \r\nModify the Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP) by eliminating the separate payment limit in place for EQIP Organic Initiative. Currently, payments received by producers through general EQIP contracts may not exceed $450,000 for all EQIP contracts entered between 2014 and 2018. Payments under EQIP Organic Initiative are limited to $20,000 per fiscal year and $80,000 during any six-year period.\r\n \r\n \r\nModify the Conservation Reserve Program (CRP) to expand opportunities for producers interested in transitioning to organic farming or ranching under a separate CRP Transition Incentives Program (TIP). TIP provides retired or retiring landowners or operators with two additional annual rental payments on land enrolled in expiring CRP contracts, on the condition they sell or rent this land to a covered farmer or rancher. This legislation would establish a TIP program for anyone interested in transitioning to organic farming or ranching, making more land available to producers wanting to farm organically.\r\n \r\n\u00a0###", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://boyle.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/boyle-statement-house-impeachment-resolution", "Boyle Statement on House Impeachment Resolution", "2017-12-06", "2017", "2017-12", "Democrat", "House", "PA", "Brendan Boyle", "B001296", "boyle.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Washington, DC \u2013 Congressman Brendan F. Boyle (PA-13) today released the following statement after voting to table Congressman Al Green\u2019s resolution calling for the impeachment of President Trump:  \n\t\u00a0  \n\t\u201cPresident Donald Trump\u2019s actions have raised very serious questions about his fitness to serve in office which I continue to speak out against. However, at this time, I believe we must focus on protecting the integrity of Special Counsel Robert Muller\u2019s ongoing, independent federal investigation and then evaluate its results before beginning impeachment proceedings.\u201d  \n\t###", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://boyle.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/congressman-boyle-condemns-passage-dangerous-bill-override-local-gun", "Congressman Boyle Condemns Passage of Dangerous Bill to Override Local Gun Protections", "2017-12-06", "2017", "2017-12", "Democrat", "House", "PA", "Brendan Boyle", "B001296", "boyle.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "WASHINGTON, D.C. \u2013 Today, Congressman Brendan F. Boyle (PA-13) released the following statement after voting against H.R. 38, the Concealed Carry Reciprocity Act, which would force each state to recognize the concealed carry permit standards of every other state, even those that have dramatically weaker standards or none at all. The bill passed the House by a vote of 231-198:\n\u201cThis bill is a nightmare. Quite simply, it strips local communities of their right to enforce their own gun safety laws, and leaves our public vulnerable to violence by inviting dangerous individuals to carry hidden, loaded weapons beyond the reach of local law enforcement. It is an absolute disgrace that just weeks after two of the worst mass shootings in our history and one week shy of the solemn five year anniversary of the Newtown school shooting, the only vote on gun legislation that Republican leaders will allow is a giant Christmas gift to the NRA that would weaken oversight, nullify states\u2019 rights, and destroy hard-fought progress on preventing gun deaths.\u00a0 As part of the House Gun Violence Prevention Task Force, a husband, and a father, I am deeply disturbed by this bill and remain fully committed to pursuing sensible, lifesaving gun violence prevention legislation.\u201d\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://doyle.house.gov/press-release/doyle-announces-congressional-app-challenge-winners", "Doyle Announces Congressional App Challenge Winners", "2017-12-06", "2017", "2017-12", "Democrat", "House", "PA", "Mike Doyle", "D000482", "doyle.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Washington, DC \u2013U.S. Representative Mike Doyle (D-PA-14) released the following statement announcing the local winners of the Congressional App Challenge.\u00a0  \n\t\u00a0\n\u201cIt\u2019s Computer Science Education Week, and I am pleased to announce the winners of this year\u2019s Congressional App Challenge in Pennsylvania\u2019s 14th Congressional District.\n\u00a0\n\u201cCongratulations to Nick Zana, Fuad Youssef, Peter Wang, and Henry Friedlander from Shady Side Academy. These students created an app that executes all of the main functions of a planner, student ID, and document database.\n\u00a0\n\u201cI also want to recognize the runners-up. Congratulations to Macen Perkins, Shane O\u2019Malley, Derek Wassel, and Logan Hickey from Montour High School. These students created an app that teaches students coding languages.\n\u00a0\n\u201cMany thanks to the parents and teachers who encouraged these students to participate, the judges who contributed their time and expertise, the University of Pittsburgh which hosted our award reception, and Carnegie Mellon University which will host our winners for a tech-focused tour of campus in the coming weeks.\n\u00a0\n\n\u201cI believe that the Congressional App Challenge raises public awareness of the importance of quality STEM education programs--while celebrating these programs across the Pittsburgh region. I hope this competition will continue to grow and empower young students to pursue their interest in STEM fields.\u201d###", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://evans.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/congressman-evans-statement-president-trump-s-decision-recognize", "Congressman Evans Statement on President Trump\u2019s Decision to Recognize Jerusalem as the Capital of Israel", "2017-12-06", "2017", "2017-12", "Democrat", "House", "PA", "Dwight Evans", "E000296", "evans.house.gov", "evans", "https://evans.house.gov/media/press-releases", "scraper", "Congressman Dwight Evans released the following statement after President Trump announced his decision to recognize Jerusalem as the capital of Israel:\n\n\"Jerusalem has been and always will be the eternal capital of the Jewish people and the State of Israel. This is a fact of history reaffirmed by Congress that cannot and will not be denied. With this, the United States has always been and always will remain a strong ally of Israel. In the absence of a comprehensive plan for a peace process between the Israelis and Palestinians I am concerned about the further unrest and instability President Trump's decision to recognize Jerusalem as the capital of Israel may cause. As a nation I believe we have an important obligation to play a crucial role in supporting the State of Israel in order to achieve a two-state solution between the Israelis and Palestinians.\"", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-08T22:19:19Z"], ["https://doyle.house.gov/press-release/doyle-statement-net-neutrality-new-america-forum", "Doyle Statement on Net Neutrality at New America Forum", "2017-12-05", "2017", "2017-12", "Democrat", "House", "PA", "Mike Doyle", "D000482", "doyle.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Washington, DC \u2013 U.S. Representative Mike Doyle (D-PA-14) spoke about the importance of Net Neutrality at a forum held earlier today at New America in Washington, DC.\u00a0\n  \n\tThe complete text of his remarks follows below.\n  \u201cGood morning. I\u2019m pleased to be here today to talk about one of the most important issues before policymakers today. Net Neutrality and its fate is a topic critical to our personal lives, our civil society, and our nation\u2019s economic future.\u00a0\n  \u201cI\u2019d like to thank the New America Foundation and the Open Technology Institute for hosting this event and putting this excellent panel together. I\u2019d also like to thank our hosts for inviting me to speak to you today.\u00a0\n  \u201cI, like many of you, have been working on this issue for over a decade. And like many of you, I had hoped that this issue had been resolved by the US Court of Appeals decision last year to uphold the FCC\u2019s rules. However, that\u2019s not the case, and we are once again contemplating the way forward on Net Neutrality \u2013 and what an Open Internet means.\u00a0\n  \u201cChairman Pai and his allies among the ISPs and conservative think tanks have alleged that the end of the Open Internet really means business as usual \u2013 and that the Internet we have come to know and love, or love to hate, will continue to hum along as usual. The Chairman and his allies have said that all they are doing is returning the Internet to a quote un-quote \u201clight touch regulatory framework.\u201d We see this phrase used a lot when describing the proposed changes to the Open Internet order.\u00a0 The Chairman and his allies say that they are returning the Internet to the regulatory framework that allowed it to flourish before Chairman Wheeler put the Open Internet Order in place in 2015.\n  \u201cIt sounds reasonable, in a way. Unfortunately, the Chairman, like so many people these days, is dealing in alternative facts. I\u2019d like to correct the record a bit about where we are and how we got here. The history of Net Neutrality and the formation of the Open Internet Order isn\u2019t something that was conjured into existence out of nowhere.\u00a0\n  \u201cThe rules that Tom Wheeler put in place were direct responses to actions taken by ISPs to limit, impede, or interfere with consumers\u2019 broadband experience. To be honest, actions by ISPs are the reason we have Net Neutrality rules at all. Before that, we had rules in place to limit what phone and cable companies could do with the information we entrusted them with \u2013 and the services they provided to us.\u00a0 ISP\u2019s\u00a0 anti-consumer and anti-competitive actions over the years are what prompted the FCC to adopt Open Internet Order.\u00a0\u00a0\n  \u201cRepublicans and Democratic FCC Chairs have recognized these basic facts going back to Chairman Powell in 2004 and his speech about preserving Internet Freedom. He identified four freedoms, the freedom of consumers to access the legal content of their choice, the freedom to run the applications of their choice, the freedom to attach any devices of their choice to the Internet, and meaningful transparency about the their service plans. Pretty basic stuff. Chairman Martin would adopt these four freedoms a year later. Case closed, end of story, the Internet is saved. I honestly wish that\u2019s where this all ended.\u00a0\n  \u201cThe question is what happened to these freedoms, and why weren\u2019t they enough? More to the point, why wasn\u2019t their legal justification under Title One of the Communications Act not enough?\n  \u201cBack in 2005 the Internet was really just the world wide web. Sites like Google, Facebook, and Amazon were still tiny. Most of what the Internet offered didn\u2019t compete with voice and video offerings from the ISPs. But that started to change, and a small company called Vonage started offering Voice over the Internet phone service that directly competed with an ISP\u2019s own offerings. So the ISP blocked Vonage \u2013 and claimed that because it owned the network, it was legal for it to block a competing service. VOIP was just blocked. It seems crazy, but to put that into context, ISPs at the time proposed limiting consumer\u2019s ability to use WiFi, calling it theft of service.\u00a0\n  \u201cThe FCC was able to use its authority at the time to resolve Voneage\u2019s issue. But unbeknownst to many, another ISP started blocking the popular peer-to-peer file-sharing protocol Bit Torrent. Thanks to investigations by public interest groups and technical experts this was discovered in 2007. Then-FCC Chairman Kevin Martin tried to sanction the ISP, to try and get it to stop blocking this new technology \u2013 but his decision was overturned in federal court. The court found that the Commission lacked the authority under Title One of the Communications Act to enforce its policy statement.\u00a0\n  \u201cIn 2010, under Chairman Genachowski, the FCC was once again faced with how it could prevent what had been considered anti-competitive ISP behavior by both Democratic and Republican FCC Chairs. At the time, several of my colleagues and I, as well as many in the public interest community, called on Chairman Genachowski to reclassify broadband as a Title 2 service in order to give his rules firmer legal footing.\u00a0\n  \u201cDuring this time between 2007 and 2009, the iPhone was just hitting the market, and the historically \u201cwalled garden\u201d of the mobile internet was starting to crumble. Despite the iPhone\u2019s clear capability, as well that of mobile broadband networks of the time, a major mobile carrier blocked people\u2019s ability to use Skype, Google Voice, and other competing internet phone services on their devices. These services clearly competed with wireless carriers\u2019 own phone services.\u00a0\n  \u201cI hope some of you are recognizing a pattern here, a pattern of ISPs acting in anti-competitive ways to force consumers to use the ISPs\u2019 more expensive, non-competitive services over those of their new competitors.\n  \u201cIn 2010, the FCC adopted actual Open Internet rules, but still using Title One of the Communications Act.\u00a0 And while these rules were a victory, as the panel and many here know, they wouldn\u2019t stand the test of time.\u00a0\u00a0\n  \u201cBetween 2010 and 2014, ISPs would go on to hijack user\u2019s search queries away from Google, Yahoo, and Bing to the ISPs\u2019 own chosen search providers. Several mobile ISPs blocked access to Google Wallet, Google\u2019s mobile payment service, because they were developing their own competing services. ISPs blocked users from using Apple\u2019s FaceTime calling app. ISPs have and still continue to require users to pay additional fees to share their mobile internet connection with other devices. Another mobile carrier blocked users from streaming video on their devices.\u00a0\n  \u201cAgain and again, we see ISPs blocking new services and applications that compete with them or in any way threaten their business model.\u00a0\n  \u201cWhen the courts struck down Genachowski\u2019s rules, the FCC was forced to go back to the drawing board again, under Chairman Wheeler in 2014. At the time Netflix customers were starting to complain that the service was being degraded, and they accused ISPs of deliberately throttling the points of interconnection where a Netflix video crosses from Netflix\u2019s network onto the ISP\u2019s own network.\u00a0 Netflix alleged at the time that ISPs wanted exorbitant fees to end this slow down. At the time, Netflix was a major player in the over the top market, but it was one of only a few that were offering full-run video content that competed for ISP customers. As more consumers were considering cutting the cord and dropping their cable subscriptions, the viability of services like Netflix was a major consideration. If a consumer couldn\u2019t depend on being able to access over the top content, it couldn\u2019t be a viable competitive option.\u00a0\u00a0\n  \u201cIn the midst of all of this, the FCC again debated the merits of Title Two or Title One as a legal justification for its rules. The fact is, that there just appeared to be no legally sufficient way to enforce rules under Title One. So instead of putting in place un-enforceable rules that would fail again under legal challenge, Chairman Wheeler acted to codify legally enforceable rules meant to address the harms that had occurred and were occurring.\u00a0\n  \u201cI\u2019m sorry for this historical retelling, but I think it\u2019s important context for where we are and how we got here.\n  \u201cChairman Pai keeps saying that all he is doing is turning back the clock to 2015, but really he is turning the clock back to zero. The order that he has proposed leaves in place no rules and no authority to address bad behavior.\u00a0\n  \u201cHe claims that the FTC can prevent ISP bad behavior by holding them to their terms and conditions, but ISPs are already scrubbing promises to adhere to Net Neutrality from these agreements \u2013 and openly discussing the merits of paid of prioritization and fast lanes. At this moment, the FTC\u2019s jurisdiction over ISPs is in serious legal jeopardy.\u00a0 \u00a0\n  \u201cI want to take a moment and recap the technologies and services that ISPs have blocked, throttled, or otherwise tried to impede: streaming video from sites like Netflix, Apple\u2019s Facetime, Skype, Google search, mobile payment services, WiFi, peer to peer applications, the mobile internet, and apps. I just want to add that at one point a mobile ISP charged consumers five dollars a month if they wanted to use a mapping application. At the time Google Maps was available for free, but consumers had to use the ISP\u2019s own product and pay for it.\u00a0\u00a0\n  \u201cWhy am I concerned about a future without Net Neutrality? Because, if the past is any indication, the future is not bright. Consumers, innovators, and competitors are going to get the raw end of the deal. One of the best parts of the Internet ecosystem is that entrepreneurs have the ability to create something new, and make it available to the public. The public can embrace or ignore these innovations as they see fit. So while I may think bit-coin is a crazy bubble or question the utility of the President\u2019s tweets, these are platforms and technologies that are driven by consumer adoption and not by whether some arbitrary gatekeeper sees them as a threat to their current or future business model.\u00a0\n  \u201cThe threat as I see it, is not as great to big businesses like Google, Facebook, and Amazon \u2013 although there is a threat to a them; it\u2019s to small companies and new technologies. In Pittsburgh we are leading the way in fields such as artificial intelligence, self-driving vehicles, smart city technologies, and robotics. So many of these technologies live on the Internet and rely on \u201cAlways On\u201d connectivity.\u00a0\n  \u201cMy concern is that these new technologies will be the next generation to be impeded and co-opted. Cities like Pittsburgh don\u2019t need our smart cities or self-driving cars brought to us by X or Y ISP. But ISPs are a critical conduit through which these new technologies will function. As we look at what technologies will define the 21st Century, I for one am deeply concerned that the ones we are fostering in my city will be among those threatened by an end to Net Neutrality.\n  \u201cI\u2019m currently circulating a letter to my colleagues in the House, asking Chairman Pai to delay voting on order to repeal the Open Internet Rules. As advocates, experts, and grassroots organizers, I encourage you to reach out to Members of the House and ask them to join me in calling for a delay.\u00a0\u00a0\n\u201cRegardless of what happens on December 14th, this fight is not over. As so many of you have done before and will continue to do, we will continue to bring to light this issue and work for strong enforceable rules that protect consumers, protect innovation, protect free speech, and protect the free and open internet.\u00a0\u00a0\n  \u201cAgain thank you for inviting me, and I hope this panel has a fruitful discussion.\u201d\n  ###", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://evans.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/congressman-dwight-evans-nra-backed-concealed-carry-bill", "Congressman Dwight Evans on NRA Backed Concealed Carry Bill", "2017-12-05", "2017", "2017-12", "Democrat", "House", "PA", "Dwight Evans", "E000296", "evans.house.gov", "evans", "https://evans.house.gov/media/press-releases", "scraper", "Today, following a press conference led by CeaseFirePA in Philadelphia, Congressman Dwight Evans (PA-02) released the following statement about the NRA backed concealed carry bill H.R. 38, the Concealed Carry Reciprocity Act of 2017, that the House is expected to consider tomorrow.\n\nEvery day in our nation an average of 32 people are killed with a firearm. In the last few months our nation has mourned the loss of lives following two truly horrifying mass shootings\u201459 innocent people were senselessly slaughtered at a country music concert in Las Vegas and 26 innocent people were violently killed while praying at a house of worship in rural Texas.\n\n\"The American people look to Congress for leadership, solutions, and ultimately, good judgment,\" Congressman Evans said. \"This bill H.R. 38, the Concealed Carry Reciprocity Act of 2017, and the decision to bring it to the floor, demonstrates none of those qualities. In the wake of mass shootings and the daily violence that we see in cities like Philadelphia, a piece of legislation is before Congress that is an affront to the decency and an imminent threat to public safety. It is more than evident that Republican Leadership has clearly lost sight of the goal of protecting the American people.\"\n\nIn October, I met with our Commonwealth's Attorney General Josh Shapiro and presented him with a letter which voiced my frustration with the gun violence epidemic. I look forward to continuing to work with him and many others as we pursue our goal of fighting for and promoting public safety throughout our Commonwealth. Even the late Justice Scalia recognized that the right to bear arms under the Second Amendment is not an absolute right, when delivering his opinion in District of Columbia v. Heller in 2008.\n\n\"Since my time in the Pennsylvania General Assembly I have fought to ensure that the people in the Keystone State, but especially in my hometown of Philadelphia and the western suburbs of Narberth and Lower Merion Township, which I am proud to represent in the Second District, have a clean, safe, and crime-free place to live. Yet, as a Congress we are being forced to vote on a bill that would set us back. I am tremendously disappointed in this reckless gun bill, and cannot state in strong enough terms my opposition to this dangerous piece of legislation. I will continue to voice my opposition to H.R. 38 and will continue to fight to deliver on common-sense gun reform,\" Evans said.", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-08T22:19:19Z"], ["https://boyle.