{"database": "press", "table": "releases", "is_view": false, "human_description_en": "where party = \"Democrat\" and year = 2020 sorted by date descending", "rows": [["http://www.casey.senate.gov/newsroom/releases/in-2020-casey-produces-results-for-pa-constituents", "In 2020, Casey Produces Results for PA Constituents", "2020-12-31", "2020", "2020-12", "Democrat", "House", "PA", "Bob Casey", "C001070", "www.casey.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Washington, D.C. - U.S. Senator Bob Casey (D-PA) is finishing 2020 having delivered results for Pennsylvania families.\r\nBelow is a list of Senator Casey's 2020 work on behalf of Pennsylvania constituents.\r\nSecuring COVID-19 Relief for America's Families  Securing $100 Million for Nursing Home Oversight: As part of the Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security (CARES) Act (Public Law 116-136), provisions from Senator Casey's Coronavirus Relief for Seniors and People with Disabilities Act (S. 3544) led to the passage of $100 million to promote infection control in nursing homes during the pandemic through enhanced surveys and inspections.   Shedding Light on the Nursing Home Crisis: Senator Casey authored multiple investigative reports, alongside U.S. Senators Ron Wyden (D-OR) and Gary Peters (D-MI), documenting the Trump Administration's repeated failures to contain the spread of COVID in nursing homes. Following the Senators' oversight, the Trump Administration implemented federal data collection requirements and the public release of information on COVID cases, deaths and supply shortages in nursing homes.\r\n Securing $1 Billion to Keep Seniors Safe at Home: Senator Casey led efforts to obtain vital funding to support seniors sheltering in place during the pandemic. Stemming from S. 3544, the Senator secured roughly $1 billion for essential services, including home-delivered meals and caregiver respite, across two relief packages passed by Congress  the CARES Act and the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2021 (Public Law 116-260). To date, Pennsylvania has received $47 million of these relief funds.\r\n Delivering Food Boxes to Seniors in Need: Also stemming from his bill, S. 3544, Senator Casey obtained $13 million in additional funding to support food delivery to low-income seniors during the COVID pandemic through the Commodity Supplemental Food Program, also known as the senior food box program. His advocacy also helped to secure an additional $80 million in funding for the program in FY2021. This money will allow states to serve more low-income seniors with shelf-stable food boxes. Both the COVID-19 and FY2021 funding was secured as part of Congress's year-end agreement (P.L. 116-260).\r\nStanding Up for Seniors   Passing the Improving Low-Income Access to Prescription Drugs Act: Senator Casey's bipartisan Improving Low-Income Access to Prescription Drugs Act (S. 1999) was passed into law as part of Congress's year-end deal (P.L. 116-260). This important legislation makes permanent a federal program to ensure low-income seniors and people with disabilities retain affordable access to their prescription medications as they transition to Medicare.   Passing the Reauthorization of the Older Americans Act: Senator Casey co-led the bipartisan reauthorization of hallmark legislation, now Public Law 116-131, to deliver essential services and supports to America's seniors. This 5-year reauthorization provides respite services to grandfamilies, advances innovation and evaluation within the Act, prioritizes funding to bring kids and seniors together, requires data collection on LGBT seniors and ensures younger adults with Alzheimer's disease are eligible for services.  Passing a Law to Close Harmful Coverage Gaps in Medicare: Key provisions from Senator Casey's bipartisan Beneficiary Enrollment Notification and Eligibility Simplification Act (BENES) Act (S. 1280) were passed into law as part of Congress's year-end agreement (P.L. 116-260). These policies will ensure people new to Medicare have more immediate access to health insurance, closing coverage gaps that led seniors and people with disabilities to go without essential care.   Securing Continued Support for Grandfamilies: The Advisory Council to Support Grandparents Raising Grandchildren, created by Senator Casey's bipartisan bill signed into law in 2018, will continue to meet in 2021 as a result of funding the Senator obtained through the appropriations process (P.L. 116-260). The Council is tasked with developing a one-stop shop of resources to help grandparents raising grandchildren navigate programs and benefits.  Allowing Families to Access Long-Term Care at Home: Through his Protecting Married Seniors from Impoverishment Act (S. 2000), Senator Casey continues to stand up for financial protections to prevent spouses whose partners need home and community-based services under Medicaid from falling into abject poverty. Congress's year-end agreement (P.L. 116-260) includes a 3-year extension of these vital protections.  Advancing Best Practices to Stop Senior Scams: Senator Casey's bipartisan Stop Senior Scams Act (S. 149) passed the U.S. Senate. The Senator's bill would establish a federal advisory council charged with bringing together relevant government officials, industry representatives, advocates and consumer representatives to collect and develop model educational materials for retailers, financial institutions and wire transfer companies to use in stopping scams on seniors.  Combatting Age Discrimination in the Workplace: Senator Casey's bipartisan Protecting Older Workers from Age Discrimination Act (S. 485) passed the U.S. House of Representatives. The Senator's bill would restore standards undone by a 2009 Supreme Court decision that made it more difficult for older workers to successfully seek restitution in court for age discrimination they experienced.\r\nLeading Efforts for Individuals with Disabilities  Fighting for Continued Access to Disability Benefits and Supports: Senator Casey led efforts, along with 40 Senators, to call for the withdrawal of a proposed rule that would make it more difficult for people with Social Security disability benefits to retain needed support. The Senator also led an initiative to encourage the public to tell the Social Security Administration directly how the proposal would harm them, resulting in more than 125,000 comments submitted on the rule.\r\n Promoting Care Continuity from Home to the Hospital: The CARES Act (P.L. 116-136) included a provision that Senator Casey fought for to ensure direct service providers could enter and provide services and supports to people with intellectual and developmental disabilities who were admitted to hospitals and rehabilitation settings because of COVID or other health-related concerns. Making it possible for those providers who care for people in their homes while they are in the hospital allows for continuity of care, better communication among hospital and community caregivers and makes the transition back to their homes safer and healthier.\r\n Preventing COVID Infections Among People with Disabilities: Senator Casey advocated that the CARES Act (P.L. 116-136) include funding increases for Centers for Independent Living to provide COVID prevention services during the pandemic. Pennsylvania received $2.75 million to be distributed among its eleven federal Centers for Independent Living. The funds make it possible to provide people with disabilities with personal protective equipment (PPE) in their own homes, to transition from congregate care settings to home settings, to translate COVID information into other languages and many more preventive actions to reduce the risk of infection for people with disabilities.\r\nFighting for Rural Communities and Expanding Broadband Access\r\n Supporting Rural Innovation: Senator Casey secured increased funding for the Small Business Administration's Regional Innovation Clusters (RIC) program in the FY 2021 appropriations bill (P.L. 116-260). The RIC program provides an increased focus on outreach to rural areas in leveraging a region's unique competitive strengths and geographically-concentrated, interconnected network of complementary businesses, suppliers and associated organizations that engage in a particular industry sector. These types of programs are essential to Pennsylvania businesses to fight the economic effects of COVID-19.\r\n Don't Break Up the T-Band: Senator Casey led efforts with U.S. Senator Ed Markey (D-MA) and other colleagues to enact the Don't Break Up the T-Band Act into law (P.L. 116-260). The Don't Break Up the T-Band Act will ensure that our brave first responders throughout Pennsylvania and the rest of the country have access to the tools they need to effectively communicate with other first responders when responding to public safety emergencies.\r\n Hyndman Cellular Tower: In October, Senator Casey announced the completion of a project to provide cellular service in Bedford County via Hyndman Cellular Tower, ensuring that thousands of Bedford County residents have reliable service. After train derailments and feedback from local and state first responders highlighted the urgent need for better emergency response telecommunications, Senator Casey advocated for more than two years for AT&T to prioritize rural areas like Hyndman for First Responder Network Authority (FirstNet) tower sites.\r\nFighting for Jobs and a Secure Retirement\r\n Standing up for Federal Workers: Senator Casey led a letter opposing proposed changes to the Department of Defense's procurement policy in the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) that would have undermined the role depots and shipyards play in the readiness and maintenance of our armed forces. This effort led to stringent oversight requirements over decisions that lead to undermining depot and shipyard workforces.\r\n Fighting for Pay Equity for Army Depot Workers: A version of Senator Casey's Locality Pay Equity Act (S. 3015) was included in the FY 2021 NDAA passed by the U.S. House of Representatives. This legislation would put an end to locality pay adjustment disparities between salaried and hourly workers at federal facilities, including Tobyhanna and Letterkenny Army Depots in Pennsylvania.\r\n Strengthening Unemployment Benefits: Senator Casey pushed for the expansion and strengthening of unemployment benefits for workers affected by COVID as was done in the CARES Act that passed into law in March (P.L. 116-136). Senator Casey also strongly pushed for the extension of vital unemployment benefit programs that were slated to expire at the end of this year, which was achieved in the end-of-year relief package (P.L. 116-260).\r\nFighting to Combat Hunger and Support our Farmers\r\n Leading Efforts to Expand Access to Food for the Most Vulnerable: As the pandemic increased food insecurity for households who lost access to paychecks, Senator Casey worked to build the capacity of the food assistance system to assist families in Pennsylvania and across the country. He led letters to the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) and grocery retailers urging innovative solutions to expand access to home delivery and curbside pickup for Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) participants, especially for seniors and immunocompromised individuals. He introduced the Increasing Access to SNAP Delivery During COVID-19 Act to support retailers in expanding their SNAP delivery offerings during the pandemic. Senator Casey also advocated for and supported Pennsylvania's participation in the SNAP Online Purchasing Program and will continue working for additional access to delivery services.\r\n Advocating for the Expansion of Hunger Assistance Programs: Senator Casey fought to protect critical nutrition assistance programs for our most vulnerable citizens. From the beginning of the COVID pandemic, he advocated for the expansion of SNAP benefits to respond to the food insecurity crisis. He led a Pennsylvania delegation letter urging the inclusion of a 15 percent increase in SNAP benefits levels. A six-month increase in these benefits was ultimately included in the most recent COVID relief package (P.L. 116-260). Senator Casey also advocated for critical nutrition waivers for Pennsylvania to access food assistance and necessary flexibilities throughout the pandemic. In addition to COVID-related food security needs, he also led appropriations efforts to support the Healthy Food Financing Initiative (HFFI), a program modeled after Pennsylvania's Fresh Food Financing Initiative.\r\n Supporting our Farmers and Food Production System: Senator Casey worked tirelessly to support our farmers, who play a critical role in feeding families throughout Pennsylvania and the Nation. He introduced and co-sponsored legislation to support farmers who faced significant market losses and supply chain disruptions. He introduced the Farmers Feeding Families Act, building on his work to establish Farm to Food Bank projects in the 2018 Farm Bill. He was also an original cosponsor of the Food Supply Protection Act to help strengthen the food supply chain, protect workers, reduce food waste and support farmers and families in need. Additionally, Senator Casey led a Pennsylvania delegation letter to the Small Businesses Administration to ensure that loans and programs are available and work for farmers and agricultural businesses.\r\nProtecting the Environment\r\n Securing Funding for the Chesapeake Bay Watershed: Senator Casey joined the Chesapeake Bay delegation in working to secure increased funding for the Chesapeake Bay Program in the FY 2021 spending agreement (P.L. 116-260). Senator Casey also introduced the bipartisan Farmer Driven Conservation Outcomes Act, which would direct USDA to establish a process through which it could measure, evaluate and report on conservation program outcomes, including water quality improvements. He continues to build on wins from the 2018 Farm Bill for water quality by ensuring that programs are implemented to benefit the Bay. He led a bipartisan letter to USDA regarding implementation of key provisions in the Conservation Reserve Program (CRP) to improve water quality.\r\n Addressing the Climate Crisis: Senator Casey worked to address the climate crisis through efforts to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, protect the health of our communities, create good paying jobs and address environmental injustices. He was an original cosponsor of the Clean Economy Act of 2020, which would empower the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to design and implement a national plan to rapidly reduce the country's greenhouse gas emissions by 2050 or sooner. He continued to stand up against the Trump Administration's efforts to roll back bedrock environmental laws. Additionally, Senator Casey is working to ensure that farmers can be part of the solution to address the climate crisis by introducing legislation to measure, evaluate and report on the outcomes associated with farm bill conservation programs, including carbon sequestration and greenhouse gas emissions reductions.\r\n PFAS Contamination: Senator Casey continued to stand up for communities impacted by PFAS contamination. He fought for inclusion of key PFAS provisions in the NDAA and advocated for funding to expand PFAS monitoring, standards development and cleanup capabilities. Senator Casey also continued to engage in efforts to implement a Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) study on the effects of PFAS on long-term health. He led efforts to secure this funding and Pennsylvania's Bucks and Montgomery Counties were included in the multi-year site study.\r\n Preserving Public Lands in Pennsylvania: Senator Casey introduced legislation to extend authorization of Pennsylvania's National Heritage Areas (NHAs). The Pennsylvania National Heritage Area Act would extend authorization of the Pennsylvania NHAs set to expire between FY 2021 and FY 2022. Additionally, this legislation would eliminate incongruent funding restrictions and streamline appropriations levels for NHAs. Senator Casey will continue to work to ensure these extensions are secured and to protect our natural and cultural resources while strengthening communities and stimulating local economies.\r\nFighting for Miners' Benefits\r\n Leading Efforts to Protect Retired Miners: Senator Casey successfully advocated for language in the year-end agreement (P.L. 116-260) to protect the health care benefits of all retired miners in the event of future bankruptcies, no matter when the bankruptcies occur. Previous efforts to protect coal miner health care specified the year of a company's bankruptcy; The United Mine Workers of America (UMWA) anticipate the remaining coal companies with retiree health care obligations will declare bankruptcy within the next 6-12 months. This language will ensure coal miners' health care is fully covered if a coal company goes bankrupt and also ensures Congress does not have to act each time a company is relieved of its obligations to pay for retiree health care by a bankruptcy court. According to UMWA, the majority of retirees and widows covered by this provision are over 80 years old.\r\nStanding Up For Veterans\r\n Veterans Affairs and Veteran Health: Senator Casey and U.S. Senator Jerry Moran (R-KS), working with House colleague U.S. Representative Elaine Luria (D-VA-2), successfully introduced and passed the Department of Veterans Affairs Website Accessibility Act (P.L. 116-213). This law directs the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) to report to Congress regarding the accessibility of VA websites (including attached files and web-based applications) to individuals with disabilities. Senator Casey continues to advocate for robust funding for veterans health, supporting efforts to secure PPE, vaccines, mental health support and additional resources to VA workers and patients in response to the COVID pandemic.\r\n Passage of the Rosie the Riveter Congressional Gold Medal Act: The bipartisan Rosie the Riveter Congressional Gold Medal Act honors American women who joined the workforce in support of the war effort during World War II by awarding them a Congressional Gold Medal. These Rosie the Riveters answered the Nation's call to action and learned new skills, many building the vehicles, weaponry and ammunitions that were critical to the war effort. Senator Casey led the effort along with U.S. Senator Susan Collins (R-ME) and U.S. Representatives Jackie Speier (D-CA-14) and Brian Fitzpatrick (R-PA-1). 76 senators co-sponsored the Senate bill, including every female senator, and it has now been enacted into Public Law 116-195.\r\nKeeping Communities Safe and Our Judiciary Working\r\n Law Enforcement Reform: In response to a national reckoning regarding the systemic violence and injustice impacting communities of color across the Nation, Senator Casey helped to advance a critical conversation focused on transformative change within law enforcement. Senator Casey joined thirty-four of his colleagues, led by U.S. Senators Cory Booker (D-NJ) and Kamala Harris (D-CA), to introduce the Justice in Policing Act of 2020. The bill would put in place the most significant police reforms in our Nation's history by focusing on officer accountability, data transparency and enhancing police practices and training.\r\nHe also led the Law Enforcement Education and Accountability for People with Disabilities (LEAD) Initiative to help counter the high rate of violent interactions between police and people with disabilities. The LEAD Initiative is comprised of two bills  the Safe Interactions Act and the Human-services Emergency Logistic Program (HELP) Act. Combined, these bills would: (1) divert non-criminal, non-fire and non-medical emergency calls from the 9-1-1 system to the 2-1-1 system; and (2) provide grants to enable non-profit disability organizations to develop training programs in partnership with police academies and agencies to support safe interactions between law enforcement officers and people with disabilities.\r\n Fighting for Prison Safety During COVID: Senator Casey has repeatedly pressed the Department of Justice (DOJ) and Bureau of Prisons (BOP) for answers and reforms in response to the COVID pandemic. Senator Casey wrote multiple letters in March and April to DOJ and BOP leadership raising significant concerns about BOP's inmate transfer policies, supply of PPE and other general concerns related to the BOP's preparation for COVID. After raising these concerns and calling on the DOJ to require mandatory testing before transferring any incarcerated individual, BOP announced in May that it had decreased internal movement by 90 percent and committed to testing all incarcerated individuals prior to leaving a local detention facility.\r\n Criminal Justice Reform: Senator Casey introduced the bipartisan Clean Slate Act of 2020 with U.S. Senator Joni Ernst (R-IA), which would automatically seal the federal records of individuals convicted or arrested for simple drug possession, and establish a process for individuals to petition to seal records for other nonviolent offenses. This landmark piece of legislation would give tens of millions of Americans a second chance to fully participate in society by removing major barriers for finding employment, securing housing and accessing education. The Clean Slate Act is modeled after Pennsylvania's own Clean Slate Act, which was the first Clean Slate law in the Nation after it was enacted into law with tremendous bipartisan support in 2018.\r\n Federal Judges: Senator Casey worked with U.S. Senator Pat Toomey (R-PA) to confirm two more Federal judges to the District Courts in PA. Since 2011, Senators Casey and Toomey have worked together, in a bipartisan fashion, to fill vacancies on the federal bench in Pennsylvania. Together they have now vetted, recommended and confirmed 27 Federal District Court Judges for Pennsylvania. Only two states - New York and Texas - have had more district court judges confirmed to their federal benches during this time.\r\n Combat Online Predators: Senator Casey led efforts with Senator Toomey to enact the Combat Online Predators Act into law in December 2020 (P.L. 116-249). This bipartisan law was drafted in response to the traumatic experiences of a Pennsylvania family and will give judges additional tools to ensure that perpetrators who stalk or cyberstalk children are held accountable with serious penalties.\r\nFighting for Consumer Health\r\n Leading Senate Efforts to Modernize FDA Regulation of Over-the-Counter Drugs: Senator Casey, along with retired U.S. Senator Johnny Isakson (R-GA), led a multi-year effort to overhaul and modernize the Food and Drug Administration's (FDA) regulatory authority for over-the-counter (OTC) monograph drugs. These products, including drugs like painkillers, allergy medicines and sunscreens, are used by millions of Americans and are subject to certain requirements known as monographs. The OTC system was outdated, making it hard for FDA to take action to protect public health and hard for companies to innovate. With the passage of the Over-the-Counter Monograph Safety, Innovation, and Reform Act (P.L. 116-136), the FDA has new tools and resources at its disposal, and consumers will benefit from increased regulatory oversight and new innovation.\r\nFighting for Children\r\n Leading Efforts to Increase Federal and State Efforts to Investigate and Collect Information When an Infant or Young Child Die: Senator Casey's bipartisan legislation, named after Pittsburgh child Scarlett Pauley, will help combat Sudden Unexpected Infant Death and Sudden Unexpected Death in Childhood by providing grants to help states, municipalities and nonprofits improve data collection and death scene investigations related to unexpected infant and child deaths. The bill will also help promote safe sleep practices for children and support local efforts to conduct infant and child death reviews. This legislation was signed into law by the President as Public Law 116-273 on December 31, 2020.\r\n Leading Efforts to Extend the Creating Hope Act: Senator Casey led a bipartisan effort to reauthorize the Creating Hope Act, which authorized the FDA's pediatric priority review voucher program. This important program encourages the development of new drugs to treat rare pediatric diseases, and was first authorized in 2012 following Senator Casey's efforts. The Creating Hope Reauthorization Act was included as a provision in the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2021 (P.L. 116-260) and extends the program for an additional four years.\r\n Leading Efforts to Reauthorize Critical Program for Emergency Medical Care for Children: Senator Casey led a bipartisan, bicameral coalition to reauthorize the Emergency Medical Services for Children (P.L. 116-49), a federal program that works to improve the quality of emergency care provided to children and ensure that hospitals and emergency workers providing emergency care to children are properly equipped.\r\nFighting for Health Care\r\n Children's Hospital Graduate Medical Education (CHGME) Program: Senator Casey, the Senate champion of the Children's Hospital Graduate Medical Education (CHGME) and author of several laws to extend and improve the program, secured additional funding for the program through the appropriations process. Funding for the program was increased by $10 million from $340 to $350 million for FY2021 (P.L. 116-159).\r\nFighting the Administration's Immigration Cruelty\r\n Care of Immigrant Children in U.S. Custody: At Senator Casey's request, the Government Accountability Office opened an investigation into the conditions and care of migrants, including children, in Customs and Border Patrol (CBP) custody. The report revealed that CBP illegally used funds designated for medical care and food for children in detention on dirt bikes, dog food and leashes, boats and other unrelated items. The report also shined a light on significant gaps in care for children in custody and CBP's failure to follow its own health and safety guidelines.\r\nHelping Children Learn More Now to Earn More Later\r\n Early Care and Education COVID Relief: Senator Casey has fought to provide assistance to childcare providers facing financial hardship and families struggling to find care due to COVID. In March, aspects of Senator Casey's Supporting Child Care Providers and Families Affected by Coronavirus Act (S. 3562) was included in the CARES Act (P.L. 116-136), helping to secure $3.5 billion in emergency relief for the Child Care and Development Block Grant (CCDBG) and $750 billion for Head Start. His continued advocacy to provide an additional $50 billion for early education helped to secure $10 billion for CCDBG and $250 million for Head Start COVID relief in the FY2021 omnibus appropriations and COVID relief legislation (P.L. 116-260).  Ensuring Opportunity For Students: Senator Casey's Stopping Unfair Collateral Consequences from Ending Student Success Act or SUCCESS Act (S.5079) was included in the FY2021 omnibus appropriations and COVID relief legislation (P.L. 116-260). The SUCCESS Act repeals provisions of the Higher Education Act that limits access to federal student aid for students convicted of drug-related offenses. To date, according to the ALCU, this provision has prevented about 200,000 students from receiving federal student aid. This legislation will help to reduce recidivism, over-criminalization and taxpayer burdens by stopping the suspension of college aid for young people who made a mistake but want to get their lives back on track. It affirms that the United States is a country of second chances, not second punishments.\r\nProtecting the Nation and Promoting American Values Abroad\r\n International Disability Rights: Senator Casey introduced the Office of International Disability Rights Act (S. 3880) to require the State Department to develop and implement a formal policy for disability inclusion in foreign assistance programming and establish State Department Office of International Disability Rights headed by an Ambassador-at-Large (AAL) for International Disability Rights. He also introduced S. Res. 445, a resolution recognizing International Day of Persons with Disabilities. These efforts to promote disability rights globally will continue into the 117th Congress.\r\n Global Impacts of COVID: Senator Casey led letters to the Trump Administration urging increased funding to combat increasingly global food insecurity due to COVID, as well as assessment of COVID's impact on children's mental health and psychosocial support (MHPSS). Senator Casey intends to introduce legislation next Congress addressing child MHPSS globally.\r\n Promoting a Peaceful and Inclusive Future: Senator Casey successfully secured $10 million in the FY21 NDAA to improve training and inclusion of Afghan women in Afghanistan's security forces. These efforts will serve to integrate and create opportunities for Afghan women to have a say in Afghanistan's future. Senator Casey and U.S. Senator Tim Kaine (D-VA) also led a letter to the Trump Administration urging emergency humanitarian funding for the Nagorno-Karabakh region for the clearance of cluster munitions deployed during the fall 2020 hostilities that put children at particular risk of exposure to unexploded ordnance. The National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2021 was signed into law as Public Law 116-283 on January 1, 2021.\r\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["http://www.feinstein.senate.gov//public/index.cfm/press-releases?ContentRecord_id=29C073CE-C8B5-41CD-B359-EB69F9831D94", "Feinstein to Park Service: Restart Lease Negotiations for San Franciscos Iconic Cliff House", "2020-12-31", "2020", "2020-12", "Democrat", "Senate", "CA", "Dianne Feinstein", "F000062", "www.feinstein.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "WashingtonSenator Dianne Feinstein (D-Calif.) today called on the National Park Service to negotiate a lease extension of the Cliff House building for use as a restaurant.\r\nI regret that an agreement has not yet been reached to extend the contract to use San Francisco's historic Cliff House building as a restaurant.\r\nThis is an important San Francisco landmark, and the National Park Service should immediately renew negotiations to maintain its role in the community. A building has stood on this site for more than 150 years and has long served as a gathering place. That role should persist  the building should not be converted to an office building.\r\nI urge the National Park Service, the Hountalas family and their proposed partner to return to the negotiation table. I encourage the National Park Service to explore all possible opportunities to maintain the historic role of this building as a restaurant and visitor destination. Our history is too important to set aside so readily.\r\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["http://www.schatz.senate.gov/press-releases/schatzs-medical-tele-training-bill-signed-into-law", "Schatzs Medical Tele-Training Bill Signed Into Law", "2020-12-31", "2020", "2020-12", "Democrat", "Senate", "HI", "Brian Schatz", "S001194", "www.schatz.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Schatz's Medical Tele-Training Bill Signed Into Law \n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t Schatz's Medical Tele-Training Bill Signed Into Law \n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\tThursday, December 31, 2020\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\r\nWASHINGTON  This week, the Expanding Capacity for Health Outcomes (ECHO) 2019 Act was signed into law as part of the annual government funding bill. The bipartisan legislation, authored by U.S. Senator Brian Schatz (D-Hawaii), establishes a $10 million per year grant program for fiscal years 2022 through 2026 to promote the use of technology to connect health care providers and deliver high-quality care in hard-to-reach regions.\r\nTechnology hasn't just transformed how doctors care for patients, it has helped health care providers work and learn from with each other, said Senator Schatz. This new law will help connect more primary care providers in rural areas with specialists from across the country so that more families have access to the critical health care services they need.\"\r\nThe new law will expand the use of the ECHO model  an innovative medical education program that deploys interactive videoconferencing to link specialist teams with primary care providers in rural areas. This helps hard-to-reach communities access the health care services they otherwise would not be able to receive. During the pandemic, the ECHO model has been important to the public health response, used by states across the country to share best practices for treating COVID-19 patients as well as improve testing and contact tracing.\r\nIn 2016, Schatz authored the first ECHO Act, which was signed into law and initiated a study of the model. The resulting report from the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) found that the ECHO model addresses important gaps in health care for underserved populations and recommended its expansion. Acting on this recommendation, Senator Schatz authored the current ECHO Act, which creates a program to provide grants and technical assistance to further develop the ECHO model and other similar models and expand their use nationwide.\r\nThese grants will be used for:\r\n \r\nEquipment to support the use and expansion of the models, including for the secure exchange of electronic health information;\r\nSupport for health care providers that provide services under these models;\r\nInstructional programming and training; and\r\nInformation collection and evaluation activities to study the impact of such models.\r\n \r\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["http://www.warren.senate.gov/newsroom/news-coverage/politico-elizabeth-warrens-next-chapter", "Politico: Elizabeth Warren's next chapter", "2020-12-31", "2020", "2020-12", "Democrat", "House", "MA", "Elizabeth Warren", "W000817", "www.warren.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "December 31, 2020\n\t\t\t Politico: Elizabeth Warren's next chapter \n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t \n\t\n\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\n        \n\t\t\t\t The progressive senator is already playing the inside game to shape Biden's agenda.\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez wants Nancy Pelosi and Chuck Schumer replaced, lamenting that there's no one ready to step in. Elizabeth Warren has a different approach. The Massachusetts Democrat is a member of Schumer's leadership team and is working closely with the Senate minority leader on a policy priority that could fuel the first intra-party fight with President-elect Joe Biden. A few months before the election, Warren asked Schumer to join her effort to cancel $50,000 of student loan debt for millions of Americans. The president can do it without Congress, she argues. The New York Democrat, who is up for reelection in 2022, was immediately interested.  Read the full articlehere.\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t  \n\t\t\t\t    By:\n\t\t\t\t    Burgess Everett \n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t  \n\t\t\t\tSource:\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\tPolitico\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\n\t  \n\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t \n\t\t\n\t\t\tPrint\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\tEmail\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\tTweet\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\n\t \n\t\n\t\n\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n    \n\t\n\t\n    \n    \n    \n    \t\n    \t\n\t    \t  \n\t\t    \n\t\t    \tNext Article\n\t\t    \n\t\t    \n\t\t    \tPrevious Article", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://bass.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/norton-bass-lead-letter-president-elect-biden-combating-aircraft-noise", "Norton, Bass Lead Letter to President-Elect Biden on Combating Aircraft Noise", "2020-12-31", "2020", "2020-12", "Democrat", "Senate", "CA", "Karen Bass", "B001270", "bass.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "The disruption to human health and local economies by aircraft noise has long been overlooked or altogether ignored by the FAA, said Congresswoman Bass. I urge the Biden administration to appoint FAA officials who will finally address this issue that has plagued many of my constituents.\nThe letter was also signed by Congressman Don Beyer (D-VA), Congresswoman Judy Chu (D-CA), Congressman Ted Lieu (D-CA), Congressman Stephen Lynch (D-MA), Congresswoman Grace Meng (D-NY), Congressman Jamie Raskin (D-MD), Congressman Adam Smith (D-WA), Congressman Thomas Suozzi (D-NY), Congressman Ed Case (D-HI), Congressman Ro Khanna (D-CA), Congressman Alan Lowenthal (D-CA), Congressman Gregory Meeks (D-NY), Congressman Mike Quigley (D-IL), Congresswoman Jan Schakowsky (D-IL), and Congresswoman Jackie Speier (D-CA).\nThe full text is below.\nDecember 28, 2020\nThe Honorable Joseph R. Biden, Jr.  \n\tPresident-elect of the United States  \n\tOffice of the Biden-Harris Transition  \n\tWashington, DC 20500\nDear President-elect Biden:\nYou will soon name several new appointees to the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), including the Deputy FAA Administrator, the Chief Operating Officer of the Air Traffic Organization, the Associate Administrator for Airports, and the Assistant Administrator for Policy, International Affairs, and Environment. While the FAA and the aviation industry face many high-profile challenges, as Members of the Quiet Skies Caucus of the U.S. House of Representatives, we write to bring to your attention the overlooked problem of the disruption to human health and local economies from aircraft noise. We urge you to appoint officials who will include creative approaches to solving noise problems in the work ahead.\nWe represent Americans from diverse locales across the country, united by grave concern over the toll that noise can take on the people living with a constant drone of aircraft. Planes fly low or late at night, near homes and schools; flights arrive and depart within minutes of each other; and the FAA's NextGen project has concentrated flight paths without consideration of the people below. As a result of these policies, millions of Americans suffer from sleep disruption; exacerbation of high blood pressure and other chronic diseases; learning loss in schools; and economic losses to businesses ranging from tourism to technology to entertainment.\nFor decades the agency has consistently downplayed and overlooked the toll of noise disruption on human lives and communities. The NextGen project to update the technology used to control air traffic has brought foreseeable problems that could have been headed off if the agency, early in its planning stages, had considered what happens on the ground as well as what happens in the skies and included in the process business owners, local elected officials, airport noise roundtables, health advocates, and others likely to be affected.\nAs Members of Congress, we all fly as part of our work. We agree that the FAA's mission to maintain the safety and efficiency of our airspace is paramount. But we also believe that better noise control and full participation from all involved and affected can only enhance that safety and efficiency, not detract from it. The new appointees at the FAA should be committed to inventive problem-solving, to listening and bringing all affected parties into the discussion, and to finding win-win solutions. These leaders should embrace bold ideas, work in good faith with the Quiet Skies Caucus and Congress, and pledge to alleviate noise disruption on the ground, with a renewed focus on inclusiveness.\nWe look forward to learning of your choices for the FAA and to working with your administration in the 117th Congress to combat aircraft noise. Thank you for your leadership, and congratulations on your presidency.\nSincerely,", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://bonamici.house.gov/media/in-the-news/2020-year-disruptions-good-and-ill", "2020: A year of disruptions, for good and ill", "2020-12-31", "2020", "2020-12", "Democrat", "House", "OR", "Suzanne Bonamici", "B001278", "bonamici.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "The Feb. 19 arrest sparked outrage, including from U.S. Rep. Suzanne Bonamici, a Beaverton Democrat whose House district includes all of Washington County. Bonamici has lobbied without success for Congress to pass a bill she has sponsored to keep ICE away from bus stops, schools, courthouses and other \"sensitive locations.\"", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://bonamici.house.gov/media/in-the-news/minority-group-leaders-discuss-covid-19-vaccine-equity-oregon", "Minority group leaders discuss COVID-19 vaccine equity in Oregon", "2020-12-31", "2020", "2020-12", "Democrat", "House", "OR", "Suzanne Bonamici", "B001278", "bonamici.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "The livestream discussion lasted more than two hours, including recorded remarks from Oregon's US Sen. Ron Wyden and Rep. Suzanne Bonamici.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://cicilline.house.gov/press-release/memo-rhode-island-media-cicilline-2020-fighting-people", "Cicilline in 2020: Fighting For the People", "2020-12-31", "2020", "2020-12", "Democrat", "House", "RI", "David Cicilline", "C001084", "cicilline.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "To: Rhode Island Editors, Editorial Writers, Reporters\n\tFrom: The Office of Congressman David N. Cicilline (RI-01)\n\tRe: 2020 End of Year Report\n\tDate: December 31, 2020\nOverview\nIn 2020, U.S. Congressman David N. Cicilline (RI-01) once again delivered on his promises to fight For The People of Rhode Island. Most notably, as a member of House Leadership during an unprecedented public health crisis, he played a key role in ensuring that Rhode Island state and local officials received the federal resources they needed to take on the pandemic.\nCOVID Relief for Rhode Island Families\nFrom the moment COVID-19 swept through the country and began wreaking havoc, I started working with my colleagues to ensure we addressed Rhode Islanders' urgent needs:\n Keeping your family healthy\nSince we first learned that the pandemic had hit our shores, I fought for a national testing strategy. The HEROES Act would have supported testing, tracing and treatment, by providing $75 billion in funding for coronavirus testing, contact tracing and isolation measures, ensuring every American can access free coronavirus treatment, and supporting hospitals and providers, as well as making improvements to our testing infrastructure. The House passed the HEROES Act on May 15, 2020, but the bill never became law because Senator Mitch McConnell refused to bring the bill to the Senate floor for a vote.\nThe CARES Act, passed into law in March, requires that private insurance plans cover COVID-19 treatments and vaccines, and provided $1.3 billion in emergency funding for Community Health Centers, which are responsible for providing health care services for approximately 28 million Americans.\nOn March 18, 2020, Congress passed the Families First Coronavirus Response Act, which mandates free coronavirus testing for everyone who needs a test. This law also included $82 million to the Department of Defense TRICARE health program to carry out detection of COVID-19 and testing related visits; $64 million for the Indian Health Services for COVID-19 diagnosis and testing related visits; $1 billion for the Public Health and Social Services Emergency Fund. Given the lack of a national testing strategy, the House has done everything we can to ensure that every American is able to get tested for COVID-19 and receive treatment.\nHelping your family weather the economic crisis\nWhen the pandemic forced the American economy to shut down, I fought to make sure Congress sent $1,200 direct cash payments to adults and $500 for children in the CARES Act.\nAnd as the economy felt the impact of the virus, the CARES Act expanded unemployment insurance so more Rhode Islanders could access benefits. The bill made available an additional $600 a week and extended benefits for 13 weeks.\nThe CARES Act also made available $454 billion in life-saving loans for businesses, states, and cities. This included $1.25 billion for the State of Rhode Island through the Coronavirus Relief Fund. Rhode Islanders have also been able to secure 17,941 Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) loans, totaling $1,906,190,125 and 10,679 Economic Injury Disaster Loans (EIDL) for $565,362,000. And I have been fighting for additional funding for cities throughout the pandemic, striving to ensure that Rhode Island cities and towns are able to continue to grow.\nOn December 27, 2020, the Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2021 was signed into law. This bill will send an additional $600 in direct cash payments to adults and $600 for children. While these payments are a step in the right direction, I know Americans need significant survival checks. This past week, I voted for H.R. 9051 - CASH Act, which would raise these payments to $2,000 per adult.\nDemocrats fought hard to include expanded unemployment insurance benefits in this package. The Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2021 makes available an additional $300 a week and extended benefits for 10 weeks.\nThe Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2021 also makes available an additional $284 billion in Payroll Protection Program forgivable loans. These loans have served as a lifeline for hard-hit small businesses.\nKeeping Rhode Islanders in their homes\nHousing is always essential, but especially at a time when staying in our homes protects us from a deadly disease, housing is even more important. To keep Rhode Islanders safely housed, I supported a moratorium on evictions and foreclosures in the CARES Act.\nI also supported $11.5 billion to combat homelessness and $100 billion for short term rental assistance in the HEROES Act.\n Delivering for Rhode Island\nOne of my highest priorities is to ensure that Rhode Islanders have the resources we need to stay healthy, safe, and maintain good jobs. Over the past year, that includes securing:\n $1.8 million for Rhode Island fire departments, including $209,809 for critical firefighter breathing apparatus for the Central Falls Fire Department.\n$34 million in regular Community Development Block Grants and CARES Act Community Development Block Grants funds for the State of Rhode Island and first congressional district entitlement communities. Some of these funds were utilized by the state to establish a Microenterprise Stabilization Grant Program, designed to help microbusinesses largely left out of federal relief programs.\nMillions of dollars to the Rhode Island Emergency Management Agency. This included $209,979 for crisis counseling and $3,342,540 this year in Emergency Management Performance Grants, which assist state and local governments in enhancing and sustaining all-hazards emergency management capabilities. And through FEMA's Public Assistance program, Rhode Island has been reimbursed over $94 million to date for life-saving emergency protective measures in response to COVID-19.\nHundreds of millions of dollars in COVID relief funding through the CARES Act for educators, students, fisheries, and so much more. This included $8,704,245 through the Governor's Emergency Education Relief Fund, $46,350,444 through the School Emergency Relief Fund, and $3,293,234 through the Fishery Disaster Assistance Program.\nOver $90 million through critical BUILD and INFRA grants to support needed infrastructure investments. This included over $65 million to RIDOT to make improvements, increase safety, and reduce congestion along Route 146.\nOver $7 million to the state through the Economic Development Administration, including $230,000 for the Cities of Pawtucket and Central Falls to develop a joint economic development action plan for the Conant Thread District, which overlaps the two municipalities.\nOver $6 million to the Rhode Island Department of Education to support high quality afternoon school programs through 21st Century Community Learning Centers.\n$3.4 million in federal funds coming to Rhode Island for the arts, humanities, museums, and libraries. This includes $184,576 for the Preservation Society of Newport County to complete a digitization initiative of 13 high-priority special collections.\n Fighting for Racial Justice\nIn April 1967, Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., visited Rhode Island and said, I haven't lost faith in the future, but I never intend to adjust myself to the madness of militarism or racial inequality.\nMore than 50 years later we are still fighting the madness of racial inequality. We can build a better, more just country. Since my time as Mayor of Providence I have fought to end racial profiling, end militarism in policing and practices like the chokehold. This is a time for Americans of all races to come together and fight racism and inequality and I have been proud to advocate for that on the floor of Congress.\n I cosponsored and voted for H.R.7120 - the George Floyd Justice in Policing Act, which would implement sweeping police reform policies to our country by establishing a national standard for the operation of police departments, banning dangerous choke holds, ending qualified immunity for police, prohibiting racial and religious profiling, and mandating data collection on police encounters among other reforms.\nI cosponsored and voted for S.2163/H.R. 1636, the Commission on the Social Status of Black Men and Boys Act, which establishes the Commission on the Social Status of Black Men and Boys within the U.S. Commission on Civil Rights to make a systematic study of the conditions affecting black men and boys. This bill became law on August 14, 2020.\nI cosponsored and voted for H.Res. 908, Condemning all forms of anti-Asian sentiment as related to COVID-19, which calls on all public officials to condemn and denounce anti-Asian sentiment, racism, discrimination, and religious intolerance related to COVID-19.\nVoted for H.R. 2574, the Equity and Inclusion Enforcement Act (EIEA), which reestablishes the ability for students who have been wronged to seek justice and dismantle discriminatory policies and practices that unjustly punish them.\nCosponsored and voted for passage of H.R. 221 4, the NO BAN Act, which rescinds all versions of the Muslim Ban and prohibits religion-based discrimination in our immigration system.\nCosponsored and voted for passage of H.R. 2639, the Strength in Diversity Act, which seeks to address segregation in America's schools by providing federal funding to support voluntary local efforts to increase diversity in schools.\n Standing up for Rhode Island Values\nTaking on Big Tech Monopolies\nOver the past year and a half, I am proud to have led Congress' biggest investigation into the four largest technology companies and whether they have stifled competition. I am fighting to make sure that the digital economy works for all Rhode Islanders and all Americans, and that it's not a vehicle to make the rich richer at the expense of the rest of us.\n Our investigation involved seven congressional hearings, the production of nearly 1.3 million internal documents and communications, submissions from 38 antitrust experts, and interviews with more than 240 market participants, former employees of the investigated platforms, and other individuals.\nThis top to bottom review of the state of competition in the digital economy confirms that the digital economy has become highly concentrated and prone to monopolization.\nCongress must consider a menu of reforms that will achieve three key priorities:Restoring competition in the digital economy, including Structural separations and prohibitions of certain dominant platforms from operating in adjacent lines of business.\nStrengthening existing antitrust laws.\nReviving antitrust enforcement including Civil penalties for unfair methods of competition rules.\n Investing in the Blue Economy\nRhode Island's blue economy, the economic sectors with a direct or indirect link to Rhode Island's coasts and ocean  defense, marine trades, tourism and recreation, fisheries, aquaculture, ports and shipping, and offshore renewable energy  is bustling, and has room for growth.\n I have worked hard to grow the blue economy in Rhode Island and the Northeast through the introduction of the Southern New England Regional Commission Act, which would help integrate cross-border assets and information to help the region sustainably utilize its ocean resources for economic growth.\nI support the Offshore Wind Incentives for New Development Act, which would extend tax credits for offshore wind development through 2026  a burgeoning industry in the Northeast.\nI have continued to work to bring investment in Rhode Island's ports, fought to safeguard our fisheries, and worked to promote the state's ocean-based tourism.\nAt the same time, I recognize the threat that climate change poses to Rhode Island's natural resources and have pushed for a shift away from our nation's heavy reliance on fossil fuels.\n Serving You\nOver the past year, my staff in both Pawtucket and Washington have worked relentlessly to serve the people of our great state. In 2020, we:\n Provided casework assistance for more than 1,800 Rhode Islanders who requested help with Social Security, Medicare and Veterans benefits, COVID relief programs, IRS tax refunds, and other federal agencies.\nHosted and participated in more than 120 constituent meetings and community events, including 18 Town Hall meetings, community conversations, and roundtable discussions on COVID-19 response and recovery, small business assistance, resources for seniors, health care and prescription drug costs, immigration, and more.\nResponded to 3,058 calls, letters, and emails from constituents.\nProvided 29 internship opportunities for young people to learn more about the federal government.\nProvided more than 105 books to three public libraries in the district through the Library of Congress Surplus Book Program.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://dankildee.house.gov/media/press-releases/coronavirus-daily-update-december-31", "Coronavirus Daily Update: December 31", "2020-12-31", "2020", "2020-12", "Democrat", "House", "MI", "Dan Kildee", "K000380", "dankildee.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Thursday, December 31, 2020\nDear Constituent\nThe coronavirus pandemic is developing very quickly, and I know many people have questions and concerns. I will try to answer some of them below.\nThese are incredibly stressful times for all Michiganders. I am working, along with my staff, around the clock, seven days a week to answer your questions, provide community resources and provide up-to-date, accurate information. Please do not hesitate to reach out to my office anytime by calling (810) 238-8627.\nThe Michigan Department of Health and Human Services (MDHHS) has updated the epidemic order that restricts indoor social gatherings and other group activities, to allow indoor activities where Michiganders can remain masked, including in-person learning at high schools and indoor entertainment venues. Indoor dining is still prohibited. This order is effective December 21, 2020 through January 15, 2021. More information can be foundhere.\nThe Pure Michigan Small Business Relief Initiativewill provide $10 million in grants to meet the needs of Michigan small businesses impacted the COVID-19 virus. Applications for businesses to apply will open on December 15, 2020. Grants will be awarded in the amount of up to $15,000 per eligible business. More information can be foundhere.\nThe Unemployment Insurance Agency (UIA) provided additional guidance to workers and employers who may be affected COVID-19. Michiganders who were on unemployment, went back to work, and are now temporarily unemployed again due to COVID-19 can reopen their claim online. More information can be foundhere.\n\nLEGISLATIVE UPDATE\nOn December 21, Congress passed theConsolidated Appropriations Act of 2021, which includes a nearly $1 trillion emergency relief packageto support American workers, families and small businesses during the coronavirus pandemic. More information can be foundhere.\nOn October 1, the U.S. House of Representatives passed an updatedversionThe Heroes Act. Thesenewprovisions are essential to supporting our schools, small businesses, restaurants, performance spaces, airline workers and others.More information can be foundhere.\nOn August 22, the U.S. House of Representatives passedThe Delivering for America Act, to fund the U.S. Postal Service and prohibit changes to operations until the pandemic has ended. More information can be foundhere.\nOn May 12, the U.S. House of Representatives passedThe Heroes Act.TheHeroes Actincludes a number of key policies I have advocated for, including additional direct payments to families and seniors, expanding unemployment insurance, increasing the Earned Income Tax Credit and the Child Tax Credit, and funding to prevent water shutoffs. More information can be foundhere.\nOn May 15, I introduced a bipartisan bill,TheRecharge and Empower Local Innovation and Entrepreneurs Fund for Main Street Act(RELIEF for Main Street Act), with Reps. Evans (D-PA), Fitzpatrick (R-PA) and Upton (R-MI). The billcreates a $50.5 billion Small Business Local Relief Program to provide direct federal support to cities, counties and states in order to seed and scale local relief funds and target smallbusinesses with 20 employees or fewer, orwith 50 employees or fewer located in low-income neighborhoods. More information can be foundhere.\nCongress has also passedtheCoronavirus Preparedness and Response Supplemental Appropriations Act,TheCARES Act,Families First Coronavirus Response Actand thePaycheck Protection Program and Health Care Enhancement Actto help families and health care facilities respond to the coronavirus pandemic.\n\nCORONAVIRUS TESTING UPDATE\nThe Governor has expanded testing opportunities for Michiganders to access testing in their own backyards. More information can be foundhere.\nThe U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has launched a website and app with a coronavirus screening tool and resources to help people protect their health. The website can be foundhereand the app can be accessedhere.\n\nUNEMPLOYMENT INSURANCE RESOURCES UPDATE\nGovernor Whitmer signed bipartisan bills restoring many unemployment provisions from her previous executive orders, including extending state unemployment benefits for Michiganders who have lost work as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic from 20 to 26 weeks until the end of the year. More information can be foundhere.\nUIA is now offering telephone appointments for customers with specific claim issues. By scheduling a phone appointment, customers will be able to get assistance with issues at their convenience. Phone appointments are available Monday through Friday from 8:15 a.m.  4:25 p.m. More information can be foundhere.\nThe last federal $600 weekly unemployment benefit was paid to Michiganders on July 25. The U.S. Federal Emergency Management Administration (FEMA) provided the state funding to provide six weeks of an additional $300 per week unemployment benefit, covering dates July 26 through September 5. To qualify, claimants must self-certify that they are unemployed or partially unemployed due to COVID-19.More information can be foundhere.\nAdditionally, unemployed Michiganders who have exhausted their regular and extended weeks of unemployment eligibility will receive up to 20 weeks of additional benefits, through the Federal Extended Benefits program. More information can be foundhere.\nOn May 1, I introducedTheStrengthening UI for COVID Impacted Workers and StudentsActto expand unemployment insurance for American workers, which was included inThe Heroes Act. For more information, visithere.\nUnemployment Insurance Benefits: Individuals should apply online atwww.Michigan.gov/UIAor call 866-500-0017 and are encouraged to follow afiling schedulebased on last name and use off-peak times (8 p.m.  8 a.m). The UIA offersresourcesto help workers resolve online technical issues with their account. More information can be foundhere.\n\nHOUSING UPDATE\nGovernor Whitmer created the Eviction Diversion Program, which outlines a process for renters to get fast rental assistance or establish a manageable payment plan to help them stay in their homes. The program also includes assistance to landlords. More information can be foundhere.\nThe Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB), the Federal Housing Finance Agency (FHFA) and the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) have a website to help renters and homeowners understand their housing assistance options. This includes information on mortgage and rental relief as well as resources for additional help that may be needed. More information can be foundhere. The CFPB has also put out a step by step videoherefor homeowners that are interested in mortgage forbearance.\nThe CDC has issued a moratorium on evictions of renters through December 31, 2020 based on non-payment of rent. For individuals that have questions on how this moratorium works or how they can access help, the National Low Income Housing Coalition has put together an overview of the orderhere, while Michigan Legal Help has more tools and informationhere.\n\nCOMMUNITY RESOURCES UPDATE\nThe Pure Michigan Small Business Relief Initiativewill provide $10 million in grants to meet the needs of Michigan small businesses impacted the COVID-19 virus. Applications for businesses to apply will open on December 15, 2020. Grants will be awarded in the amount of up to $15,000 per eligible business. More information can be foundhere.\nThe SBA has put out a step by step guide for businesses with a PPP loan on how to apply for loan forgiveness. More information can be foundhere.\nThe Governor launched the Futures for Frontliners' program, a tuition-free path to community college for essential, frontline workers who continued working during the COVID-19 Stay Home, Stay Safe orders between April  June 2020. Those eligible must apply for this scholarship before the end of the year. More information can be foundhere.\nThe Governor announced low-income residents, seniors, schools and homeless shelters will benefit from the MI Mask Aid partnership that is part of the Mask Up Michigan Campaign. More information can be foundhere.\nPersonal Protective Equipment: The Michigan Economic Development Corporation has launched a platform to help re-opening businesses acquire PPE. More information can be foundhere.\nMichigan's Virtual Food Bank:Seniors in need of food support cansign up for assistance, including meal delivery, delivery of non-perishable food items, and daily wellness-check calls, through the MDHHS coronavirus website, or by contacting their localArea Agency on Aging. More information on the virtual food bank can be foundhere.\nFlint Cares Help Centers: The city of Flint is offering resources and services including bottled water and food assistance. Services will continue to be provided from two semi-trailers staged in church parking lots across the city to distribute items directly to cars as residents drive through. For more information please call 810-410-2020 or visithere.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://haaland.house.gov/media/press-releases/torres-haaland-celebrate-native-american-economic-opportunity-bill-becomes-law", "Torres, Haaland Celebrate as Native American Economic Opportunity Bill Becomes Law", "2020-12-31", "2020", "2020-12", "Democrat", "House", "NM", "Debra Haaland", "H001080", "haaland.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "WASHINGTON, DC  U.S. Representatives Norma J. Torres (CA-35) and Deb Haaland (NM-01), Co-Chair of the Native American Caucus, celebrated this week as their bill, the Indian Community Economic Enhancement Act, was signed into law.\nThe new law expands economic opportunities for Native Americans by addressing the lack of access to credit and community development that hampers entrepreneurialism in Native American tribes. Specifically, the legislation:\n Updates and provides new resources to the Department of Commerce's Office of Native American Business Development;\n\tEnsures effective implementation of the Buy Indian Act within the Departments of Interior and Health and Human Services;\n\tReauthorizes the Social and Economic Development Strategies (SEDS) grant program administered by the Administration for Native Americans; and\n\tAuthorizes the Administration for Native Americans (ANA) to provide financial assistance to Native American community development financial institutions.\n The lawmakers released the following statements:\nNative communities are one step closer to economic independence and self-charted prosperity today now that the Indian Community Economic Enhancement Act is law of the land, Rep. Torres said. For tribal members whose financial opportunities have historically been limited by the geographic and economic isolation, this new law will allow capital to flow and new businesses to take root. I am grateful for Rep. Haaland's leadership as we ushered this bill through the legislative process, and thank our partners in the Senate for working with us to make this day a reality.\nAll communities deserve access to the tools to grow businesses and build economic opportunities, but years of oppression have left Native American entrepreneurs behind, Rep. Deb Haaland, Co-Chair of the Congressional Native American Caucus, said. As a small business owner while raising my daughter there were times when easier access to capital would have benefited my business. I'm proud of the work Rep. Torres and I did to expand opportunities for Native entrepreneurs and get this bill across the finish line.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://harder.house.gov/media/press-releases/harder-announces-free-mobile-coronavirus-testing-van-coming-communities", "Harder Announces Free Mobile Coronavirus Testing Van Coming to Communities Throughout Central Valley", "2020-12-31", "2020", "2020-12", "Democrat", "House", "CA", "Josh Harder", "H001090", "harder.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Modesto, CA  Today, Representative Josh Harder (CA-10) announced the launch of a new COVID-19 mobile testing van for Stanislaus and San Joaquin counties  scheduled to start Monday, January 4th. Curative, one of the largest providers of oral COVID-19 testing in the country, will be launching a mobile testing unit on Monday January 4th and will serve locations across Rep. Harder's district in both Stanislaus and San Joaquin Counties. Curative offers a self-administered oral test, which uses saliva instead of a nasal swab. The test is free to all individuals, including those without insurance, and can be administered to children.\n \n\tWe heard from communities across the Valley that we're low on testing capacity  so we went and found some more, said Rep. Harder. The first step in combating the virus is understanding where it is  this will give us a better chance to do that while also giving people more opportunities to get tested.\n \nInterested residents can visit www.curative.com/CA10 to make an appointment. Appointments will be available starting four days before date of test. Walk-up availability is limited. More information on the test itself is available at www.curative.com. More information on local testing, including a bilingual flyer, is available here.