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/boyle-statement-opposing-house-republicans-dangerous-education-proposal", "Boyle Statement Opposing House Republicans Dangerous Education Proposal", "2017-12-01", "2017", "2017-12", "Democrat", "House", "PA", "Brendan Boyle", "B001296", "boyle.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "WASHINGTON, D.C. \u2013 Today, Congressman Brendan F. Boyle (PA-13) released the following statement decrying House Republicans\u2019 proposed overhaul of the Higher Education Act, which would impose deep cuts to student loan repayment programs:  \n\t\u00a0  \n\t\u201cThis reckless higher education proposal is entirely at odds with the needs of students, graduates, and aspiring scholars in this country. At the very time that student debt is at an all-time high at a whopping $1.4 trillion, this proposal would pull the rug out from under our public servants and middle-class families. We should be expanding loan forgiveness programs, reducing interest rates for student loans, and improving access to education for low-income and first generation college students. Instead, this plan would put higher education further out of reach \u2013 at a time, no less, when a college education is often required to get a good-paying job and support a family. Between their tax bill and now this education proposal, Republicans are waging an all-out assault on the middle class.  \n\t\u00a0  \n\t\u201cAs co-chair of the Public Service Loan Forgiveness Caucus, I am particularly appalled by Republicans\u2019 continued attacks on the PSLF program and now, with this bill, their proposal to end it. I have seen firsthand just how important the PSLF program is to hardworking teachers, nurses, firefighters, police, and other public servants in our country who tirelessly serve our communities despite lower salaries and the burdens of student debt. I will fight this proposal at every turn.\u201d  \n\t\u00a0  \n\tEducation affordability and accessibility are among Congressman Boyle\u2019s top priorities in Congress, fighting to address our nation\u2019s current student debt crisis through loan repayment assistance, refinancing, easing interest rates, and building a stable foundation of college accessibility and affordability. In 2017, Boyle founded the Public Service Loan Forgiveness Caucus which he co-chairs. He is fighting to protect the PSLF program, which helps enable Americans to pursue public service careers despite the strain of their student loan debt. The PSLF Caucus is supported by a coalition of more than fifty organizations, including the Fraternal Order of Police and National Education Association. As a consistent champion of working families, Boyle is also the founder and co-chair of the Blue Collar Caucus which advocates for economic justice and middle class workers.  \n\t###", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://cartwright.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/cartwright-leads-discussion-on-creating-jobs-through-infrastructure", "Cartwright Leads Discussion on Creating Jobs Through Infrastructure Investment with Pennsylvania Expert", "2017-12-01", "2017", "2017-12", "Democrat", "House", "PA", "Matt Cartwright", "C001090", "cartwright.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Washington, DC \u2013 This week, U.S. Representative Matt Cartwright, a co-chair of the House Democratic Caucus Rebuilding America Task Force, led a discussion with Members of Congress and experts on how infrastructure investments would dramatically benefit working men and women by injecting trillions into our economy and putting hard-working Americans to work.\nAs part of the House Democratic Caucus Jobs for America effort, the Rebuilding America Task Force discussed how investment by the federal government could improve American cities and create jobs for middle-class families.\nRep. Cartwright invited the Lackawanna County Department of Planning and Economic Development Director, George W. Kelly, to provide expert testimony at the forum.\n\u201cNot only would investments in infrastructure repair aging bridges and roads, but it would also spur economic development and reinvigorate our communities. One of the best ways to create jobs in Pennsylvania is through infrastructure investment,\u201d said Rep. Cartwright. \u201cI thank Mr. Kelly for sharing his insight on this issue.\u201d\n\u201cInvesting in our infrastructure is investing in our future,\u201d said Mr. Kelly. \u201cWe need to explore ways to drive the reshoring of lost jobs and to provide pathways to prosperity for our work force. These investments are crucial as we all come together to prepare, educate, and partner to create and retain family sustaining jobs across America.\u201d\nAs towns across America continue to grow, it puts a strain on our infrastructure system. In order to continue serving the American people sufficiently, these structures must be up to date and properly functioning. Investments in these projects would mean more jobs and skill development for hard-working Americans. The five Democratic Caucus Jobs for America Task Forces will create opportunities for growth, boost hardworking families, and give every worker the opportunity to achieve the American dream.\n\u201cInvesting in our nation\u2019s infrastructure is a win for everyone. Our roads, bridges, schools, and hospitals get a much-needed update to better serve all Americans, while investments create jobs for millions,\u201d said Chairman of the Democratic Caucus Joe Crowley. \u201cI look forward to hearing from Rep. Cartwright on creating jobs and infrastructure projects.\u201d\n\u201cWith nearly 100,000 bridges in our country old enough to qualify for Medicare and Social Security, there is no doubt that America\u2019s infrastructure is in need of serious TLC,\u201d said Vice Chair of the Democratic Caucus Linda S\u00e1nchez. \u201cThe Rebuilding America Task Force, led by Rep. Cartwright, is focused on investing in jobs and our future by developing innovative ways to modernize our nation\u2019s infrastructure. By investing in a robust infrastructure, we will ensure that our country and our workers will be able to compete in the global marketplace.\u201d\nFor more information on the Jobs for America Task Forces, please visit www.dems.gov/jobsforamerica.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://www.casey.senate.gov/newsroom/media/view/casey-introduces-amendment-to-gop-tax-bill", "Casey Introduces Amendment to GOP Tax Bill", "2017-12-01", "2017", "2017-12", "Democrat", "House", "PA", "Bob Casey", "C001070", "www.casey.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Casey Introduces Amendment to GOP Tax Bill \n            U.S. Senator Bob Casey (D-PA) introduced an amendment to the GOP tax bill to ensure any tax windfall to profitable corporations goes to worker wages.\nQuite simply, it states that if companies are giving executives a raise and giving more money to shareholders through dividends and stock buy backs because of this tax windfall \u2013 then workers who helped make those profits possible also need to see their wages go up. If a company fails that test, they lose their corporate tax cut.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://www.casey.senate.gov/newsroom/releases/casey-on-passage-of-gops-windfall-for-the-wealthy", "Casey on Passage of GOP\u2019s Windfall for the Wealthy", "2017-12-01", "2017", "2017-12", "Democrat", "House", "PA", "Bob Casey", "C001070", "www.casey.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Washington, D.C. \u2013 U.S. Senator Bob Casey (D-PA) released a statement following passage of the Senate Republican tax scheme:\r\n\u201cThis is an insult to the many middle class families in Pennsylvania who will pay more in taxes under this scheme while the super-rich and big corporations get a windfall. Congress should be working in a bipartisan way to make our tax system simpler and fairer, but the Senate Republican plan does just the opposite. In 2019, the country\u2019s 572,000 richest households will see $34 billion worth of tax cuts, while the 90 million Americans making under $50,000 a year will see a fraction of that. That is both obscene and grossly unfair.\r\nThe bill rewards companies who outsourced jobs by giving them a big tax cut and may actually encourage more outsourcing in the future. What\u2019s worse is that this tax plan will trigger $25 billion in automatic cuts to Medicare unless Congress acts. Now, after creating a huge hole in the deficit by giving tax cuts to the super-rich, top Republicans are saying they are planning to go after Social Security, Medicare and Medicaid. Adding insult to injury, the bill also includes a partial repeal of the Affordable Care Act, which will result in 13 million Americans losing their health care while premiums increase for families across Pennsylvania by an additional 10% per year. That\u2019s wrong and I will fight against it.\u00a0\r\nThe Republican tax plan that just passed the Senate rewards companies who outsource jobs and ends tax deductions that help the middle class. I will continue to fight for real bipartisan tax reform that helps the middle class. What passed today is a big Republican giveaway to corporations and Republican corporate donors.\u201d\r\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://brady.house.gov/press-release/brady-manages-house-vote-sexual-harassment-training-mandate-resolution-adopted", "Brady manages House vote on sexual harassment training mandate as resolution is adopted", "2017-11-30", "2017", "2017-11", "Democrat", "House", "PA", "Robert Brady", "B001227", "brady.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Brady manages House vote on sexual harassment training mandate as resolution is adopted                                            \n              Nov 30, 2017      \t\t        \t    \n      \t            \n                    \n                                            \n          \n        \n        \n          \n  \n    \n    \n    The House on Wednesday adopted by voice vote a resolution that would require all House employees\u00a0 - including Members \u2013 to be trained annually on workplace harassment and discrimination. As Ranking Democrat on the Committee on House Administration, Congressman Bob Brady shepherded the legislation through the Congressional session.\nAnd, Congressman Brady shared his strong support for H.Res. 630, introduced by Congresswoman Jackie Speier (D., CA). The Congressman said, \u201cMake no mistake about it, this is bullying \u2013 sexual bullying harassment. I have a wife, daughter, granddaughter and great granddaughter. I have a responsibility to protect them. In the peoples\u2019 House we have mothers, wives, daughters, granddaughters and great granddaughters. We have a responsibility to protect them. I wonder if women would be disrespected and sexually bullied if their husband or father were standing next to them?\u00a0 That\u2019s why I say men who do that are bullies and cowards.\u00a0 Just treat women with the respect and dignity that you would your own mother!\u201d\nThe Office of Compliance\u00a0 will develop and implement the training program. The resolution mandates the training for current Members and employees in the 115th\u00a0Congress within 180 days of the beginning of the second session in January.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://cartwright.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/cartwright-whitehouse-introduce-bill-to-protect-natural-resources-from", "Cartwright, Whitehouse Introduce Bill to Protect Natural Resources from Climate Change", "2017-11-30", "2017", "2017-11", "Democrat", "House", "PA", "Matt Cartwright", "C001090", "cartwright.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Washington, DC \u2013 Today, U.S. Representative Matt Cartwright (D-PA-17) and Senator Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI) introduced a bill to protect the country\u2019s wildlife and natural resources from climate change. Building on existing federal, state, and local efforts, Whitehouse and Cartwright\u2019s Safeguarding America\u2019s Future and Environment (SAFE) Act would establish an integrated national approach to ongoing and expected effects of extreme weather and climate change.\n\u201cClimate change poses an immediate and long-term threat to the natural resources and environmental landscape that so many local communities depend on. Preparing for climate change will reduce long-term costs and protect our nation\u2019s natural resources for future generations,\u201d said Rep. Cartwright, vice-chair of the Sustainable Energy and Environment Coalition (SEEC). \u201cThis bill will develop a climate change adaption plan to protect our lands and waters, such as the Delaware River and Pocono Mountains. I look forward to working with Senator Whitehouse on this vital legislation.\u201d\n\u201cResponsible management of natural resources underpins economic opportunity and quality of life for all our communities. In Rhode Island, we know how important it is to safeguard natural treasures like Narragansett Bay and our beautiful coastline, which drive our economy and make our state a wonderful place to live,\u201d said Sen. Whitehouse. \u201cThis bill would establish a nationwide strategy to build on the good work Rhode Islanders and Americans everywhere are doing to protect their environment from climate change and prepare for what\u2019s to come.\u201d\nThe SAFE Act would require federal natural resource agencies to form an interagency working group to plan and implement a long-term national climate change adaptation strategy based on the best available science. State, local, and tribal governments, as well as nongovernmental organizations, academic institutions, and private sector representatives, would be called upon to lend their expertise to the working group. The legislation would require agencies to work together to identify and prioritize specific conservation and management strategies and actions to respond to extreme weather and climate change.\u00a0 It would also encourage the development of state-specific adaptation plans.\nThis national strategy would guide federal adaptation plans and reduce redundancy and costs. The SAFE Act would also create the National Climate Change and Wildlife Science Center, which would develop and compile scientific information on climate variability.\n\u201cThis last year we witnessed widespread destruction of habitats by catastrophic fires, floods, and hurricanes that were worsened by our warming climate,\u201d said Jamie Rappaport Clark, president and CEO of Defenders of Wildlife. \u201cWe need to prepare for the real impacts of climate change, and the SAFE Act provides a roadmap to conserve our irreplaceable natural resources in the face of these threats. Senator Whitehouse and Representative Cartwright are showing real and much needed leadership on one of today\u2019s most important issues.\u00a0 We need to manage our forests, waters, and wetlands to withstand the onslaught of a warming planet.\u201d\nEndorsing organizations include Defenders of Wildlife, Rocky Mountain Wild, Winter Wildlands Alliance, American Rivers, National Wildlife Federation, Conservation Northwest, American Society of Landscape Architects, Climate Resilience Fund, and the Wildlife Society.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://boyle.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/congressmen-boyle-kinzinger-introduce-legislation-condemn-syrian", "Congressmen Boyle, Kinzinger Introduce Legislation to Condemn Syrian Hospital Attacks", "2017-11-29", "2017", "2017-11", "Democrat", "House", "PA", "Brendan Boyle", "B001296", "boyle.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "WASHINGTON, D.C. \u2013 Last night, Rep. Brendan F. Boyle (D-PA-13) and Rep. Adam Kinzinger (R-IL-16), co-chairs of the Friends of a Free, Stable and Democratic Syria Caucus and members of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, introduced a resolution condemning the intentional military targeting of hospitals and medical personnel in Syria, as recently profiled on CBS\u2019s 60 Minutes. The legislation, H.Res.632, condemns the attacks, calls on all parties to end the strikes, and calls on Secretary of State Rex Tillerson to work with the international community to conduct investigations into these violations of international humanitarian law. According to Physicians for Human Rights, 90% of these attacks have been carried out by the Assad regime and the Russian military.\n\u201cDuring the six years of the Syrian civil war, there have been more than 400 attacks on hospitals and more than 800 medical personnel have been killed,\u201d said Congressman Boyle. \u201cThis disturbing and blatant violation of international law must end. The United States must send a clear message to Assad and Putin that the international community is watching, and we will hold them accountable for the intentional targeting of vulnerable civilians and those helping the sick and wounded. Representative Kinzinger and I will continue to stand up for the core tenants of humanitarian law and civilian protections worldwide.\u201d\n\u201cThe brutality of the Assad regime knows no bounds as it continues to launch airstrikes, barrel bombs, and chemical weapons on innocent men, women, and children. Furthermore, Assad has committed the original war crime \u2013 attacking hospitals \u2013 time and time again,\u201d said Congressman Kinzinger. \u201cWe must stand with groups like the Syrian American Medical Society (SAMS), who provide aid to the thousands of wounded Syrians. Dr. Samer Attar is a member of SAMS, and a Chicagoan. He reached out to me back in September 2016 to share with me the severity of the attacks on medical facilities. And sadly, these attacks continue. I\u2019m proud to stand with my colleague Congressman Boyle to wholeheartedly condemn these attacks on hospitals by the Assad regime, and its Russian and Iranian backers, and the countless crimes against humanity in this genocide on the Syrian people.\u201d\nIn July, the Friends of a Free, Stable and Democratic Syria Caucus met with the Syria Civil Defense, better known as the \u201cWhite Helmets,\u201d a group of unarmed volunteers who risk life and limb to carry out daring search-and-rescue missions in the wake of bombings in Syria. The group discussed the intentional targeting of emergency medical and rescue workers such as the White Helmets by Assad and Russia. Over 190 White Helmets volunteers have been killed during the Syrian conflict. Despite the danger, the White Helmets have saved over 99,000 lives.\n  \n\t###\n\u00a0\n\u00a0\nRep. Adam Kinzinger (R-IL) and Rep. Brendan Boyle (D-PA) with two members of the Syrian Civil Defense (\u201cWhite Helmets\u201d) in September 2017.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://brady.house.gov/press-release/congressman-bob-brady-attends-help-usa-and-philadelphia-housing-authority", "Congressman Bob Brady attends HELP USA and Philadelphia Housing Authority groundbreaking ceremony", "2017-11-29", "2017", "2017-11", "Democrat", "House", "PA", "Robert Brady", "B001227", "brady.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Congressman Bob Brady took part in the HELP USA and Philadelphia Housing Authority groundbreaking ceremony to unveil the transformation of an abandoned school into affordable housing for veterans.\u00a0\nBrady said, \u201cI want to build a lot more of these facilities. This is what we\u2019re supposed to be doing in this business. We have men and women who made a lot of sacrifices for us, and these veterans have to come home to something; They deserve a place to stay when they return home. We need to let them know that we care for them and that we have to provide them with a place to live in dignity.\u201d", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://doyle.house.gov/press-release/congressman-doyle-condemns-fcc-net-neutrality-plan", "Congressman Doyle Condemns FCC Net Neutrality Plan", "2017-11-21", "2017", "2017-11", "Democrat", "House", "PA", "Mike Doyle", "D000482", "doyle.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Washington, DC \u2013 U.S. Representative Mike Doyle (D-PA-14) released the following statement in response to Federal Communications Commission Chairman Ajit Pai\u2019s announcement that the Commission would vote to begin the process of removing Title II status for internet service at its December 14 meeting.  \n\t\u00a0\n\u201cToday Chairman Pai began his final assault on the Open Internet Order and Net Neutrality. His announcement today of plans to repeal Title 2 is another nail in the coffin of the FCC rules that protect consumers, competition, and innovation. Chairman Pai\u2019s agenda has been an unending stream of giveaways to major corporations and Trump allies. Consumers, small businesses, and the most vulnerable amongst us have consistently gotten shafted by this Chairman and the Trump Administration.\u00a0\n\n  \u201cI am disappointed and angry that, despite the evidence, despite court decisions, despite widespread bipartisan public support for a free and open Internet, and despite 22 MILLION comments overwhelmingly in support of Net Neutrality, Chairman Pai today has announced his intentions to repeal the Open Internet Order.\u201d\u00a0\n\n\n  \n\t\u00a0\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://doyle.house.gov/press-release/congressional-leaders-warn-fcc-against-ignoring-law-tv-station-ownership", "Congressional Leaders Warn FCC Against Ignoring Law on TV Station Ownership", "2017-11-20", "2017", "2017-11", "Democrat", "House", "PA", "Mike Doyle", "D000482", "doyle.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Washington, DC \u2013 Democratic Leader Nancy Pelosi (CA-12), Energy and Commerce Committee Ranking Member Frank Pallone, Jr. (NJ-6), and Subcommittee on Communications and Technology Ranking Member Mike Doyle (PA-14) released the following letter to each of the Members of the Federal Communications Commission. The letter urges the Commissioners to comply with existing federal law by enforcing the statutory national cap on ownership of broadcast stations.\u00a0\n\u00a0\nThe letter states \u201cWe write to remind the Commission that it is prohibited from allowing any single company to own broadcast stations that break the national ownership cap.\u00a0 To comply with the law, the Commission is required to order divestitures in any transaction in which a company\u2014including Sinclair Broadcast Group (Sinclair)\u2014attempts to acquire stations that reach more than 39% of the national broadcast audience.\u00a0 If the Commission fails to comply with the law now, future Commissions will be forced to order such divestitures when the company requests to renew licenses that exceed the statutory cap.\u201d\n\u00a0\nThe full text of the letter follows below:\n\u00a0\nNovember 20, 2017\n\u00a0\n\u00a0\nThe Honorable Ajit V. Pai\nChairman\nFederal Communications Commission\n445 12th Street S.W.\nWashington, D.C. 20554\n\u00a0\nThe Honorable Mignon Clyburn\nCommissioner\nFederal Communications Commission\n445 12th Street S.W.\nWashington, D.C. 20554\n\u00a0\nThe Honorable Mike O\u2019Rielly\nCommissioner\nFederal Communications Commission\n445 12th Street S.W.\nWashington, D.C. 20554\n\u00a0\nThe Honorable Brendan Carr\nCommissioner\nFederal Communications Commission\n445 12th Street S.W.\nWashington, D.C. 20554\n\u00a0\nThe Honorable Jessica Rosenworcel\nCommissioner\nFederal Communications Commission\n445 12th Street S.W.\nWashington, D.C. 20554\n\u00a0\n\u00a0\nDear Chairman Pai, Commissioner Clyburn, Commissioner O\u2019Rielly, Commissioner Carr and Commissioner Rosenworcel:\n\u00a0\nWe write to remind the Commission that it is prohibited from allowing any single company to own broadcast stations that break the national ownership cap.\u00a0 To comply with the law, the Commission is required to order divestitures in any transaction in which a company\u2014including Sinclair Broadcast Group (Sinclair)\u2014attempts to acquire stations that reach more than 39% of the national broadcast audience.\u00a0 If the Commission fails to comply with the law now, future Commissions will be forced to order such divestitures when the company requests to renew licenses that exceed the statutory cap.\u00a0\n\u00a0\nCongress acted in 2004 to set the maximum national audience reach for entities owning TV stations at 39 percent.\u00a0 \u00a0Congress passed this law on a bipartisan basis to protect consumers, encourage independent voices in their media market, and prevent one station group from serving more than 39% of the population. By explicitly excluding review of the cap from the Congressionally-mandated quadrennial review of broadcast ownership rules, we made clear that the FCC is not permitted to change or evade that national cap.\u00a0 \u00a0Commissioner O\u2019Rielly correctly testified at a recent FCC oversight hearing that only Congress can change the cap.\u00a0 As Commissioner O\u2019Rielly also rightly noted, Congress did not intend to allow a company to circumvent the cap using outdated rules such as the UHF discount.\u00a0 His reading of the law is consistent with the position of at least two other sitting Commissioners.\u00a0 \u00a0\n\u00a0\nWe were therefore surprised when Commissioner O\u2019Rielly refused to say whether he will allow a company to acquire licenses that would exceed the nationwide cap set by Congress.\u00a0 This is not a judgment call\u2014no Commissioner has the authority to ignore the law.\u00a0\n\u00a0\nThe law requires that if the FCC approves any transaction that would exceed the statutory cap\u2014including the applications by Sinclair to acquire licenses owned by Tribune Media\u2014that it orders the company to divest any stations necessary within two years.\u00a0 \u00a0The Commission does not have the authority to waive this statutory requirement.\u00a0\u00a0\n\u00a0\nIgnoring the statutory cap now would force future Commission\u2019s to act to enforce the law properly.\u00a0 Specifically, the final backstop to ensure compliance with the law comes when a company applies to renew its licenses.\u00a0 The Commission cannot renew licenses for group owners when those licenses exceed the 39 percent cap\u2014the FCC must order divestitures at that time.\u00a0 While Commission practice is to grandfather licenses during renewals when those licenses violate Commission rules, the FCC cannot waive the law.\u00a0 Neither this Commission nor any future Commissions may grandfather a license renewal that violates the statutory cap.\n\u00a0\nWhen each of you was sworn in as Commissioners, you swore to faithfully discharge the duties of your office.\u00a0 These obligations include enforcing the laws of the United States as passed by Congress.\u00a0 The majority of the Commission correctly believes that Congress imposed a 39% national cap for broadcasters and that we did not create any loopholes around this cap.\u00a0 To comply with your oath, you are required to order divestitures when necessary to stay within the restraints of the law.\n\u00a0\nWe will be closely monitoring the Commission\u2019s action in this area.\u00a0 We encourage you to spend the Commission\u2019s time exploring ways to promote both minority media ownership and a diversity of programming on our airwaves instead of treading down this path that is contrary to the will of Congress.\u00a0\u00a0\n\u00a0\nThank you for your consideration of these concerns, which are shared by many of our colleagues in the Congress.\n\u00a0\nSincerely,\n\u00a0\nNancy Pelosi\nDemocratic Leader\n\u00a0\nFrank Pallone, Jr.\nRanking Member\nCommittee on Energy\n\u00a0 and Commerce\n\u00a0\nMike Doyle\nRanking Member\nSubcommittee on Communications\u00a0\n\u00a0 and Technology\u00a0\n\u00a0\n\u00a0\n\u00a0\n\u00a0\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://boyle.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/boyle-introduces-legislation-raise-awareness-fight-premature-births", "Boyle Introduces Legislation to Raise Awareness, Fight Premature Births", "2017-11-17", "2017", "2017-11", "Democrat", "House", "PA", "Brendan Boyle", "B001296", "boyle.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "WASHINGTON, D.C. \u2013 Today, on World Prematurity Day, Congressman Brendan F. Boyle (PA-13) introduced a resolution (H.Res.625) to congressionally designate November as Prematurity Awareness Month. The resolution highlights the importance of reducing the number of infants born too soon. Senators Sherrod Brown (D-OH) and Johnny Isakson (R-GA) joined Boyle in introducing the identical Senate resolution.  \n\t\u00a0  \n\t\u201cDespite our place as the most advanced country in the world, the United States is seeing a disturbing rise in premature birth rates \u2013 more than one in ten babies are born before 37 weeks,\u201d said Congressman Boyle. \u201cDesignating November as Prematurity Awareness Month will help us promote a stronger understanding of prematurity and its causes, and give us the opportunity to join families and healthcare professionals in recognizing the importance of this issue.\u201d  \n\t\u00a0  \n\tThe resolution is endorsed by March of Dimes, an organization working to end premature births and prevent infant illness and mortality. March of Dimes is one of many organizations and individuals around the globe that observe Prematurity Awareness Month during November to improve public awareness of the causes and consequences of premature birth. Annually, more than 380,000 infants are born early in the United States. Premature birth is the leading cause of newborn death, and babies who survive are more likely to suffer from intellectual and physical disabilities, which can last throughout their lives. In addition to its human, emotional, and financial impact on families, premature birth is extremely costly to the United States. A 2006 report by the Institute of Medicine found the cost associated with premature birth in the United States was $26.2 billion annually, which is borne by both private and public insurers.  \n\t\u00a0  \n\t###", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://www.casey.senate.gov/newsroom/releases/casey-statement-on-north-korea", "Casey Statement on North Korea", "2017-11-17", "2017", "2017-11", "Democrat", "House", "PA", "Bob Casey", "C001070", "www.casey.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Washington, DC - U.S. Senator Bob Casey (D-PA) released a statement on the current situation with North Korea following President Trump's trip to the region:\r\n\"\u201cNorth Korea\u2019s nuclear weapons and ballistic missile programs represents a grave threat to our national security and that of our allies. In recent months, President Trump\u2019s increasingly bellicose language and rejection of diplomacy has encouraged Kim Jung Un to respond in kind. The potential consequences of this heightened rhetoric are not simply soured alliances or reputational damage \u2013 they are nuclear war.\r\nPresident Trump has expressed skepticism that diplomatic pressure can produce results and has consistently undermined the Secretary of State and the Department he leads. Congress has passed tough sanctions on North Korea, and the Trump Administration is leaving them on the table. While I appreciate that the President toned town the rhetoric during his speech in Seoul, he has not laid out a comprehensive strategy to address the North Korean threat.\r\nMore than three months ago, I helped to champion the Countering America\u2019s Adversaries Through Sanctions Act, which was passed overwhelmingly by Congress and signed into law. This legislation included sanctions against Iran, Russia and North Korea for their aggressive and adversarial actions. The Trump Administration has failed to implement the sanctions on North Korea and has also failed to appoint a U.S. Ambassador to South Korea, one of our closest allies in the region.\r\nThe Administration must also pressure China to do more, and the President\u2019s visit to Beijing represents a missed opportunity. I believe Congress should pass S. 1591, the Banking Restrictions Involving North Korea (BRINK) Act, of which I am a co-sponsor. This bill would put additional pressure on China to restrict its resident companies and banks, which allow North Korea to maintain its access to the international financial system. This financial support has allowed the Kim regime to continue to fund its nuclear and ballistic missile programs, and has restricted the international community\u2019s leverage in nuclear negotiations.\r\nThe North Korean threat is too important to rely on \u201cTwitter diplomacy.\u201d Real diplomatic pressure is critical to addressing the threat that North Korea poses.\u201d", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://boyle.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/congressman-boyle-condemns-house-passage-republican-tax-bill-hurt-middle", "Congressman Boyle Condemns House Passage of Republican Tax Bill to Hurt Middle Class, Help Billionaires", "2017-11-16", "2017", "2017-11", "Democrat", "House", "PA", "Brendan Boyle", "B001296", "boyle.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "WASHINGTON, D.C. \u2013 Today, Congressman Brendan F. Boyle (PA-13), a member of the House Budget Committee, released the following statement after the House passed H.R. 1, the House Republicans\u2019 tax overhaul:  \n\t\u00a0  \n\t\u201cThe facts are clear: the GOP Tax Plan is a handout to the mega-wealthy that puts further burden on middle class families. The Republican Party sold a bill of goods to hardworking Americans across this country, promising them reform that closes loopholes and boosts the middle class. Yet, today, they sold those people out to give trillions in tax cuts to the mega-rich while closing so-called loopholes that helped students, teachers, and the sick. They claimed they would cut taxes for working families who face stacked odds and piling bills. Instead, they voted to raise taxes for 36 million of those middle-class families, and to strip critical tax deductions from struggling Americans in order to bankroll massive giveaways to big banks and multinational corporations who ship jobs overseas. This tax plan is a miscarriage of democracy, a scam, and a direct assault on the middle class.\u201d  \n\t###", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://doyle.house.gov/press-release/congressman-doyle-lambasts-today%E2%80%99s-fcc-decisions", "Congressman Doyle Lambasts Todays FCC Decisions", "2017-11-16", "2017", "2017-11", "Democrat", "House", "PA", "Mike Doyle", "D000482", "doyle.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Washington, DC \u2013 U.S. Representative Mike Doyle (D-PA-14) issued the following statement in response to a number of actions taken earlier today during the Federal Communications Commission\u2019s November meeting.\u00a0\n\u00a0\n\u201cChairman Pai has once again jammed a profoundly anti-consumer agenda through the FCC.\n\u00a0\n\u201cIn gutting the FCC\u2019s media ownership rules, the Commission has recklessly promoted the unhealthy consolidation of media ownership and continued paving the way for the Sinclair merger.\n\u00a0\n\u201cIn addition, the Commission kneecapped the Lifeline program, which could well take low-income phone and internet access away from children, veterans, and the disabled.\n\u00a0\n\u201cThe Commission also dumped a risky new broadcast TV standard on the American people. The new standard won\u2019t work on today\u2019s televisions \u2013 and could leave consumers without any access to broadcast TV.\u00a0\n\u00a0\n\u201cEach of these decisions is terrible in its own right, but they are all part of the Chairman\u2019s radical anti-consumer, anti-competitive agenda.\u201d\n\u00a0\n\u00a0\n\u00a0\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://evans.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/congressman-evans-calls-gop-tax-plan-attack-hard-working-families", "Congressman Evans Calls GOP Tax Plan an Attack on Hard-Working Families, Veterans, and Seniors in Philadelphia", "2017-11-16", "2017", "2017-11", "Democrat", "House", "PA", "Dwight Evans", "E000296", "evans.house.gov", "evans", "https://evans.house.gov/media/press-releases", "scraper", "Today, Congressman Dwight Evans (PA-02), released the following statement after voting \"No\" on the destructive Republican tax plan.\n\nThe Republican tax plan, H.R. 1, is a giant handout to big corporations and wealthy Republican donors. It is a harmful example of what happens when a group of people try to exert their rule over hard-working Americans. The Republican tax plan should be called, the \"Job-Killing Tax Cuts Act.\" The bill we voted on in the House today, did not include one amendment offered by my Democratic colleagues on the House Ways and Means Committee\u2014this leaves the American people with a sad collection of tax cuts masquerading as tax reform.\n\nAccording to one of the leading Hunger-Relief Organizations, Feeding America, H.R. 1 would undermine efforts to assist those who struggle with adequate access to food. As a member of the House Agriculture Committee, specifically a member of the Subcommittee on Nutrition, I find this entirely unacceptable and cruel. Additionally, the Senate version of this bill includes a measure to repeal the individual mandate of the Affordable Care Act, which would result in 13 million Americans losing their healthcare\u2014a risk we cannot take.\n\n\"The Republican tax plan does absolutely nothing to help move our neighborhoods forward,\" Congressman Evans said. \"It is a slap in the face to hard-working families, veterans and seniors in Philadelphia, our Commonwealth and our nation. Today, I voted \u2018No' against the destructive bait-and-switch-tax-scam because this bill is sure to grow the national debt and takes our attention away from the real problems facing the American people\u2014like good-paying jobs. At a time when our cities and suburbs are already pressed for funding, this destructive tax plan is yet another way the Republican Party and the Trump Administration are shifting valuable resources away from cities which are in dire need.\"\n\n\"Our cities compete for people. We are in the business of making our city more attractive to current home-owners and new perspective home-buyers. Why on earth would we as a Congress want to support a tax plan that would cause more harm to our neighborhoods? I am in the business of \u2018Doing No Harm' to hard-working families, veterans and seniors in Philadelphia and Montgomery County and had no choice today but to vote \u2018No' on this destructive and debilitating tax plan,\" Evans said.\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-08T22:12:50Z"], ["https://boyle.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/congressman-boyle-passes-bill-name-wyncote-post-office-local-fallen-hero", "Congressman Boyle Passes Bill to Name Wyncote Post Office for Local Fallen Hero", "2017-11-15", "2017", "2017-11", "Democrat", "House", "PA", "Brendan Boyle", "B001296", "boyle.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "WASHINGTON, D.C. \u2013 Today, the House of Representatives passed Congressman Brendan F. Boyle\u2019s (PA-13) bill that would rename the post office at 207 Glenside Ave. in Wyncote, PA as the \u201cStaff Sergeant Peter Taub Post Office Building.\u201d\u00a0 Sergeant Taub, a fallen hero from Congressman Boyle\u2019s district, made the ultimate sacrifice for his country when a suicide bomber took his life in Afghanistan in December 2015.\n\u00a0\u201cStaff Sergeant Peter Taub was a shining example of the best our country has to offer,\u201d said Congressman Boyle. \u201cIn his service to our nation, he exemplified unwavering patriotism and heroic bravery. Renaming this post office in his home town is the least we can do to honor him; a small but important symbol of our eternal thanks. I\u2019m proud that today, just shortly after Veterans Day, we\u2019ve passed this legislation to honor Sergeant Taub\u2019s service and sacrifice by making his memory a permanent fixture in his local community.\u201d\n\u00a0Sergeant Taub is survived by his wife Christina, their 3 year old daughter Penelope, and another daughter, Petra, born after his death in the summer of 2016. His mother, Arlene Wagner, owns Bub and Pop\u2019s sandwich shop in Washington, D.C., a gathering place well-loved by members of Congressman Boyle\u2019s staff.\u00a0\n\u00a0After his death, President Barack Obama paid tribute to Sergeant Taub and the five other troops killed in the attack, calling their service \u201coutstanding\u201d and \u201cbrave.\u201d Posthumously, Staff Sergeant Taub was awarded the Bronze Star, Purple Heart, Air Force Commendation Medal and Air Force Combat Action Medal.\n  \n\t###", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://boyle.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/congressmen-boyle-costello-sarbanes-fitzpatrick-introduce-bill-expand", "Congressmen Boyle, Costello, Sarbanes, Fitzpatrick Introduce Bill to Expand Access to Public Service Loan Forgiveness to Qualified Participants", "2017-11-15", "2017", "2017-11", "Democrat", "House", "PA", "Brendan Boyle", "B001296", "boyle.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "WASHINGTON, D.C. \u2013 Today, Congressmen Brendan Boyle (D-PA-13), Ryan Costello (R-PA-06), John Sarbanes (D-MD-03), and Brian Fitzpatrick (R-PA-08) introduced legislation to fix a glitch in a federal loan forgiveness program that can leave teachers, soldiers, social workers, and other public servants with massive loan balances they thought would be forgiven after years of timely payments during public service employment. The PSLF Technical Corrections Act of 2017 would relieve a significant financial burden for those who sought to use the Public Service Loan Forgiveness Program (PSLF) program to reduce the burden of their student loan debt \u2013 but mistakenly enrolled in repayment plans that caused them to pay more than the PSLF program would have required, and which do not qualify for forgiveness under current law.  \n\t\u00a0  \n\tCongress established the bipartisan loan forgiveness program in 2007 to help teachers, social workers, military personnel, and other public servants pursue sometimes lower-paying careers serving their communities without facing decades of crippling loan payments. The program allows borrowers to erase the balance of their student debt after working for a nonprofit or government employer for 10 years and making 120 qualifying loan payments. Due to complex program requirements, some borrowers believe they are making qualifying payments under the program only to find out that in fact they are not, as recently profiled in the New York Times.  \n\t\u00a0  \n\t\u201cI\u2019m proud to introduce this legislation, and committed to doing all I can to help alleviate the burden of student loan debt for folks who worked hard and thought they were playing by all the rules,\u201d said Congressman Boyle, co-chair of the Public Service Loan Forgiveness Caucus, which is fighting to protect and spread awareness about the program. \u201cPublic Service Loan Forgiveness is an investment in our communities and a commitment to those who choose these demanding careers in the face of financial insecurity. Rather than let good actors slip through the cracks, we\u2019re fighting to provide relief to all those who fulfill the spirit of the program despite paperwork errors or bureaucratic complications. Public Service Loan Forgiveness is an incentive to our students and an investment in our future, and we must ensure that it benefits as many hardworking public servants as possible.\u201d  \n\t\u00a0  \n\t\u201cThis legislation will provide a very helpful change to the Public Service Loan Forgiveness Program that will make sure public service professionals, such as first responders and teachers, who are working to make a difference in their communities receive the student loan forgiveness they have worked towards,\u201d said Congressman Costello, co-chair of the Public Service Loan Forgiveness Caucus. \u201cIf borrowers are making qualifying payments for PSLF standards but mistakenly enrolled in higher repayment plans, they must be allowed to apply those payments towards loan forgiveness under PSLF. Our legislation will ensure this happens.