\nThe testing van will be available on a weekly basis at the following locations, 10am  4pm, starting Monday, January 4th:\nMondays: Patterson - Hammon Senior Center Parking Lot, 1033 W Las Palmas Ave, Patterson\nTuesdays: Riverbank - Riverbank Community Center Parking Lot, 3600 Santa Fe St, Riverbank\nWednesdays: Manteca - City Hall Parking Lot, 1001 West Center Street, Manteca\nThursdays: Oakdale - Family Resource Center Parking Lot, 631 W F St, Oakdale\nFridays: Ceres - Central Valley Opportunity Center; Ceres Parking Lot, 3860 Brickit Ct., Suite A, Ceres\nSaturdays: Modesto - King Kennedy Center Parking Lot, 601 Martin Luther King Dr, Modesto\nSundays: Tracy - Ritter Family Ball Park, 2300 N. Tracy Blvd, Tracy", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://higgins.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/56th-inauguration-ceremony-information", "56th Inauguration Ceremony Information", "2020-12-31", "2020", "2020-12", "Democrat", "Senate", "NY", "Brian Higgins", "H001038", "higgins.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Every four years, as has been for the past two-hundred and thirty-two years, the President and Vice President of the United States are sworn in before the American people. This remarkable ceremony  in which the President swears an oath to protect and defend the Constitution, to bear true faith and allegiance to the nation, and to faithfully discharge the duties of the office  is the foundation of our republic's commitment to the rule of law and the peaceful transition of power.\nOn January 20th, 2021 President-elect Joseph R. Biden and Vice President-elect Kamala Harris will take this very oath before the American public, as have so many before them. While this momentous and historic event is cause for celebration, the government has a mandate to act responsibly and protect the public from the present health crisis caused by the COVID-19 pandemic.\nOn December 16th, 2020 the Joint Congressional Committee on Inaugural Ceremonies (JCCIC) announced guidelines for attendance at 59th Inaugural Ceremony. Unlike in previous years, Congressional offices will not receive any tickets to distribute to the public. The decision was reached by the JCCIC in consultation with the Presidential Inaugural Committee and public health officials in response to the global pandemic. As such, my office will be unable to provide in-person tickets to 59th Inaugural Ceremony.\nWhile I share your disappointment, this decision should not diminish the ceremony nor its importance. The United States of America, in its times of existence, has managed one of the most impressive, continuous, and peaceful democratic transitions of power in civilized history. The pandemic cannot take that from us. This inauguration will proceed like all before it, and the United States will begin the hard work of tackling the challenges facing our great nation and building a better future.\nPlease continue to monitor the JCCIC's official website and social media for updates on where to view the 59th Inaugural Ceremony. If you have any questions or concerns regarding this decision, please do not hesitate to contact my office.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://lee.house.gov/news/press-releases/coin-redesign-act-celebrating-prominent-american-women-and-others-passes-both-chambers-of-congress_--", "Coin Redesign Act Celebrating Prominent American Women and Others Passes Both Chambers of Congress", "2020-12-31", "2020", "2020-12", "Democrat", "House", "CA", "Barbara Lee", "L000551", "lee.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "12.31.20\n\t\t\t Coin Redesign Act Celebrating Prominent American Women and Others Passes Both Chambers of Congress     \n\t\t\tWashington, D.C. Representatives Barbara Lee (D-CA), Anthony Gonzalez(R-OH), and Bonnie Watson Coleman (D-NJ) today joined Senators Catherine CortezMasto(D-NV) and Deb Fischer (R-NE)in celebrating the bicameral passage of their bipartisan legislation, the Circulating Collectible Coin Redesign Act of 2020. \r\n\r\nH.R. 1923, the Circulating Collectible Coin Redesign Act of 2020 allows the Department of the Treasury and U.S. Mint to mint and issuenewquarter-dollar coins. The first series of quarters in this program commemorates the centennial of the ratification of the 19th Amendment granting some women the right to vote. The design on the reverse of those quarters will represent prominent American women in a range of fields, including but not limited to suffrage, civil rights, abolition, government, and humanities. This series will also include women from ethnically, racially, and geographically diverse backgrounds. \r\n\r\nThe 114th Congress created a United StatesSemiquincentennialCommission to facilitate activities in 2026 to commemorate the 250th anniversary of the founding of the United States. This bill allows for the issuance offivedifferent designs emblematic of the United States'Semiquincentennial, including one dedicated to the contributions made by women to our nation's founding or a monumental moment in American History.Additionally, from 2027-2030,quarter dollars willcommemorate sports played by American youthandhalf-dollar commemoratingParalympicsports. \r\nWomen have played a critical role in shaping this country since its founding but have often been excluded or gone unrecognized. This bill is an important step in recognizing the contributions women have made in furthering civil rights and making our country a more equitable place. This bill's passage also coincides with the centennial of the 19th Amendment which gave some women the right to vote,said Congresswoman Lee.When women gathered in Seneca Falls in July 1848, it was to give white women the right to vote  no Black women were invited to participate. As we commemorate women's suffrage and celebrate the first series of coins in the package to depict prominent American women, it is also my hope that diverse American women will be chosen and depicted, celebrating our nation's leaders, thinkers, and innovators.  \r\n\r\nSome of the greatest and most influential figures in our nation's history have been women, although these voices and stories have too often gone untold. In this centennial anniversary of the 19th Amendment, it is fitting that we take this opportunity to highlight the role women have played in shaping our great nation and ensure their inclusion in the fabric of our nation's story,said Congressman Gonzalez.I am excited to see this legislation head to the President's desk to be signed into law. \r\n\r\nI'm proud to see this legislation honoring the 100th anniversary of the 19th Amendment and recognizing the many American women who have contributed to the fight for suffrage and civil rights, science, government, and the arts pass the House of Representatives,said Senator CortezMasto.While our nation still has steps to take in honoring the right to vote for women of color, the 19th Amendment has firmly established every woman's right to vote for the last 100 years and has brought women into the halls of power across our country. And by ensuring that prominent women are featured in the U.S. Mint'sSemiquincentennial, we are recognizing our history and inspiring future generations of young women to dream big. From business boardrooms to research labs to state legislatures, like Nevada's first majority-women legislature, this bill recognizes the decades of contributions women have made and will make to our shared history. \r\nI am happy that we were able to work together in a bipartisan, bicameral way to pass this legislation,said Senator Fischer.These coins will pay tribute to the women heroes and trailblazers who have played a major role in our nation's history. Their leadership, stories, and sacrifices are going to inspire generations of women to come. \r\n\r\nAs a member of the U.S.SemiquinentennialCommission, I am thrilled to see us take steps to prepare for the celebration of our 250th Independence Day and especially excited to ensure that celebration includes not just the founding fathers we so often think of, but more diverse contributions made to our nation's founding. The inclusion of women is vital, and so it is fitting that we make sure a woman is included on the coins we'll circulate to mark the occasion,said Congresswoman Watson Coleman.For so long, we've allowed a pervasive narrative that women, Black, indigenous and other people of color are new to leading. The truth is, we've been doing it since the dawn of time, but with little recognition. With measures like these we pay a small amount of what's due and inspire everyone to dream big. \r\n\r\nSince our institution's founding in 1792, the men and women of the United States Mint have taken great pride in rendering the story of our nation in enduring examples of numismatic art,said United States Mint Director David J. Ryder.We look forward to honoring the many contributions of women in American history, as well as celebrating the 250thAnniversary of our Great Nation and the shared pastimes that are important to all of us.\r\n\r\n\"As we commemorate the Suffrage Centennial in 2020 and the 250th anniversary of our country's founding in 2026, I can't think of a better way of righting our history than to include historical American women,said Rosie Rios, 43rd Treasurer of the United States.I would like to thank Congresswoman Barbara Lee and her office for taking a leadership role in partnering to craft this legislation and continue the journey of having women represented on our currency and coins, something that is used every day around the world. By seeing ourselves honored and valued in our history, our daughters and sons can be inspired to also see their own future.\" \r\n\r\nThis bill will include the following package of coins: \r\n\r\n \r\nFrom 2022-2025, up to 5 quarters annually depicting prominent American women;\r\nIn 2026, up to 5 quarters commemorating the USSemiquincentennial(250th) anniversary,including one quarter design featuring women;\r\nAll circulating coins (obverse and reverse) will be redesigned for 2026 for the celebration;\r\nFrom 2027-2030, a series of 5 quarters annually honoring American youth sports and a half-dollar design depicting a sport in the Paralympics;\r\nGives authority for permission for the Mint to design and strike Olympic medals. \r\n \r\n\r\nThis year marks the 100th anniversary of the 19th Amendment, guaranteeing women's constitutional right to vote. 68 million women can vote today because of the work of the women's suffrage movement and this bill honors these efforts.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://lindasanchez.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/s-nchez-highlights-accomplishments-38th-congressional-district-during", "S\u00e1nchez Highlights Accomplishments for 38th Congressional District During 116th Congress", "2020-12-31", "2020", "2020-12", "Democrat", "House", "CA", "Linda T. S\u00e1nchez", "S001156", "lindasanchez.house.gov", "lindasanchez", "https://lindasanchez.house.gov/media-center/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON\u2014 U.S. Representative Linda T. S\u00e1nchez (D-CA) today highlighted accomplishments for the 38th Congressional District during the second session of the 116th Congress. S\u00e1nchez has devoted her career to helping working people get ahead: advocating for families, improving America's education system, and bringing jobs to Southern California.\n\n\"I take seriously my responsibility to be the voice for California's 38th District in Washington,\" said Congresswoman Linda S\u00e1nchez. \"In 2020, my Democratic colleagues and I have been able to deliver significant wins for our constituents and the country, despite historic opposition from the other party and the Administration. The cornerstone of my work is and continues to be serving my constituents, especially in these difficult and unpredictable times.\"\n\nIn the 116th Congress, Congresswoman S\u00e1nchez served on the Ways and Means Committee where she lead on issues of importance to working families such as family caregiving and nursing homes, fair taxation, improving education at all levels, and worker-first priorities for labor. Additionally, S\u00e1nchez served as Chair of the Congressional Hispanic Caucus' Immigration Task Force and Co-Chair of the Labor Caucus, and as a member of the Congressional Progressive Caucus and Democratic Women's Caucus.\n\nOn Sunday, January 3rd, Congresswoman S\u00e1nchez will be sworn in as the Representative for California's 38th Congressional District in the 117th Congress. At that time, she will begin her tenth term serving the people of Los Angeles and Orange Counties in Southern California.\n\nHighlighted district and legislative accomplishments are below. For additional information, please visit here.\n\nFor a complete listing on House Democrats' work For The People in the 116th Congress, please visit here.\n\nHighlighted District Accomplishments\n\nCOVID-19 Response\n\nSince March 2019, Congresswoman S\u00e1nchez's office has received thousands of constituent requests for assistance related to the pandemic. The office has resolved more than 1,000 constituent issues this calendar year, and for issues outside of the federal scope, our team continues to share information regarding state and local resources.\n\nSupport for Small Businesses\n\nAdditionally, the District office has been laser-focused on providing information and assistance for small businesses. The office has assisted hundreds of small businesses, including more than 200 local businesses with Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) loans and the Economic Injury Disaster Loan (EIDL) program.\n\n2020 Census\n\nCongresswoman S\u00e1nchez prioritized Census response this year, as the district faced several challenges for an accurate count. As a result of this sustained effort, in partnership with many local organization, CA-38 had a response rate of 73.9% which is significantly higher than the state average of 69.6% and L.A. County average of 65%.\n\nWhittier Narrows Dam\n\nCongresswoman S\u00e1nchez, working together with Congresswomen Napolitano and Chu, secured $192.5 million for long-needed repairs to the Whittier Narrows Dam. The Whittier Narrows Dam Safety Project is part of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers' Dam Safety and Seepage Program and was included in the FY2021 Omnibus Appropriations bill. This will ensure construction of the project commences on schedule. This important milestone will make our communities more resilient in the face of increasingly dangerous and damaging storms.\n\nVirtual Constituent Engagement\n\nThis year, the offices pivoted to a virtual model of constituent support and held hundreds of virtual events to meet with local leaders, community members and constituents.\n\nHighlighted Legislative Accomplishments\n\nHealth\n\nThe Congresswoman continues to be a leader on the Ways and Means Committee, specifically on the topics of caregiving, nursing homes, and Alzheimer's disease. She is acutely focused on these issues and health disparities in the Latino community as it relates to much of her legislative work in this portfolio. She authored an op-ed regarding the importance of the ACA: \"Being a woman is a preexisting condition? Here's what is at stake for health care.\"\n\nHer top bills include:\n\nCOVID-19 Health Legislation\n\nThe Facilitating Virtual Visitation for Nursing Home Residents Act, The Stronger Medicaid Response to the COVID-19 Pandemic Act, (included in the HEROES Act and updated HEROES Act), and The Public Health Emergency COBRA Extension Act\n\nLegislation with Reps. C\u00e1rdenas and Castro that would allow those who are uninsured to receive COVID-19 tests at no-cost. This legislation was included in the larger Families First Coronavirus Response Act, which passed the House of Representatives.\n\nHealth Legislation\n\nThe Community-Based Independence for Seniors Act, The CHANGE Act, The Fairness in Nursing Home Arbitration Act,The Medicare Adult Day Services Act, The Compassionate Care Act.\n\nTaxation\n\nAs a senior member of the Committee on Ways and Means and the Select Revenue Measures Subcommittee, the Congresswoman continues to be a leader of federal taxation issues in Congress and several of her priorities have been included in the House of Representatives-passed COVID packages this year.\n\nCOVID-19 Tax Legislation\n\nHer previously committee-passed bipartisan Working Parents Relief Act that would allow families to set aside more pre-tax dollars to cover the skyrocketing costs of childcare was partially included in the HEROES Act.\n\nRelated to the Congresswoman's ongoing work to provide families with more flexibility to afford childcare, she led a letter to the Treasury Department advocating for an interpretation to allow workers to change the amount of money set aside for dependent care expenses. This provision was also included in the HEROES Act.\n\nThe Providing Essentials for Frontline Workers Act (included in the HEROES Act), The WORK NOW Act (modified version included in the updated HEROES Act),The Helping Independent Tracks Succeed (HITS) Act, and TheMechanical Insulation Incentive Act.\n\nTax Legislation\n\nBuilding Apprentice Skills in Career Training, Credit for Caring Act is a bi-partisan bill that would provide a non-refundable federal tax credit of up to $3,000 to family caregivers to help address the financial burdens of caregiving and help working family caregivers remain employed and not have to leave their jobs and risk their financial security.\n\nImmigration\n\nCongresswoman S\u00e1nchez continued her term as Chair of the Immigration Task Force for the Congressional Hispanic Caucus (CHC), where she led over a dozen meetings with advocacy groups and CHC members to build consensus to develop a new roadmap toward immigration reform. The Congresswoman developed key principles to guide a legislative strategy and will continue leading conversations with key Congressional members and the Biden Administration to move immigration reforms in the 117th Congress.\n\nThe Congresswoman also secured a deal to provide emergency relief funding and led legislation to provide access to COVID-19 testing and treatment for all, including undocumented people and mixed-status families.\n\nImmigration Issues\n\nCalled for DHS and Customs and Border Patrol (CBP) to provide the agency's plans to provide flu vaccines to migrants in CBP custody, ahead of flu season during COVID-19.\n\nThe Congresswoman led a letter to DHS Acting Secretary Wolf on the agency's stance and plan to provide flu vaccinations to migrants, including children and family units currently detained at U.S. CBP facilities, ahead of this year's flu season.\n\nLed an effort to oppose Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) modifications to the Student Exchange and Visitor Program (SEVP) that affected international student's ability to take online classes during the pandemic, causing undue harm to our international students, student bodies, and institutions of higher learning in and around the district.\n\nLabor\n\nThe Congresswoman hosted quarterly virtual meetings with local union representatives to hear directly from workers regarding the challenges they faced during the COVID-19 pandemic, bringing a direct voice for working families to Congress. She was a vocal supporter of legislative efforts to protect worker's economic security and ensure safety on the job, especially frontline workers.\n\nCongresswoman S\u00e1nchez once again served as Co-Chair the Labor and Working Families Caucus, including 74 members, and worked to expand the Caucus. The Congresswoman welcomed like-minded colleagues to leadership on key labor issues by helping form the new Congressional Labor Caucus. The Labor Caucus will build on the legacy of the Labor and Working Families Caucus by expanding support for legislative efforts that strengthen workers' rights and rebuild America's middle class.\n\nLabor Legislation\n\nCoronavirus Frontline Workers Fair Pay Act and a bipartisan resolution Expressing support for the designation of Journeyman Lineworkers Recognition Day\n\nOversight\n\nThe Congresswoman, along with Reps. Lieu, Cicilline, Eshoo, and Gallego introduced a comprehensive package of oversight bills \u2013 the Restoring Public Trust Act \u2013 which included her RIGGED Act to end nepotism at the White House.\n\nOversight Legislation\n\nThe Relatives in Government Getting Employment Dishonorably Act and The Financial Accountability in Reporting Act\n\nEducation\n\nThe Congresswoman remains focused on improving education at all levels. The Safe Schools Improvement Act has the highest number of cosponsors ever with 231. The Congresswoman led the Orange County delegation encouraging the O.C. Board of Education to abide by health guidelines, including mandating local school districts to mandate masks and physical distancing guidelines.\n\nEducation Legislation\n\nThe Safe Schools Improvement Act, The Put School Counselors Where They're Needed Act, and The National School Counselors Week Resolution\n\nSocial Security\n\nAs an active member of the Social Security Subcommittee on Ways and Means, the Congresswoman has prioritized protecting beneficiaries during the COVID-19 pandemic this year while she fights for longer term reform. She secured inclusion of a version of her legislation to provide a boost to widows and widowers in emergency Social Security legislation introduced by Chairman Larson. She also joined with her colleagues to push for a temporary fix to this year's woefully inadequate cost-of-living-adjustment (COLA), forgiveness for Social Security overpayments during the pandemic, and fewer administrative hurdles for beneficiaries to receive their Economic Impact Payments (EIP).\n\nCongresswoman S\u00e1nchez continues to fight for permanent improvements to Social Security through her legislation to strengthen benefits and the solvency of the Social Security program. She testified before the Committee on the importance of the program to Latinx families and communities of color.\n\nSocial Security Legislation\n\nProtecting Our Widows and Widowers in Retirement (POWER) Act, H.R. 2654 - Strengthening Social Security Act of 2019, and the Social Security COVID-19 Correction and Equity Act\n\nWorker and Family Support\n\nThis year, the Congresswoman expanded her leadership role on critical legislation to help working families endure and recover from the pandemic. She joined Committee leadership in spearheading the Childcare for Economic Recovery Act through the House, including testifying before the Rules Committee. She also helped broker a provision to provide emergency assistance for vulnerable populations in both Heroes Act versions between the Ways and Means Committee and CHC and secured a provision to provide family care for essential workers in the original Heroes Act. The Congresswoman also advocated for crucial programs to help working families, including sharing constituent stories on the importance of enhanced pandemic unemployment benefits. She also published an op-ed in Latino Magazine on the importance of programs like paid family leave and federal support for family caregivers in the Latinx community.\n\nWorker and Family Support Legislation\n\nH.R. 7327 - Childcare for Economic Recovery Act, H.R. 6460 \u2013 Family Care for Essential Workers Act,H.R.6862 - Social Services Pandemic Disaster Relief Act(co-led with Reps. Davis, Chu, and Gomez) (included in both versions of the Heroes Act ), H.R. 7846 - The Support Working Families Act of 2020 (bill co-led with Rep. Porter)\n\nTransportation and Infrastructure\n\nThe Congresswoman has continued to lead efforts to restore the Whittier Narrows Dam, including leading a push to secure funding of the restoration in the FY 2021 House and Senate Energy and Water Appropriations Acts. She continues to work with the City of Pico Rivera, the Army Corps of Engineers, and the Appropriations Committee to mitigate the project's impact on the community. She drafted and secured compromise language included in the FY 2021 House Energy and Water report directing the Corps to study ways to minimize the impact on the community. The Congresswoman has also testified before House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee urging the WRDA process to better serve disadvantaged communities and hosted the Committee to tour the Whittier Narrows Dam in Pico Rivera this year. The Congresswoman has also continued to push for a major infrastructure investment, as well as advocate for federal infrastructure grants that would benefit local agencies like L.A. Metro (rail and bus electrification projects) and WRD that serve the 38th District.\n\nSmall Business\n\nCongresswoman S\u00e1nchez has fought to secure lifesaving help for small businesses to weather the COVID-19 pandemic and joined aggressive oversight to ensure the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) and Economic Injury Disaster Loan (EIDL) program serve truly small and minority-owned businesses. She has joined with her colleagues on efforts to expand PPP eligibility for nonprofits and increase transparency and accountability of SBA programs to prevent large corporations from taking advantage of funds intended for small businesses. The Congresswoman has engaged with the Small Business Committee on policy problems raised by local labor and small business owners during the rollout of PPP.\n\nThe Congresswoman has also continued to be supportive of manufacturing businesses in the district, many of whom contract with NASA and the Air Force. She has joined her colleagues in pushing the Air Force to keep the National Security Space Launch program on schedule, which local small manufacturing businesses depend on for contracting work.\n\nSmall Business Legislation\n\nThe Supporting Entrepreneurs and Economic Development (SEED) Act\n\nEnergy and Environment\n\nThe Congresswoman pushed back against the Trump administration's political and environment attacks against the state of California. She has joined with her colleagues to combat PFAS (forever chemicals found in nonstick cookware and firefighting foam) contamination by urging appropriators to fund new grant programs for states and localities to decontaminate water supplies, as well as cosponsoring legislation passed by the House to regulate PFAS chemicals. The Congresswoman has continued to support appropriations for local and national environmental priorities including water conservation programs, energy efficiency and renewable energy research, and the L.A. River Restoration project.\n\nAgriculture and Animals\n\nThe Congresswoman continued her leadership on nutrition issues in the start of the pandemic by urging the Secretary of Agriculture to use authority under the Families First Coronavirus Response Act to allow WIC food package substitutes as a result of panic buying. The effort was endorsed by the National WIC Association and her letter garnered more than 60 Congressional member signatures. She also signed onto numerous letters to the Administration to ensure families receive pandemic nutrition assistance and cosponsored legislation to expand nutrition assistance through SNAP and other programs during the crisis. The Congresswoman once again received a 100 percent scorecard rating from the Humane Society for her record and cosponsorship of animal protection bills.\n\nNutrition Legislation\n\nH.R. 6811 \u2013 WIC Act of 2020\n\nDefenseand Foreign Affairs\n\nThe Congresswoman vocally defended the Armenian Community as the latest conflict between Azerbaijan, Armenia, and Artsakh erupted this year. She joined her colleagues in the Congressional Caucus on Armenia to push for the U.S. to engage in fostering a peace process that would respect the rights of Armenians and residents of Artsakh. The Congresswoman engaged directly with the State Department to urge the Administration to increase its involvement and restore demining programs in Artsakh.\n\nShe also joined with her colleagues to commemorate the Armenian Genocide. The Congresswoman also continued to expand her participation in NATO PA by serving out her term as Vice-Chair of the Economics and Security Committee. She was elected Special Rapporteur of the Civil Dimension of Security Committee and has further developed relationships with NATO counterparts and colleagues in the U.S. delegation. The Congresswoman maintained her strong support for Israel through responsiveness to all corners of the Jewish community in the 38th District, including supporting security assistance for Israel, strides in the regional peace process, and humanitarian assistance in the Gaza Strip.\n\nCivil Rights\n\nCongresswoman S\u00e1nchez led the fight for transparency in the Census Bureau's plan to respond to the COVID-19 pandemic. She engaged with the Congressional Hispanic Caucus to provide oversight of all operations, including updated messaging strategies and new engagement plans. The Congresswoman supported the George Floyd Justice in Policing Act, bipartisan legislation led by the Congressional Black Caucus: unprecedented reforms to fundamentally transform the culture of policing by curbing police brutality, ending racial profiling, increasing transparency and accountability, as it saves lives.\n\nCivil Rights Letters\n\nU.S. Census Bureau and Department of Commerce seeking information about the Bureau's contingency plans to conduct the 2020 Census during the COVID-19 pandemic, with a focus on outreach on how historically marginalized communities, people experiencing homelessness, and those with low broadband access would be reached.\n\nCivil Rights Legislation\n\nGeorge Floyd Justice in Policing Act, Law Enforcement Trust and Integrity Act, Truth, Racial Healing, and Transformation resolution, Juneteenth National Independence Day Act, s 2020 Observance of Juneteenth Independence Day, Commission to Study and Develop Reparation Proposals for African-Americans Act, and the Domestic Terrorism Prevention Act\n\nVeterans\n\nThe Congresswoman has continued to support numerous legislative efforts related to veterans. She will continue to explore new legislative opportunities after a meeting she had with local leaders on the topics of homelessness, mental health, and health care. The Congresswoman's Fair Credit Reporting for Servicemembers passed the U.S. House of Representatives on January 29, 2020 as part of the Comprehensive CREDIT Act.\n\nVeterans Legislation", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-06-28T00:42:23Z"], ["https://luria.house.gov/media/press-releases/congresswoman-elaine-luria-announces-passage-critical-health-care-priorities", "Congresswoman Elaine Luria Announces Passage of Critical Health Care Priorities in COVID-19 Relief Package", "2020-12-31", "2020", "2020-12", "Democrat", "House", "VA", "Elaine Luria", "L000591", "luria.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "WASHINGTON, DCToday, Congresswoman Elaine Luria announced the inclusion of several vital health care provisions in theConsolidated Appropriations Act, 2021 and Emergency Coronavirus Relief package, which the President recently signed into law. These provisions would bolster COVID-19 vaccine and testing deployment, reverse planned budget cuts to Medicare, and provide additional funding for personal protective equipment (PPE).As our nation faces record-breaking numbers of COVID-19 cases and hospitalizations, we must continue providing robust funding for critical health care imperatives,said Congresswoman Elaine Luria.While neither perfect nor all-inclusive, this much-overdue COVID-19 relief package allocates resources needed to improve our nation's response to this pandemic. I am pleased the President signed this package into law, and I urge my colleagues in the House and Senate to continue finding common ground as we continue addressing this public health emergency.Included in the COVID-19 relief package are:\n\t\t\t\t$69 billion for COVID-19 testing, vaccine deployment, contact tracing, and other critical health care needs;\n\t\t\t\t\t$3.25 billion for a national stockpile of PPE;\n\t\t\t\t\tA reversal of the 2021 Medicare Sequester; and,\n\t\t\t\t\tAn end to surprise medical bills by ensuring patients are only responsible for in-network cost-sharing amounts in emergency and non-emergency situations, in which they cannot choose an in-network provider.\n\t\t\t\tAs a member of the Problem Solvers Caucus, Congresswoman Luria helped develop aframework for a COVID-19 relief package, whichthe Caucus introduced with a bipartisan group of Senators earlier this month. The relief package that just became law shares striking similarities with this framework, which prioritizes support for families, students, small businesses, and health care providers.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://maloney.house.gov/media-center/in-the-news/long-awaited-moynihan-train-hall-opens-within-historic-post-office-building", "Long-awaited Moynihan Train Hall opens within historic post office building", "2020-12-31", "2020", "2020-12", "Democrat", "Senate", "NY", "Carolyn Maloney", "M000087", "maloney.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Gov. Andrew Cuomo on Wednesday announced the grand opening of Moynihan Train Hall, a 255,000-square-foot train hall withing the historic James A. Farley Building that will be a new gateway into Penn Station.\n\t\t\tThe new train hall is expected to increase the existing Penn Station rail complex's concourse space by 50 percent. Thestation serves Amtrak, New Jersey Transit and Long Island Rail Road trains and connects to several subway lines.\n\t\t\tThe facility is slated to go into service on New Year's Day. Carlo Scissura, president and CEO of the New York BuildingCongress and former head of the Brooklyn Chamber of Commerce, commented, Friday is a transformative day in NewYork City. The highly anticipated opening of the Moynihan Train Hall demonstrates the power of successful public private partnerships to accomplish great infrastructure projects. The Moynihan Train Hall has safely supported workers throughout the pandemic and stimulated the economy, and its opening will increase public transit capacity and accessibility in the city.\n\t\t\tThe idea of converting the post office into a train hall was first proposed by the late U.S. Sen. Daniel Patrick Moynihan.Cuomo said, Sen. Daniel Patrick Moynihan was a man of true vision. He saw the potential in an underutilized post office and knew that if done correctly, this facility could not only give New York the transit hub it has long deserved, but serveas a monument to the public itself.\n\t\t\tThe train hall's design is a unique blend of classical and contemporary, and featuresa one-acre sky-lit atrium, a signature clock, cutting-edge technology, clear wayfinding, full accessibility and museum-caliber public art.\n\t\t\tIt also provides immediate benefits at this critical time while profoundly enhancing the convenience, health, and dailyexperience of hundreds of thousands of passengers, neighbors, and visitors, according to the Governor's Office.\n\t\t\tLed by Empire State Development (ESD), the $1.6 billion project was accomplished through a public-private partnership between ESD, Vornado Realty Trust, The Related Companies, Skanska, the MTA, the Long Island Rail Road, Amtrak, and the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey. It utilized a design-build approach to streamline construction and expedite completion.\n\t\t\tConstruction of Moynihan Train Hall has generated an estimated economic impact of $5 billion, supporting more than5,000 construction jobs and 11,000 indirect jobs, the Governor's Office added.\n\t\t\tMoynihan Train Hall reshapes the travel experience of Penn Station, the busiest passenger transportation facility in theUnited States, used by more than 700,000 passengers per day, according to the Governor's Office.\n\t\t\tIn partnership with the Public Art Fund, Moynihan Train Hall also features a program of ambitious permanent art installations from three leading artistsStan Douglas, Kehinde Wiley, and artistic duo Elmgreen & Dragset. In addition, a suspended 6-foot by 12-foot clock designed by Pennoyer Architects evokes nostalgia for the golden age of rail travel.\n\t\t\tU.S. Senator Charles Schumer said, After decades of work, today we pop the New Year's cork early to celebrate theopening of the gorgeous Moynihan Train Halla grand, skylit, modern transit portal for LIRR and Amtrak riders that will leave the Penn Station of the past in the dust. Senator Moynihan recognized [the establishment of such a train hall] as a unique opportunity to both correct a historic mistakethe tragic demolition, a half century ago, of McKim, Mead andWhite's original Pennsylvania Station and to create a beautiful, new, user-friendly public space that New Yorkers andall Americans can once again enjoy and be proud of.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://maloney.house.gov/media-center/newsletters/maloney-mail-2020-in-review", "Maloney Mail: 2020 in Review", "2020-12-31", "2020", "2020-12", "Democrat", "Senate", "NY", "Carolyn Maloney", "M000087", "maloney.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Dear Friend,\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t2020 has certainly been a challenging year for our country, our city, and our families and my thoughts are with all those who lost loved ones to COVID-19.\n\t\t\t\tAs we close out the year, and look forward to the start of the 117th Congress and Biden presidency, I am also taking a look back at all that we accomplished together in 2020. Even in the midst of an unprecedented pandemic and economic hardship, we accomplished important wins for the American people  some of which are highlighted below.\n\t\t\t\tIt has been an honor and privilege to serve our city and represent you in Congress this year and I look forward to our continued work together in 2021. Wishing you and your loved ones a very Happy and Healthy New Year.\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\tProtecting the United States Postal Service (USPS)\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tWatch Congresswoman Maloney's floor speech on the Delivering for America Act here.\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\tIn 2020, as Americans across the country became more reliant on the USPS for essential mail delivery, the Oversight Committee worked to ensure that the Postal Service received the support and funding it needed and continues to need to serve the American people and our democracy.\n\t\t\t\tI believe that the Postal Service should not become an instrument of partisan politics, but instead must be protected as a neutral, independent entity that focuses on one thing and one thing only  delivering the mail.Millions of people rely on the Postal Service every day to communicate, access critical medications, and vote. A once-in-a-century pandemic is no time to enact changes that threaten service reliability and transparency.\n\t\t\t\tIn August, following unprecedented changes proposed by the new Postmaster General to the operations and organizational structure of the Postal Service, I introduced the Delivering for America Act. It passed the House by a bipartisan vote of 257-150.\n\t\t\t\tFollowing this vote, I chaired an Oversight Committee hearing during which Postmaster General DeJoy testified, for the first time, that massive delays in mail and delivery of medication and other critical supplies caused by his sweeping changes are far worse than he anticipated or previously disclosed to Congress and the American people. Protecting the Postal Service remains a priority for the Oversight Committee in the new year.\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\tEnsuring a Fair & Accurate 2020 Census Count\n\t\t\t\tThroughout 2020, the Trump Administration announced last minute changes to the 2020 Census that census professionals and experts warned could threaten the accuracy of the data. As Chairwoman of the Oversight Committee, I held emergency hearings and released documents to counter the risk of serious errors in the data if the Census Bureau is forced to complete its count without proper funding and the time needed to ensure a fair and accurate count.\n\t\t\t\tTo make sure that all New Yorkers were counted, and that our city and state will receive the federal funding and representation we need and are owed, I teamed up with community organizations and government officials to get out the count and make sure that every single New Yorker was counted in the 2020 Census. A report authored by the Oversight Committee showed that just a 1% undercount could cost our city $7.3 million per year in federal funding for public education and $3.7 million per year for critical jobs programs. We simply cannot afford an undercount.\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\tHolding Big Pharma Accountable\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tWatch Chairwoman Maloney's opening statement from the December 17 hearing with Purdue Pharma and the Sackler familyhere.\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\tThe ongoing fight to hold Big Pharma accountable for their role in unsustainable drug prices is far from over. This fall, I held two days of hearings with top executives of major drug companies to examine their pricing practices for some of the costliest drugs in the United States. These companies sell medications that are critical to our health and well-being, but their skyrocketing prices are simply unsustainable. For nearly two years, the Oversight Committee has aggressively investigated why drug companies continuously increase prices, how they use their massive profits, and what steps can be taken to make prescriptions more affordable for the American people.\n\t\t\t\tAnd on December 17, I chaired an Oversight Committee hearing to examine the role of Purdue Pharma and members of the Sackler family in fueling the nationwide opioid epidemic for decades by pushing Purdue executives to flood the market with the highly addictive painkiller OxyContin.\n\t\t\t\tAs I said at the end of the hearing, the Sacklers have played a critical, active role in sparking and fueling the opioid epidemic. They approved and monitored dangerous marketing plans, directed sales representatives to focus on the highest-volume prescribers and the strongest versions of OxyContin, and targeted vulnerable populations with misleading messages.\n\t\t\t\tNow, they have the ability to mitigate at least some of the damage they caused. They must stop hiding and offshoring their assets, stop nickel and diming the negotiators, make a massive financial contribution that leaves no doubt about their commitment, and finally acknowledge their wrongdoing. The families whose lives they and this drug have ruined deserve at least that much.\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\tCracking Down on Anonymous Shell Companies\n\t\t\t\tJust this month, my bipartisan Corporate Transparency Act passed the House and Senate after more than a decade of coalition building. This bill will make our country safer and will also lower housing costs for New Yorkers.\n\t\t\t\tThis legislation would require companies to disclose their true, beneficial owners at the time the company is formed, and will prevent bad actors from using anonymous shell companies to thwart law enforcement and hide their illicit activities. The U.S. is one of the easiest places in the world to set up anonymous shell companies, because no state in the U.S. currently requires companies to disclose their true, beneficial owners. Anonymous shell companies have become the vehicle of choice for terrorist financing, money laundering, and organized crime. When a terrorist cell wants to move their money, or a criminal syndicate wants to launder money, they usually do it right here in the U.S., with a shell company.\n\t\t\t\tBeyond cracking down on criminal activity, this bill will directly affect us here at home by lowering housing costs in New York City. Kleptocrats and criminals routinely park their ill-gotten funds in luxury real estate in New York City, limiting the availability of housing and driving up housing costs for ordinary New Yorkers. There are too many buildings with no lights on at night, because no one actually lives in these apartments; they were purchased purely to hide money, and to act as a bank account. But this law will put an end to this practice, once and for all.\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\tFashion for the Frontlines and Preparing for Future Pandemics\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tWatch the press conference introducing the Made in America Act here.\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\tIn the midst of a global pandemic, having strong domestic production of personal protective equipment (PPE) is absolutely essential to keeping Americans safe. I'm so proud that New York City's fashion industry answered the call of duty by working quickly to get PPE to our frontline healthcare workers.Fashion for the Frontlines grew out of a coalition I formed of New York City designers, manufacturers, and industry leaders to support the city's garment industry and understand the nexus between technology and fashion. In March and April, when New York City needed PPE, this group quickly transformed their manufacturing capabilities to aid our city at that critical moment. Fashion for the Frontlines mobilized Garment District factories - that would have otherwise been forced to close - to manufacture and distribute masks and gowns to frontline medical professionals throughout New York City.\n\t\t\t\tThis coalition is a testament to the strength, resiliency, and compassion of New York City's fashion industry, whose members have shown our entire nation what it means to be New York Strong. I admire the grassroots effort to produce and distribute vital PPE during the COVID-19 crisis, but in preparation for future pandemics we must ensure that the United States has a sufficient national stockpile and a strong operation to produce our own PPE. That is why I introduced the Made in America: Preparation for a Pandemic Act.\n\t\t\t\tThis bill will secure our nation's critical stock of PPE and promote a stronger manufacturing base for medical equipment. Having strong domestic production of PPE is absolutely essential to keeping Americans safe in the midst of a global pandemic. Too many lives have been lost unnecessarily because broken global supply chains left our essential workers without the equipment they needed.\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\tThe Student Loan Forgiveness for Frontline Healthcare Workers Act\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tWatch the press conference introducing the Student Loan Forgiveness for Frontline Healthcare Workers Act here.\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\tIn May, I introduced the Student Loan Forgiveness for Frontline Healthcare Workers Act to alleviate the burden of student loan debt for frontline healthcare workers and help attract medical professionals in various specialties to lend their expertise to the response to COVID-19. Frontline healthcare workers are delivering care to the sickest patients and putting their own safety at great risk in order to keep doing their jobs. In return, I believe that we have an obligation to ensure that they are relieved of the debt they incurred to train for this critical work  in graduate degree programs or other professional certification. Healthcare workers are worrying about their own health and how it will affect their families  they should not have to worry about their financial security after the crisis has passed. That is a burden that we can lift right now. I am continuing to work to build support for this bill in Congress and will be reintroducing it in the 117th Congress.\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\tPandemic Heroes Compensation Act\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tWatch the press conference introducing the Pandemic Heroes Compensation Act here.\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\tIn May, I introduced the bipartisan Pandemic Heroes Compensation Act. Modeled after theSeptember 11thVictim Compensation Fund (VCF), this new fund would provide compensation for injuries to any individual deemed an essential worker and required to leave their home to perform their duties and who have become ill or died as a result of COVID-19. Family members of essential workers would also be eligible for compensation.\n\t\t\t\tOn September 11th, it was the firefighters and officers who ran into the burning buildings to save lives. Today, it is hospital workers  nurses, doctors, EMS, janitorial staff, pharmacists, technicians  and all essential workers. In this fight against the coronavirus, it is the first responders, retail workers, transit workers, grocery store clerks, delivery workers, janitorial staff, sanitation workers, mail carriers, hospitality workers, and federal, state, and local employees who are on the frontlines, walking into the fire every day as they risk their health to make sure we are safe, fed, and healthy. They need to know that if they or their loved ones get sick because of this work, we will be there for them.\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\tProtecting Small Businesses: The Pandemic Risk Insurance Act\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tWatch the press conference introducing the Pandemic Risk Insurance Act here.\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\tAs our city and nation contend with the economic fallout from the COVID-19 crisis, I've been fighting in DC for federal support for New York City's small businesses. I was a proud supporter of the CARES Act and Heroes Act and have called for extensions and expansions of the Payroll Protection Program (PPP) and Economic Injury Disaster Loan (EIDL) program. Following conversations with NY-12 constituents, small business owners, and leaders in our city, I recognized the vital need for business interruption insurance that covers pandemics and introduced the Pandemic Risk Insurance Act (PRIA). The legislation is based on my successful post-9/11 Terrorism Risk Insurance Act. PRIA provides a Federal backstop for the pandemic insurance market and creates a framework in which the public and private sectors split the losses in the event of a pandemic or other public health emergency.\n\t\t\t\tMy view has always been that we need a two-pronged approach to this crisis for small businesses. First, we need additional short-term relief to help keep our great small businesses alive  which Congress has now done by approving an additional $284 billion in forgivable PPP loans to small businesses. Second, we need a framework to provide relief in the future when a pandemic like COVID-19 hits. My Pandemic Risk Insurance Act provides that long-term framework by ensuring that small businesses can quickly get the relief they need, without having to wait for Congress to pass another emergency bill. Our city and nation depend on it.\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\tStanding up for NYC's Arts & Cultural Nonprofit Community\n\t\t\t\tIn September, I introduced the Culture, Arts, Libraries, and Museums Emergency Relief (CALMER) Act, to provide emergency relief funding to the arts and culture nonprofit community, encourage charitable giving, and expand CARES programs to include nonprofit organizations.\n\t\t\t\tNew York's vibrant arts and culture community cannot get back on its feet without immediate and comprehensive assistance from Congress. Our nation's museums, libraries, concert halls, and arts and cultural nonprofit organizations were among the first businesses to close because of COVID-19, and they will be the last to reopen. While arts and cultural nonprofits across the country have worked tirelessly to create digital content and support their communities through online programming, there is no way they can account for the loss in revenue resulting from the COVID-19 pandemic, which is upwards of $6 billion and continues to grow. This bill will give libraries, museums, and arts groups the assistance they need to pull through and continue enriching our communities nationwide.\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\tProtecting Immigrants' Health\n\t\t\t\tIn September, I requested that Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Inspector General Joseph V. Cuffari launch an emergency investigation into troubling allegations of medical neglect, unsanitary conditions, and abuse raised by a nurse at the Irwin County Detention Center (ICDC) and by ICDC detainees in a whistleblower complaint.\n\t\t\t\tAmong other allegations, the ICDC nurse alleged that women who were detained at the ICDC were sent to an outside medical provider to undergo gynecological proceduresincluding but not limited to hysterectomieswithout providing informed consent. She has also alleged that there was repeated disregard for the safety of employees and detainees in violation of protocols recommended by federal authorities to control the spread of coronavirus.\n\t\t\t\tThe Oversight Committee launched our own investigation in partnership with the Homeland Security Committee.\n\t\t\t\tIn October, the House passed H. Res 1153  Condemning unwanted, unnecessary medical procedures on individuals without their full, informed consent. This resolution, sponsored by Congresswoman Jayapal, lays out the terrible history of unwanted, forced medical procedures amid recent allegations of such horrendous actions in ICE detention.\n\t\t\t\tAlso in September, the Oversight Committee released astaff reportwith the findings of a 14-month investigation into the Administration's for-profit contractor-run ICE detention facilities. This reportbased on the review of thousands of pages of internal documents from the Department of Homeland Security and contractors GEO Group and CoreCivicfound that multiple ICE detainees died in recent years after receiving inadequate medical care. The report also found that, for years, there have been numerous documented instances of poor sanitation and mismanagement of infectious diseases in immigration detention facilities, potentially contributing to the spread of coronavirus cases in ICE detention.\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\tInvestigation into Customs and Border Patrol Secret Facebook Groups\n\t\t\t\tIn October, I issued a subpoena to Customs and Border Protection (CBP) for documents it is withholding about dozens of CBP employees who engaged in misconduct in secret Facebook groups that I believe were racist, sexually violent, dehumanizing, and abhorrent.\n\t\t\t\tThe Oversight Committee first requested these documents in July 2019, under the leadership of then-Chairman Cummings.\n\t\t\t\tThe Trump Administration has not set forth any valid legal basis to withhold this information. One of the most recent reasons the Administration has given for its overt obstruction is a fear that the identities and abuses of these employees could become public. In communications with the Committee, the Trump Administration has expressed more concern about protecting the reputations of employees who made these posts than the wellbeing of the children and families they interact with on a daily basis.\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\tD.C. Statehood\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tWatch Chairwoman Maloney's opening remarks from the markup of the Washington, D.C Admission Act here.\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\tOn February 11, 2020, I presided over Oversight Committee passage of the Washington, D.C. Admission Act. This was the first time that a Congressional committee voted to pass a D.C. statehood bill since 1993.\n\t\t\t\tThe bill was then passed by the full House on June 26, 2020  the first time that the House or Senate has passed such a bill. This was an extraordinary, once-in-a-generation step towards granting basic democratic rights to more than 700,000 Americans who live in Washington, D.C.\n\t\t\t\tThe bill would create a new state known as the State of Washington, Douglass Commonwealth represented by two Senators and one House Member. The federal district would continue to include the White House, U.S. Capitol, Supreme Court, National Mall, and other federal properties adjacent to the National Mall.\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\tFighting Antisemitism Through Education\n\t\t\t\tThis May, the Never Again Education Act (H.R.943), my legislation to support Holocaust education across the country, was signed into law. This bill bolsters the already expansive educational resources at the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum (USHMM) to make sure that all educators have the tools they need to teach their students about the Holocaust and the dangers of antisemitism and hate.\n\t\t\t\tI'm proud that Congress came together to make clear that antisemitism cannot and will not be tolerated. Our children are not born with hate in their hearts, and by providing educators with the tools they need to teach about the Holocaust, we can ensure they never learn it. Teaching our children about the dangers of antisemitism and hate is a proactive way to stop antisemitism before it even starts. This bill passed in the House of Representatives by an overwhelmingly bipartisan vote of 393-5 on January 27, International Holocaust Remembrance Day. It passed the Senate by unanimous consent on May 13.\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\tSecuring Paid Parental Leave for All Federal Workers\n\t\t\t\tThis year, the House and Senate voted for a provision I authored to provide paid leave for the birth, fostering, or adoption of a child for FAA and TSA employees, medical professionals working in VA facilities, and DC courts and public defender employees. This correction honors the original intent of Congress when we passed paid parental leave for federal employees in 2019.\n\t\t\t\tNo one should be made to choose between being home with a new child and a paycheck. Paid family leave improves productivity, reduces turnover, boosts morale, and attracts and retains more talent, which is exactly what our federal workforce deserves right now.\n\t\t\t\tI first introduced paid leave legislation for federal employees in the 106th Congress, then titled H.R. 4567, the Federal Employees Paid Parental Leave Act of 2000, and continued to garner support for this transformative law over the years. I introduced H.R. 1534, The Federal Employee Paid Leave Act (FEPLA), on March 5, 2019. The paid parental leave program created by this bill went into effect on October 1, 2020.\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\tGetting NYCHA Communities the Repairs They Need\n\t\t\t\tDuring my time on the City Council, NYCHA repairs were handled by on-site teams at each community. This system was then replaced by the current centralized system which has resulted in an immense backlog of work orders and residents living without the repairs their homes need.\n\t\t\t\tFor several years, I have advocated for returning to that original model and decentralizing the work order process. After making a formal request of NYCHA Chairman Russ this summer, that project came to fruition as a pilot program at Queensbridge, Astoria Houses, and Ravenswood.\n\t\t\t\tThis program has assigned dedicated skilled trade workers to each of these three communities with the goal of making repairs more timely and efficient. Each of these developments now have dedicated, full-time carpenters, painters, and plasterers Monday through Friday, with plumbers and electricians assigned to work specific days at each development. The pilot runs through January 2021, at which point NYCHA plans to roll out a version of the skilled trades decentralization plan throughout the five boroughs. This plan will result in skilled trade workers spending more time completing much needed repairs by eliminating the need for them to constantly travel between distant NYCHA campuses.\n\t\t\t\tWe have heard some good feedback from residents, and also some areas where there is still room for improvement. I am in contact with Chairman Russ to convey these concerns and working to make this program more effective and efficient.\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\tTurning the Gas Back on At Astoria Houses\n\t\t\t\tWhile we had hopedAstoriaHousesresidents would have their gas restored before Thanksgiving, I'm glad that it was restored in early December, in the midst of the holiday season. In the middle of a pandemic, this gas outage was an undue burden especially on working families and seniors. Thanks to the residents' advocacy, resiliency, and patience, we were able to get NYCHA and Con Edison to complete this project before the end of the year and I want to thank everyone who worked so hard to restore this critical service and provide food and resources, like slow cookers, to these residents during the repairs.\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\tSecuring a Stable Presidential Transition Process\n\t\t\t\tA recent NPR report noted that the President's actions may have jeopardized the preservation of official documents and records. A similar story from Politico in 2018 reported that career records officers were using scotch tape to put important documents back together. Given this track record, I'm deeply concerned that President Trump and his aides may attempt to conceal or destroy important White House materials during their last remaining days in office and so I led other House Committee Chairs in directing the White House and more than 50 federal agencies within their jurisdictions to comply with federal record-keeping laws and preserve information responsive to congressional subpoenas and investigations.\n\t\t\t\tI am also concerned that the Administration may implement last-minute rules and regulations, circumventing the review process. To prevent this, I joined with my colleagues to introduce the Midnight Regulations Review Act. This bill would require the Government Accountability Office to create a list of the regulations that the outgoing administration promulgates during the lame duck session, which will allow Congress and the incoming Biden Administration to review whether they are based on evidence and research or whether they should be considered for amending or elimination.\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\tThe Fair Access to Co-Ops for Veterans Act\n\t\t\t\tIn February, I introduced the Fair Access to Co-Ops for Veterans Act to permanently expand the Veterans Affairs' Home Loan Guaranty Program to include cooperative housing (co-ops). In New York City, co-ops are ubiquitous, and our veterans shouldn't be priced out of these housing options because they're excluded from the VA's loan program. Wherever veterans want to buy a home  whether in rural or urban areas  they should have equal loan support from the VA. This legislation also directs the VA to advertise the program to eligible veterans, participating lenders, and interested realtors.\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\tServing Mothers: PUMP for Nursing Mothers Act\n\t\t\t\tIn January, I introduced PUMP (Providing Urgent Maternal Protections) for Nursing Mothers Act. This bill will close unintentional gaps in the Break Time for Nursing Mothers Act to ensure that millions of working mothers have the access and protections they need to breastfeed should they choose to do so.\n\t\t\t\tAs the first woman to give birth while serving on the New York City Council, I know firsthand the difficulties new mothers face in the workplace. Those difficulties should not include breastfeeding and yet, millions of nursing mothers are still without a clear right to pump at work. Without these protections, nursing mothers face serious health consequences, including the risk of painful illness and infection, diminished milk supply, or inability to continue breastfeeding. This bill would strengthen the 2010 Break Time law by making sure more working moms are guaranteed the right to pump at work. I am working to make this a reality in the next Congress.\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\tCreating a Smithsonian Women's History Museum\n\t\t\t\tA Smithsonian Women's History Museum is finally going to be a reality. My bill, H.R. 1980, to create this museum was included in the year-end omnibus spending package, a must-pass bill. Building a Smithsonian Women's History Museum, a testament to the women who helped build and shape this nation, has been years in the making and I am thrilled that we are finally set to enact this historic legislation. For too long, women's stories have been left out of the telling of our nation's history, and we can now begin to rectify that. Americans of all ages deserve to see and be inspired by the remarkable women who helped shape this nation  seeing role models doing the thing to which we aspire can change the course of someone's life. How fitting that we passed this bill as we mark the centennial of the 19th Amendment and in the year in which we elected our first woman vice president.\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\tRenaming Manhattan VA\n\t\t\t\tThis month, both the House of Representatives and the Senate passed my bill to rename the Manhattan VA the \"Margaret Cochran Corbin Campus of the New York Harbor Health Care System. Once signed into law, this would make the Manhattan VA the first in the country to be named after a woman veteran. This will ensure that American Revolutionary War hero Margaret Corbin's legacy of service endures in the tradition of empowering all veterans, regardless of gender. Although women have fought for our nation since its founding, women service members rarely receive the same recognition as their male counterparts. New Yorkers will be able to take great pride in leading the nation by having the first VA hospital named for a woman veteran right here in Manhattan.\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\tAs always, your concerns still and always will remain my top priority. Please do not hesitate to email me through my website.\n\t\t\t\tIf you would like to continue to receive shorter, weekly updates in 2020, make sure you're signed up for my newsletter here.\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\tThis year has been challenging in many ways, but there is still so much to celebrate. It is because of you that I have had a meaningful and fulfilling 2020. I wish you, your family, and friends a safe and Happy Holidays and all the best in the New Year.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://maloney.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/congress-passes-maloneygillibrand-legislation-to-rename-manhattan-va", "Congress Passes Maloney/Gillibrand Legislation to Rename Manhattan VA After Revolutionary War Hero Margaret Corbin", "2020-12-31", "2020", "2020-12", "Democrat", "Senate", "NY", "Carolyn Maloney", "M000087", "maloney.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "WASHINGTON, DC Both the House of Representatives and Senate have passed H.R.1925/S.898 to rename the Manhattan VA the \"Margaret Cochran Corbin Campus of the New York Harbor Health Care System. The bill was introduced in the House by Congresswoman Carolyn B. Maloney (D-NY) and in the Senate by Senator Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY). Once signed into law, this would make the Manhattan VA the first in the country to be named after a woman veteran.\n\nI cannot wait until New York becomes the home of the first VA named after a woman veteran,said Congresswoman Maloney. This will ensure that American Revolutionary War hero Margaret Corbin's legacy of service endures in the tradition of empowering all veterans, regardless of gender. Although women have fought for our nation since its founding, women service members rarely receive the same recognition as their male counterparts. New Yorkers will be able to take great pride in leading the nation by having the first VA hospital named for a woman veteran right here in Manhattan.\n\nMargaret Corbin's legacy is a testament to all that women veterans have given to our country since its founding, said Senator Gillibrand. Corbin is an iconic New Yorker, who until now, has received little recognition for her sacrifices as a soldier on the battlefield. While we have a long way to go to ensure that women veterans get the same treatment and benefits that their male counterparts receive, I am proud to say that New York will soon be home to the first VA named after a woman veteran in the United States.