\u201d\n\u201cThis improvement to the Public Service Loan Forgiveness Program will ensure that more community health care workers, teachers, public defenders, social workers and other public servants receive the loan forgiveness benefits they have earned,\u201d said Congressman Sarbanes, the author of the Public Service Loan Forgiveness Program.\u00a0\u201cI was proud to lead the effort in the House of Representatives to create this program, and with this bill today, we\u2019re making a concerted effort to continue investing in public servants who dedicate their careers to strengthening our communities.\u201d  \n\t\u00a0  \n\t\u201cThe Public Service Loan Forgiveness Program (PSLF) incentivizes recent graduates to fill critical public service jobs such as teachers, soldiers, nurses and first-responders. The PSLF Technical Corrections Act rectifies a technical glitch causing these public servants to be burdened with excessive loan payments. This legislation will fulfill the promise made to these public servants, and I\u2019m proud to advance this measure on their behalf,\u201d said Congressman Fitzpatrick.\u00a0  \n\t\u00a0  \n\tThe bill would allow loan forgiveness for public service borrowers who ended up in the wrong repayment plan, but who have not paid less than they would have under the required plan. Under the bill, if a borrower has been making payments that were as much as they would have paid on a qualifying repayment plan while employed in public service, they would receive full credit for those payments toward loan forgiveness.  \n\t\u00a0  \n\tThe legislation has been endorsed by the National Education Association and the American Federation of Teachers. Senators Tim Kaine (VA) and Sheldon Whitehouse (RI) introduced the Senate version of the bill concurrently.\u00a0  \n\t\u00a0  \n\t###", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://doyle.house.gov/press-release/congressman-doyle-opposes-gop-tax-bill", "Congressman Doyle Opposes GOP Tax Bill", "2017-11-15", "2017", "2017-11", "Democrat", "House", "PA", "Mike Doyle", "D000482", "doyle.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Washington, DC \u2013 U.S. Representative Mike Doyle (D-PA-14) spoke against H.R. 1, legislation to give massive tax cuts to corporations and the wealthy, when it was considered on the House Floor.\nClick here to see his remarks.\nThe text of his remarks follow.\u00a0\nMadam Speaker, I rise today in opposition to this terrible bill. \nMany of my colleagues have called it a scam \u2013 and they\u2019re absolutely right.\nSupporters of this bill have said \u201cEverybody gets a tax cut.\u201d That\u2019s not true. Millions of Americans get a tax INCREASE \u2013 more and more each year, in fact.\nSupporters of this bill have called it a Middle Class tax cut. That\u2019s not true. The lion\u2019s share of the money goes to corporations and households making a million dollars or more \u2013 NOT families struggling to get by from paycheck to paycheck. \nAnd what this bill gives the middle class with one hand, it takes away with the other \u2013 with devastating consequences for households with high medical costs, lots of student loans, or high state and local taxes.\nSupporters of this bill have claimed that it will keep companies from moving jobs overseas; create new jobs here at home; and raise wages for American workers. That\u2019s not true. While this bill cuts corporate tax rates, it creates NEW incentives for shipping US jobs abroad. \nFinally, does anyone really believe that tax cuts for corporations and the rich will trickle down to the rest of us? It\u2019s never worked before \u2013 not in 1981, not in 2001 and not in Kansas in 2012. Make no mistake \u2013 this massive tax cut for corporations and the rich will increase deficits and the national debt by trillions of dollars, sticking the rest of us, especially our kids, with the bill. \nMadam Speaker, this massive tax cut for corporations and the wealthy isn\u2019t a Middle Class tax cut. It won\u2019t create jobs or raise wages. It isn\u2019t simple, it isn\u2019t reform, and it certainly won\u2019t pay for itself. \nIf we want to increase economic growth, let\u2019s give a REAL tax break to the Middle Class. They\u2019ll put that money right back into the economy. That\u2019s the way to create jobs and boost wages.\nI urge my colleagues to reject this giveaway to the rich \u2013 and start over on a bipartisan tax reform bill that helps the Americans who need help the most.\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://www.casey.senate.gov/newsroom/media/view/casey-on-latest-changes-to-gop-tax-bill", "Casey on Latest Changes to GOP Tax Bill", "2017-11-15", "2017", "2017-11", "Democrat", "House", "PA", "Bob Casey", "C001070", "www.casey.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Casey on Latest Changes to GOP Tax Bill \n            U.S. Senator Bob Casey (D-PA) describes the GOP's late-night changes to their tax bill as \"a thief in the night.\" At the 11th hour, Senate Republicans added a partial repeal of the Affordable Care Act to the tax bill already being considered by the Senate Finance Committee.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://boyle.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/boyle-statement-president-trump-s-asia-trip", "Boyle Statement on President Trumps Asia Trip", "2017-11-14", "2017", "2017-11", "Democrat", "House", "PA", "Brendan Boyle", "B001296", "boyle.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "WASHINGTON, DC \u2013 Congressman Brendan F. Boyle (PA-13), a member of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, issued the following statement on President Trump\u2019s recent trip to Asia:  \n\t\u00a0  \n\t\u201cDiplomacy can't be done in 140 characters.\u00a0 What should have been an important opportunity to reassure our allies during a time of escalated anxiety, and to discuss the North Korea threat in Asia during the longest trip there by an American President in more than a quarter century instead became another unbecoming, political stunt from President Trump.\u00a0 Again, the president responded to real foreign policy threats with immature name-calling and hyperbolic rhetoric, attacked our intelligence community, and pledged his unwavering support for Vladimir Putin and Rodrigo Duterte, a man accused of leaving thousands dead from a brutal war on drugs.\u00a0 All the while, yet again, President Trump failed to make mention of human rights violations or attacks on American democracy.\u00a0 Unfortunately, the only constant in Mr. Trump\u2019s foreign policy seems to be his disturbing admiration for autocratic rulers and reluctance to stand up for the principles that truly make America great.\u201d  \n\t###", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://boyle.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/house-passes-defense-authorization-boyle-provisions-fight-pfc-water", "House Passes Defense Authorization with Boyle Provisions to Fight PFC Water Contamination", "2017-11-14", "2017", "2017-11", "Democrat", "House", "PA", "Brendan Boyle", "B001296", "boyle.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "WASHINGTON, D.C. \u2013 Today, as part of the House-Senate National Defense Authorization Act conference package, the House of Representatives passed provisions secured by Congressman Brendan F. Boyle (PA-13) to combat water contamination caused by firefighting chemicals used on military properties nationwide, including Naval Air Station Joint Reserve Base Willow Grove and Horsham Air Guard Station in Pennsylvania. The legislation is now expected to pass the Senate and soon be signed into law.\nSpecifically, Boyle\u2019s provisions authorize higher federal spending to remediate the contamination ($42 million for the Navy and $30 million for the Air Force), and mandate a Department of Defense study and report to Congress on finding safer, effective alternatives to the firefighting foam that caused the contamination. The package also authorizes $7 million in funding for a nationwide study on health effects of PFCs (including PFOA and PFOS), the chemical compounds contained in the firefighting foams, to be conducted by the CDC. Such a study has been a high priority for Boyle and other Members of Congress representing affected communities across the country. This past summer, Boyle also secured $60 million for Navy and Air Force environmental remediation to address the water contamination in the annual Defense Appropriations bill, which allocates federal funds as authorized in the NDAA, and introduced legislation (H.R. 3106) to require an enforceable EPA Safe Drinking Water Act regulation for PFCs, including PFOA and PFOS, rather than the current voluntary guideline.\n\u201cThis is a huge step for our community and for all those across the country who have suffered from the effects of unsafe drinking water because of the use of these firefighting foams,\u201d said Congressman Boyle after the passage of the NDAA House-Senate Conference bill today. \u201cI am proud to be leading this fight along with my colleagues from Pennsylvania and other impacted states, and I will keep fighting to secure every possible resource to safeguard the health of our communities and prevent this from happening again.\u201d\n\u201cThis legislation will provide new funding for environmental cleanup; community support; investigations into the health effects of these polluting chemicals; and a transition to safer, effective alternatives to these firefighting foams,\u201d continued Boyle. \u201cI thank the Armed Services Committee for working with me to secure these gains, and I vow to keep fighting to ensure the federal government treats these contaminants with the seriousness they merit.\u201d\nAmeliorating water contamination surrounding defense properties has been a top priority for Congressman Boyle throughout his tenure in Congress.\u00a0 In September, the House adopted Congressman Boyle\u2019s amendment to provide $1.9 million additional funding for the Agency for Toxic Substances and Diseases Registry (ATSDR), the agency heading local medical testing and health studies in response to water contamination stemming from the use of AFFF firefighting chemicals. In June, Boyle re-introduced his bipartisan legislation, H.R. 3106, that would require the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency to set an enforceable, nationwide primary drinking water standard for PFCs.  \n\t###", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://www.casey.senate.gov/newsroom/releases/casey-on-repeal-of-individual-mandate-in-tax-bill", "Casey on Repeal of Individual Mandate in Tax Bill", "2017-11-14", "2017", "2017-11", "Democrat", "House", "PA", "Bob Casey", "C001070", "www.casey.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Washington, DC -\u00a0U.S. Senator Bob Casey (D-PA) is releasing the statement below following reports that the GOP Senate tax bill will include the repeal of the Obamacare individual mandate:\r\n\u201cIn addition to being a giveaway to the super-rich and big corporations, it now appears that the congressional Republican tax scheme will also sabotage our nation\u2019s health care system. According to the Congressional Budget Office, this latest decision will cause 13 million Americans to lose their health care while driving premium costs up by about 10% for many families across Pennsylvania. In order to finance tax giveaways to the wealthiest and biggest corporations, congressional Republicans are willing to raise taxes on many middle class families, eliminate vital deductions for Pennsylvanians and bring our health care system crashing down. It\u2019s wrong and I will fight against it.\u201d", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://evans.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/brady-evans-kenney-clarke-and-help-usa-stand-together-highlight-gop", "Brady, Evans, Kenney, Clarke and HELP USA Stand Together to Highlight GOP Attack on Hard-Working Families, Veterans and Seniors", "2017-11-10", "2017", "2017-11", "Democrat", "House", "PA", "Dwight Evans", "E000296", "evans.house.gov", "evans", "https://evans.house.gov/media/press-releases", "scraper", "Today, Congressman Bob Brady (PA-01), Congressman Dwight Evans (PA-02), Mayor Jim Kenney, City Council President Darrell L. Clarke, and HELP USA joined together at a press conference outside of the new Lural Lee Blevins Veterans Center and HELP Philadelphia V, to call attention to what the implications of the destructive Republican tax plan mean for the City of Philadelphia.\n\nThe press conference took place directly following a ribbon-cutting ceremony and dedication for the new Lural Lee Blevins Veterans Center and HELP Philadelphia V, a supportive housing building developed by HELP USA that will soon be home to 37 veterans and individuals aged 55 and older. We know all too well, that our senior citizens, aging veterans and hard-working Americans who provide care for our sick, elderly, and disabled loved ones will be among the hardest hit by the Republican tax plan.\n\nOur country has not seen bipartisan tax reform since 1986. This month, U.S. House Speaker Paul Ryan and Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell at the urging of President Donald Trump unveiled the Ryan-McConnell tax plan which would enact a dramatic shift of wealth from working-class Americans to the top one percent wealthiest people in our nation.\n\n\"The Republican tax plan is a slap in the face to hard-working families across our Commonwealth. It is a heartless and careless attempt to use the tax code to shift resources away from our cities, the very resources our cities rely on to keep moving forward. This tax plan does nothing but shift the burden on working-class Americans and is not a plan I support or can accept,\" said Congressman Bob Brady.\n\n\"Our cities compete for people. We are in the business of making our city more attractive to current home-owners and new perspective home-buyers\u2014and the Republican tax plan does no such thing. At a time when our cities and suburbs are scratching for every nickel, this destructive tax plan is yet another way the Republican Party and the Trump Administration are shifting valuable resources away from cities which are in dire need. The Republican tax plan brings the ugly spectacle of job-killing tax cuts to the American people, while masquerading as tax reform simply proves again that the GOP is not prepared to govern, and not ready for prime-time. I am in no way supportive of this tax plan that our neighborhoods have \u2018A Lot To Lose' under,\" saidCongressman Dwight Evans.\n\n\"The GOP's proposed tax bill would impact the ability of cities and local governments to make key investments in things like the police and fire departments as well as social safety net programs while benefitting the wealthiest people and businesses in the country. This plan also calls for the eliminating an exemption in private activity bonds. This financing product is used for affordable housing development, and airport expansion and renovation. This would significantly increase the costs for development and slow down the progress we're making in Philadelphia on these issues. Additionally, new Market Tax Credits will also be eliminated. This program has spurred significant economic development in our city. Growth that has made us serious contenders for Amazon's HQ2,\" said Mayor Jim Kenney.\n\n\"The silver lining of this proposal is that it doesn't hide what it is: A massive, brazen heist of low-income and middle-class Americans, students, seniors, and veterans like those being celebrated here today. People who have been working hard their entire lives -- and especially those who put their lives on the line in service to our nation -- should not be subsidizing the lifestyles of millionaires, billionaires, trust fund heirs, and corporations. I urge all good-hearted Americans to speak out and stop this dangerous, reckless legislation from getting one vote,\" said City Council President Darrell Clarke.\n\n\"The proposed changes to the tax plan would be disastrous for the development of low-income housing - specifically supportive housing. If this tax plan passes it would mean thousands of fewer apartments for homeless and low-income families and veterans. The building we are standing in front of today would not be possible under the proposed rules. In fact, if this plan passes, it could end a project that we are currently developing at the former Walter Reed Army Hospital in DC - that would mean 75 apartments for homeless veterans lost forever,\" said David Cleghorn, Chief Housing Officer at HELP USA.\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-08T22:12:50Z"], ["https://cartwright.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/house-passes-cartwright-s-bipartisan-bill-to-protect-veterans", "House Passes Cartwrights Bipartisan Bill to Protect Veterans", "2017-11-09", "2017", "2017-11", "Democrat", "House", "PA", "Matt Cartwright", "C001090", "cartwright.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Washington, DC \u2013 This week, the U.S. House of Representatives unanimously passed a bill introduced by U.S. Representative Matt Cartwright (PA-17) to protect older, low-income veterans from financial scams. The bipartisan Veterans Care Financial Protection Act (H.R. 3122) would direct the Department of Veteran Affairs (VA) to work with other federal agencies and states to develop and implement standards that protect veterans from predatory practices.\n\u201cScam artists are turning well-deserved benefits into a financial nightmare for those who can least afford it. This bipartisan, commonsense proposal will help protect veterans from financial scams. We owe this to our nation\u2019s heroes,\u201d said Rep. Cartwright. \u201cI\u2019d like to thank Rep. Elizabeth Esty (CT-05) and Senator Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.) for their hard work on this bill. I look forward to working with my colleagues in the Senate to encourage them to act quickly on passage.\u201d\nThe VA offers an Aid & Attendance (A&A) benefit for veterans who qualify for a VA pension and need financial help with in-home care or assisted living. The A&A application is free, but scam artists have targeted veterans and charged them to obtain these benefits. With this information, scammers can take ahold of the veteran\u2019s assets, and may even move them into an irrevocable trust or an annuity. This movement of assets may also disqualify the veteran from other assistance, such as Medicaid.\n\u201cWe have a duty to protect our most vulnerable veterans from being victims of financial scams. I thank Rep. Cartwright for his leadership on this bill that would crack down on scam artists taking advantage of veterans receiving benefits for in-home care,\u201d said Rep. Phil Roe, Chairman of the Veterans Affairs Committee.\n\u201cAny person who profits off of scamming vulnerable veterans out of their hard earned benefits should be ashamed of themselves. More must be done to protect these veterans from exploitation by bad actors and that is why I offer my unequivocal support to H.R. 3122, Veterans Care Financial Protection Act of 2017, a bipartisan bill that will expand commonsense protections for veterans against financial predators,\u201d said Rep. Tim Walz, Ranking Member of the Veterans Affairs Committee.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://cartwright.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/rep-cartwright-introduces-political-transparency-bill", "Rep. Cartwright Introduces Political Transparency Bill", "2017-11-09", "2017", "2017-11", "Democrat", "House", "PA", "Matt Cartwright", "C001090", "cartwright.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Washington, DC \u2013 Today, U.S. Representative Matt Cartwright re-introduced the Openness in Political Expenditures Now (OPEN) Act. The OPEN Act would improve transparency in elections by requiring corporations disclose political expenditure details to shareholders. This bill was first introduced in the 113th Congress.\nIn January 2010, the Supreme Court declared in Citizens United v. Federal Election Commission that the government may not prohibit political spending by corporations in candidate elections. However, Supreme Court Justice Anthony Kennedy\u2019s court opinion stated that \u201cthe government may regulate corporate political speech through disclaimer and disclosure requirements.\u201d\n\u201cPoliticians work for taxpayers \u2013 not corporations. Americans deserve to know how much money corporations are spending in our elections and campaigns,\u201d said Rep Cartwright. \u201cThis bill would improve transparency by discouraging dark-money groups from using social welfare status to funnel millions into elections.\u201d\nSpecifically, the OPEN Act would:\n Require corporations to disclose information on any significant political expenditure as part of their regular, periodic reports to their shareholders or members.\n\tCap the amount of political spending a 501(c)(4) can engage in and still be considered an exclusively social welfare-focused organization at 10% of its annual spending or $10 million annually, whichever is lower.\n This legislation was cosponsored by Reps. Gene Green (TX-29) Adam Schiff (CA-28), Peter DeFazio (OR-04), and Marcy Kaptur (OH-09).", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://www.casey.senate.gov/newsroom/releases/casey-on-trumps-comments-on-china-trade", "Casey on Trump's Comments on China Trade", "2017-11-09", "2017", "2017-11", "Democrat", "House", "PA", "Bob Casey", "C001070", "www.casey.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Washington, DC -\u00a0U.S. Senator Bob Casey (D-PA) released the following statement in response to President Trump\u2019s comments on China trade:\r\n\u201cOur nation sure as hell should blame China for their trade cheating. When China cheats on trade, Pennsylvania workers lose their jobs and their wages stagnate. Instead of giving China a pass, President Trump should be holding China accountable. For months, the Administration has talked about taking action against China\u2019s cheating but all we get is delay.\r\n\"The Administration can protect Pennsylvania workers today by taking action on China\u2019s illegal subsidies and dumping of aluminum and steel. The Commerce Department has worked diligently on this issue but the White House is delaying their work in order to push a tax scheme that puts the wealthy first. I have been critical of administrations of both parties, including the Obama Administration, for failing to protect our workers and take on China\u2019s trade cheating. I was encouraged by President Trump\u2019s words on China\u2019s behavior on trade during the campaign, but 10 months later, needless delays out of this administration have only caused further harm. Enough. It\u2019s time for action to protect our workers and their wages.\u201d", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://www.casey.senate.gov/newsroom/releases/casey-statement-on-senates-plan-to_make-rich-people-richer", "Casey Statement On Senate\u2019s Plan To  Make Rich People Richer", "2017-11-09", "2017", "2017-11", "Democrat", "House", "PA", "Bob Casey", "C001070", "www.casey.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Washington, D.C. \u2013 U.S. Senator Bob Casey (D-PA) released the following statement regarding the latest tax plan put forth by Senate Republicans:\r\n\u201cAfter my initial review of the \u201cplan\u201d and what has been reported publically, I can tell you that each version of the congressional Republican tax scheme gets worse for Pennsylvania and our families. By going further than the House of Representatives and fully ending the deductions for state and local taxes, the latest version, released by Senate Republicans, is a direct attack on over 1.5 million Pennsylvania households who claim this deduction, meanwhile it contains massive tax giveaways to the wealthiest and biggest corporations.\r\nUnder this scheme, vital deductions for Pennsylvania families are eliminated, while companies who shipped jobs and intellectual property overseas get a huge tax break. It\u2019s no wonder that Congress\u2019s official scorekeeper, the Joint Committee on Taxation has found that under the House Republican version of this scheme, in 2019 almost 30% of Americans making between $40,000 and $50,000 a year will see a tax increase or a tax cut of less than $9 a month.\r\nCongressional Republicans must end this obsession with tax giveaways to the wealthy and big corporations and work in a bipartisan way to cut taxes for the middle class and small businesses in order to grow wages and create jobs.\u201d\r\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://evans.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/congressman-evans-highlights-model-program-fight-homelessness-house", "Congressman Evans Highlights Model Program to Fight Homelessness on the House Floor", "2017-11-08", "2017", "2017-11", "Democrat", "House", "PA", "Dwight Evans", "E000296", "evans.house.gov", "evans", "https://evans.house.gov/media/press-releases", "scraper", "Earlier this week, Congressman Dwight Evans (PA-02) took to the House Floor to speak about the City of Philadelphia's new Hub of Hope program, an initiative to address homelessness throughout the city.\n\nWith a 26% poverty rate, our city has the highest rate of poverty of the major U.S. cities, a dubious statistic which I stand determined to turn-around. According to the Department of Housing and Urban Development, more than 6,000 people are homeless in the City of Philadelphia and 15,000 people are homeless in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania.\n\nIn an effort to help lift people out of poverty, Hub of Hope emerged as the brainchild of the Southeastern Pennsylvania Transportation Authority (SEPTA), Project HOME, and the City of Philadelphia, to provide individuals in need with some of the tools and resources necessary to get them back on their feet. For the last six winters Hub of Hope has provided walk-in services for the homeless. In roughly two months, Hub of Hope will open a new 11,000 square-foot comprehensive service center for the homeless at Suburban Station in Center City. The location in Suburban Station will provide comprehensive services, which include: medical and psychiatric care, legal advice, showers and bathrooms, laundry and food in a safe and warm environment.\n\n\"Poverty is a real problem facing our city. I am proud to see SEPTA, Project HOME and the city come together in a thoughtful and productive way, in their effort to continue to move our city forward,\" Congressman Evans said. \"Hub of Hope is making ideas matter by bringing a public-private partnership to life to deliver positive, lasting outcomes. Ending homelessness requires a team effort on the city, state, and federal level. Hub of Hope is one of the tools in our toolbox designed towards creating an environment which gives people in need the opportunity to get back on their feet.\"\n\nThe full video of Congressman Evans speaking on the House Floor can be found here: http://bit.ly/2jcJRdP\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-08T22:12:50Z"], ["https://evans.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/congressman-evans-introduces-healthy-food-access-all-americans", "Congressman Evans Introduces Healthy Food Access for All Americans Act", "2017-11-07", "2017", "2017-11", "Democrat", "House", "PA", "Dwight Evans", "E000296", "evans.house.gov", "evans", "https://evans.house.gov/media/press-releases", "scraper", "This week, Congressman Dwight Evans (PA-02) joined with Congressman Tim Ryan (D-OH), Congressman Ryan Costello (R-PA), and Congressman Donald McEachin (D-VA) to introduce comprehensive legislation to incentivize food service providers such as grocers, retailers, and nonprofits to help eradicate food deserts.\n\nThe bipartisan Healthy Food Access for All Americans (HFAAA) Act sets up a system of tax credits and grants for businesses and nonprofits who serve low-income and low-access urban and rural areas. The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) defines food insecurity as a lack of consistent access to enough food for an active, healthy life. According to the USDA, an estimated 37 million Americans live in food deserts. Food insecurity means people are going hungry\u2014and that just should not happen in the richest nation on the planet.\n\n\"I truly believe when we change the narrative as it relates to healthy food options and provide greater access to nutritious food choices we can move the needle in terms of getting rid of food deserts, something I've focused a great deal of my time on throughout my entire career. This bill is an example of a way to utilize the tax code to incentivize food merchants to help close the grocery store gap and change behaviors. We know diet-related diseases, such as diabetes, heart disease, obesity, and others, have a direct correlation to the foods we eat and to critical nutrients missing from our diets. I am proud to stand with my colleagues to introduce the Healthy Food Access for All Americans (HFAAA) Act. HFAAA is one of the tools in our toolbox that we can use to build healthier neighborhoods, block by block,\" said Congressman Evans.\n\n\"Our food system is broken and ineffective. In a country where obesity and diabetes rates are skyrocketing, and where 37 million people live in food deserts, we cannot allow the status quo to continue. We must find new ways for all Americans to have access to fresh, healthy food. This legislation takes a big step in the right direction towards accomplishing that goal, and I'm proud to work with colleagues on both sides of the aisle in both chambers of Congress to get this done. Not only is it the right thing to do, but it makes economic sense to tackle a food system that is at the root of so much of our sky high healthcare costs,\" said Congressman Ryan.\n\n\"Access to nutritious food should be an important aspect of every life. Under this legislation, grocery stores, farmers markets, and food banks that provide fresh, healthy foods would be encouraged to open, offer a permanent presence, or make renovations to their stores in underserved areas. Nutritious foods are linked to positive health outcomes, and this legislation is a step forward in making sure families can access the nutrients and food they need to be successful,\" said Congressman Costello.\n\n\"Every person, regardless of where they live, deserves access to nutritious, affordable food yet thousands of families in my congressional district live in areas where food access is a problem. I am committed to addressing hunger and food insecurity, which is why I introduced the Healthy Food Access for all Americans Act with my colleagues. By creating incentives for food providers to establish themselves in communities without access to fresh foods, this commonsense bill will help my constituents secure healthier food options for themselves and their families. We must do everything we can to eliminate food deserts,\" said Congressman McEachin.\n\nThe full list of organizations supporting the Healthy Food Access for All Americans (HFAAA) Act includes: Bread for the World, Environmental Working Group, Feeding America, Food Marketing Institute, Food Policy Action, Food Research and Action Center, the Food Trust, Local Initiatives Support Corporation, National Grocers Association, U.S. Conference of Mayors, the Reinvestment Fund, American Diabetes Association and Share Our Strength.", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-08T22:12:50Z"], ["https://www.casey.senate.gov/newsroom/releases/casey-statement-marking-holodomor-anniversary", "Casey Statement Marking Holodomor Anniversary", "2017-11-07", "2017", "2017-11", "Democrat", "House", "PA", "Bob Casey", "C001070", "www.casey.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Washington, D.C. \u2013 U.S. Senator Bob Casey released the following statement to mark 85 years since the Holodomor:\r\n\u201cI join with the Ukrainian-American community to mark the anniversary of the beginning of the Holodomor. This famine was planned and executed by Joseph Stalin with the goal of eliminating the Ukrainian Independence movement, and it resulted in the death of millions of Ukrainians.\r\nThis commemoration serves as an opportunity ensure that the legacies of those who were killed persist in our collective memory. By continuing to tell their stories, and by reaffirming our commitment to protecting people from tyranny around the world, we take one more step in ensuring that the horrors of the Holodomor never happen again.\r\nThe memory of the Holodomor also instructs us to remain vigilant, to search for truth and to continue to demand dignity in all corners of the world. While the USSR was committing genocide, Stalin was directing a massive propaganda campaign to hide these atrocities from the international community. Far too many believed his lies while millions died.\r\nAs communities in Pennsylvania and across the country pause to reflect on the Holodomor this week, we rededicate ourselves to the principles of justice that are our best safeguards against persecution and redouble our efforts to work together for security and prosperity for the people of Ukraine.\u201d\r\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://www.casey.senate.gov/newsroom/releases/casey-statement-on-clean-power-plan", "Casey Statement on Clean Power Plan", "2017-11-07", "2017", "2017-11", "Democrat", "House", "PA", "Bob Casey", "C001070", "www.casey.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Washington, DC - U.S. Senator Bob Casey (D-PA) released a statement on the Clean Power Plan:\r\n\"I worked with EPA on changes to the Clean Power Plan that addressed the grave threat of climate change in a way that made sense for Pennsylvania\u2019s diverse, energy-producing economy. The result was a plan that protected Pennsylvania jobs while putting us on a path to a clean energy future.\r\n\"I am disappointed that the Trump Administration has abandoned the Clean Power Plan. I support a public hearing in Philadelphia because this Administration owes the people of Pennsylvania an explanation as well as a path forward on one of the most pressing issues of our time.\"\r\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://evans.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/congressman-evans-response-horrific-mass-shooting-sutherland-springs", "Congressman Evans Response to Horrific Mass Shooting in Sutherland Springs, Texas", "2017-11-06", "2017", "2017-11", "Democrat", "House", "PA", "Dwight Evans", "E000296", "evans.house.gov", "evans", "https://evans.house.gov/media/press-releases", "scraper", "My heart is heavy and full of sadness for the families and friends of the victims in today's horrific massacre in Sutherland Springs, Texas. As a Congress, it's our job to keep our nation safe and secure. We grieve with the people of Texas, and during our mourning we must stand with them to fight for and pass common sense gun reform. We cannot let another tragedy happen on our watch.\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-08T22:12:50Z"], ["https://www.casey.senate.gov/newsroom/releases/casey-statement-on-vice-president-pences-visit-to-york", "Casey Statement on Vice President Pence's Visit To York", "2017-11-04", "2017", "2017-11", "Democrat", "House", "PA", "Bob Casey", "C001070", "www.casey.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Washington, DC - U.S. Senator Bob Casey (D-PA) is releasing the statement below following Vice President Pence\u2019s visit to York, PA to discuss the GOP tax plan:\r\n\u201cMiddle class families and small businesses in York and South Central Pennsylvania deserve a tax cut, but Vice President Pence is peddling a massive giveaway to the wealthiest Americans and biggest corporations. This scheme lavishes the super-rich with obscene tax giveaways while middle class families lose important tax deductions that help them make ends meet. Under the plan Vice President Pence is promoting, families in South Central Pennsylvania will no longer receive deductions for state and local income taxes, medical expenses and interest on student loans. While the plan doubles the standard deduction it also eliminates personal exemptions.\u00a0 In 2018, this would mean a family of four would gain $11,000 in standard deduction, and simultaneously lose $16,600 in personal exemptions. Tax giveaways for the wealthiest should not come at the expense of vital deductions that help middle class families. I urge congressional Republicans and the Administration to drop this tax scheme and work in a bipartisan way to help grow wages and create jobs for middle class families.\u201d", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://boyle.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/boyle-statement-opposing-cynical-gop-children-s-healthcare", "Boyle Statement Opposing Cynical GOP Childrens Healthcare Reauthorization and Medicare Attack", "2017-11-03", "2017", "2017-11", "Democrat", "House", "PA", "Brendan Boyle", "B001296", "boyle.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "WASHINGTON, D.C. \u2013 Today, Congressman Brendan F. Boyle (PA-13) released the following statement after voting against Republican legislation that would cut the Prevention and Public Health Fund, sabotage the Affordable Care Act (ACA), and raise Medicare premiums in order to reauthorize the Children\u2019s Health Insurance Program (CHIP), Community Health Centers (CHCs), and other expiring public health initiatives:  \n\t\u00a0  \n\t\u201cI\u2019m disheartened and appalled that Republicans would play politics with the healthcare of children and mothers by fabricating this false choice between reauthorizing CHIP or funding crucial public health initiatives and Medicare for seniors. Healthcare should not be a zero-sum game. I refuse to treat these critical funds as though they are bargaining chips, one at the expense of the other. More than 176,000 children across Pennsylvania depend on CHIP to provide free or reduced price comprehensive medical, dental, and behavioral health services \u2013 including 12,599 in my congressional district alone. We must fully and cleanly reauthorize CHIP without cuts to other critical programs. I hope bipartisan negations continue so that we can vote on a clean reauthorization bill as soon as possible, rather than play partisan games.\u201d  \n\t\u00a0  \n\tCongressman Boyle voted to reauthorize CHIP for two years in 2015, and signed onto a congressional letter last month urging House leadership to bring a clean reauthorization bill up for a vote as soon as possible.  \n\t###", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://evans.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/congressman-evans-message-house-gop-chip", "Congressman Evans Message to House GOP on CHIP", "2017-11-03", "2017", "2017-11", "Democrat", "House", "PA", "Dwight Evans", "E000296", "evans.house.gov", "evans", "https://evans.house.gov/media/press-releases", "scraper", "Congressman Dwight Evans (PA-02) released the following statement in response to the vote on the House GOP CHIP-CHC Reauthorization bill, H.R. 3922; an incredibly, divisive partisan bill that allocates money to pay for the reauthorization of the Children's Health Insurance Program (CHIP), Community Health Centers (CHCs), and other public health initiatives by cutting funding for both the Prevention and Public Health Fund and the Affordable Care Act (ACA), and raising Medicare premiums for seniors.\n\nAccording to the most recent Kaiser Family Foundation's State Health Facts, Pennsylvania's current DSH allotment is $616.27 million. Cuts to the program will reduce payments by $121.03 million, a 19.6% reduction. Currently, we have more than 176,000 children enrolled in CHIP which will soon run out of money to pay for their care. In the Second District alone, there are 8,360 children who receive healthcare coverage through CHIP.\n\n\"Let's stop the games and get something done. We shouldn't have to sacrifice the health and wellness of one population for another; and that is exactly what this divisive GOP bill does. The bill puts healthcare for our children, our families and our seniors at risk by pitting their needs against one another. Healthcare is not a choice, it is a right. The children in our Commonwealth who rely on CHIP for their basic healthcare needs deserve more than this foolish game of politics. We need to come together, roll up our sleeves and do the right thing. I will keep fighting until we get this done for our children,\" Congressman Evans said.\n\nThe Republican controlled House and Senate failed to reauthorize the Children's Health Insurance Program (CHIP) program which expired on September 30. Nationwide, nine million children rely on CHIP for affordable, reliable healthcare.\n\nCongressman Evans voted \"No\" on the House GOP CHIP-CHC Reauthorization bill, H.R. 3922.", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-08T22:12:50Z"], ["https://boyle.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/boyle-denounces-republican-tax-plan-boost-corporate-profits-and-raise", "Boyle Denounces Republican Tax Plan to Boost Corporate Profits and Raise Middle Class Taxes", "2017-11-02", "2017", "2017-11", "Democrat", "House", "PA", "Brendan Boyle", "B001296", "boyle.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "WASHINGTON, DC\u2013 Today, Congressman Brendan F. Boyle (PA-13) released the following statement in response to the unveiling of the House Republican tax plan:\n  \n\t\u00a0\u201cIt\u2019s easy to see why Republicans created this catastrophic plan in secret, with zero public hearings or bipartisan input. It\u2019s a shameful betrayal of middle class families, who would see their own taxes raised in order to pay for trillions in tax cuts for corporations and the wealthiest 1 percent. At a time when we should be fighting to empower working families struggling to find financial security, this plan would gut critical tax breaks for families and homeowners like the state and local tax deduction, which prevents middle class taxpayers from being taxed twice on the same dollar earned. In my district alone, in 2014, 36% of tax returns used the SALT deduction. Meanwhile, the Republican tax plan eliminates the corporate alternative minimum tax and cuts the corporate tax rate without closing loopholes \u2013 despite candidate Trump\u2019s assurances that he knew best how to do so.\n  \n\t\u00a0\u201cThis plan would be a wrecking ball to the middle class and the overall US economy, crushing wage growth, lowering investments, and slashing revenue by the trillions \u2013 while the GOP simultaneously uses the deficit to justify cuts to Medicare and Medicaid. The middle class is already struggling to make ends meet. Americans need real tax reform that will boost the middle class, close corporate loopholes, and keep good jobs here at home \u2013 like the Patriot Employer Act, which I helped introduce last month. Instead, the GOP plan would raise taxes for millions of working families for the sake of boosting corporate profits, already at record highs. As a Member of the House Budget Committee and co-chair of the Blue Collar Caucus, I will continue to fight against this reprehensible, irresponsible proposal, and fight for real solutions for working families and American workers.\u201d\n  \n\t###", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://cartwright.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/cartwright-lance-applaud-committee-passage-of-bipartisan-prepare-act", "Cartwright, Lance Applaud Committee Passage of Bipartisan PREPARE Act", "2017-11-02", "2017", "2017-11", "Democrat", "House", "PA", "Matt Cartwright", "C001090", "cartwright.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Washington, DC \u2013 Today, bipartisan legislation by U.S. Representatives Matt Cartwright (PA-17) and Leonard Lance (NJ-07) unanimously passed the House Oversight and Government Reform (OGR) Committee. The PREPARE Act (H.R. 4177) would improve government preparedness for extreme weather incidents.