\n\nMargaret Corbin was born in Pennsylvania on November 12, 1751. She accompanied her husband when he joined the Revolutionary Army and supported the Army's efforts by caring for injured and sick soldiers, cooking, cleaning, and helping her husband load his cannon. On November 16, 1776, Corbin took her husband's place at the Battle of Fort Washington in Manhattan after he was fatally wounded, where she was then shot by enemy fire and severely wounded. In recognition of her service and injuries, Corbin was awarded a lifelong pension, making her the first woman to receive a pension from the United States through military service. Corbin passed away in 1789 in Highland Falls, New York, and she is honored nearby at West Point as a hero of the Revolutionary War.\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://maloney.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/maloney-closes-out-2020-with-legislative-wins", "Maloney Closes Out 2020 with Legislative Wins", "2020-12-31", "2020", "2020-12", "Democrat", "Senate", "NY", "Carolyn Maloney", "M000087", "maloney.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "This week, with the FY21 pandemic relief omnibus bill and H.R. 6395, the William M. (Mac) Thornberry National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) for Fiscal Year 2021, becoming law, and with the passage of H.R. 1925, Congresswoman Carolyn B. Maloney (D-NY) closed out 2020 with four legislative wins.\n\nIncluded in the FY21 pandemic relief omnibus bill is the Congresswoman's H.R. 1980, the Smithsonian Women's History Museum Act, and included in the FY21 NDAA are the Congresswoman's Corporate Transparency Act and a provision she authored securing paid leave for the birth, fostering, or adoption of a child for FAA and TSA employees, medical professionals working in VA facilities, and DC courts and public defender employees. H.R. 1925, now passed by both the House and Senate, would rename the Manhattan VA the \"Margaret Cochran Corbin Campus of the New York Harbor Health Care System.\n\nThe Congresswoman issued the following statement on these accomplishments.\n\nBuilding a Smithsonian Women's History Museum, a testament to the women who helped build and shape this nation has been years in the making, and I am thrilled that we finally passed this legislation. It is so fitting that we passed this bill as we mark the centennial of the 19th Amendment and in the year in which we elected our first woman vice president.\n\nWhile I did not vote for the underlying bill, I am proud that the FY21 NDAA includes my Corporate Transparency Act, which is a critically important bill that will strengthen our national security by cracking down on anonymous shell companies that are used by terrorists and money launderers around the world. Also importantly, this package includes a correction to my paid parental leave bill that will give FAA and TSA employees, medical professionals working in VA facilities, and DC courts and public defender employees up to 12 weeks of paid leave in the event of the birth, adoption, or fostering of a child. Congress intended to guarantee paid parental leave for all Federal employees, and this bill honors that commitment.\n\nAnd finally, we rounded out the last week of 2020 with the passage of my bill to rename the Manhattan VA the Margaret Cochran Corbin Campus of the New York Harbor Health Care System.' This will be the first VA in the country to be named after a woman veteran.\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://maloney.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/rep-maloney-gives-end-of-year-update-on-nycha-skilled-trades-pilot", "Rep. Maloney Gives End of Year Update on NYCHA Skilled Trades Pilot Program", "2020-12-31", "2020", "2020-12", "Democrat", "Senate", "NY", "Carolyn Maloney", "M000087", "maloney.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "NEW YORK, NY  Today, Congresswoman Carolyn B. Maloney (NY-12) joined Tenants' Association Presidents of Queensbridge and Astoria Houses; and the New York City Housing Authority (NYCHA) to give an end of year update on the NYCHA Skilled Trades Pilot Program. NYCHA's Skilled Trades Pilot Program, launched on October 26, 2020 and set to run through mid-January, decentralizes the work order process with the goal of making repairs more timely and efficient.\n\nAfter two months of this three month pilot program, I am happy to report that 5,588 individual tasks have been completed across the pilot locations, with an 18% increase in overall productivity performance for Maintenance and Skilled Trades, said Congresswoman Maloney. I am proud to have worked with NYCHA to improve the repair process and thank them for agreeing to launch the NYCHA Skilled Trades Pilot Program at three developments in my district. The NYCHA Skilled Trades Program aims to make sure residents get the repairs they need  effectively and efficiently. Throughout the pilot program, I've spoken with residents through telephone town halls and in-person socially distanced meetings about their experiences with this program and how we can work to make things even better as NYCHA rolls out this new decentralized process across all five boroughs. I look forward to continuing my work with residents, the Residents' Associations, and NYCHA to make this program successful and ensure that NYCHA residents are given the safe and well-maintained homes they deserve.\n\n\"NYCHA's Skilled Trades Pilot Program is central to our Blueprint for Change Transformation Plan and is already demonstrating improved staff performance and repair response time, resulting in better service for residents, said Greg Russ, Chair and CEO, NYCHA. NYCHA developed the pilot after rigorous engagement with residents, elected officials and other stakeholders, who provided their ideas and feedback to ensure the program's success. By assigning painters, plasterers, carpenters, plumbers, and electricians at each development, and reforming our work order system, NYCHA is working to transform its operations model and how we do business. There is more work to be done, but we are grateful to NYCHA residents, our staff, Congresswoman Maloney, and all of our partners, for their continued support.\n\nThe NYCHA Skilled Trades Pilot Program has been effective for Astoria Houses residents, said Claudia Coger, Residents' Association President, Astoria Houses. Residents are getting old plumbing issues fixed and painting and plastering jobs are being completed. The NYCHA Skilled Trades Pilot Program is a plus in our community.\n\nThe NYCHA Skilled Trades Pilot Program is a step in the right direction to get residents the repairs they need, said April Simpson, Residents' Association President Emeritus, Queensbridge Houses. In the New Year, I look forward to working with Congresswoman Maloney and NYCHA to build upon the new repair structure to ensure that residents are served in the most effective and efficient way possible. This is a partnership I look forward to, and as residents are spending more time indoors due to the pandemic, the NYCHA Skilled Trades Pilot Program will ensure that every apartment gets needed repairs.\n\n\nBACKGROUND: \nThe Congresswoman had been advocating for this change for several years and formally proposed the idea of a decentralized maintenance system in June in a letter to Chairman Russ. She followed up in July in another letter to Chairman Russ.\n\nThe NYCHA Skilled Trades Pilot Program began on October 26, 2020. It assigns dedicated skilled trades workers to three developments in Congresswoman Maloney's district; Queensbridge, Astoria Houses, and Ravenswood. This comes on the heels of much needed repairs at developments in Congresswoman Maloney's district and across the city. The NYCHA Skilled Trades Pilot Program has placed dedicated, full-time carpenters, painters, and plasterers at each of these communities Monday through Friday, with plumbers and electricians assigned to work specific days at each development. In 2021, NYCHA plans to roll out a version of the decentralization plan throughout the five boroughs. This plan will result in skilled trades workers spending more time completing much needed repairs by eliminating the need for them to constantly travel between distant NYCHA campuses.\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://norton.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/norton-bass-lead-letter-to-president-elect-biden-on-combating-aircraft", "Norton, Bass Lead Letter to President-Elect Biden  on Combating Aircraft Noise", "2020-12-31", "2020", "2020-12", "Democrat", "Senate", "DC", "Eleanor Norton", "N000147", "norton.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "WASHINGTON, D.C.  Congresswoman Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-DC), co-chair of the Quiet Skies Caucus, and Congresswoman Karen Bass (D-CA) led a letter this week urging President-elect Joe Biden to appoint Federal Aviation Administration officials who will use creative approaches to solve noise problems from aircraft.\nNorton has long led the effort in the House to combat airplane and helicopter noise in the nation's capital and across the country. Norton's community meetings on airplane and helicopter noise and residents' stories of interrupted sleep patterns, homes shaking and difficulty having conversations have guided Norton's efforts to quell airplane and helicopter noise.\nThe disruption to human health and local economies by aircraft noise has long been overlooked or altogether ignored by the FAA, said Congresswoman Bass. I urge the Biden administration to appoint FAA officials who will finally address this issue that has plagued many of my constituents.\nThe letter was also signed by Congressman Don Beyer (D-VA), Congresswoman Judy Chu (D-CA), Congressman Ted Lieu (D-CA), Congressman Stephen Lynch (D-MA), Congresswoman Grace Meng (D-NY), Congressman Jamie Raskin (D-MD), Congressman Adam Smith (D-WA), Congressman Thomas Suozzi (D-NY), Congressman Ed Case (D-HI), Congressman Ro Khanna (D-CA), Congressman Alan Lowenthal (D-CA), Congressman Gregory Meeks (D-NY), Congressman Mike Quigley (D-IL), Congresswoman Jan Schakowsky (D-IL), and Congresswoman Jackie Speier (D-CA).\nThe full text is below.\n\n\nCongress of the United States\nWashington, D.C. 20515\n\nDecember 28, 2020\n\nThe Honorable Joseph R. Biden, Jr.\nPresident-elect of the United States\nOffice of the Biden-Harris Transition\nWashington, DC 20500\n\nDear President-elect Biden:\nYou will soon name several new appointees to the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), including the Deputy FAA Administrator, the Chief Operating Officer of the Air Traffic Organization, the Associate Administrator for Airports, and the Assistant Administrator for Policy, International Affairs, and Environment. While the FAA and the aviation industry face many high-profile challenges, as Members of the Quiet Skies Caucus of the U.S. House of Representatives, we write to bring to your attention the overlooked problem of the disruption to human health and local economies from aircraft noise. We urge you to appoint officials who will include creative approaches to solving noise problems in the work ahead.\nWe represent Americans from diverse locales across the country, united by grave concern over the toll that noise can take on the people living with a constant drone of aircraft. Planes fly low or late at night, near homes and schools; flights arrive and depart within minutes of each other; and the FAA's NextGen project has concentrated flight paths without consideration of the people below. As a result of these policies, millions of Americans suffer from sleep disruption; exacerbation of high blood pressure and other chronic diseases; learning loss in schools; and economic losses to businesses ranging from tourism to technology to entertainment.\nFor decades the agency has consistently downplayed and overlooked the toll of noise disruption on human lives and communities. The NextGen project to update the technology used to control air traffic has brought foreseeable problems that could have been headed off if the agency, early in its planning stages, had considered what happens on the ground as well as what happens in the skies and included in the process business owners, local elected officials, airport noise roundtables, health advocates, and others likely to be affected.\nAs Members of Congress, we all fly as part of our work. We agree that the FAA's mission to maintain the safety and efficiency of our airspace is paramount. But we also believe that better noise control and full participation from all involved and affected can only enhance that safety and efficiency, not detract from it. The new appointees at the FAA should be committed to inventive problem-solving, to listening and bringing all affected parties into the discussion, and to finding win-win solutions. These leaders should embrace bold ideas, work in good faith with the Quiet Skies Caucus and Congress, and pledge to alleviate noise disruption on the ground, with a renewed focus on inclusiveness.\nWe look forward to learning of your choices for the FAA and to working with your administration in the 117th Congress to combat aircraft noise. Thank you for your leadership, and congratulations on your presidency.\n\nSincerely,\n \nKaren Bass Eleanor Holmes Norton\nMember of Congress Member of Congress\n\n/s/ /s/\nDonald S. Beyer Jr.  Ed Case\nMember of Congress Member of Congress\n\n/s/ /s/\nJudy Chu Ro Khanna\nMember of Congress Member of Congress\n\n/s/ /s/\nTed W. Lieu Alan Lowenthal\nMember of Congress Member of Congress\n\n/s/ /s/\nStephen Lynch Gregory W. Meeks\nMember of Congress Member of Congress\n\n/s/ /s/\nGrace Meng Mike Quigley\nMember of Congress Member of Congress\n\n/s/ /s/\nJamie Raskin Jan Schakowsky\nMember of Congress Member of Congress\n\n/s/ /s/\nAdam Smith Jackie Speier\nMember of Congress Member of Congress\n\n/s/\nThomas R. Suozzi\nMember of Congress\n\nCc: Pete Buttigieg, Nominee for Secretary of Transportation", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://pelosi.house.gov/news/press-releases/pelosi-statement-on-house-filing-amicus-brief-in-gohmert-v-pence", "Pelosi Statement on House Filing Amicus Brief in Gohmert v. Pence", "2020-12-31", "2020", "2020-12", "Democrat", "Senate", "CA", "Nancy Pelosi", "P000197", "pelosi.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Contact: Speaker's Press Office,\n202-226-7616\n\nWashington, D.C.  Speaker Nancy Pelosi issued this statement after the House of Representatives filed an amicus brief in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Texas in the case of Gohmert v. Pence, which attempts to unconstitutionally grant the Vice President the power to personally choose presidential electors, against the results of the popular vote and the certified Electoral College results:\n\nPresident-elect Joe Biden and Vice President-elect Kamala Harris decisively won the 2020 election, with a record number of votes and an historic margin of victory. Yet, President Trump and Republicans in Congress have refused to respect the will of the American people and instead have spread dangerous conspiracy theories and brought over fifty extreme, failed lawsuits in a brazen attempt to overturn the certified results of the 2020 election.\n\nThe Gohmert lawsuit has zero legal merit and is yet another sabotage of our democracy.\n\nThere is no doubt that, despite this desperate unpatriotic charade, on January 6, Joe Biden will be confirmed by the acceptance of the vote of the Electoral College as the 46th President of the United States.\n\n# # #", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://raskin.house.gov/media/press-releases/congressman-raskin-announces-loss-son-tommy-raskin", "Congressman Raskin Announces Loss of Son Tommy Raskin", "2020-12-31", "2020", "2020-12", "Democrat", "Senate", "MD", "Jamie Raskin", "R000606", "raskin.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "TAKOMA PARK, M.D.  With profound sorrow, Congressman Jamie Raskin (MD-08) and Sarah Bloom Raskin today announced the loss of their son Thomas (Tommy) Bloom Raskin, 25, who was a second-year student at Harvard Law School and a graduate of Amherst College.\nTommy was pure magic. His brilliance and compassion knew no bounds. He passionately loved his family, friends, and animals, and was devoted to the cause of the global poor. We are devastated and demolished to be without him.\nTommy is survived by his beloved sisters Hannah and Tabitha, dozens of loving aunts, uncles, cousins, friends and grandparents Arlene Bloom and Lynn Raskin. The family is grateful for the outpouring of support and love from neighbors, constituents, and friends but asks everyone to observe strict COVID-19 protocols during this time of grief.\nFuneral and memorial service arrangements will be released in due course.\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://schneider.house.gov/media/press-releases/schneider-bill-elevate-antisemitism-envoy-ambassador-passes-house-headed", "Schneider Bill to Elevate Antisemitism Envoy to Ambassador Passes House, Headed to President\u2019s Desk", "2020-12-31", "2020", "2020-12", "Democrat", "House", "IL", "Bradley Scott Schneider", "S001190", "schneider.house.gov", "schneider", "https://schneider.house.gov/media/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON \u2014 Today, the House of Representatives unanimously passed legislation authored by Rep. Brad Schneider (IL-10), Chris Smith (NJ-4), and Eliot Engel (NY-16) that would elevate the State Department's antisemitism Special Envoy position to an Ambassadorship, giving more clout to address the alarming rise in antisemitism worldwide. The House voted overwhelmingly to pass H.R. 221 in January 2019 and the Senate amended and approved the legislation earlier this month. The bill now heads to President Trump's desk to be signed into law.\n\n\"Today, the House took historic action to combat hate by unanimously passing the Special Envoy to Monitor and Combat Antisemitism Act and sending it to the President,\" said Congressman Brad Schneider (IL-10). \"The United States has a critical leadership role to play in stamping out hate, both at home and around the world, and with acts of antisemitism increasing across the globe, it's important that the United States Special Envoy have the authority and standing to lead the fight. As an Ambassador, this role will be better equipped to root out hate wherever and whenever it manifests.\n\n\"I want to thank Congressman Chris Smith and House Foreign Affairs Chair Eliot Engel for working hard to keep this fight bipartisan and I look forward to continuing our work together to ensure the safety of Jewish communities across the globe.\"\n\nThe House originally voted overwhelmingly to pass H.R. 221 in January 2019. The bill is endorsed by numerous organizations, including the Anti-Defamation League, B'nai B'rith International, the Simon Wiesenthal Center, the American Jewish Committee, Hadassah, the Jewish Council for Public Affairs, and the Jewish Federations of North America.", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-06-28T00:42:23Z"], ["https://schrier.house.gov/media/press-releases/rep-schrier-introduces-bill-reduce-methane-emissions-cow-burps", "Rep. Schrier Introduces Bill to Reduce Methane Emissions in Cow Burps", "2020-12-31", "2020", "2020-12", "Democrat", "House", "WA", "Kim Schrier", "S001216", "schrier.house.gov", "schrier", "https://schrier.house.gov/media/press-releases", "scraper", "ISSAQUAH, WA \u2013 Congresswoman Kim Schrier, M.D. (WA-08) has introduced the Research to Reduce Agricultural Methane Act. This bill will provide funds to study innovative methods to reduce methane emissions in livestock, including through feed additives such as seaweed.\n\n\"We are facing an unprecedented climate crisis and it falls on all of us to find creative solutions to this pressing problem,\" said Rep. Schrier. \"Our farmers are the leading stewards of our land and on the front lines fighting climate change. While they are already innovating with solutions like no-till farming and increased cover crop adoption, we must provide more federal research support and ensure any game-changing products are accessible to our farmers and ranchers. As the only member on the Agriculture Committee from the Pacific Northwest, I will continue to work on common sense solutions that support our farmers while helping to address climate change.\"\n\nAccording to EPA's 2018 Inventory of U.S. Greenhouse Gas Emissions and Sinks, enteric fermentation, the digestive process by which cows and other ruminants produce methane, was the largest human-caused source of methane in the United States, representing 28% of domestic methane emissions. Ruminants, such as cattle, buffaloes, sheep and goats, have the highest methane emissions per unit of body mass among all animal types.\n\nThe amount of methane from livestock production alone is about the equivalent of the emissions from about 650 million cars.\n\nThe Reduce Agricultural Methane Act will enable further research in promising methods to reduce agricultural methane emissions including:", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-06-28T00:42:23Z"], ["https://sherman.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/congress-passes-sherman-bill-to-support-non-profit-provided-affordable", "Congress Passes Sherman Bill to Support Non-Profit Provided Affordable Housing", "2020-12-31", "2020", "2020-12", "Democrat", "House", "CA", "Brad Sherman", "S000344", "sherman.house.gov", "sherman", "https://sherman.house.gov/media-center/press-releases", "scraper", "Congress passed the Building Up Independent Lives and Dreams Act or \"BUILD\" Act, legislation led by Congressman Brad Sherman (D-Sherman Oaks), Congressman Barry Loudermilk (R-GA), Senator Deb Fischer (R-NE) and Senator Chris Van Hollen (D-MD). The passage of this legislation represents a significant step towards helping nonprofits like Habitat for Humanity help struggling families access housing through zero percent interest mortgages.\n\n\"We've heard of different local Habitat for Humanity chapters who make more than 5 loans a year having difficulty complying with the mandatory TILA-RESPA Integrated Disclosure form, citing increased costs and complexity. The BUILD Act is a straightforward way to address these challenges with a narrow regulatory tweak that will ensure non-profits can focus on working in their communities to build homes, rather than sitting in an office,\" said Congressman Sherman.\n\nFollowing the 2008 mortgage crisis, Congress established the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) to create rules of the road to protect consumers against the predatory mortgage lending practices which contributed to the crisis. To protect borrowers from being unknowingly pushed into mortgages they cannot afford, the CFPB established the TILA-RESPA integrated disclosure (TRID), also known as the \"know before you owe\" disclosure. TRID requires that, prior to a mortgage signing, lenders must provide borrowers with a simplified disclosure detailing all of mortgage costs the borrower will owe. The TRID forms include a loan estimate and closing disclosure, designed to allow consumers to easily identify high-cost mortgages such as those with ballooning interest rates.\n\nHowever, these disclosures are often not relevant to mortgages made by charitable organizations, like Habitat for Humanity, which provide low- or no-fee zero percent interest mortgages. Habitat provides homeownership opportunities to low-income families by building homes that are financed with a zero percent interest loans, or other affordable mortgage loan products. Small and mid-sized Habitat for Humanity chapters have experienced challenges in complying with TRID requirements because of the cost of the necessary software to complete these forms and training required to use the software.\n\nThe BUILD Act will address this issue by providing a narrow exemption from TRID requirements for legitimate nonprofits making low-cost zero interest mortgages. Rather than provide the loan estimate and closing disclosure forms, these nonprofits will have the option to instead use the three forms that were previously acceptable, the Truth in Lending form, the Good Faith Estimate, and the HUD-1 form. The same exemption is currently available for all organizations making five or fewer mortgage loans per year, and the BUILD Act would simply expand this exemption to include these nonprofits.", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-06-28T00:42:23Z"], ["https://soto.house.gov/media/press-releases/soto-releases-report-highlighting-wins-central-florida-116th-congress", "Soto Releases Report Highlighting Wins for Central Florida in the 116th Congress", "2020-12-31", "2020", "2020-12", "Democrat", "House", "FL", "Darren Soto", "S001200", "soto.house.gov", "soto", "https://soto.house.gov/media/press-releases", "scraper", "KISSIMMEE, FL \u2013 Today, Congressman Darren Soto (FL-09) released a report highlighting his community and legislative accomplishments during the 116th Congress.\n\n\"It's been a busy two years fighting for the issues that matter most to Central Florida's families,\" said Congressman Soto. \"For many in Florida and across the country, 2020 has been an incredibly challenging year. We mourned the loss of over 21,000 Floridians who were taken by the deadly coronavirus. We prayed for the health and safety of our loved ones, neighbors and healthcare workers. We saw business after business forced to close for public safety concerns and suffer the devastating economic impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic. Through it all, we did our best to step up during this crisis and serve our constituents. Going forward, I will work with the Biden Administration to ensure everyone in Central Florida has access to the COVID-19 vaccine and that our community builds back better than before. We are honored to have served the constituents of Florida's 9th Congressional District during the 116th Congress, and we look forward to continuing our commitment to deliver results for Central Florida.\"\n\nOver the course of 116th Congress, Congressman Soto held 100 town halls and roundtables, attended hundreds of community events, sent thousands of correspondence to constituents, helped over a thousand constituents with casework, secured billions of dollars for Central Florida, and passed numerous bills, policy amendments and appropriations requests into law.\n\nIn the 117th Congress, Rep. Soto will continue to serve on the powerful Energy and Commerce Committee to fight for a strong pandemic response, higher-paying jobs and to protect our environment. He will also continue to serve on Natural Resources Committee to pursue his environmental efforts, work with Florida's tribes and bring Puerto Rico back to prosperity. In addition, he will serve as Chair of the Future Forum Caucus to assist the House Democratic Caucus to engage young people, and promote issues affecting Hispanics as Whip for the Congressional Hispanic Caucus.\n\nThe one-pager can be read here and below. The full report can be read here and below.\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-06-28T00:42:23Z"], ["https://watsoncoleman.house.gov/newsroom/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=1747", "Watson Coleman Statement on Passing of Monroe Township Mayor Gerald Tamburro", "2020-12-31", "2020", "2020-12", "Democrat", "House", "NJ", "Bonnie Watson Coleman", "W000822", "watsoncoleman.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Watson Coleman Statement on Passing of Monroe Township Mayor Gerald Tamburro \r\n   \r\n    \r\n       \r\n      \r\n  \r\n    \r\n      f \r\n      t \r\n      #\r\n      e\r\n      \r\n      \r\n    \r\n    \r\n      \r\n        Ewing, NJ,\r\n        December 31, 2020\r\n      \r\n       \r\n    \r\n  \r\n  \r\n  \r\n  \r\n  \r\n  \r\n  \r\n    \r\n      \r\n      \r\n      Congresswoman Bonnie Watson Coleman (D-NJ) released the following statement today after news that Monroe Township Mayor Gerald Tamburro, a veteran and longtime public servant, had passed away:\r\nIt's with great sadness that I learned of the passing of Mayor Gerald Tamburro. Mayor Tamburro's two decades of service to Monroe, first as a city council member then as mayor, are a testament to his commitment to his community. I had the pleasure of working with Jerry since I became a member of Congress six years ago. I will remember him fondly as someone who loved Monroe Township and fiercely fought for his constituents. My condolences to Jerry's family, children, and grandchildren. They will be in my prayers tonight.\r\n\r\n    \r\n  \r\n  \r\n  \r\n    \r\n      f \r\n      t \r\n      #\r\n      e", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://watsoncoleman.house.gov/newsroom/press-releases/watson-coleman-statement-on-passing-of-monroe-township-mayor-gerald-tamburro", "Watson Coleman Statement on Passing of Monroe Township Mayor Gerald Tamburro", "2020-12-31", "2020", "2020-12", "Democrat", "House", "NJ", "Bonnie Watson Coleman", "W000822", "watsoncoleman.house.gov", "watsoncoleman", "https://watsoncoleman.house.gov/newsroom/press-releases", "scraper", "Congresswoman Bonnie Watson Coleman (D-NJ) released the following statement today after news that Monroe Township Mayor Gerald Tamburro, a veteran and longtime public servant, had passed away:", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-06-28T00:42:23Z"], ["https://wexton.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=441", "Rep. Wexton\u2019s EFFORT Act to Expand Opioid Addiction Research Headed to President\u2019s Desk", "2020-12-31", "2020", "2020-12", "Democrat", "House", "VA", "Jennifer Wexton", "W000825", "wexton.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Washington, DC --Today, the Expanding Findings for Federal Opioid Research and Treatment (EFFORT) Act was passed by the House of Representatives, after being amended and passed by the Senate last week. The EFFORT Act is bipartisan legislation authored by Congresswoman Jennifer Wexton (D-VA) and co-sponsored by Congressman Jim Baird (R-IN). The Senate companion bill was carried by Senators Chris Coons (D-DE) and Cory Gardner (R-CO), and now goes to the President for his signature.\r\nWhile much of our attention is focused on the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, the opioid addiction crisis continues to ravage our communities,said Congresswoman Jennifer Wexton.In fact, the crisis has gotten worse. Virginia is seeing a record number of fatal overdoses this year as isolation and anxiety brought on by COVID add new challenges for those who are in recovery. We need to vigorously study and treat addiction like the disease that it is. Once this bill is signed into law, scientists and researchers can provide us with greater resources to end this crisis.\r\nAs our nation confronts the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, we also continue to grapple with an opioid epidemic that is increasingly devastating families in Delaware and across the country,said Senator Chris Coons. The recent record-breaking success with a vaccine for COVID-19 shows that when the federal government invests in research and partners with leading minds in all sectors we can do amazing things. This bill would put our collective resources and know-how to work deepening our understanding of opioid addiction and finding tools and treatments to end this crisis. I'm proud that it will be signed into law.\r\nWe have lost hundreds of lives here in the Northern Shenandoah Valley to the opioid epidemic. The effects of this public health crisis have been seen in the number of children in foster care, babies born substance exposed, and grandparents now raising their grandchildren. The Northern Shenandoah Valley Substance Abuse Coalition supports the EFFORT Act and is proud to see it pass through the House and Senate because research will help to decrease preventable deaths caused by opioid overdoses and will drive better treatment approaches,said Lauren Cummings, executive director of the Northern Shenandoah Valley Substance Abuse Coalition.\r\nThe EFFORT Act expands research into the prevention and treatment of opioid addiction, seeking to promote collaboration and interdisciplinary efforts and close existing gaps in research. The bill directs the National Science Foundation (NSF), in consultation with the National Institutes of Health (NIH), to support research that will allow for further understanding of the science of opioid addiction.\r\n2020 is on track to be theworst year by farfor fatal drug overdose deaths in Virginia. Overdoses have spiked during the pandemic, and the Commonwealth is on track to surpass 2,000 overdose deaths this year after setting a record last year with 1,626 lives lost.\r\nCongresswoman Wexton is a founding member of the bipartisanFreshmen Working Group on Addictionwith Representative David Trone (D-MD) and has been a strong advocate for addiction prevention and recovery efforts since her time in the Virginia state Senate where she served on the Rehabilitation and Social Services Committee.\r\nThe full text of the EFFORT Act can be foundhere.\r\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://www.carper.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/2020/12/carper-epa-s-censoring-science-rule-is-the-trump-administration-s-last-gasp-of-science-denial", "Carper: EPAs Censoring Science Rule is the Trump Administrations Last Gasp of Science Denial", "2020-12-31", "2020", "2020-12", "Democrat", "Senate", "DE", "Thomas Carper", "C000174", "www.carper.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "WASHINGTON, D.C.  Today, U.S. Senator Tom Carper (D-Del.), top Democrat on the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee, released the following statement after the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) finalized its rule todrastically undermine the use of science in agency decision-making.