\nThe Government Accountability Office (GAO) placed threats posed by extreme weather in its 2017 High Risk List, an accounting of the most pressing fiscal exposures the federal government faces.\u00a0 From 2010-2016, extreme weather events resulted in:\n 422 presidential major disaster declarations;\n\t74 events that each inflicted at least $1 billion in damage; and\n\tA total of 1,646 fatalities and $316 billion in economic losses in 44 states caused by these 74 events.\n The PREPARE Act authorizes an interagency council whose purpose is to provide recommendations on the best means of planning and preparing for extreme weather incidents. The bill also strengthens each individual agency\u2019s resiliency efforts. Finally, the bill would provide state and local stakeholders with the best information available and best practices to help them formulate emergency preparation plans tailored to their local needs. A coalition of over 50 business and thought leaders supports this legislation.\n\u201cThis year, Hurricanes Maria, Irma, and Harvey illustrated the devastating effects extreme weather can have. My zero-cost bill compels the federal government to form a comprehensive plan to prepare for the grave threat posed by extreme weather events. By preparing for the worst, the government can limit the devastation and reduce taxpayers\u2019 exposure to liability from extreme weather. This is the exact type of bipartisan, commonsense legislation that Congress should focus on,\u201d said Rep Cartwright.\n\u201cWe need the PREPARE Act to make sure our Nation is ready for natural disasters.\u00a0 Severe weather events have hit our country hard this year.\u00a0 Coordination and preparedness are critical to protect life and property when future events occur.\u00a0 This legislation will ensure government agencies are sharing information properly and outlining best practices so lessons learned responding to a disaster in one part of the country can be put to use responding to others across the Nation.\u00a0 I thank Congressman Cartwright for taking the lead on this important issue for the entire Nation,\u201d said Rep. Lance.\n\"I applaud Rep. Cartwright for introducing this bill to address the federal government's need to prepare for extreme weather events. This bill is especially timely in light of the devastation from Hurricanes Harvey, Irma, and Maria. The time to act is now,\u201d said OGR Ranking Member Elijah Cummings.\u00a0\n\u00a0\u201cExtreme weather can devastate businesses. Preparation and planning -- which the PREPARE Act proposes -- are key to reducing the damage. Just this year, overall economic costs from strong storms includes $90 billion plus in Houston and $95 billion in Puerto Rico. We don't yet know how many companies will go out of business in Houston, Puerto Rico and other place affected by recent hurricanes, but we do know that 30 percent of small businesses affected by hurricane Sandy failed as a direct result of it. And that was after the federal government provided $60 billion in aid and $2.4 billion worth of disaster recovery loans from the Small Business Administration. It's only prudent to invest up front in resilience planning to keep our businesses safe,\u201d said David Levine, CEO and Co-founder of the American Sustainable Business Council.\n\u201cThis year's massive hurricanes and wildfires serve as a reminder that the cost to respond to natural disasters continues to grow, and taxpayers are footing an ever larger part of the bill. The PREPARE Act offers a plan to prepare for and coordinate response in ways that are both streamlined and efficient,\u201d said R.J. Lehmann, Senior Fellow at R Street.\nSupporting organizations can be found here.  \n\tBill text can be found here.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://evans.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/congressman-evans-calls-gop-tax-bill-disgrace-hardworking-americans", "Congressman Evans Calls GOP Tax Bill a Disgrace to Hardworking Americans Nationwide", "2017-11-02", "2017", "2017-11", "Democrat", "House", "PA", "Dwight Evans", "E000296", "evans.house.gov", "evans", "https://evans.house.gov/media/press-releases", "scraper", "Today, Congressman Dwight Evans (PA-02) released the following statement after reviewing the latest Republican tax plan.\n\nOur country has not seen bipartisan tax reform since 1986, and I believe we can all agree that the U.S. tax code is in need of a major facelift. Comprehensive tax reform must simplify our tax code, lower rates, and ensure a progressive tax code that helps move everyone in our neighborhoods forward, without simply picking winners and losers.\n\n\"The Republican party seems to have forgotten one of the guiding principles of our democracy; as their new tax plan does absolutely nothing to ensure that our government is of the people, by the people and for the people,\" Congressman Evans said. \"The GOP tax plan borrows trillions from future generations to give tax cuts to millionaires and billionaires at the expense of our Commonwealth's children and working families. This is entirely unacceptable and not a plan that fits the needs of Philadelphians, Pennsylvanians and Americans. It's time for the Republican party to work across party lines in a deliberate and transparent manner to create a tax plan that listens to, speaks to and hears the needs of hardworking Americans in our neighborhoods nationwide.\"", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-08T22:12:50Z"], ["https://www.casey.senate.gov/newsroom/releases/casey-statement-on-latest-gop-tax-scheme", "Casey Statement On Latest GOP Tax Scheme", "2017-11-02", "2017", "2017-11", "Democrat", "House", "PA", "Bob Casey", "C001070", "www.casey.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Washington, D.C. \u2013 U.S. Senator Bob Casey (D-PA) released the following statement regarding the latest tax plan put forth by congressional Republicans:\r\n\u201cCongressional Republicans have taken great pains to spin their tax scheme as great for the middle class, but a few marginal changes don\u2019t change the fact that their plan is fundamentally a massive giveaway to the wealthy at the expense of the middle class. By eliminating key deductions like the deduction for state and local sales and income tax and the $4,050 personal exemption per family member, some middle class families in Pennsylvania could see their taxes rise while the super-rich get a windfall.\r\nThis proposal finances tax giveaways to the 1% while it eliminates the vital tax deductions to help middle class families adopt children and pay their medical bills. This Republican tax bill, which provides a $1.5 trillion tax cut for corporations, comes on the heels of passage just last week of a Republican budget which proposes cutting Medicare and Medicaid by the same amount, $1.5 trillion.\r\nWe need to reform the tax code for the middle class and small businesses, but the congressional Republican outline does the opposite, providing massive giveaways to the super rich and large corporations. Congressional Republicans should scrap this obscene plan and start over with a bipartisan process that raises incomes for the middle class and creates jobs.\u201d\r\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://boyle.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/congressman-boyle-jobs-dignity-task-force-meet-jobs-experts-craft", "Congressman Boyle, Jobs with Dignity Task Force Meet with Jobs Experts to Craft Economic Agenda", "2017-11-01", "2017", "2017-11", "Democrat", "House", "PA", "Brendan Boyle", "B001296", "boyle.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "WASHINGTON, D.C. \u2013 Today, Congressman Brendan F. Boyle (PA-13), along with his fellow co-chairs of the Democratic Caucus\u2019 Jobs with Dignity Task Force, met with labor, business, and academic leaders to discuss strategies to raise wages, strengthen benefits, and build real financial and retirement stability for the middle class.  \n\t\u00a0  \n\tCongressman Boyle was joined by Paul Downs, Founder and President of Paul Downs Custom Conference Tables, a custom furniture workshop located in Bridgeport, PA \u2013 in Congressman Boyle\u2019s congressional district \u2013 that employs 20 skilled craftsmen and takes pride in its renowned American-made products. Mr. Downs, who has published a book about owning a small business and written about profit sharing for the New York Times, was invited to the panel as an expert witness to share his perspective on effective, community-minded business practices.  \n\t\u00a0  \n\t\u201cI\u2019m so proud to have Mr. Downs with us in the U.S. Capitol today,\u201d said Congressman Boyle. \u201cAs a local business leader who has put successful, worker-oriented industry strategies into practice in our own community, Paul is exactly the kind of voice we need to have at the table as Democrats work to build a legislative agenda that will strengthen the middle class and create a better deal for working Americans.\u201d  \n\t\u00a0  \n\t\u201cAs Republicans ram their billionaire tax cut agenda through Congress without a single hearing, my colleagues and I are focused on offering bold solutions that will raise wages, increase profit-sharing, ensure retirement security, and empower the middle class in the long term. Working families can\u2019t afford higher taxes or handouts to billionaires \u2013 they need better wages, better jobs, and real financial confidence.\u201d  \n\t\u00a0  \n\tSpecifically, this forum, titled \u201cRaising Wages and Providing Benefits to Support a Middle Class Family,\u201d delved into some of the unique partnerships created between employees and employers to encourage profit-sharing, increased take-home pay, and better benefits for employees. The forum was organized to gather the experiences and insights of expert witnesses to help guide the task force as it looks to shape federal policy in this area.  \n\t\u00a0  \n\tThe four co-chairs of the Jobs with Dignity task force are Congressman Brendan F. Boyle (PA-13), Congressman Don Beyer (VA-8), Congresswoman Brenda Lawrence (MI-14), and Congressman Raul Ruiz (CA-36). They were joined by Democratic Caucus Chairman Joe Crowley (NY-14) and Vice-Chair Linda Sanchez (CA-38). They were joined by invited panelists Paul Downs, Founder and President of Paul Downs Custom Conference Tables; Nicole Collier, Director of Government Relations & Public Affairs, Nestl\u00e9; Josh Nassar, Legislative Director, United Auto Workers; and Joseph A. McCartin, Professor of History and Director of the Kalmanovitz Initiative for Labor and the Working Poor at Georgetown University.  \n\t\u00a0  \n\tCongressman Boyle also serves as co-chair of the Blue Collar Caucus, formed in the wake of the 2016 election to hold President Trump accountable for his promises to working people by fostering member discussion and legislative ideas focused on addressing wage stagnation, job insecurity, trade, offshoring, and dwindling career opportunities for those in the manufacturing and building trades.  \n\t\u00a0  \n\t###", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://www.casey.senate.gov/newsroom/media/view/casey-floor-remarks-on-janus-v-afscme", "Casey Floor Remarks on Janus v. AFSCME", "2017-11-01", "2017", "2017-11", "Democrat", "House", "PA", "Bob Casey", "C001070", "www.casey.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Casey Floor Remarks on Janus v. AFSCME \n            To increase incomes and strengthen the middle-class, we need to stop the assault on workers and labor unions whether it happens in Congress, state legislatures or the United States Supreme Court.\n            \n                \n                    \n                       \t\n        \t\t\t\t\n                        \n                            \n                                \n                                \n                                    \n                                    \n                                    \n                                \n                                \n        \t\t\t\t\t\t\n                            \n                        \n                        \n    \t\t\t\t\t\t\n                            \t\n    \t\t\t\t\t\t\n    \t\t\t\t\t\n                    \n                \n            \n        \t\n            \n            \n            \n                \n                \n                \n                \n                    \n                   \tSee Video on YouTube\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\tTweet\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n                    \nCopy Link", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://www.casey.senate.gov/newsroom/releases/casey-statement-on-health-care-open-enrollment-period", "Casey Statement On Health Care Open Enrollment Period", "2017-11-01", "2017", "2017-11", "Democrat", "House", "PA", "Bob Casey", "C001070", "www.casey.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Washington, D.C. \u2013 U.S. Senator Bob Casey (D-PA) issued the following statement on the first day of open enrollment for Americans purchasing health insurance on the individual health care market, which runs from November 1st to December 15th:\r\n\u201cI encourage all Pennsylvanians to log on to healthcare.gov between today and December 15 to participate in open enrollment. Open enrollment allows Pennsylvanians to shop for health care plans that fit their families\u2019 needs, and most people still qualify for a tax credit to keep their premiums affordable,\u201d said Senator Casey. \u201cDespite Republican efforts to sabotage the Affordable Care Act, it is still the law of the land, and it is important that all consumers log in to provide updated information and make sure that they have picked the best plan to fit their needs for 2018. Open enrollment ends on December 15, so it is important that you act now.\u201d\r\nOpen enrollment for states offering health care plans on healthcare.gov runs from November 1st to December 15th, and purchasing coverage will be easier earlier in the enrollment period. Financial help is available - about 80 percent of people who buy health coverage on healthcare.gov can find a plan for less than $75 per month. Even if you are already enrolled, shopping around for a new plan can save money while still providing you with the care you need. Over the phone assistance is also available at 1-800-318-2596.\r\nOpen enrollment begins on schedule with affordable plans available despite numerous attempts by Republicans in Congress to repeal the Affordable Care Act, which would have driven up health care costs and left tens of millions of Americans without health care. The Trump administration has also continued to sabotage the law by shortening the open enrollment period, defunding advertising and outreach, and sowing confusion about the health care options that are available to American families.\r\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://boyle.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/congressman-boyle-introduces-legislation-aid-sexual-assault-victims", "Congressman Boyle Introduces Legislation to Aid Sexual Assault Victims", "2017-10-31", "2017", "2017-10", "Democrat", "House", "PA", "Brendan Boyle", "B001296", "boyle.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "WASHINGTON, D.C. \u2013 Today Congressman Brendan F. Boyle (PA-13) introduced legislation to facilitate better access to funding for victims of sexual assault. The Removing Barriers to Sexual Assault Victims\u2019 Compensation Act is a revenue-neutral bill that would require states to remove time limits for establishing eligibility to receive compensation owed under existing law, which exist in 47 states and the District of Columbia. Pennsylvania has a two year time limit under current law.  \n\t\u00a0  \n\t\u201cFor many victims of sexual assault, stepping out of the shadows and reporting the crime is traumatic enough,\u201d said Congressman Boyle. \u201cOn top of this, the evidence kits for many victims lay untested on the shelves of police labs for years on end before any justice is ever achieved. Meanwhile, victims are forced to lose work hours in order to attend doctor\u2019s visits and tend to legal matters; medical bills rack up and lost wages can turn into lost jobs.  \n\t\u00a0  \n\t\u201cFortunately, a reserve of funds exists for states to compensate sexual assault victims for their lost wages, medical bills, and other expenses related to their assault. This funding is crucial for victims who otherwise might not be able to make ends meet through no fault of their own. However, there are unnecessary roadblocks and time limitations placed upon these victims seeking the compensation they are owed. We need to make it easier for these victims to achieve justice, regain their footing and return to society \u2013 not harder. As we conclude Domestic Violence Awareness Month, I am fighting make sure that victims of sexual assault are not burdened even further by the system that is supposed to help them cope with the trauma of these crimes.\u201d  \n\t\u00a0  \n\tCongressman Boyle has been a dedicated advocate for victims of sexual assault and domestic violence throughout his tenure in state and federal office. As a Pennsylvania State Representative, he introduced and passed the SAFER PA Act, which requires timely testing of DNA evidence kits and reporting of backlogged and untested evidence. In Congress, he is a leader in the fight to fully fund the DOJ\u2019s Sexual Assault Kit Initiative, which provides grant funding to improve state and local capacity for kit testing and enable better investigation and prosecution of sexual crimes.\u00a0  \n\t\u00a0  \n\t###", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://evans.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/congressman-evans-shines-light-saul-high-school-and-agriculture", "Congressman Evans shines a light on Saul High School and the Agriculture Secretary Takes Notice", "2017-10-31", "2017", "2017-10", "Democrat", "House", "PA", "Dwight Evans", "E000296", "evans.house.gov", "evans", "https://evans.house.gov/media/press-releases", "scraper", "Last week, Congressman Dwight Evans (PA-02) meet with United States Department of Agriculture Secretary Sonny Perdue. A few days after their meeting, Secretary Perdue spoke at the 90th National Future Farmers of America (FFA) Convention and Expo in Indianapolis, IN and highlighted Walter Biddle Saul High School of Agricultural Sciences in Roxborough, PA in his remarks.\n\n\"As a member of the House Agriculture Committee, people often ask me how many farms I have in my District, I always turn the question around and say it's more about how many consumers I have in my District,\" Congressman Evans said. \"It is incumbent upon us to build the next generation of leaders in our Agricultural Industry. I am proud to represent the only agricultural high school in our Commonwealth, Saul High School in Roxborough, which is working with students, parents and teachers to do just that!\"\n\nLast week Secretary of Agricultural Sonny Perdue highlighted Saul High School at the National FFA Convention when he said:\n\n\"There's a growing interest and emphasis on agricultural programs in urban schools. There's a real demand out there for people who didn't have the opportunity to grow up on a farm to understand where our food comes from. Learning about agriculture is no longer just for the young person on farms in rural areas. Let me give you an example \u2013 just this past week, I was meeting with a Member of Congress, his name is Dwight Evans, he represents an urban Philadelphia district and he was telling me with such pride about the Walter Biddle Saul High School of Agricultural Sciences. You ever heard of that? I had not, but he tells me it is the largest agricultural farm school in the United States. 130 acre working farm with FFA there. It is the largest single chapter in the U.S. at the Saul Agricultural School in Philadelphia. Students there launched \"ewetube,\" did you know that? That's where \"ewetube\" started. Their \"ewetube\" was spelled e-w-e-tube, and they also did Phillywatch so they can teach their colleagues and kids across America and Philadelphia about livestreaming channels on the internet to showcase the lamb and colt programs which includes the streaming of live births. At some of the fairs around the country, that's been a very popular thing. People wait there for hours to see that and you can watch it right there on \"ewetube.\" So that's pretty creative. We look for more of those to come along. So students face stiff competition in Philadelphia to be admitted. So FFA is just not for Rural America, it's for America.\"\n\n\"I am committed to bringing Food Policy and Farm Policy to the national stage by raising the consciousness and dialogue on these critically important issues. I commend Secretary Perdue for shinning an important spotlight on how schools in the Second District are working to build a stronger tomorrow each and every day,\" Evans said.\n\nCongressman Evans visiting with students and teachers earlier this month at Saul High School in Roxborough, PA.", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-08T22:06:42Z"], ["https://boyle.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/casey-boyle-fitzpatrick-meehan-fight-retain-progress-pfcs-final-defense", "Casey, Boyle, Fitzpatrick, Meehan Fight to Retain Progress on PFCs in Final Defense Authorization Bill", "2017-10-30", "2017", "2017-10", "Democrat", "House", "PA", "Brendan Boyle", "B001296", "boyle.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "WASHINGTON, D.C. \u2013 A bipartisan, bicameral group of Pennsylvania lawmakers including Senator Bob Casey (D-PA), Rep. Brendan Boyle (PA-13), Rep. Brian Fitzpatrick (PA-08),\u00a0and Rep. Pat Meehan (PA-07) are urging House and Senate negotiators to include crucial water contamination language in the final Fiscal Year (FY) 2018 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA).\u00a0 In a letter addressed to the chairs and ranking members of the House and Senate Committees on Armed Services, the group pushed for support for their House and Senate-passed amendments to address the ongoing issue of water contamination by perfluorinated chemicals (PFCs) like PFOA and PFOS surrounding the former Naval Air Warfare Center in Warminster, the former Naval Air Station Joint Reserve Base in Horsham, as well as the Horsham Air Guard Station. A House and Senate Conference Committee has been convened to produce one conference bill for the two chambers. The legislators are fighting to ensure their respective \u201cwins\u201d are included in the final conference bill, which will likely be enacted into law by the end of 2017.\n  \n\t\u201cWater contamination as a result of the military\u2019s decades-long use of AFFF is a nationwide problem that the Department of Defense must confront,\u201d reads the letter in part. \u201cA nationwide health study, increased funding for cleanup and community engagement, and accelerated progress towards identifying safer alternative firefighting foams are each vital steps in the right direction of addressing this serious, growing health threat. As representatives of some of the first communities dealing with this problem today, we ask for your support of our bipartisan, bicameral request for the FY18 NDAA conference bill.\u201d\u00a0  \n\t\u00a0  \n\tThe complete text of the letter is below.  \n\t\u00a0  The Honorable John McCain\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 The Honorable Jack Reed\n\tChairman\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 Ranking Member\n\tCommittee on Armed Services\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 Committee on Armed Services\n\tUnited States Senate\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0United States Senate\n\tWashington, DC 20510\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0Washington, DC 20510\n\t\u00a0\n\tThe Honorable Mac Thornberry\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 The Honorable Adam Smith\n\tChairman\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 Ranking Member\n\tCommittee on Armed Services\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 Committee on Armed Services\n\tUnited State House of Representatives\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 United States House of Representatives\n\tWashington, DC 20515\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0Washington, DC 20515\n\t\u00a0\n\tDear Chairmen and Ranking Members:\u00a0\n\t\u00a0\n\tAs you negotiate the Fiscal Year (FY) 2018 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA), we write to ask for your support of various provisions affecting communities in Pennsylvania that are dealing with contaminated drinking water as a result of the use of the firefighting foam Aqueous Film-Forming Foam (AFFF) at military installations nearby. Because of the broad scope of AFFF, which contains perfluorinated chemicals (PFCs) like PFOA and PFOS and is used by entities including the U.S military at more than 600 sites across the country, contaminated drinking water now poses a nationwide public health threat. A growing volume of peer-reviewed studies indicate serious human health risks associated with PFCs like PFOA and PFOS, including links to certain types of cancers and impaired immune system performance. We appreciate you working with us during each chamber\u2019s NDAA process to make substantial progress addressing these issues, and ask for your continued support during the conference process.\n\t\u00a0\n\tFor several years, Pennsylvanians living in communities near the Horsham Air Guard Station, former Naval Air Station Joint Reserve Base Willow Grove, and former Naval Air Warfare Center in Warminster have been living with too many questions and not enough answers about the use of AFFF and its impact on their local water quality. Our constituents deserve to understand what impact this contamination has had on their health and the health of their children. We believe that the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) should conduct a comprehensive, nationwide study of the health effects of these contaminants, with support from the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and Department of Defense (DoD). We were pleased to see both the House and Senate NDAA adopt language to this effect, as well as the Senate\u2019s action to authorize the more immediate interim step of biomonitoring at eight communities affected by the contamination. The House NDAA also includes language (Section 727) that would authorize DoD to enter into intergovernmental agreements to provide health screenings for conditions relating to PFOS and PFOA exposure in communities near formerly used defense sites that are the sources of contamination. We ask that the committee support authorization of a health study, health screenings and biomonitoring in the final conference agreement.\u00a0\n\t\u00a0\n\tSecond, the Department of Defense has identified 393 active and former sites around the Nation where there was a known or suspected release of PFOS and/or PFOA. Through December 2016, the Department of Defense had already spent approximately $202 million on PFOS and PFOA sampling, analysis, and cleanup; $199 million of that was originally programmed for cleanup activities at other sites. As a result, both the House and Senate increased the authorization for funding of the relevant accounts for environmental restoration and cleanup in recognition of the significant anticipated cost associated with remediation and response as the DOD\u2019s assessment of potential exposure advances. We ask that you support the most substantial increases possible to the following accounts:\n\t\u00a0\n\tSenate Action:\u00a0\n\tEnvironmental Restoration \u2013 Navy: Section 14001 authorizes a $41.6 million increase.\n\tEnvironmental Restoration \u2013 Air Force: Section 14009 authorizes a $20 million increase.\n\tOperations and Maintenance \u2013 Air Guard: Section 14002 authorizes a $5 million increase.\u00a0\n\tOperations and Maintenance \u2013 Navy Reserve: Section 14002 authorizes a $20 million increase.\n\t\u00a0\n\tHouse Action:\u00a0\n\tEnvironmental Restoration \u2013 Navy: Authorization of a $30 million program increase for PFOS / PFOA remediation.\u00a0\n\tEnvironmental Restoration \u2013 Air Force: Authorization of a $30 million program increase for PFOS / PFOA remediation.\n\tThe House Defense Appropriations Act for FY2018 (H.R. 3219) also supported these levels, with bipartisan floor vote of 256-169.\n\t\u00a0\n\tFinally, we firmly believe that the Department of Defense should accelerate its efforts to identify a safe, effective alternative to AFFF that meets the military\u2019s performance requirements without the harmful PFOA and PFOS chemicals. We ask that you support Section 1060 of the House-passed NDAA, which requires a report on research and development progress as well as an assessment of how the establishment of a maximum contaminant level nationwide regulation under the Safe Water Drinking Act, rather than the current health advisory level, would impact DOD\u2019s budget priorities, mitigation and cleanup activities, and research and development related to PFOA and PFOS.\n\t\u00a0\n\tWater contamination as a result of the military\u2019s decades-long use of AFFF is a nationwide problem that the Department of Defense must confront. A nationwide health study, increased funding for cleanup and community engagement, and accelerated progress towards identifying safer alternative firefighting foams are each vital steps in the right direction of addressing this serious, growing health threat. As representatives of some of the first communities dealing with this problem today, we ask for your support of our bipartisan, bicameral request for the FY18 NDAA conference bill.\n\t\u00a0\n\tSincerely,\nRobert P. Casey, Jr., United States Senator\nBrendan F. Boyle, Member of Congress\nPatrick Meehan, Member of Congress\nBrian K. Fitzpatrick, Member of Congress  \n\t\u00a0  \n\t###", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://www.casey.senate.gov/newsroom/releases/casey-applauds-dept-of-commerce-investigations-into-foreign-steel-dumping-unfair-subsidies", "Casey Applauds Dept. Of Commerce Investigations Into Foreign Steel Dumping, Unfair Subsidies", "2017-10-30", "2017", "2017-10", "Democrat", "House", "PA", "Bob Casey", "C001070", "www.casey.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Washington, D.C. \u2013 Following Commerce Secretary Wilbur Ross\u2019s announcement that the U.S. Department of Commerce would initiate an antidumping (AD) investigation into practices by China, Italy, and Taiwan and a countervailing duty (CVD) investigation into alleged unfair Chinese subsidies, U.S. Senator Bob Casey (D-PA) released the following statement:\r\n\u201cI\u2019m encouraged by this announcement from Department of Commerce and would like to applaud the Bonney Forge Corporation and the United Steel, Paper and Forestry, Rubber, Manufacturing, Energy, Allied Industrial and Service Workers International Union on their work in filing the petitions which brought about these investigations.\r\nAs I have outlined in a number of letters and conversations, we must take the threat of unfair trade practices seriously. When countries cheat, we must go after them with everything we have. These investigations are a step in the right direction but I will continue pressing the Administration until we have concrete answers.\u201d\r\nAccording to the Department of Commerce, the AD investigations will work to determine whether imports of forged steel fittings from China, Italy, and Taiwan are being dumped in the U.S. market at less than fair value. The CVD investigation will attempt to determine whether Chinese producers of forged steel fittings are receiving unfair government subsidies. The International Trade Commission (ITC) will make preliminary determinations in the coming month. The ITC\u2019s findings will determine if the Department of Commerce investigations will continue. A positive finding would allow for duties to be imposed the imported goods.\u00a0\r\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://www.casey.senate.gov/newsroom/releases/casey-responds-to-administrations-stated-support-for-45-billion-in-opioid-funding", "Casey responds to Administration's Stated Support for $45 billion in Opioid funding", "2017-10-27", "2017", "2017-10", "Democrat", "House", "PA", "Bob Casey", "C001070", "www.casey.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Washington, DC - On the heels of White House Press Secretary Sarah Huckabee Sanders\u2019 statement that the White House would support a $45 billion investment in the opioid fight, Senator Casey released the following statement:\r\n\u201cI am pleased that the White House has come out in favor of a $45 billion investment in the opioid crisis. If the White House is serious about confronting the opioid crisis then I would urge President Trump to endorse my legislation, S. 2004, the Combating the Opioid Epidemic Act. This legislation would invest the $45 billion in the opioid fight that the White House says it wants without eliminating coverage for substance use disorder as the Administration\u2019s health care scheme did by decimating Medicaid.\u201d\r\nMore information on the bill, which was introduced this week, can be found here: https://www.casey.senate.gov/newsroom/releases/casey-leads-legislation-to-invest-45b-to-address-opioid-crisis", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://boyle.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/boyle-statement-opposing-house-passage-republican-budget-paving-way-tax", "Boyle Statement Opposing House Passage of Republican Budget Paving Way for Tax Handouts to Billionaires", "2017-10-26", "2017", "2017-10", "Democrat", "House", "PA", "Brendan Boyle", "B001296", "boyle.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "WASHINGTON, D.C. \u2013 Today, Congressman Brendan F. Boyle (PA-13) released the following statement following the passage of Republicans\u2019 FY 2018 Budget Resolution through the House of Representatives by a vote of 216-212 without a single Democratic vote. The measure, H. Con. Res. 71, now allows a rare, powerful procedural tool allowing the Senate to move forward on the GOP tax plan with a simple majority partisan vote \u2013 rather than a 60-member threshold requiring Democratic support. The GOP tax plan would give 80 percent of its tax benefits to the wealthiest 1 percent while making middle class families pay higher taxes.  \n\t\u00a0  \n\t\u201cToday, my Republican colleagues voted to adopt a disgraceful budget that will damage our country\u2019s economy, kill middle-class jobs, and hurt working families. It is wrong to raise taxes on millions of middle class Americans in order to pay for a tax cut for billionaires. This budget will leave the most vulnerable among us behind by slashing funding for vital community programs, while steamrolling job growth by killing crucial federal investments and funding for research and education. This is a missed opportunity to lift up the struggling middle class and a reprehensible betrayal of American values. Even worse, Republicans charged ahead on this budget vote solely to jam though their partisan, draconian tax plan to put trillions in the pockets of the mega-wealthy \u2013 paid for by raising taxes on 50 million middle-class Americans, including 967,000 households in Pennsylvania. This is not a tax plan; it is stacking the deck further against middle class families who most need relief in an economy that is already rigged against them. I\u2019ll continue fighting against this shameful, economic plan, and working to put forward real policy solutions that will actually grow our economy and bring hardworking families the support they need.\u201d\nCongressman Boyle is Co-Chair of the Blue Collar Caucus, formed in the wake of the 2016 election to hold President Trump accountable for his promises to working people by fostering member discussion and legislative ideas focused on addressing wage stagnation, job insecurity, trade, offshoring, and dwindling career opportunities for those in the manufacturing and building trades. The caucus focuses on bringing together a diverse array of Democratic members of the House of Representatives to reconnect the party to blue collar workers, and generate solutions that will protect American workers from globalized competition, maintain the viability of domestic manufacturing, and help to cultivate innovative industries that can provide stable employment amid rapid technological advancement.\n  \n\t###", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://cartwright.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/rep-cartwright-introduces-bipartisan-legislation-to-boost-stem-education", "Rep. Cartwright Introduces Bipartisan Legislation to Boost STEM Education, Cut Red Tape", "2017-10-26", "2017", "2017-10", "Democrat", "House", "PA", "Matt Cartwright", "C001090", "cartwright.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Washington, DC \u2013 Today, U.S. Representatives Matt Cartwright (D-PA-17), Rodney Davis (R-IL-13), and Tim Ryan (D-OH-13) introduced bipartisan legislation to promote science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) education. The Innovate America Act would double the number of STEM-focused high schools, promote computer science training, and expand research opportunities for undergraduates in STEM majors.\u00a0\n\u201cBy boosting STEM education, this bipartisan bill lays the groundwork for future innovation and helps secure America\u2019s standing in the global economy,\u201d said Rep. Cartwright. \u201cMy bill not only devotes more resources into STEM fields, but also works to eliminate burdensome regulations and to provide our nation\u2019s businesses with the workforce it needs to compete in today\u2019s economy.\u201d\nSpecifically, the Innovate America Act would:\n Improve STEM education by doubling the number of STEM-focused high schools, promoting computer science training, and expanding research opportunities for undergraduates in STEM majors;\n\tStudy the impact of STEM field retention programs for students;\n\tEstablish a website for technology commercialization ideas;\n\tEstablish a manufacturing assistance program aimed at assisting small and medium-sized businesses;\n\tIdentify regulatory barriers for small and medium-sized manufacturers;\n\tIdentify the regulatory barriers for the top 20 exporting industries to improve global competitiveness.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://www.casey.senate.gov/newsroom/releases/casey-speier-introduce-legislation-to-address-driver-fatigue-related-bus-tragedies", "Casey, Speier Introduce Legislation To Address Driver Fatigue Related Bus Tragedies", "2017-10-26", "2017", "2017-10", "Democrat", "House", "PA", "Bob Casey", "C001070", "www.casey.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Washington, D.C. \u2013 As cities across the country have seen a sharp increase in the number of tragic bus accidents, and driver related issues are a major contributor to these accidents, U.S. Senator Bob Casey (D-PA) introduced Driver Fatigue Prevention Act to address the problems associated with driver fatigue. U.S. Representative Jackie Speier (D-CA-14) introduced companion legislation in the U.S. House of Representatives. As it stands now, bus drivers are exempt from the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) overtime provisions, which cover the majority of America workers. This legislation would extend these overtime provisions to intercity bus drivers.\r\n\u00a0\r\n\u201cWe know that driver fatigue is causing accidents and we have an obligation to do something about it,\u201d said Senator Casey. \u201cBy ensuring that employers must compensate their bus drivers for every hour of work completed, they are less likely to overwork their employees. If my colleagues are serious about making our roads safer, than we must pass this legislation.\u201d\r\n\u00a0\r\n\u201cWhen bus drivers are overworked and fatigued, there is a greater likelihood of accidents, injuries and deaths,\u201d said Representative Speier. \u201cWe can\u2019t afford it. We owe Americans safety on the roadways.\u201d\r\n\u00a0\r\nAmong other benefits, the Driver Fatigue Prevention Act would help to ensure that drivers are compensated for the full amount of work that they complete, thus making employers less like to overwork their drivers.\r\n\u00a0\r\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://www.casey.senate.gov/newsroom/releases/casey-statement-on-trump-opioid-remarks", "Casey Statement on Trump Opioid Remarks", "2017-10-26", "2017", "2017-10", "Democrat", "House", "PA", "Bob Casey", "C001070", "www.casey.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Washington, DC -\u00a0U.S. Senator Bob Casey (D-PA) released a statement following President Trump\u2019s opioid remarks:\r\n\u201cWhile I commend the Administration for taking this step, the federal government must do more than issue declarations. Just yesterday, I introduced legislation, the Combating the Opioid Epidemic Act, that would invest $45 billion over 10 years to fund opioid treatment and prevention, as well as research on pain and addiction. In order to help families suffering from the opioid crisis, there must be substantial investments in treatment and increased access to care. Since March, I\u2019ve held nine meetings across Pennsylvania to discuss the need to address opioid dependence. Good treatment, over a sustained period of time, gives those with an opioid dependence and their families the best shot at overcoming this challenge. The Administration and congressional Republicans must also stop pursuing health care schemes to decimate Medicaid, which would deny Americans\u2019 coverage for substance use disorders. The opioid epidemic is a national emergency and we must respond with real investments in treatment.\u201d", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://boyle.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/house-passes-boyle-amendment-sanction-russian-support-hezbollah", "House Passes Boyle Amendment to Sanction Russian Support of Hezbollah", "2017-10-25", "2017", "2017-10", "Democrat", "House", "PA", "Brendan Boyle", "B001296", "boyle.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "WASHINGTON, D.C. \u2013 Today, the House passed Congressman Brendan F. Boyle\u2019s (PA-13) amendment to sanction Russia for its support of the terrorist organization Hezbollah. H.R. 3329, the Hezbollah International Financing Prevention Amendments Act of 2017, with Boyle\u2019s amendment, passed the House and now awaits consideration by the U.S. Senate.\n\u201cThis is a critical first step in censuring the disturbing relationship between Russia and Hezbollah, a terrorist group that has repeatedly violated international law,\u201d said Congressman Boyle, a member of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, in a statement after the passage of the bill. \u201cIt is high time we take a stand against international support for Hezbollah and commit to ensuring the security of Americans abroad and defending our international allies like Israel.\u201d\n\u201cIn the course of their collaboration during the Syrian conflict, Russia has provided Hezbollah with funding, training, air support, and advanced weaponry. This expansion of Hezbollah\u2019s capacity for destruction poses an imminent threat to peace and democracy in the region. This amendment will compel Russia to cease its support for Hezbollah in Syria or anywhere else, or else face sanctions by the United States.\u201d\nH.R. 3329 targets foreign governments that knowingly provide significant financial support to Hezbollah and foreign individuals and companies that aid its fundraising or recruitment activities. In the decade since the Second Lebanon War, Hezbollah has transformed, emboldened by learning Russian methods of war and becoming familiar with their advanced weaponry and technologies. Hezbollah has now amassed up to 150,000 rockets and missiles, and could launch over 1,500 rockets per day in a future conflict with Israel. On the Foreign Affairs Committee, Congressman Boyle remains steadfast in his efforts to hold Hezbollah and its allies accountable.