\r\nIn the final days of the Trump Administration, EPA has finalized its rule that will suppress scientific research and censor scientists and experts. It's just one last gasp of science denial. Amid an ongoing public health crisis  a time when accessing the latest scientific research and embracing scientific advancements is a critical function of protecting human health  the Trump EPA is trying to limit the use of scientific data, even data that could be used to address the growing link between exposure to air pollution and adverse outcomes of COVID-19. It's as absurd as it sounds. As I said earlier this year, it's hard to imagine a time when our nation needed to embrace science more than we do at this very moment. Almost a year into our battle against the coronavirus pandemic, that's even truer today. While I continue to be amazed by this administration's penchant for science denial, I am confident that this irresponsible rollback  finalized in the last few days of the Trump Administration  will not impede the incoming administration's efforts to restore the use of science in rulemaking. President-elect Biden has made clear that his administration will be guided by science.\r\nIn March, Senator Carperasked the EPA Inspector General (IG)to open an investigation into potentially unlawful efforts and procedural problems related to the preparation and review of this supplemental proposal. Later that month, Senator Carper asked EPA Administrator Andrew Wheeler towithdraw the rule, describing how thesweeping policy would limit the use of science in EPA rulemaking. As Senator Carper described in hisMarch 24letter to Administrator Wheeler, examples abound of research that would now  at minimum  require considerable review time to determine whether or not they meet the requirements of the Secret Science Rule, or considerable review time to determine whether or not they would require an exemption from the rule's applicability before being used for EPA decision-making purposes. Some examples include:\r\n \r\nThisMarch 2020 survey of existing research describes the interaction of several coronaviruses on surfaces with biocidal agents. EPA isresponsiblefor recommending disinfectants for use against SARS-CoV-2 and other pathogens.\r\nThisNovember2003 paper includes a statistical correlation between SARS fatalities in China and higher exposure to air pollution, information that could be relevant to EPA air officials as new criteria pollutant standards are developed.\r\nThisOctober 2015 paper describes the challenges associated with the sterilization and disposal of medical waste contaminated by Ebola.EPAworked jointlywith CDC to develop disposal and sterilization guidelines and could be called on to do the same for COVID-19.\r\n \r\n\r\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://www.casey.senate.gov/news/releases/in-2020-casey-produces-results-for-pa-constituents", "In 2020, Casey Produces Results for PA Constituents", "2020-12-31", "2020", "2020-12", "Democrat", "House", "PA", "Bob Casey", "C001070", "www.casey.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", null, 0, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://www.durbin.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/durbin-calls-on-mcconnell-to-help-struggling-families-by-passing-2000-direct-payment-measure", "Durbin Calls on McConnell to Help Struggling Families By Passing $2,000 Direct Payment Measure", "2020-12-31", "2020", "2020-12", "Democrat", "House", "IL", "Richard Durbin", "D000563", "www.durbin.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "12.31.20\n\t\t\t Durbin Calls on McConnell to Help Struggling Families By Passing $2,000 Direct Payment Measure \n\t\t\t\n\t\t\tWASHINGTON  In a speech on the Senate floor, U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) today called on Senate Republicans to support the House-passed CASH Act, a measure that would increase direct payments from $600 to $2,000 for individuals earning less than $75,000 per year. The measure passed the House by a vote of 275-134, with 44 House Republicans supporting the bill.\r\nAll we're saying to Senator McConnell is give us a chance to vote. You can vote no if you wish. Give us a chance to vote for the $2,000 that can make a difference in a person's life. $4,000 for a husband and wife who are struggling to get by. Rent checks, mortgage payments, car payments, utility bills, things that really are basic to family survival. We're trying to help, and I think we should be given that chance, Durbin said.If we are in touch with the reality in our home states, in our hometowns, we should do something, something significant to end this New Year on the right note. I plead with the Republican leader who has the power, the one, the sole member of Congress of 100 members, he has the power to bring this matter to a vote and to do it immediately, within the hour.\r\nVideo of Durbin's remarks on the Senate floor is availablehere.\r\nAudio of Durbin's remarks on the Senate floor is availablehere.\r\nFootage of Durbin's remarks on the Senate floor is availableherefor TV Stations.\r\n-30-\r\n\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\n\t   \n\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t \n\t\t\n\t\t\tPrint\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\tEmail\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\tTweet\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\n\t \n\t\n\t\n\n \n\t\n    \n   \n    \n    \t\n    \t\n\t    \t  \n\t\t    \n\t\t    \tPrevious Article\n\t\t    \n\t\t    \n\t\t    \tNext Article", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://www.gillibrand.senate.gov//news/press/release/icymi-gillibrand-in-buffalo-news-stock-act-20-will-require-new-transparency-in-congress", "ICYMI: Gillibrand In Buffalo News: Stock Act 2.0 Will Require New Transparency In Congress", "2020-12-31", "2020", "2020-12", "Democrat", "House", "NY", "Kirsten Gillibrand", "G000555", "www.gillibrand.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "December 31, 2020\n\t\t\t ICYMI: Gillibrand In Buffalo News: Stock Act 2.0 Will Require New Transparency In Congress \n\t\t\t\n\t\t\tIn case you missed it, U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand penned an op-ed in theBuffalo Newstoday, calling for passage of her new legislation, theSTOCK Act 2.0.\r\nThe legislation will require that whenever a member of Congress, a high-ranking staff member in a position to make policy, the president, the vice president, or other executive branch officials apply for or receive a benefit of value from the government, they must report it in the same way they would report the sale of a stock. The legislation was prompted in part by the fact that several wealthy members of Congress have received millions in PPP loans, while small businesses have continued to struggle.\r\nTheSTOCK Act 2.0is the latest push for transparency for Senator Gillibrand, who had made government accountability a top priority throughout her career. Gillibrand led Senate passage of the STOCK Act in 2012, and was the first member of Congress to post her official meetings, personal financial disclosures, earmark requests, and taxes online.\r\nGillibrandalso supports banning members from buying or selling individual stocks, particularly in light of several recent scandals.\r\nClickhereor see below for the op-ed\r\n\r\nAnother Voice: STOCK Act 2.0 will require new transparency in Congress | Buffalo News\r\nSenator Kirsten Gillibrand\r\nDecember 31, 2020\r\nOver the past year, Congress has allocated trillions of dollars of relief money to respond to the pandemic and economic crisis. While more remains to be done, the American people must be able to trust their government to make responsible, unbiased decisions about their tax dollars.\r\nUnfortunately, as is too often the case, their faith in government has not been rewarded. The fact is that millions of relief dollars have gone right back into the hands of members of Congress who wrote and voted for the relief packages.\r\nWhen the Paycheck Protection Program was rolled out, many small businesses were denied relief. Meanwhile, auto dealerships, franchises and family businesses with ties to some of the wealthiest members of Congress received millions of dollars in PPP loans. Nearly all of them were able to get relief before the first round of funding ran out.\r\nThis isn't a new phenomenon. For decades, the same members of Congress who write and pass bills, and oversee their implementation, have collected millions in federal farming subsidies without requirements for these payments to be reported to taxpayers.\r\nThe worst part is, the only way Congress or the public can learn about these insider dealings is from news reports. It's unacceptable. We need transparency. We need the STOCK Act 2.0.\r\nI passed the original STOCK Act in the Senate in 2012, following investigative reports revealing that members of Congress were making investments using nonpublic information. In one instance, lawmakers who received closed-door briefings on the 2008 financial crisis from the Treasury secretary and chair of the Federal Reserve traded using that information. In another egregious example, during the debate over the Affordable Care Act, then-House Minority Leader John Boehner bought health insurance stock, while leading the opposition to the public option.\r\nThe STOCK Act makes it illegal for members of Congress and government officials to buy or sell stocks based on information learned in committee hearings or other non-public briefings and requires high-ranking officials to quickly disclose financial transactions. In short, it says that no one in government should be able to profit from inside information.\r\nMy bill, the STOCK Act 2.0, will do the same for federal loans, grants, contracts, subsidies and other types of items of value. The STOCK Act 2.0 will require that whenever a member of Congress, a high-ranking staff member in a position to make policy, the president, the vice president, or other executive branch officials apply for or receive a benefit of value from the government, they must report it in the same way they would report the sale of a stock. Those reports would be added to a public website where the information is easily accessible, searchable and downloadable.\r\nI believe public officials should be accountable to you for their actions. But not everyone shares my view. I can only assume that's why several of the members of Congress who cashed in on PPP loans voted against legislation that would have required public disclosure of the program's recipients.\r\nThese transactions shouldn't happen in the dark. Sunlight is an extremely effective antiseptic and the STOCK Act 2.0 will provide it.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://www.majorityleader.gov/content/house-democrats%E2%80%99-deliver-people-116th-congress", "House Democrats\u2019 Deliver For the People in the 116th Congress", "2020-12-31", "2020", "2020-12", "Democrat", "House", "MD", "Steny Hoyer", "H000874", "www.majorityleader.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Throughout the 116th Congress, House Democrats have delivered on our promises and passed legislation For The People. From a comprehensive government reform package and voting rights legislation to bills to raise wages, address climate change, and more, House Democrats passed legislation supported by the overwhelming majority of Americans. When the COVID-19 pandemic began in early 2020, House Democrats took action to ensure that the House could continue do its work for the people while keeping Americans safe by implementing remote voting and virtual committee proceedings. \n  \nADDRESSING THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC  \n\nSince the onset of this pandemic, House Democrats have acted swiftly to address its catastrophic impacts on both the economy and on public health. The House has passed major legislation including: \n \n\tH.R.6074, Coronavirus Preparedness and Response Supplemental Appropriations Act, 2020 [03/04/2020]\n\tH.R.6201, Families First Coronavirus Response Act [03/11/2020]\n\tH.R. 784, Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act [03/28/20]\n\tH.R. 266, Paycheck Protection Program and Health Care Enhancement Act [04/23/20]\n\tH.R. 6800, Heroes Act [05/15/20]\n\tH.R.7301, Emergency Housing Protections and Relief Act [06/29/20]\n\tH.R. 7027, Child Care Is Essential Act [06/29/20]\n\tH.R. 7327, Child Care For Economic Recovery Act [06/29/20]\n\tH.R. 925, Updated Heroes Act [10/1/20]\n\tH.R.133, House Amendment to the Senate Amendment to H.R. 133, the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2021 [12/27/2020]\n \nEXPANDING ACCESS TO HEALTH CARE  \n\nFrom defending the Affordable Care Act in court to passing legislation to strengthen and expand access to health care, House Democrats have worked to ensure every American has quality, affordable health care. Bills that the House has passed on this issue include: \n \n\tH.R.986, Protecting Americans with Preexisting Conditions Act of 2019 [05/09/2019]\n\tH.R.987, Strengthening Health Care and Lowering Prescription Drug Costs Act (A Package of 7 Bills) [05/16/2019]\n\tH.R.3, Elijah E. Cummings Lower Drug Costs Now Act [12/12/2019]\n\tH.R.1425, Patient Protection and Affordable Care Enhancement Act [06/29/2020]\n\tH.R.2468, School-Based Allergies and Asthma Management Program Act [09/29/2020]\n \nEXPANDING ECONOMIC OPPORTUNITY  \n\nHouse Democrats have worked hard to ensure the economy can work for all Americans, not just a select few. Below are bills that the House has passed to expand economic opportunity for the people by spurring job growth and eliminating economic disparities:\n \n\tH.R.7, Paycheck Fairness Act [03/27/2019]\n\tH.R.582, Raise the Wage Act [07/18/2019]\n\tH.R.5430, United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement Implementation Act [01/29/2020]\n\tH.R.2474, Protecting the Right to Organize Act of 2019 [02/06/20]\n\tH.R. 2, Moving Forward Infrastructure Act [07/01/20]\n\tH.R.4447, Clean Economy Jobs and Innovation Act [09/24/20]\n\tH.R. 4863, United States Export Finance Agency Act of 2019 [11/15/20]\n\tH.R.8294, National Apprenticeship Act of 2020 [11/20/2020]\n \nFIGHTING TO STRENGTHEN CIVIL RIGHTS   \n\nThis year our country faced a summer of racial reckoning sparked by injustice and Americans called overwhelmingly for systemic change. House Democrats will continue to take a stand and fight to uphold the civil rights of every American. This Congress, bills to address civil rights included: \n \n\tH.R.1636, Commission on the Social Status of Black Men and Boys Act [04/12/2019]\n\tH.R.5, Equality Act [05/17/2019]\n\tH.R.4, Voting Rights Advancement Act of 2019 [12/06/2019]\n\tH.J.Res.79, Removing the Deadline for the Ratification of the Equal Rights Amendment [02/13/2020]\n\tH.R.35, Emmett Till Antilynching Act [02/26/2020]\n\tH.R.5581, Access to Counsel Act of 2020 [03/05/2020]\n\tH.R.7120, George Floyd Justice in Policing Act of 2020 [06/25/2020]\n\tH.R. 51, Washington, D.C. Admission Act [06/26/2020]\n\tH.R. 7573, Legislation to remove the bust of Chief Justice Roger B. Taney and remove Confederate statues and other reminders of slavery and segregation from the U.S. Capitol [07/22/2020]\n\tH.R.2694, Pregnant Workers Fairness Act [09/17/2020]\n\tH.R.3884, Marijuana Opportunity Reinvestment and Expungement (MORE) Act [12/04/2020]\n \nACTING FOR A CLEANER ENVIRONMENT  \n\nProtecting the air we breathe and water we drink is a top priority for House Democrats. A clean environment is essential to public health. The House also passed numerous bills conserving special places and making it easier for current and future generations to enjoy. Legislation that the House passed this year to protect the environment include: \n \n\tH.R.9, Climate Action Now Act [05/02/2019]\n\tH.R.1941, CoastalandMarineEconomiesProtectionAct [09/11/19]\n\tH.R.205, Protecting and Securing Florida's Coastline Act [09/11/19]\n\tH.R. 1146, Arctic Cultural and Coastal Plain Protection Act [09/12/19]\n\tH.R.535, PFAS Action Act of 2019 [01/10/2020]\n\tH.R.1957, Great American Outdoors Act [07/24/2020]\n\tS. 3051, America's Conservation Enhancement (ACE) Act [10/01/20]\n\tHR 7575, the Water Resources Development Act of 2020, Act [12/09/20]\n \nADDITIONAL MAJOR LEGISLATION\n  \nAdditional legislation that the House has passed this Congress include: \n \n\tH.R.8, Bipartisan Background Checks Act of 2019 [02/27/2019]\n\tH.R.1, For the People Act of 2019 [03/08/2019]\n\tH.R.1585, Violence Against Women Reauthorization Act of 2019 [04/04/2019]\n\tH.R.1644, Save the Internet Act of 2019 [04/10/2019]\n\tH.R.6, American Dream and Promise Act of 2019 [06/04/2019]\n\tH.R.2722, Securing America's Federal Elections (SAFE) Act [06/27/2019]\n\tH.R.4617, Stopping Harmful Interference in Elections for a Lasting Democracy Act, [10/23/2019]\n\tH.R.777, Debbie Smith Reauthorization Act of 2019, [12/20/2019]\n\tH.R.3621, Comprehensive CREDIT Act of 2020 [01/29/2020]\n\tH.R.1980, Smithsonian Women's History Museum Act [02/11/2020]\n\tFY2020 appropriations bills: 10 out of 12 appropriations bills to fund the government [06/26/20]\n\tH.R. 2486, NO BAN Act [07/22/20]\n\tFY2021 appropriations bills: 10 out of 12 appropriations bills to fund the government [07/26/20]\n\tH.R.2420, National Museum of the American Latino Act [07/27/2020]\n\tH.R.8015, Delivering for America Act [08/22/2020]\n\tS.578, ALS Disability Insurance Access Act of 2019 [12/08/2020]\n\tH.R. 6395, National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2021 [12/28/2020]\n \nClickhereto read the PDF.Follow Leader Hoyer onFacebook,Twitter, andInstagram.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://www.majorityleader.gov/content/memo-media-democratic-house-majority-116th-congress-record-results-people", "MEMO TO MEDIA: Democratic House Majority in the 116th Congress: A Record of Results For the People", "2020-12-31", "2020", "2020-12", "Democrat", "House", "MD", "Steny Hoyer", "H000874", "www.majorityleader.gov", null, null, "legacy", "To:Editors, Editorial Writers, Reporters\nFrom: House Majority Leader Steny H. Hoyer\nRe: House Democrats' Record of Results in the Majority in the 116th Congress\nDate: December 31, 2020Overview In 2018, House Democrats ran on a platform of governing responsibly For the People and addressing the most pressing challenges facing our country. We won the House Majority for the 116th Congress on pledges to clean up government, defend access to affordable health care, lower prescription drug costs, and support policies that create jobs and bring greater economic security to American workers and their families. Over the past two years, House Democrats have resoundingly delivered on each of these promises. Governing Responsibly For the People From opening day of the 116th Congress, the Democratic House Majority has worked to govern responsibly for the people we serve, renew their faith in government, and put power back in the hands of the American people. This began with passage of H.R. 1, the For The People Act, comprehensive government reform legislation that makes it easier for Americans to vote, puts in place national redistricting reform, makes our campaign finance system more accountable and transparent, and institutes stronger ethics rules for public officials. Democrats also began governing with an ironclad commitment to ensuring that the House would no longer be responsible for the kind of damaging government shutdown that the previous Republican Majority and President Trump left us when the 116th Congress began. Among the first actions of our new Majority was to pass legislation ending the Trump-Republican shutdown and restoring critical services to the American people. Later, we secured a two-year agreement on funding levels that helped avoid another shutdown and provide greater certainty to federal agencies in preparing their budget requests. In the two years since, the Democratic-led House passed legislation to fund nearly all of government before the end of July, well in advance of the end of the fiscal year, doing its part to keep government open, with bills that invested in our nation's immediate needs as well as its long-term growth and security. This year, while the Senate failed to consider even a single appropriations bill in committee and slowed down the process considerably, the House passed an omnibus funding measure on December 21 to ensure that the next Congress will not convene under the cloud of a shutdown but ready to get to work on appropriations for Fiscal Year 2022. Recognizing that the people's representatives must be able to do their job For the People, even in a pandemic, the House adopted H.Res. 965 in May to ensure that committees could work remotely and that Members could vote by proxy on the Floor using a secure and verifiable system. Under the provisions of that resolution, the House continued its pace of work and passed major legislation through the summer, autumn, and winter while protecting the safety of Capitol Hill workers, staff, Members, and constituents in districts across the country. Defending Access to Health Care & Lowering Prescription Drug Costs Keeping our promises to the American people, the Democratic House Majority in the 116th Congress has passed several major pieces of legislation to protect Americans' access to high-quality, affordable health care and to lower prescription drug prices. In 2019, after amending the House rules to allow for a robust defense of the Affordable Care Act in court, we passed H.R. 986 to safeguard coverage for those with pre-existing conditions. This year, we passed H.R. 1425, the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Enhancement Act, to strengthen the health care reforms Democrats enacted ten years ago by encouraging states to expand Medicaid coverage and undoing much of the sabotage of our health insurance markets in which the Trump Administration engaged over the past four years. Building on that progress, the House took action this month on H.R. 3630, the No Surprises Act, to protect patients from surprise bills by removing them from the fight between insurers and providers and implementing a fairer process for the resolution of disputes. House Democrats also passed H.R. 987, a package of seven bills, to lower prescription drug costs and H.R. 3, the Elijah E. Cummings Lower Drug Costs Now Act, last year. These bills reflect Americans' wide support for making it easier for Medicare to negotiate lower drug prices, particularly for insulin and other life-sustaining medications, and reducing out-of-pocket caps for patients. H.R. 3 would, additionally, allow private insurers to cover the cost of medications at the same lower prices negotiated by Medicare  and it would reinvest more than $500 billion of savings in Medicare for dental, hearing, and vision benefits as well as opioid addition treatments and research. Making Our Economy Work For the People Over the past two years, House Democrats have passed legislation to strengthen our economy and help our workers and businesses Make It In America. In addition to voting to raise the minimum wage gradually to $15 an hour last year  and provide a pay raise for up to 33 million Americans  we also passed H.R. 7, the Paycheck Fairness Act, to ensure that women receive equal pay for equal work. Additionally in 2019, the House passed H.R. 1994, the SECURE Act, to make it easier for workers to save for retirement, as well as H.R. 397, the Butch Lewis Act, to protect the retirement savings of millions who contributed to multi-employer pension funds. Taking action to safeguard consumers, the Democratic House Majority also passed H.R. 1500, the Consumers First Act, to help prevent financial scams and other predatory activity targeting Americans. Recognizing that global trade and exports are critical to the growth of good jobs here at home, the House worked with the Senate to enact a seven-year reauthorization of the U.S. Export-Import Bank, which helps American businesses compete on a level playing field in foreign markets. When President Trump presented his U.S.-Mexico-Canada trade agreement to Congress, the Democratic House Majority won the fight for critical changes that protect American workers, ensure the agreement is enforceable, promote our exports, and attract new investment to our country that creates good jobs. This year, we followed those action with passage of H.R. 2474, the Protecting the Right to Organize (PRO) Act, which affirms workers' right to organize and bargain collectively for better pay and benefits. In July, the House approved a major infrastructure bill, H.R. 2, to move America forward by investing billions of dollars in repairs, upgrades, and new networks to connect American businesses, workers, and consumers and facilitate exports that drive economic growth. In September, we passed H.R. 4447, the Clean Economy Jobs and Innovation Act, which will help American manufacturers seize new opportunities to take the lead in the new global clean-energy economy, creating millions of good jobs for our workers. Also that month, the House approved H.R. 2694, the Pregnant Workers Fairness Act, to ensure that women who are pregnant are not discriminated against in the workplace. In November, the House passed H.R.8294, the National Apprenticeship Act, to create nearly one million additional apprenticeship opportunities by 2025 and help more of our people make it in America. In December, the House and Senate reached agreement on a historic energy package that will incorporate many of the provisions of H.R. 4447 and go a long way toward promoting job creation through American leadership in clean-energy innovation.  Meeting the Challenges of a Global Pandemic From the earliest days of COVID-19 becoming a global pandemic, the Democratic-led House took the initiative to protect the American people. On March 4, the House passed H.R. 6074, the Coronavirus Preparedness and Response Supplemental Appropriations Act, investing an initial $8.3 billion to help federal agencies take steps to meet this new and uncertain threat. Just days later, as our nation gained a better understanding of the scope of the pandemic's challenge, the House took a further step, joining the Senate in enacting H.R. 6201, the Families First Coronavirus Response Act. This legislation ensured that Americans would not have to pay out of pocket for COVID-19 testing and could take paid sick leave to care for themselves or loved-ones who contract the disease. On March 28, the House took yet another major action by passing H.R. 784, the CARES Act, to fund additional testing and research into treatments and vaccines while addressing the economic impacts of the pandemic. The CARES Act created the Paycheck Protection Program to help small businesses keep their workers on payroll, provided for emergency expanded unemployment benefits, and distributed direct stimulus payments to American households.  When it became clear that Americans were going to need more help than what was included in the CARES Act, the House passed H.R. 266, the Paycheck Protection Program and Health Care Enhancement Act, in April, followed by H.R. 6800, the Heroes Act, in May. The Heroes Act would have sent direct assistance to state and local governments to help them keep teachers, law enforcement, sanitation workers, and other critical public employees from being laid off during the pandemic. It would also have extended the emergency unemployment benefits and provided more funding for hospitals and public health facilities on the front lines of the pandemic. After the Republican-led Senate refused to vote on the Heroes Act for months and allowed the expanded emergency unemployment benefits to expire, the House passed an updated version of the Heroes Act in October in an effort to compromise. Again, Republicans did nothing. On December 21, the House and Senate reached agreement and passed a COVID-relief package that included expanded unemployment benefits, direct stimulus payments to Americans, relief for renters, and additional funding for global vaccination efforts, among many important provisions. A week later, the House passed the H.R. 9051, the CASH Act, to increase the amount of the stimulus payments to $2,000. On June 26, the House passed three bills to help prevent evictions and foreclosures and to keep child-care workers from losing their incomes during the pandemic. H.R. 7301, H.R. 7027, and H.R. 7327 were all critical components of House Democrats' robust response to COVID-19 and the economic hardships it brought to millions of Americans. Answering the Call for Justice, Civil Rights, and Equality One of the early pieces of legislation the House passed in the 116th Congress was H.R. 5, the Equality Act, banning discrimination against LGBTQ Americans nationwide. This long-overdue legislation would end legal discrimination in housing, education, employment, finance, and other areas. It would also prohibit denying individuals the right to use facilities according to one's gender identity. This year, the House passed H.J. Res. 79 to affirm our view that the Equal Rights Amendment has been duly ratified, banning discrimination on the basis of sex. In February of this year, the House passed H.R.35, the Emmett Till Antilynching Act, at long last making lynching a federal hate crime. After the horrific killings of George Floyd, Breonna Taylor, and other African Americans at the hands of law enforcement acting improperly, the Democratic House Majority took swift action, passing H.R. 7120, the George Floyd Justice in Policing Act. This legislation included major reforms to root out systemic bias in police departments, including bans on chokeholds and no-knock warrants. To address persistent inequalities that have become serious barriers to justice and opportunity, the House passed H.R. 3884, the MORE Act, to decriminalize recreational marijuana and create a process by which those who had been convicted of nonviolent cannabis offenses can have their records expunged. The Democratic House Majority in the 116th Congress has made protecting the right to vote one of the centerpieces of our agenda, recognizing that too many eligible voters are still denied the ability to participate in our elections. In the first weeks of our Majority, the House passed H.R. 1, the For the People Act, which included key voting rights provisions. Among them were automatic voter registration, the restoration of voting rights for those who paid their debts to society, and a prohibition on nefarious practices like the purging of voter rolls and discriminatory voter-ID rules. Later in 2019, the House passed H.R. 4, the John Lewis Voting Rights Advancement Act, to restore the full protections of the landmark 1965 Voting Rights Act, part of which had been struck down by the Supreme Court in 2013. The House also took the long-overdue action of voting to admit the District of Columbia as a state and secure full representation for its 700,000 residents.  The Democratic House Majority has been working since day-one to secure the right to vote against threats both at home and from abroad. Responding to efforts by Russia and other adversaries to interfere with and undermine our democracy in 2016, the House passed H.R. 2722, the SAFE Act, and H.R. 4617, the SHIELD Act, last year. After the COVID-19 pandemic created new challenges to voting in person, the House passed H.R. 8015, the Delivering for America Act, to provide the U.S. Postal Service with emergency funding to handle the expected record number of mail-in ballots for the 2020 election. That legislation also would have reversed the Trump Administration's efforts to slow down mail delivery in an effort to prevent ballots from being received in time to be counted. Last year, when news emerged of President Trump's attempts to solicit foreign interference in the 2020 election and subvert our democracy, the Democratic-led House investigated and, upon finding clear evidence of his abuse of power and obstruction of Congress, approved articles of impeachment. Though the Senate failed to do its job and uphold the Constitution, House committees have continued to conduct thorough oversight of the Trump Administration and hold it accountable to the American people.  