\nCongressman Boyle remains outspoken in his commitment to ending violence in the Middle East and serves as co-chair of the Friends of a Free, Stable and Democratic Syria Caucus, which recently met with the renowned White Helmet search-and-rescue team to discuss humanitarian responses to the Syrian conflict and atrocities committed by the Assad regime and Russian military. He is also leading congressional efforts to hold the Russian government accountable for its military incursion into Ukrainian territory and its cybersecurity attacks on America and its allies.  \n\t###", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://cartwright.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/cartwright-announces-45200-usda-rural-development-grant-to-mahanoy-city", "Cartwright Announces $45,200 USDA Rural Development Grant to Mahanoy City Borough", "2017-10-25", "2017", "2017-10", "Democrat", "House", "PA", "Matt Cartwright", "C001090", "cartwright.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Mahanoy City, PA \u2013 Today, U.S. Representative Matt Cartwright announced that the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) awarded a $45,20o Economic Impact Initiative Grant to Mahanoy City Borough. This grant program falls within the scope of USDA Rural Development, which is committed to helping improve the economy and quality of life in rural America.\nThe USDA Economic Impact Initiative Grant program provides funding to assist in the development of essential community facilities in rural communities that qualify for economic development assistance. Mahanoy City Borough will use the grant to purchase a Mini Excavator for the borough\u2019s street department.\n\u201cTargeted federal funding programs, through the USDA\u2019s Economic Impact Initiative program, go a long way toward helping our small communities and their surrounding areas,\u201d said Rep. Cartwright, a member of the House Appropriations Committee. \u201cI support maintaining these programs so our small towns do not get left out or left behind, and can provide essential services to the local communities they serve.\u201d\nThe USDA Rural Development programs offers direct loans, loan guarantees, and grants to develop or improve essential public services and facilities in communities across rural America. These amenities help increase the competitiveness of rural communities in attracting and retaining businesses that provide employment and services for their residents. An essential community facility is one that provides an essential service to the local community, is needed for the orderly development of the community, serves a primarily rural area, and does not include private, commercial or business undertakings.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://doyle.house.gov/press-release/doyle-condemns-pai-fcc-%E2%80%9Cprofoundly-negative-effect-our-country%E2%80%9D", "Doyle Condemns Pai FCC for Profoundly Negative Effect on Our Country", "2017-10-25", "2017", "2017-10", "Democrat", "House", "PA", "Mike Doyle", "D000482", "doyle.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Washington, DC \u2013 Congressman Doyle (D-PA-14) made the following statement earlier today at the House Energy and Commerce Committee\u2019s Subcommittee on Communications and Technology\u2019s oversight hearing on the Federal Communications Commission.\u00a0\n\u00a0\n\u201cFirst, thank you Madam Chairman for holding this hearing, and thank you to the witnesses for appearing before us today. Let me just say that I really enjoy our time together here, as I\u2019m sure all of you do, and would encourage the Chairman to hold these get-togethers far more often.\u00a0\n\u00a0\n\u201cCommissioner Rosenworcel, welcome back. Your work on the Homework Gap has been missed. Commissioner Carr, congratulations on your confirmation. I hope that as you establish your agenda you remember that the guiding principle of the FCC is to act in the public interest. It is standard that I will hold you to as well.\u00a0\u00a0\n\u00a0\n\u201cChairman Pai, many people around the country including myself and many of colleagues are deeply alarmed by your response to President Trump\u2019s threats against the media, and specifically his tweet threatening NBC. In 2014, you wrote in the Wall Street Journal that \u2018the government has no place pressuring media organizations into covering certain stories.\u2019 You took six days to respond to the President\u2019s tweet, and when you did you did not directly address the President\u2019s threat at all or its chilling effects on the media.\n\u00a0\n\u201cWhile the President and the Administration can dispute the veracity of any story, even ones that are demonstrably true, they cannot attack the free institutions that enable our democracy. As Senator Flake said yesterday, \u2018it is time for our complicity and our accommodation of the unacceptable to end.\u2019\n\u00a0\n\u201cBesides this issue, the Commission\u2019s agenda under your leadership has already had a profoundly negative effect on our country. From increasing costs on small businesses to driving up the cost of calls to family members in prison and claiming that wireless broadband is competitive even when people in rural American know it\u2019s not, it seems that at every fork in the road you have chosen the path that leads to higher consumer costs, fewer choices, and less innovation.\u00a0\n\u00a0\n\u201cAnd it sounds as if the worst is yet to come. News reports suggest that you will unveil plans tomorrow to vastly alter the media landscape in this country, clearing the way for more media consolidation, including the Sinclair-Tribune merger.\u00a0\u00a0\n\u00a0\n\u201cYesterday the Commission eliminated the main studio rule that had ensured for 77 years that local news was gathered and reported locally. What good would a studio and reporters in New York have done for broadcast stations in Houston or Florida after the hurricanes? What good is the local news if it isn\u2019t local?\u00a0 \u00a0\n\u00a0\n\u201cOther news reports suggest you will announce an order to repeal the FCC\u2019s Open Internet Order around Thanksgiving. Madam Chairman, I sincerely hope, if that is true, that this Committee has a chance to talk to the Commission in advance of a vote on that order. The idea that such a significant order that would affect so much of our economy would be voted on without oversight is unconscionable, and would be a dereliction of this Committee\u2019s duties. If the Chairman is intent to act, I believe that his actions should be done under the scrutiny of Congress and in the light of the public.\u201d\n\u00a0\nClick here for a link to a video of the hearing.\n\u00a0\nAttached is a copy of Commissioner O\u2019Rielly\u2019s response to a Question for the Record from Congressman Doyle. This response was the subject of Congressman Doyle\u2019s line of questioning.\n\u00a0\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://www.casey.senate.gov/newsroom/media/view/casey-floor-speech-on-the-childrens-health-insurance-program", "Casey Floor Speech on the Children's Health Insurance Program", "2017-10-25", "2017", "2017-10", "Democrat", "House", "PA", "Bob Casey", "C001070", "www.casey.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Casey Floor Speech on the Children's Health Insurance Program \n            The Children\u2019s Health Insurance Program, or CHIP, expired on September 30th, in large part because we spent much of this year in a partisan debate over repealing the Affordable Care Act instead of focusing on bipartisan priorities like the CHIP program. As a result, the health care of 9 million children, including some 340,000 Pennsylvania children, is now at risk. We have a commonsense, bipartisan bill in the Senate that is ready to go. I urge all my colleagues to join with me in taking swift action to pass the KIDS Act.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://www.casey.senate.gov/newsroom/releases/casey-leads-legislation-to-invest-45b-to-address-opioid-crisis", "Casey Leads Legislation to Invest $45B to Address Opioid Crisis", "2017-10-25", "2017", "2017-10", "Democrat", "House", "PA", "Bob Casey", "C001070", "www.casey.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Washington, D.C. - To address a number of critical shortcomings of our Nation\u2019s approach to combating the opioid epidemic, including the Administration\u2019s unwillingness to make a long-term investment in the fight, U.S. Senator Bob Casey (D-PA), joined by Senators Ed Markey (D-MA), Dianne Feinstein (D-CA), Bill Nelson (D-FL), Bob Menendez (D-NJ), Sherrod Brown (D-OH), Amy Klobuchar (D-MN), Tom Udall (D-NM), Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH), Al Franken (D-MN), Tammy Baldwin (D-WI), Chris Murphy (D-CT), Martin Heinrich (D-NM), Angus King (I-ME), Tim Kaine (D-VA), Elizabeth Warren (D-MA),Maggie Hassan (D-NH), and Kamala Harris (D-CA), introduced the Combating the Opioid Epidemic Act. This legislation would invest $45 billion for prevention, detection, surveillance and treatment of opioids. This is the same number proposed by Senate Republicans earlier this summer.\r\n\u00a0\u201cThis epidemic knows no bounds. Whether impacting children, parents, or grandparents, the opioid crisis continues to grow in its intensity and its harm,\u201d said Senator Casey. \u201cIn order to effectively address the problem, we must continue to commit resources to our states and our local communities. In my recent travels across Pennsylvania, to communities both large and small, one of the most common concerns in fighting the opioid crisis is the need for more support for local resources. This legislation incorporates bipartisan, commonsense principles to make sure we\u2019re providing assistance where it is most needed.\u201d\r\nThis Legislation Would:\r\n \r\nAuthorize and appropriate $4,474,800,000 for substance abuse programs for the individual states for each of fiscal years 2018 through 2027.\r\nBuild upon bipartisanship by adding this funding to the Account for the State Response to the Opioid Abuse Crisis, which was created by the 21st Century Cures Act. The 21st Century Cures Act passed the Senate with 94 votes.\r\nExpand the use of funding already allowed under 21st Century Cures, so that states may also use this money for detection, surveillance, and treatment of co-occurring infections, as well as for surveillance, data collection and reporting on the number of opioid overdose deaths.\r\nPromote research on addiction and pain related to substance abuse, and authorizes and appropriates $50,400,000 for each of fiscal years 2018 through 2022. Under the bill, the National Institutes of Health would be responsible for distributing this money.\r\nProvide stable, long-term funding, a total of $45 billion over ten years to the states and over five years to research efforts. This is similar to the stable, long-term investment that Senate Republicans proposed as a response to the opioid emergency.\r\nNot replace coverage for treatment under Medicaid or the treatment requirements for private insurance in the Affordable Care Act. Both of these remain critical for combating the opioid abuse epidemic.\r\n \r\n\u00a0This Legislation Has Been Endorsed By:\r\n \r\nAmerican Nurses Association (ANA)\r\nAmerican Psychiatric Association\r\nAmerican Psychological Association\r\nAmerican Society of Addiction Medicine\r\nCoalition to Stop Opioid Overdose\r\nInternational Nurses Society on Addictions (IntNSA)\r\nNational Association of Clinical Nurse Specialists\r\nNational Association of County and City Health Officials\r\nNational Association of Social Workers\r\nNational Council for Behavioral Health\r\nNational Health Care for the Homeless Council\r\nNational Safety Council\r\nTreatment Communities of America\r\nYoung People in Recovery\r\n \r\n\u00a0\r\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://www.casey.senate.gov/newsroom/releases/casey-colleagues-to-trump-administration-prioritize-american-aluminum-steel-workers-not-tax-cuts-for-the-wealthiest", "Casey, Colleagues To Trump Administration: Prioritize American Aluminum, Steel Workers Not Tax Cuts For The Wealthiest", "2017-10-23", "2017", "2017-10", "Democrat", "House", "PA", "Bob Casey", "C001070", "www.casey.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Washington, D.C. - In a new letter to President Trump and Department of Commerce Secretary Wilbur Ross, U.S. Senate Democrats urged the administration to keep its promise to quickly level the playing field for steel and aluminum workers, rather than prioritizing the GOP\u2019s proposal to cut taxes for the rich. In the letter, the Senate Democrats explain that the Trump administration initially began its critical Sec. 232 investigations \u2013 which examine how imports could undermine the capacity of U.S. steel and aluminum producers to supply our defense needs, including the steel and aluminum that goes into making body armor, tanks, ships and critical infrastructure \u2013 yet, despite statements by the President and administration officials indicating the imminent conclusion of these investigations, they have failed to both complete it and present its findings to the president.\r\n\u201cThe U.S. must show that it is willing to employ meaningful broad-based trade action to ensure that our steel and aluminum industries remain competitive in the face of sustained predatory trade practices,\u201d the Senators wrote. \u201cThe President\u2019s upcoming visit to China and the G-20 forum in November will provide opportunities for securing meaningful concessions from China and other countries to reduce their excess steel and aluminum capacity. We urge you to conclude both Sec. 232 investigations and present the findings to the President before the President\u2019s visit to China.\u201d\r\nThe letter was signed by Senators Bob Casey (D-PA), Chuck Schumer (D-NY), Debbie Stabenow (D-MI), Tammy Baldwin (D-WI), Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY), Gary Peters (D-MI), Amy Klobuchar (D-MN), Joe Donnelly (D-IN), and Sherrod Brown (D-OH).\r\nA copy of the Senate Democrats\u2019 letter to President Trump and Department of Commerce Secretary Wilbur Ross appears below:\r\nDear President Trump and Secretary Ross:\r\nWe write on behalf of our constituents employed by the aluminum and steel industries in our states. We are deeply concerned that our aluminum and steel workers are suffering due to the Administration\u2019s inaction on the Sec. 232 investigations of steel and aluminum imports and the recent comments by Secretary Ross indicating that the administration is delaying action because the investigations may \u201cinterfere with the legislative agenda\u201d concerning tax reform. Previous statements by the President and administration officials indicating the imminent conclusion of these investigations has caused a surge in imports. This surge, manufactured by the administration\u2019s delays, has resulted in the closure of a factory and has puts additional American jobs at risk. We urge you to complete these investigations as soon as possible, regardless of the legislative process on tax reform.\r\nThe Sec. 232 investigations were initiated to ensure that imports do not threaten the ability of U.S. steel and aluminum industries to meet our defense and critical infrastructure needs. However, frequent announcements from the President and administration officials setting deadlines on the completion of the Sec. 232 reports has caused a surge in steel imports as foreign producers have sought to import before the implementation of foreseen import restrictions. In May of this year, Secretary Ross mentioned at a public hearing that he hoped to submit the steel Sec. 232 report to the President by the end of June. The President and Secretary Ross continued to make such comments, setting deadline in the following months. As a direct result of these reported deadlines, in July, steel imports rose 22 percent from the same period a year ago to capture 28 percent of the U.S. market. Total finished steel imports have sustained 27 percent of U.S. market share in September. Producers in certain industries have faced a massive increase in imports, such as oil country pipe and tube, which is up 254 percent in September compared to last year.\r\nWe understand that the Administration\u00a0is continuing its efforts to negotiate an agreement with China and other countries to reduce their excess steel and aluminum capacity. As with the Sec. 232 investigations, political concerns surrounding tax reform should not weigh on this important goal, as the two policy goals are not linked to one another. Global overcapacity, resulting from massive government subsidies, remains the fundamental threat to the long-term competitiveness of our steel and aluminum industries and their ability to meet our defense and critical infrastructure needs.\r\nPast failed negotiations with China and other nations indicate a new strategy is needed. The U.S. must show that it is willing to employ meaningful broad-based trade action to ensure that our steel and aluminum industries remain competitive in the face of sustained predatory trade practices. The President\u2019s upcoming visit to China and the G-20 forum in November will provide opportunities for securing meaningful concessions from China and other countries to reduce their excess steel and aluminum capacity. We urge you to conclude both Sec. 232 investigations and present the findings to the President before the President\u2019s visit to China.\r\nThousands of steel and aluminum workers in our states support their families, their communities and our national security infrastructure. They deserve to compete on a level playing field.\u00a0\r\nThank you for your attention to this matter.\r\nSincerely,\r\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://boyle.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/congressman-boyle-statement-condemning-senate-gop-budget", "Congressman Boyle Statement Condemning Senate Passage of GOP Budget", "2017-10-20", "2017", "2017-10", "Democrat", "House", "PA", "Brendan Boyle", "B001296", "boyle.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "WASHINGTON, D.C.\u00a0\u2013 Today, Congressman Brendan F. Boyle (PA-13) released the following statement in response to the 2018 budget resolution passed by Republicans in the Senate:\u00a0\n\"The Republican Budget passed by the Senate late last night is a bald-faced rebuke of American values and an open attack on the middle class families who already face odds stacked against them. Instead of investing in jobs, education, and a revitalized economy, this budget would balloon the deficit and hurt working families, children, seniors, and our environment. Worse still, they do this for the sole purpose of jamming though a partisan tax plan that will put millions in the pockets of the extremely wealthy and well-connected with just 50 Republican votes in the Senate. This is not a budget for the American people; it is a trillion-dollar gift to corporations and the mega-wealthy at the expense of the rest. I will keep fighting against this effort as a member of the House Budget Committee.\"\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"]], "truncated": false, "filtered_table_rows_count": 606, "expanded_columns": [], "expandable_columns": [], "columns": ["url", "title", "date", "year", "month", "party", "chamber", "state", "member_name", "bioguide_id", "domain", "scraper", "source", "date_source", "text", "has_text", "collected_at", "updated_at"], "primary_keys": ["url"], "units": {}, "query": {"sql": "select url, title, date, year, month, party, chamber, state, member_name, bioguide_id, domain, scraper, source, date_source, text, has_text, collected_at, updated_at from releases where \"party\" = :p0 and \"state\" = :p1 and \"year\" = :p2 order by date desc limit 101", "params": {"p0": "Democrat", "p1": "PA", "p2": "2017"}}, "facet_results": {"party": {"name": "party", "type": "column", "hideable": false, "toggle_url": "/press/releases.json?party=Democrat&state=PA&year=2017", "results": [{"value": "Democrat", "label": "Democrat", "count": 606, "toggle_url": "http://dpwillis-congress-press-search.hf.space/press/releases.json?state=PA&year=2017", "selected": true}], "truncated": false}, "chamber": {"name": "chamber", "type": "column", "hideable": false, "toggle_url": "/press/releases.json?party=Democrat&state=PA&year=2017", "results": [{"value": "House", "label": "House", "count": 606, "toggle_url": "http://dpwillis-congress-press-search.hf.space/press/releases.json?party=Democrat&state=PA&year=2017&chamber=House", "selected": false}], "truncated": false}, "state": {"name": "state", "type": "column", "hideable": false, "toggle_url": "/press/releases.json?party=Democrat&state=PA&year=2017", "results": [{"value": "PA", "label": "PA", "count": 606, "toggle_url": "http://dpwillis-congress-press-search.hf.space/press/releases.json?party=Democrat&year=2017", "selected": true}], "truncated": false}, "year": {"name": "year", "type": "column", "hideable": false, "toggle_url": "/press/releases.json?party=Democrat&state=PA&year=2017", "results": [{"value": "2017", "label": "2017", "count": 606, "toggle_url": "http://dpwillis-congress-press-search.hf.space/press/releases.json?party=Democrat&state=PA", "selected": true}], "truncated": false}}, "suggested_facets": [], "next": "2017-10-20,https~3A~2F~2Fboyle~2Ehouse~2Egov~2Fmedia-center~2Fpress-releases~2Fcongressman-boyle-statement-condemning-senate-gop-budget", "next_url": "http://dpwillis-congress-press-search.hf.space/press/releases.json?party=Democrat&state=PA&year=2017&_next=2017-10-20%2Chttps~3A~2F~2Fboyle~2Ehouse~2Egov~2Fmedia-center~2Fpress-releases~2Fcongressman-boyle-statement-condemning-senate-gop-budget&_sort_desc=date", "private": false, "allow_execute_sql": true, "query_ms": 269.46637709625065, "source": "dwillis/congress-press", "source_url": "https://github.com/dwillis/congress-press", "license": "MIT", "license_url": "https://github.com/dwillis/congress-press/blob/main/LICENSE"}