Addressing the Global Climate Crisis & Preserving America's Natural Bounty Throughout the 116th Congress, the Democratic House Majority has made it a priority to push back against the Trump Administration's refusal to recognize the global climate crisis, which placed the health and economic security of our children and grandchildren at grave risk. Beginning with the creation of a Select Committee on the Climate Crisis and with passage of H.R. 9, the Climate Action Now Act, in May 2019, the House made it clear that it supports rejoining the Paris Climate Agreement and restoring its ambitious goals. Last year, the House passed a number of bills aimed at conserving public lands and protecting vulnerable ecosystems, such as the John Dingell Conservation, Management, and Recreation Act, which created an independent and sustainable funding source for the Land and Water Conservation Fund. We also approved H.R. 1941, the Coastal and Marine Economies Protection Act, to ban drilling off the Atlantic and Pacific coasts, and H.R. 205, the Protecting and Securing Florida's Coastline Act, to do the same in certain parts of the Gulf of Mexico. They were accompanied by passage of H.R. 1146, the Arctic Cultural and Coastal Plain Protection Act, to prohibit fossil fuel exploration in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge (ANWR). The House also secured bipartisan agreement to enact legislation amending the Stafford Act to help communities in Puerto Rico, the U.S. Virgin Islands, and the mainland United States rebuild stronger in the aftermath of natural disasters. This year, we built on that work by passing H.R. 535, the PFAS Action Act, to help remove some of the most toxic pollutants from our water and partnering with the Senate to enact a major reauthorization of the Water Resources Development Act (WRDA). We were also able to secure agreement to enact the America's Conservation Enhancement (ACE) Act and the landmark H.R. 1957, the Great American Outdoors Act. Protecting Dreamers & Keeping Families Together House Democrats have worked hard this Congress to meet our responsibility to the Dreamers who were brought here as children and often have no memory of living in a country other than the United States. At risk of being deported to unfamiliar lands and separated from their family members who are American citizens, these Dreamers have been looking to Congress for help, particularly after President Trump tried to end the DACA program. In June 2019, the House passed H.R. 6, the American Dream and Promise Act, which would not only provide peace of mind and a pathway to citizenship for Dreamers but do the same for refugees holding T.P.S. and D.E.D. status. The House also took action to extend T.P.S. status for those fleeing tyranny, violence, and economic hardship in Venezuela resulting from the Maduro regime. Also in 2019, the House responded to revelations of inhumane conditions at immigrant detention facilities by passing three bills requiring better care and medical treatment for detainees: H.R. 3239, H.R. 3670, and H.R. 3525. This year, we passed H.R. 5581, the Access to Counsel Act, to ensure that refugees brought before immigration courts seeking asylum have access to an attorney. And, in response to President Trump's shameful, discriminatory travel ban targeting Muslim-majority countries, we passed H.R. 2214, the NO BAN Act, to restrict the President's authority to impose blanket travel bans based on one's nation-of-origin. Caring for America's Veterans The Democratic House Majority has worked hard to ensure that the 116th Congress is meeting its commitment to those who served our country. Last year, we passed several major bills to ensure that veterans can access high-quality health care close to home, to reduce veteran suicide and homelessness, and to improve access to education and training for in-demand job skills. We also passed legislation expanding health care benefits for those exposed to Agent Orange. The House took action to make it easier for veterans with young children to access care at V.A. facilities through H.R. 840, the Veterans Access to Child Care Act. In addition, we approved H.R. 3224, the Deborah Sampson Act, in November 2019 to ensure that women veterans can access high-quality medical care at V.A. facilities without undue barriers. This month, the House secured agreement with the Senate to send H.R. 7105 to the President's desk, which includes H.R. 840 and H.R. 3224 along with additional provisions to increase benefits for women veterans and Native American veterans while addressing veteran homelessness. Specifically, it will help lower incidents of sexual assault at V.A. facilities, fund new health spaces dedicated to women's health care, and require every V.A. health care facility to hire a dedicated women's health provider. The bill creates an advisory committee to ensure that the V.A. considers the unique challenges facing veterans living on tribal lands, and it mandates additional reporting of COVID-19 cases occurring at state-run veterans' homes. In 2019, the House demonstrated how America keeps its promises to those who serve our country and its communities. We eliminated the tax increase that Republicans imposed on Gold Star families as part of their 2017 tax scam, reaffirming our nation's support for those who lost loved-ones in service under our flag. We also reauthorized the 9/11 Victims Compensation Fund to ensure that first responders and others with health complications from the September 11, 2001, attacks can afford the treatment and care they need. Keeping Americans Safe at Home and Abroad For the past two years, the Democratic-led House has been doing its job responsibly to protect Americans from harm both at home and around the world. In both 2019 and 2020, we passed defense authorization bills that were bipartisan and reflect a commitment to our troops and the values they uphold. The House also passed a war powers resolution in 2019 to promote an end to the violent civil conflict in Yemen that has become one of the world's worst humanitarian crises. We also passed the Protect Against Conflict by Turkey Act in November 2019 to sanction Turkish officials responsible for the country's incursion into Kurdish-held territory in Syria after President Trump abandoned our allies there. The Democratic House Majority has also continued to stand up for press freedom, voting on H.R. 2037, the Saudi Arabia Human Rights and Accountability Act, to disapprove of arms sales to Saudi Arabia after its murder of journalist Jamal Khashoggi. We also sanctioned China for its crackdown on freedom of expression and democracy in Hong Kong in 2019 and this year enacted legislation sanctioning Beijing officials for the human rights abuses directed at China's Muslim Uighur minority. At home, House Democrats in the 116th Congress have worked to provide for safer and more secure communities. We passed H.R. 8, the Bipartisan Background Checks Act, in February 2019, responding to an epidemic of mass shootings ignored by the previous Republican Majority. That April, the House reauthorized the Violence Against Women Act for five years with key improvements to ensure that law enforcement can protect victims and protect women living on Native American sovereign lands, and encourage men and boys to play a role in preventing domestic violence and assault. Later in the year, we passed the Debbie Smith Act to help close the backlog of rape kit processing and secure justice for victims while deterring these horrific crimes. Reflecting the Nation We Represent With the most-diverse and most-female House Majority in history, Democrats were proud to lead a House that not only represents the American people responsibly but is focused on righting historical injustices and ensuring that all voices are heard in our democracy and in the story of our country. That's why we passed H.R. 1636 last year to create a Commission on the Social Status of Black Men and Boys, which would explore ways to remove persistent inequalities and to address bias that denies opportunities to African Americans. This year, the House passed H.R. 7573 to remove the bust of Chief Justice Roger B. Taney, the author of the horrific 1857 Dred Scott v. Sandford decision, from the U.S. Capitol's Old Supreme Court Chamber. That legislation would also remove statues from the U.S. Capitol building of individuals who served the Confederacy during the Civil War and promoted slavery in the years that preceded it. Also in 2020, the House passed H.R. 1980 and H.R. 2420, which would create a Smithsonian Women's History Museum and a National Museum of the American Latino, respectively. We also expressed the House's strong and unwavering opposition to anti-Semitism, Islamophobia, and racial hatred of all forms. Preparing for the 117th Congress The past two years have been a busy period of activity in the House, with our Democratic Majority working tirelessly to deliver on our promises. The legislation we passed  and our belief in governing responsibly  are a blueprint for what the House and the new Biden-Harris Administration can achieve to help Americans get ahead through access to opportunities, to ensure that our economy can build back better from COVID-19, to keep our country safe and secure, and to restore the soul and character of our nation as we work to heal divisions. House Democrats are ready to work with the next President to enact bills, like those we passed in the 116th Congress, that achieve our goals.  Even with all of the work we did over the past two years, more than 450 bipartisan House-passed bills were never acted on by the Republican Senate. The composition and outlook of the Senate in the 117th Congress will be critical to securing key victories for the American people, and House Democrats will do everything in our power to continue governing responsibly and seeking opportunities to reach agreements that enact our agenda and deliver For the People.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://www.menendez.senate.gov/newsroom/press/menendez-statement-on-the-passing-of-monroe-mayor-gerald-tamburro", "Menendez Statement on the Passing of Monroe Mayor Gerald TamburroRead More", "2020-12-31", "2020", "2020-12", "Democrat", "House", "NJ", "Robert Menendez", "M000639", "www.menendez.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "WASHINGTON,\r\nD.C.  U.S. Senator Bob Menendez today released the following statement on\r\nthe passing of Monroe Township Mayor Gerald Tamburro: I was saddened\r\nto hear of the passing of Mayor Gerald Tamburro, who was an exceptional public\r\nservant and friend to so many across the state. He was fiercely dedicated to\r\nthe families of Monroe and worked every single day to ensure they had the\r\nresources to thrive. He will be greatly missed by the entire community but will\r\nbe remembered for his unwavering commitment to the people he loved to serve.My prayers are\r\nwith his family and friends and hope they will find comfort in the fact that\r\nJerry is now reunited with his beloved late wife Carole. ###", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://www.schatz.senate.gov/news/press-releases/schatzs-medical-tele-training-bill-signed-into-law", "Schatz\u2019s Medical Tele-Training Bill Signed Into Law", "2020-12-31", "2020", "2020-12", "Democrat", "Senate", "HI", "Brian Schatz", "S001194", "www.schatz.senate.gov", "schatz", "https://www.schatz.senate.gov/news/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON \u2013 This week, the Expanding Capacity for Health Outcomes (ECHO) 2019 Act was signed into law as part of the annual government funding bill. The bipartisan legislation, authored by U.S. Senator Brian Schatz (D-Hawai\u2018i), establishes a $10 million per year grant program for fiscal years 2022 through 2026 to promote the use of technology to connect health care providers and deliver high-quality care in hard-to-reach regions.\n\n\u201cTechnology hasn\u2019t just transformed how doctors care for patients, it has helped health care providers work and learn from with each other,\u201d said Senator Schatz. \u201cThis new law will help connect more primary care providers in rural areas with specialists from across the country so that more families have access to the critical health care services they need.\"\n\nThe new law will expand the use of the ECHO model \u2014 an innovative medical education program that deploys interactive videoconferencing to link specialist teams with primary care providers in rural areas. This helps hard-to-reach communities access the health care services they otherwise would not be able to receive. During the pandemic, the ECHO model has been important to the public health response, used by states across the country to share best practices for treating COVID-19 patients as well as improve testing and contact tracing.\n\nIn 2016, Schatz authored the first ECHO Act, which was signed into law and initiated a study of the model. The resulting report from the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) found that the ECHO model addresses important gaps in health care for underserved populations and recommended its expansion. Acting on this recommendation, Senator Schatz authored the current ECHO Act, which creates a program to provide grants and technical assistance to further develop the ECHO model and other similar models and expand their use nationwide.\n\nThese grants will be used for:\n\nEquipment to support the use and expansion of the models, including for the secure exchange of electronic health information;\n\nSupport for health care providers that provide services under these models;\n\nInstructional programming and training; and\n\nInformation collection and evaluation activities to study the impact of such models.\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-06-28T00:42:23Z"], ["https://www.speaker.gov/newsroom/123120", "Pelosi Appoints Rear Admiral Margaret Grun Kibben First Woman to Serve as Chaplain of the U.S. House of Representatives", "2020-12-31", "2020", "2020-12", "Democrat", "House", "CA", "Nancy Pelosi", "P000197", "www.speaker.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Washington, D.C.  Speaker Nancy Pelosi today announced her appointment of Rear Admiral Margaret Grun Kibben as House Chaplain, following the House retirement of Father Pat Conroy. Kibben will be the first woman to serve as Chaplain in either chamber of Congress.\nIt is my honor to announce the appointment of Rear Admiral Margaret Grun Kibben to serve as Chaplain of the United States House of Representatives: the first woman to serve in this historic position, which has been enshrined in our Democracy since the First Congress in 1789, said Speaker Pelosi. Kibben brings decades of decorated experience in the military and the ministry, as a retired Rear Admiral who served as the U.S. Navy's Chief Chaplain and the chaplain of the Marine Corps. Her integrity, experience and patriotism will serve the Congress and the Country well, as she ministers to the needs of Members. This historic appointment was made possible by the values-based leadership of Congressman Emanuel Cleaver, and I thank him and all Members of the bipartisan group leading the search  Representatives Eshoo, Price, Connolly, Moolenaar, Luetkemeyer, McMorris Rodgers and Stauber  for their successful work. Their recommendation was accepted by Leader McCarthy and me.\nThe service of Father Pat Conroy has been a blessing to Members on both sides of the aisle, continued Speaker Pelosi. Throughout his service, Father Pat fulfilled the calling of St. Ignatius of Loyola: for the greater glory of God.' His service has been a spiritual and moral anchor for Members, grounding our institution in the values of faith and country and reminding our Members of our responsibilities to our great nation and constituents. All Members wish Father Pat well as he enjoys his well-deserved retirement from the House.\nRear Adm. Margaret Kibben entered active duty in 1986 through the Navy's Theological Student Program. She holds a Bachelor of Arts from Goucher College, a Master of Divinity and Doctor of Ministry from Princeton Theological Seminary and a Master's in National Security and Strategic Studies from the Naval War College. In her final active duty assignment in the Navy, Kibben was the U.S. Navy's 26th Chief Chaplains. Prior to this assignment, Kibben served as the 18th Chaplain of the Marine Corps. Kibben served as the senior chaplain in Afghanistan. Her Navy assignments include the U.S. Naval Academy, the Chaplain Corps Resource Board, command chaplain aboard USS San Diego (AFS 6) and Fleet Chaplain, U. S. 3rd Fleet. With the U.S. Marine Corps, Kibben served as chaplain for Headquarters and Service Battalion, Security Battalion, the Brig, Marine Corps Air Facility and HMX-1, Marine Corps Base Quantico and 2nd Force Service Support Group, Camp Lejeune. Kibben's personal awards include the Distinguished Service Medal, Legion of Merit (two awards), Bronze Star, Meritorious Service Medal (three awards) and Navy Commendation Medal (three awards).", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://www.speaker.gov/newsroom/123120-0", "Pelosi Statement on House Filing Amicus Brief in Gohmert v. Pence", "2020-12-31", "2020", "2020-12", "Democrat", "House", "CA", "Nancy Pelosi", "P000197", "www.speaker.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Washington, D.C.  Speaker Nancy Pelosi issued this statement after the House of Representatives filed an amicus brief in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Texas in the case of Gohmert v. Pence, which attempts to unconstitutionally grant the Vice President the power to personally choose presidential electors, against the results of the popular vote and the certified Electoral College results: \nPresident-elect Joe Biden and Vice President-elect Kamala Harris decisively won the 2020 election, with a record number of votes and an historic margin of victory. Yet, President Trump and Republicans in Congress have refused to respect the will of the American people and instead have spread dangerous conspiracy theories and brought over fifty extreme, failed lawsuits in a brazen attempt to overturn the certified results of the 2020 election.\nThe Gohmert lawsuit has zero legal merit and is yet another sabotage of our democracy.\nThere is no doubt that, despite this desperate unpatriotic charade, on January 6, Joe Biden will be confirmed by the acceptance of the vote of the Electoral College as the 46th President of the United States.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["http://www.schatz.senate.gov/press-releases/schatz-releases-new-covid-19-federal-resource-guide-to-help-hawaii-small-businesses-access-new-funding-programs", "Schatz Releases New COVID-19 Federal Resource Guide To Help Hawaii Small Businesses Access New Funding, Programs", "2020-12-30", "2020", "2020-12", "Democrat", "Senate", "HI", "Brian Schatz", "S001194", "www.schatz.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Schatz Releases New COVID-19 Federal Resource Guide To Help Hawaii Small Businesses Access New Funding, Programs \n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t Updated Resource Guide Includes Information On New Relief Funding, New Program To Support Live Venue Operators, Museums, Independent Movie Theaters; Schatz's Resource Guide Available At Schatz.Senate.Gov/Coronavirus/Small-Businesses \n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\tWednesday, December 30, 2020\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\r\nWASHINGTON  U.S. Senator Brian Schatz (D-Hawaii) today released an updated resource guide to help Hawaii small businesses better understand how to access federal loans and new federal funding. The new $900 billion relief package, which is the second largest aid package in American history and was signed into law on Sunday, includes a new round of federal funding for small businesses and nonprofits and a new program to support live venue operators, including museums and independent movie theaters.\r\nThe new round of funding will help Hawaii small businesses meet their payroll and provide people with paychecks, said Senator Schatz. As more federal help becomes available, we'll continue to work to provide more information about how Hawaii families and businesses can access these new resources.\r\nThe new COVID-19 relief funding includes $15 billion nationwide to a new Small Business Administration (SBA) grant program for live venues impacted by the public health crisis. Eligible grant recipients include live venue operators, promoters or theatrical producers, independent movie theatre operators, museum operators, and talent representatives. Of the total amount, $2 billion is set aside for eligible entities that employ fewer than 50 full-time employees.\r\nThe new relief package also provides an additional $20 billion of targeted funding for the SBA's economic injury disaster loans (EIDL) emergency advance grants program and extends the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) to March 31, 2021, providing $284 billion nationwide for additional first- and second-round PPP loans to small businesses and nonprofits.\r\nThe full small business resource guide is available here.\r\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://anthonybrown.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=1139", "House Armed Services Vice Chair Anthony Brown: \u201cDr. Kathleen Hicks is Breaking Barriers in the National Security Space and is Committed to Doing the Same for Others\u201d", "2020-12-30", "2020", "2020-12", "Democrat", "House", "MD", "Anthony Brown", "B001304", "anthonybrown.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "WASHINGTON, D.C.  House Armed Services Committee Vice Chair Anthony G. Brown (MD-04), a 30-year Army veteran, released the following statement regarding President-elect Joe Biden's nomination of Dr. Kathleen Hicks to become Deputy Secretary of Defense:\r\nIn Dr. Kathleen Hicks, President-elect Joe Biden and Secretary of Defense designate Lloyd Austin have chosen an experienced and forward thinking Deputy Defense Secretary. Serving in what is widely viewed as the Chief Operating Officer, her nomination strengthens civilian oversight of the Pentagon and will restore stability to the daily operations of the Department of Defense. Her work in national security policy both inside and outside of government has allowed her to not only understand the inner workings of the Pentagon, but also develop necessary frameworks for reform. She has the necessary depth of policy knowledge to lead uniformed and civilian public servants in countering the most complex set of national security threats our country has ever faced.\r\nDr. Kathleen Hicks is breaking barriers in the national security space and is committed to doing the same for others. I've personally discussed with Dr. Hicks the importance of building diversity throughout the defense community. She is an advocate for greater inclusion as a means for strengthening our country and making us safer. I look forward to working with Dr. Hicks alongside Gen. Austin to bolster our national security, restore American leadership and ensure Americans from all backgrounds can serve and protect the country they love.\r\n\r\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://bonamici.house.gov/media/in-the-news/increasing-pentagon-spending-when-people-are-going-hungry-madness", "Increasing Pentagon Spending When People Are Going Hungry Is Madness", "2020-12-30", "2020", "2020-12", "Democrat", "House", "OR", "Suzanne Bonamici", "B001278", "bonamici.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "In addition to Khanna, the Democrats who cast no votes were: California's Mark DeSaulnier, Jimmy Gomez, Jared Huffman, and Barbara Lee; Hawaii's Tulsi Gabbard; Illinois's Chuy Garcia; Oregon's Earl Blumenauer and Suzanne Bonamici; Massachusetts's Joe Kennedy, Jim McGovern, and Ayanna Pressley; Michigan's Rashida Tlaib; Minnesota's Ilhan Omar; New York's Yvette Clarke, Adriano Espaillat, Grace Meng, and Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez; Washington's Pramila Jayapal; and Wisconsin's Mark Pocan.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://case.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=403", "Case Releases End Of 116th Congress Report To Hawai\u2019i", "2020-12-30", "2020", "2020-12", "Democrat", "House", "HI", "Ed Case", "C001055", "case.house.gov", "case", "https://case.house.gov/news/documentquery.aspx?DocumentTypeID=27&Page=28", "scraper", "(Honolulu, HI) \u2013 U.S. Congressman Ed Case (HI-01) today released his 116th Congress End-Of-Term Report back to Hawai\u2019i on his activities and efforts throughout the two-year 116th Congress (January 3, 2019 - January 3, 2021).\n\n\u201cIn January 2019, as I returned to Capitol Hill for my third full term representing Hawai\u2019i in the U.S. House of Representatives, the country was mired in what soon became the longest federal government shutdown in our history,\u201d said Case.\n\n\u201cAs I end the 116th and am sworn into the 117th Congress this Sunday, we continue to confront the far-worse crisis of COVID-19. \u201cThese are truly difficult times, when we desperately need our institutions of government to function as our founders intended.\n\n\u201cAnd a critical part of functioning government is staying in very close touch with those we represent, reporting back and seeking guidance wherever and however we can.\u201d\n\nIn his report, Case summarizes his activities in the 116th in his three areas of focus: leading on national issues; helping Hawai\u2019i; and helping constituents.\n\n\u201cI hope my report will provide those I serve with some sense of where I\u2019ve been in the 116th and where I\u2019m going in the 117th as we all chart the best path forward for our county and Hawai\u2019i over the next two years and beyond\u201d, said Case.\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-06-28T00:42:23Z"], ["https://castor.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=403469", "Rep. Castor Announces $1.4M to Tampa Residents through 2020 Constituent Services, $1.5B Secured in Federal Grants, $2.7B in PPP Assistance", "2020-12-30", "2020", "2020-12", "Democrat", "House", "FL", "Kathy Castor", "C001066", "castor.house.gov", "castor", "https://castor.house.gov/news/documentquery.aspx", "scraper", "U.S. Rep. Kathy Castor (FL14) announced today her office worked to deliver nearly $1.6 million to veterans, seniors, small businesses and families in 2020; almost $1.5 billion in federal grants to create jobs, invest in education and infrastructure, mitigate impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic, and support the important work of local partners; and $2.7 billion in Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) loans for Tampa businesses.\n\n\u201cEvery day, my Tampa constituent services team, Tery Sanchez, Steven Angotti, Tania Fernandez and Damaris Gonzalez \u2013 with the help of the entire Castor Team \u2013 work tirelessly to cut through red tape and bureaucracy on behalf of families and neighbors across the Tampa area. During the COVID-19 pandemic, their expertise has been critical to ensuring that veterans receive the benefits they have earned and to guarantee that survival stimulus payments, Social Security, Medicare are delivered on time. Due to the unprecedented challenge accessing Florida\u2019s flawed unemployment system, I am especially grateful for their efforts in coordinating with local and state representatives to ensure that everyone who needs support is connected to every available resource.\n\n\u201cMy team tackles complex cases and works diligently with agencies and non-profit partners to serve all of our neighbors. This year we handled more than 1,800 individual cases and recovered nearly $1.6 million in federal benefits. Tampa families are facing unique and time-sensitive issues due to the coronavirus, and my team\u2019s top priority remains serving our neighbors with respect and care.\u201d\n\nGrants\n\nIn FY2020, Florida\u2019s 14th Congressional District in Tampa and Hillsborough County received 727 grant awards totaling $1,497,650,722.\n\n\u201c2020 brought unprecedented challenges to our community as workers in vital industries such as tourism, travel and hospitality took a hit from the virus and our frontline medical workers worked overtime to serve those who contracted COVID-19. The $1.5 billion in grant monies that came to Tampa this year have been a lifeline for our hospitals, small businesses, schools, renters and more. Federal aid has a been a major shot in the arm to our local economic engines and will serve to bolster businesses and services that we all count on through tough times and also boost good-paying jobs in our region as we work towards a strong economic recovery.\n\n\u201cThrough passage of the CARES Act, which dedicated $150 billion to the Local Government Coronavirus Relief Fund, Hillsborough County received $257 million in federal aid. I worked alongside county commissioners and the county administrator while they developed the plan to ensure that the emergency aid was consistent with the needs our neighbors and the Congressional intent for use of these funds.\n\n\u201cMuch needed resources went to over 6,000 local businesses, rental assistance for over 5,500 Hillsborough families, workforce training, public health support for contact tracing, $30M to the City of Tampa, and funds to support the Crisis Center of Tampa Bay, Feeding Tampa Bay, Metropolitan Ministries and other local organizations directly helping so many of our neighbors in need. With the passage of a fifth coronavirus aid package, I will continue to partner with our local frontline agencies as we work towards rebuilding a local economy that leaves nobody behind and also prioritizes the health and wellbeing of our neighbors.\u201d\n\nSee here for information from the county for a listing of detailed help from our partnership. The CARES Act is a $2 trillion coronavirus relief package for states and local communities passed by Congress and signed into law on March 27, 2020.\n\nAmong the federal grants that U.S. Rep. Castor championed this year, nearly $50 million in Department of Transportation\u2019s Better Utilizing Investment to Leverage Development (BUILD) grants will be used to lift our neighborhoods, increase connectivity, and improve our streets. The Tampa Bay Women\u2019s Centre received a $420,000 Small Business Administration grant to help female entrepreneurs and business owners with training, education, and counseling as they navigate the impacts of COVID-19. In April, almost $10 million in Department of Housing and Urban Development grants were allocated to help the City of Tampa and Hillsborough county support nonprofit partners, housing and homeless prevention.\n\nPaycheck Protection Program\n\n\u201cEstablished by the CARES Act, the Paycheck Protection Program has provided over 19,000 loans in our district totaling up to $2.7 billion. Of which, 16,681 were to the truly small businesses that received loans of less than $150,000 totaling $497,969,977. PPP has been a lifeline to workers in our community during the pandemic through speeding emergency resources to small businesses in Tampa Bay to keep them afloat during the pandemic, and keep employees paid and connected to health care coverage.\u201d\n\nResidents in Florida Congressional District 14 can call U.S. Rep. Castor\u2019s Tampa office at 813-871-2817 or visit www.castor.house.gov for assistance.\n\n###\n\n*Updated 01/01/2021", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-06-28T00:42:23Z"], ["https://cohen.house.gov/taxonomy/story-type/enewsletters/voting-increase-direct-payments-coronavirus-relief", "Voting to Increase Direct Payments for Coronavirus Relief", "2020-12-30", "2020", "2020-12", "Democrat", "Senate", "TN", "Steve Cohen", "C001068", "cohen.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Many constituents received my end-of-year postcard in the mail. The card featured a powerful photograph of the airport by Memphis photographer Jeffrey Jacobs but the artist was not properly credited as he is here. Thanks to Mr. Jacobs for such fine work representing our city.\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\tDear Friend,\n\t\t\t\tThis week, I voted to increase economic impact payments under our coronavirus relief measure passed earlier this month from $600 to $2,000 per individual ($4,000 per couple and $2,000 for each dependent). I voted to override the President's veto of the National Defense Authorization Act, which provides assistance to Vietnam-era victims of Agent Orange and mandates the removal of names that honor the Confederacy from military installations; offered some guidance about the new coronavirus vaccines; appeared on national television to discuss the relief bill and the horrific bombing on Second Avenue in Nashville; and announced a significant sickle cell research grant to St. Jude Children's Research Hospital. Keep reading and follow me on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram to see what I'm doing as it happens.\n\t\t\t\tVoting to Increase Direct Payments for Coronavirus Relief\n\t\t\t\tVoting to Override Presidential Veto of the Defense Bill\n\t\t\t\tOffering Guidance about Access to Coronavirus Vaccine\n\t\t\t\tAddressing Relief Bill and Nashville Bombing on MSNBC\n\t\t\t\tAnnouncing a Significant Grant for Sickle Cell Research to St. Jude\n\t\t\t\tWishing Everyone a Happy New Year 2021\n\t\t\t\tQuote of the Week\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\tVoting to Increase Direct Payments for Coronavirus Relief\n\t\t\t\tOn Monday, the House convened to pass a bill increasing direct payments to individuals from $600 to $2,000 under the coronavirus relief measure that passed both Chambers last week to deal with the pandemic and its dire financial consequences. This means that those eligible will receive $2,000 for each person, including children and non-child dependents. Democrats have consistently pushed for larger relief checks, but Republicans refused to accept it before voting for the original bill. It remains unclear at the moment whether the Senate will take up this crucial bill. It would have been nice if the President had been more engaged in the negotiations in the weeks leading up to the relief bill's passage, and had let us know his position, so that this relief could have reached millions before the holidays. I think we're all looking forward to a more competent and coherent response to this crisis under President Biden.\n\t\t\t\tVoting to Override Presidential Veto of the Defense Bill\n\t\t\t\tEarlier this month, I voted for the National Defense Authorization Act, a bipartisan measure containing vital provisions for our service members, supporting Vietnam-era veterans dealing with exposure to Agent Orange, authorizing a $2 million multi-drone intelligence program that will be housed at the University of Memphis and beginning the process for removing the names of Confederate officials in the Civil War from our military installations, among its important provisions. It also includes paid parental leave for federal civilians and a 3 percent wage increase for service members. The President vetoed the measure over misguided objections to the Confederate names provision, among others, and the House overwhelmingly overrode that veto Monday night on a 322 to 87 vote. The law will pass once the Senate takes a similar override vote.\n\t\t\t\tOffering Guidance about Access to Coronavirus Vaccine\n\t\t\t\tWith more than 336,000 of our fellow Americans dead from the coronavirus and cases surging, particularly in Tennessee, I urge everyone to be especially vigilant as winter weather forces us to retreat indoors. The bright spot on the horizon is the eventual availability of effective vaccines, now rolling out to health care workers, first responders, those 18+ who cannot live independently and elderly residents of long-term care facilities. Memphians who believe they qualify in the current phase should contact the Shelby County Health Department at 901-222-9000. Please consult the Tennessee Department of Health's website here for the very latest on vaccination protocols and availability and the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) and Prevention's FAQs here if you have questions about the vaccines themselves. Though taking a vaccine is not a cure, it is one of the most important steps we can take as a community to end this devastating pandemic.\n\t\t\t\tPlease continue to observe CDC guidelines, including wearing masks, keeping a safe social distance from others, avoiding crowds and foregoing holiday parties. We can see a better future. Let's get there together.\n\t\t\t\tAddressing Relief Bill and Nashville Bombing on MSNBC\n\t\t\t\tOn Sunday morning, I went on MSNBC to talk about the prospects for passing the bill providing $2,000 coronavirus relief checks and, sadly, the Christmas Day suicide bombing that shook Nashville. See my remarks during that appearance here.\n\t\t\t\tAnnouncing a Significant Grant for Sickle Cell Research to St. Jude\n\t\t\t\tOn Monday, St. Jude Children's Research Hospital received a significant grant from the National Institutes of Health for sickle cell disease research. See that release here.\n\t\t\t\tWishing Everyone a Happy New Year 2021\n\t\t\t\tMany are expressing relief that this terrible year is coming to a welcome end. We have all endured unexpected disappointments large and small in 2020 but there are good reasons to be hopeful about 2021, not least the vaccine and a more thoughtful and compassionate leader in the White House. I wish everyone a delightful, safe and prosperous New Year.\n\t\t\t\tQuote of the Week \n\t\t\t\tCheers for a New Year and another chance to get it right.  Oprah Winfrey.\n\t\t\t\tAs always, I remain.  \n\t\t\t\t\tMost sincerely,  \n\t\t\t\tSteve Cohen  \n\t\t\t\t\tMember of Congress", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://dankildee.house.gov/media/press-releases/coronavirus-daily-update-december-30", "Coronavirus Daily Update: December 30", "2020-12-30", "2020", "2020-12", "Democrat", "Senate", "MI", "Dan Kildee", "K000380", "dankildee.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Wednesday, December 30, 2020\nDear Constituent\nThe coronavirus pandemic is developing very quickly, and I know many people have questions and concerns. I will try to answer some of them below.\nThese are incredibly stressful times for all Michiganders. I am working, along with my staff, around the clock, seven days a week to answer your questions, provide community resources and provide up-to-date, accurate information. Please do not hesitate to reach out to my office anytime by calling (810) 238-8627.\nThe Michigan Department of Health and Human Services (MDHHS) has updated the epidemic order that restricts indoor social gatherings and other group activities, to allow indoor activities where Michiganders can remain masked, including in-person learning at high schools and indoor entertainment venues. Indoor dining is still prohibited. This order is effective December 21, 2020 through January 15, 2021. More information can be foundhere.\nThe Pure Michigan Small Business Relief Initiativewill provide $10 million in grants to meet the needs of Michigan small businesses impacted the COVID-19 virus. Applications for businesses to apply will open on December 15, 2020. Grants will be awarded in the amount of up to $15,000 per eligible business. More information can be foundhere.\nThe Unemployment Insurance Agency (UIA) provided additional guidance to workers and employers who may be affected COVID-19. Michiganders who were on unemployment, went back to work, and are now temporarily unemployed again due to COVID-19 can reopen their claim online. More information can be foundhere.\n\nLEGISLATIVE UPDATE\nOn December 21, Congress passed theConsolidated Appropriations Act of 2021, which includes a nearly $1 trillion emergency relief packageto support American workers, families and small businesses during the coronavirus pandemic. More information can be foundhere.\nOn October 1, the U.S. House of Representatives passed an updatedversionThe Heroes Act. Thesenewprovisions are essential to supporting our schools, small businesses, restaurants, performance spaces, airline workers and others.More information can be foundhere.\nOn August 22, the U.S. House of Representatives passedThe Delivering for America Act, to fund the U.S. Postal Service and prohibit changes to operations until the pandemic has ended. More information can be foundhere.\nOn May 12, the U.S. House of Representatives passedThe Heroes Act.TheHeroes Actincludes a number of key policies I have advocated for, including additional direct payments to families and seniors, expanding unemployment insurance, increasing the Earned Income Tax Credit and the Child Tax Credit, and funding to prevent water shutoffs. More information can be foundhere.\nOn May 15, I introduced a bipartisan bill,TheRecharge and Empower Local Innovation and Entrepreneurs Fund for Main Street Act(RELIEF for Main Street Act), with Reps. Evans (D-PA), Fitzpatrick (R-PA) and Upton (R-MI). The billcreates a $50.5 billion Small Business Local Relief Program to provide direct federal support to cities, counties and states in order to seed and scale local relief funds and target smallbusinesses with 20 employees or fewer, orwith 50 employees or fewer located in low-income neighborhoods. More information can be foundhere.\nCongress has also passedtheCoronavirus Preparedness and Response Supplemental Appropriations Act,TheCARES Act,Families First Coronavirus Response Actand thePaycheck Protection Program and Health Care Enhancement Actto help families and health care facilities respond to the coronavirus pandemic.\n\nCORONAVIRUS TESTING UPDATE\nThe Governor has expanded testing opportunities for Michiganders to access testing in their own backyards. More information can be foundhere.\nThe U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has launched a website and app with a coronavirus screening tool and resources to help people protect their health. The website can be foundhereand the app can be accessedhere.\n\nUNEMPLOYMENT INSURANCE RESOURCES UPDATE\nGovernor Whitmer signed bipartisan bills restoring many unemployment provisions from her previous executive orders, including extending state unemployment benefits for Michiganders who have lost work as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic from 20 to 26 weeks until the end of the year. More information can be foundhere.\nUIA is now offering telephone appointments for customers with specific claim issues. By scheduling a phone appointment, customers will be able to get assistance with issues at their convenience. Phone appointments are available Monday through Friday from 8:15 a.m.  4:25 p.m. More information can be foundhere.\nThe last federal $600 weekly unemployment benefit was paid to Michiganders on July 25. The U.S. Federal Emergency Management Administration (FEMA) provided the state funding to provide six weeks of an additional $300 per week unemployment benefit, covering dates July 26 through September 5. To qualify, claimants must self-certify that they are unemployed or partially unemployed due to COVID-19.More information can be foundhere.\nAdditionally, unemployed Michiganders who have exhausted their regular and extended weeks of unemployment eligibility will receive up to 20 weeks of additional benefits, through the Federal Extended Benefits program. More information can be foundhere.\nOn May 1, I introducedTheStrengthening UI for COVID Impacted Workers and StudentsActto expand unemployment insurance for American workers, which was included inThe Heroes Act. For more information, visithere.\nUnemployment Insurance Benefits: Individuals should apply online atwww.Michigan.gov/UIAor call 866-500-0017 and are encouraged to follow afiling schedulebased on last name and use off-peak times (8 p.m.  8 a.m). The UIA offersresourcesto help workers resolve online technical issues with their account. More information can be foundhere.\n\nHOUSING UPDATE\nGovernor Whitmer created the Eviction Diversion Program, which outlines a process for renters to get fast rental assistance or establish a manageable payment plan to help them stay in their homes. The program also includes assistance to landlords. More information can be foundhere.\nThe Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB), the Federal Housing Finance Agency (FHFA) and the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) have a website to help renters and homeowners understand their housing assistance options. This includes information on mortgage and rental relief as well as resources for additional help that may be needed. More information can be foundhere. The CFPB has also put out a step by step videoherefor homeowners that are interested in mortgage forbearance.\nThe CDC has issued a moratorium on evictions of renters through December 31, 2020 based on non-payment of rent. For individuals that have questions on how this moratorium works or how they can access help, the National Low Income Housing Coalition has put together an overview of the orderhere, while Michigan Legal Help has more tools and informationhere.\n\nCOMMUNITY RESOURCES UPDATE\nThe Pure Michigan Small Business Relief Initiativewill provide $10 million in grants to meet the needs of Michigan small businesses impacted the COVID-19 virus. Applications for businesses to apply will open on December 15, 2020. Grants will be awarded in the amount of up to $15,000 per eligible business. More information can be foundhere.\nThe SBA has put out a step by step guide for businesses with a PPP loan on how to apply for loan forgiveness. More information can be foundhere.\nThe Governor launched the Futures for Frontliners' program, a tuition-free path to community college for essential, frontline workers who continued working during the COVID-19 Stay Home, Stay Safe orders between April  June 2020. Those eligible must apply for this scholarship before the end of the year. More information can be foundhere.\nThe Governor announced low-income residents, seniors, schools and homeless shelters will benefit from the MI Mask Aid partnership that is part of the Mask Up Michigan Campaign. More information can be foundhere.\nPersonal Protective Equipment: The Michigan Economic Development Corporation has launched a platform to help re-opening businesses acquire PPE. More information can be foundhere.\nMichigan's Virtual Food Bank:Seniors in need of food support cansign up for assistance, including meal delivery, delivery of non-perishable food items, and daily wellness-check calls, through the MDHHS coronavirus website, or by contacting their localArea Agency on Aging. More information on the virtual food bank can be foundhere.\nFlint Cares Help Centers: The city of Flint is offering resources and services including bottled water and food assistance. Services will continue to be provided from two semi-trailers staged in church parking lots across the city to distribute items directly to cars as residents drive through. For more information please call 810-410-2020 or visithere.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://fudge.house.gov/press-statements?ID=0D82107A-05DE-4F19-8383-E10E558A4C21", "Rep. Fudge Announces 2020 Winners of the 11th District Congressional App Challenge", "2020-12-30", "2020", "2020-12", "Democrat", "House", "OH", "Marcia Fudge", "F000455", "fudge.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Facebook Icon\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\r\n\t\r\n\t\r\n\t\tGoogle Plus Icon\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\r\n\t\r\n\t\r\n\t\tInstagram Icon\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\t\r\n\t\t\t\r\n\t\t\t\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\r\n\t\r\n\t\r\n\t\tLinkedIn Icon\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\r\n\t\r\n\t\r\n\t\tTwitter Icon\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\r\n\t\r\n\t\r\n\t\tYouTube Icon\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\r\n\t\r\n\t\r\n\t\tVimeo Icon\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\r\n\t\r\n\t\r\n\t\r\n\t\tClients Icon\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\r\n\t\r\n\t\r\n\t\tEmail icon\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\r\n\t\r\n\t\r\n\t\tMap Icon\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\r\n\t\r\n\t\r\n\t\tPrint Icon\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\r\n\t\r\n\t\r\n\t\tQuote Icon\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\t\r\n\t\t\t\t\r\n\t\t\t\t\r\n\t\t\t\t\r\n\t\t\t\t\r\n\t\t\t\r\n\t\t\t\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\r\n\t\r\n\t\r\n\t\ticon_share\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\r\n\t\r\n\t\r\n\t\r\n\t\r\n\t\tCarousel Arrow - Left\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\r\n\t\r\n\t\r\n\t\tCarousel Arrow - Right\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\r\n\t\r\n\t\r\n\t\r\n\t\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\t\r\n\t\r\n\t\r\n\t\r\n\t\t\t\r\n\t\t\t\t\r\n\t\t\t\t\r\n\t\t\t\t\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\r\n\t\t\t\r\n\t\t\r\n\r\n\r\n\t\r\n\t\r\n\t\t\t\r\n\t\t\t\t\r\n\t\t\t\t\r\n\t\t\t\t\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\r\n\t\t\t\r\n\t\t\r\n\r\n\r\n\t\r\n\t\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\t\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\r\n\t\r\n\t\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\t\r\n\t\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\t\r\n\t\t\t\r\n\t\t\t\r\n\t\t\t\r\n\t\t\t\t\r\n\t\t\t\t\tHome\r\n\t\t\t\t\r\n\t\t\t\r\n\t\t\t\t\r\n\t\t\t\t\tNews\r\n\t\t\t\t\r\n\t\t\t\r\n\t\t\t\t\r\n\t\t\t\t\tPress Statements\r\n\t\t\t\t\r\n\t\t\t\r\n\t\t\t\r\n\t\t\t\r\n\t\t\t\t\r\n\t\t\t\t\r\n\t\t\t\t\t Print", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://higgins.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/higgins-leads-effort-calling-on-fda-to-end-discriminative-blood-donor", "Higgins Leads Effort Calling on FDA to End Discriminative Blood Donor Guidelines", "2020-12-30", "2020", "2020-12", "Democrat", "Senate", "NY", "Brian Higgins", "H001038", "higgins.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Congressman Brian Higgins (NY-26) and fellow colleagues on the Congressional LGBTQ Equality Caucus, Congressmembers Judy Chu and Jose Serrano, are calling on the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to remove guidelines barring men who have sex with men (MSM) from donating plasma and other blood products.\nIn a letter to the FDA Commissioner, Reps. Higgins, Chu and Serrano write, Outdated and arbitrary guidelines that discriminate against people attempting to donate plasma unnecessarily constrains its supply during a time when it is more important than ever to increase the donor pool. Plasma donation is an act of generosity that helps save lives, and FDA's policies should be informed by the best science available to ensure that the maximum number of people who can donate safely can do so.\nDuring the COVID-19 pandemic doctors are using convalescent plasma  plasma from patients who have recovered from COVID  to treat people currently fighting COVID. Plasma is also regularly used as an effective tool to treat trauma, burns, hemophilia, and other clotting factor deficiencies.\nAs a comprehensive cancer center where patients rely on donated blood products to help them endure their cancer treatments and rebuild strength, Roswell Park knows firsthand that the need for plasma is higher than ever. Thank you to Congressman Higgins for calling on the FDA to end this discriminatory rule, says Candace S. Johnson, PhD, President and CEO of Roswell Park Comprehensive Cancer Center, which operates an onsite Donor Center. \nBlood product donations have decreased due to the ongoing pandemic and recent winter storms which have forced the cancellation of blood drives and outreach events.The demand for plasma far exceeds donations. On December 10, 2020 the American Association of Blood Banks (AABB), American Red Cross and America's Blood Centers issued a joint statement warning: the country's supply of COVID-19 convalescent plasma is depleting and indicating the demand for plasma has exceeded collections by between 1,000 and 1,500 units per day over the past month.\nIn 1983, during the initial wave of the AIDS epidemic, the FDA implemented a policy which banned blood and plasma donations from gay and bisexual men. Since then, the FDA has revised the guideline twice, first changing the lifetime ban to a 12-month deferral from last same-sex sexual contact, and more recently changing it to a 3-month deferral. All donated blood and plasma is tested for HIV, hepatitis, COVID-19 and other infectious diseases before it is deemed acceptable and released to hospitals.\n\"While a three month ban is progress compared to the longstanding lifetime ban, it still remains discriminatoryto gay and bisexual men and to many people of trans experience, said Matthew Crehan Higgins, Associate Vice President, Specialty Care at Evergreen Health. We know a great deal more now than was known in 1983 about HIV transmission, testing, treatment, and prevention and it is long past the time to move past these discriminatory practices.\"\nFounder of Blood is Blood, Jordan Moll-Vigrass said, \"The FDA continues to ignore the best science available resulting in discrimination which prevents many from receiving healthy life saving blood/plasma donations. This is a problem as it leaves many gay and bi-sexual men unwilling to ever donate as they face a double standard. No other one group of individuals have to remain celibate from sex for 3 months before they could donate. I call on theFDA to update its policies to reflectthe best science available to ensure that the maximum number of people who can donate safely do so and finallyend the years of stigma and discrimination.\nCongressman Higgins has long sought to end blood and plasma donor discrimination within the FDA's guidelines. In December 2014 Higgins joined other Members of Congress in sending a letter to the Secretary of Health and Human Services urging action on changing the blood donation criteria. In 2015, Congressman Higgins joined Blood is Blood founder Jordan Moll Vigrass and Matthew Crehan Higgins, who previously served as Senior Director for the Pride Center of Western New York for a rally against the FDA's ban. The following week the FDA issued a final guidance changing its previous lifetime ban to a new policy of a 12-month deferral. On World Blood Donor Day in 2016 Higgins joined Members on Capitol Hill to again argue the importance of moving away from a reliance on harmful stereotypes, and allow all healthy adults who wish to donate to do so.\nOn December 14th, the United Kingdom lifted its blanket restrictions on blood donations from MSM donors, implementing the same standards as those that exist for heterosexual donors.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://krishnamoorthi.house.gov/media/press-releases/congressman-krishnamoorthi-hails-passage-2021-government-funding-and-covid-19", "Congressman Krishnamoorthi Hails Passage of the 2021 Government Funding And COVID-19 Stimulus Bill, Which Included His Priority Provisions", "2020-12-30", "2020", "2020-12", "Democrat", "Senate", "IL", "Raja Krishnamoorthi", "K000391", "krishnamoorthi.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "WASHINGTON, D.C.  Today, Congressman Krishnamoorthi hailed the $900 billion COVID-19 stimulus bill and the $1.4 trillion fiscal 2021 Appropriations bill that passed Congress and were signed into law by President Trump this week.\nI am thankful that Congress was able to negotiate a bipartisan COVID-19 stimulus package that will provide much needed relief to Americans across the country and that the 2021 omnibus spending bill was signed into law as well, which will allow our government agencies and services to continue operations uninterrupted, Congressman Raja Krishnamoorthi said. The country has been awaiting the passage of this crucial legislation, and I'm proud to have supported it.\nSome of the main provisions included in the COVID-19 Emergency Relief package include:\n Economic Impact Payments: $166 billion\n\t\tPayments of $600 for individuals making up to $75,000 per year, $1,200 for couples making up to $150,000 per year, and $600 payment for each child dependent.\n\t\t\n\tSmall Business: $325 billion\n\t\tProvides first and second forgivable PPP loans, dedicated set-asides for very small businesses and lending through community-based lenders like Community Development Financial Institutions and Minority Depository Institutions, and expanded PPP eligibility for 501(c)(6) nonprofits\n\t\t\tNew EIDL Grants for businesses in low-income communities, continued SBA debt relief payments, and enhancements to SBA lending.\n\t\t\n\tUnemployment Insurance: $120 billion\n\t\tProvides an additional $300 per week for all workers receiving unemployment benefits, through March 14, 2021.\n\t\t\tExtends the Pandemic Unemployment Assistance (PUA) program, with expanded coverage to the self-employed, gig workers, and others in nontraditional employment\n\t\t\tExtends the Pandemic Emergency Unemployment Compensation (PEUC) program, which provides additional weeks of federally-funded unemployment benefits to individuals who exhaust their regular state benefits.\n\t\t\n\tVaccines, Testing and Tracing, Community Health and Health Care Provider Support: $69 billion\n\tSchools: $82 billion\n\tRental Assistance For Landlords and Tenants: $25 billion\n\t\tEstablish emergency federal rental assistance program\n\t\t\tAn extension of the existing CDC eviction moratorium through January 31, 2021\n\t\t\n\tTransportation: $45 billion\n\t\tAirline payroll support and airline contractor payrolls\n\t\t\tFunding for transit, state highways, airports and airport concessionaires, private motorcoach, school bus, ferry industries, and Amtrak\n\t\t\n\tChild Care: $10 billion\n\t\tEmergency funds for Child Care Development Block Grants (CCDBG) program\n\t\t\tFunding for Head Start providers who serve low-income children and families\n\t\t\n\tNutrition and Agriculture: $26 billion\n\t\tIncreases SNAP benefits\n\t\t\tAllocates emergency funds for school and day care feeding programs\n\t\t\tDirect payments, purchases and loans to farmers and ranchers who have suffered losses due to the pandemic\n\t\t\n\tBroadband: $7 billion\n Provisions which Congressman Krishnamoorthi championed which were a part of the packages included:\n Extending the time period over which states and localities may spend aid from the Coronavirus Relief Fund (CRF)\n\tFunding for vaccine public service announcements and education in order to increase awareness of the safety and effectiveness of the COVID-19 vaccine to support universal inoculation\n\tIncreased funding for e-cigarette prevention programs to combat the youth vaping epidemic\n\tFunding programs to curb distracted driving to reduce motor vehicle injuries and deaths\n\tReestablishing a national council of educators, researchers, and security professionals to protect American technology and intellectual property from foreign adversaries and intelligence agencies\n\tDirecting the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) to finalize rules to ensure that car seats are properly tested for side-impact crashes.\n The COVID-19 pandemic has been a tragic public health crisis while creating a period of enormous hardship for millions of American families, said Congressman Raja Krishnamoorthi. With the passage of this package, we will be able to lend a helping hand to those families and small businesses in need while working to bring this epidemic to an end. Though this is a crucial step in our efforts, it must be far from the last.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://larson.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/larson-applauds-announcement-former-chief-staff-lee-slater-named-special", "Larson Applauds Announcement that Former Chief of Staff, Lee Slater, is Named as Special Assistant to President-elect Biden", "2020-12-30", "2020", "2020-12", "Democrat", "Senate", "CT", "John Larson", "L000557", "larson.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Hartford, CT  Today, Rep. John B. Larson (CT-01) applauded the announcement that his former Chief of Staff, Lee Slater, has been named as a Special Assistant to President-elect Biden.\nI am thrilled that Lee Slater as been named as a Special Assistant to President-elect Biden. I've had the pleasure of knowing Lee for more than a decade and having him as my Chief of Staff for nearly five years. Over the course of his career, Lee has earned the respect of members throughout the Caucus who turn to him for advice on the floor and in the Ways and Means Committee. Lee embodies what it means to be a public servant from his work in the House, his tours in Afghanistan and Iraq in the Army, and now onto the White House. I know Lee will serve President-elect Biden and the American people well, said Larson.\nSlater has served on Larson's staff from 2008 to 2017. He served as his Chief of Staff from March 2012 to January 2017. Since 2017, Slater has served Director of Outreach and Member Services for the Ways and Means Committee, on which Larson sits. He previously worked for Congressman Jason Altmire of Pennsylvania, and served in the United States Army Reserves, including deployments in support of Operation Enduring Freedom in Afghanistan and Operation Iraqi Freedom in Iraq. He earned his Bachelor's Degree in Political Science from the University of Pittsburgh.\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://larson.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/larson-presents-glastonbury-student-congressional-award-0", "Larson Presents Glastonbury Student with Congressional Award", "2020-12-30", "2020", "2020-12", "Democrat", "Senate", "CT", "John Larson", "L000557", "larson.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Hartford, CT - Today, Rep. John B. Larson (CT-01) presented Jay Srivastava, a student from Glastonbury, CT with a Bronze and Silver Congressional Award Medal.\nI'm honored to congratulate Jay and present him with the Bronze and Silver Congressional Award today. Jay has proven to be selfless and resilient. His dedication in continuing to challenge himself and his commitment to community service is inspiring to see in someone so young. I'm proud to have Jay in the First Congressional District. I am excited to see all the wonderful things he will continue to do in the future, said Larson.\nJay is receiving the Bronze and Silver Congressional Award medal for achieving his goals in voluntary public service, personal development, personal fitness, and expedition/exploration. To complete his Voluntary Public Service, Jay volunteered through the Civil Air Patrol (CAP) to serve his community and honor the service of our veterans. He also volunteered helping middle school children with their homework and Math and English work. Jay has also accomplished his personal goals by participating in aircraft build project to learn about aviation, improved his speed for the 5K, and took the lead on planning a family trip to Ecuador where he had to organize his return home when his trip was interrupted by the COVID19 pandemic.\nThe Congressional Award was established by Congress in 1979. It recognizes students who have committed to bettering and challenging themselves and to give back to their local communities.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://lee.house.gov/news/press-releases/coin-redesign-act-celebrating-prominent-american-women-and-others-passes-both-chambers-of-congress", "Coin Redesign Act Celebrating Prominent American Women and Others Passes Both Chambers of Congress", "2020-12-30", "2020", "2020-12", "Democrat", "House", "CA", "Barbara Lee", "L000551", "lee.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "12.30.20\n\t\t\t Coin Redesign Act Celebrating Prominent American Women and Others Passes Both Chambers of Congress \n\t\t\tWashington, D.C. Representatives Barbara Lee (D-CA), Anthony Gonzalez(R-OH), and Bonnie Watson Coleman (D-NJ) today joined Senators Catherine CortezMasto(D-NV) and Deb Fischer (R-NE)in celebrating the their bipartisan legislation, the Circulating Collectible Coin Redesign Act of 2020, passing both chambers of Congress.  \r\nH.R. 1923, the Circulating Collectible Coin Redesign Act of 2020 allows the Department of the Treasury and U.S. Mint to mint and issuenewquarter-dollar coins. The first series of quarters in this program commemorates the centennial of the ratification of the 19th Amendment granting some women the right to vote. The design on the reverse of those quarters will represent prominent American women in a range of fields, including but not limited to suffrage, civil rights, abolition, government, and humanities. This series will also include women from ethnically, racially, and geographically diverse backgrounds. \r\nThe 114th Congress created a United StatesSemiquincentennialCommission to facilitate activities in 2026 to commemorate the 250th anniversary of the founding of the United States. This bill allows for the issuance offivedifferent designs emblematic of the United States'Semiquincentennial, including one dedicated to the contributions made by women to our nation's founding or a monumental moment in American History.Additionally, from 2027-2030,quarter dollars willcommemorate sports played by American youthandhalf-dollar commemoratingParalympicsports. \r\nWomen have played a critical role in shaping this country since its founding but have often been excluded or gone unrecognized. This bill is an important step in recognizing the contributions women have made in furthering civil rights and making our country a more equitable place. This bill's passage also coincides with the centennial of the 19th Amendment which gave some women the right to vote,said Congresswoman Lee.When women gathered in Seneca Falls in July 1848, it was to give white women the right to vote  no Black women were invited to participate. As we commemorate women's suffrage and celebrate the first series of coins in the package to depict prominent American women, it is also my hope that diverse American women will be chosen and depicted, celebrating our nation's leaders, thinkers, and innovators.  \r\n\r\nSome of the greatest and most influential figures in our nation's history have been women, although these voices and stories have too often gone untold. In this centennial anniversary of the 19th Amendment, it is fitting that we take this opportunity to highlight the role women have played in shaping our great nation and ensure their inclusion in the fabric of our nation's story,said Congressman Gonzalez.I am excited to see this legislation head to the President's desk to be signed into law. \r\n\r\nI'm proud to see this legislation honoring the 100th anniversary of the 19th Amendment and recognizing the many American women who have contributed to the fight for suffrage and civil rights, science, government, and the arts pass the House of Representatives,said Senator CortezMasto.While our nation still has steps to take in honoring the right to vote for women of color, the 19th Amendment has firmly established every woman's right to vote for the last 100 years and has brought women into the halls of power across our country. And by ensuring that prominent women are featured in the U.S. Mint'sSemiquincentennial, we are recognizing our history and inspiring future generations of young women to dream big. From business boardrooms to research labs to state legislatures, like Nevada's first majority-women legislature, this bill recognizes the decades of contributions women have made and will make to our shared history. \r\nI am happy that we were able to work together in a bipartisan, bicameral way to pass this legislation,said Senator Fischer.These coins will pay tribute to the women heroes and trailblazers who have played a major role in our nation's history. Their leadership, stories, and sacrifices are going to inspire generations of women to come. \r\n\r\nAs a member of the U.S.SemiquinentennialCommission, I am thrilled to see us take steps to prepare for the celebration of our 250th Independence Day and especially excited to ensure that celebration includes not just the founding fathers we so often think of, but more diverse contributions made to our nation's founding. The inclusion of women is vital, and so it is fitting that we make sure a woman is included on the coins we'll circulate to mark the occasion,said Congresswoman Watson Coleman.For so long, we've allowed a pervasive narrative that women, Black, indigenous and other people of color are new to leading. The truth is, we've been doing it since the dawn of time, but with little recognition. With measures like these we pay a small amount of what's due and inspire everyone to dream big. \r\n\r\nSince our institution's founding in 1792, the men and women of the United States Mint have taken great pride in rendering the story of our nation in enduring examples of numismatic art,said United States Mint Director David J. Ryder.We look forward to honoring the many contributions of women in American history, as well as celebrating the 250thAnniversary of our Great Nation and the shared pastimes that are important to all of us.\r\n\r\n\"As we commemorate the Suffrage Centennial in 2020 and the 250th anniversary of our country's founding in 2026, I can't think of a better way of righting our history than to include historical American women,said Rosie Rios, 43rd Treasurer of the United States.I would like to thank Congresswoman Barbara Lee and her office for taking a leadership role in partnering to craft this legislation and continue the journey of having women represented on our currency and coins, something that is used every day around the world. By seeing ourselves honored and valued in our history, our daughters and sons can be inspired to also see their own future.\" \r\n\r\nThis bill will include the following package of coins: \r\n\r\n \r\nFrom 2022-2025, up to 5 quarters annually depicting prominent American women;\r\nIn 2026, up to 5 quarters commemorating the USSemiquincentennial(250th) anniversary,including one quarter design featuring women;\r\nAll circulating coins (obverse and reverse) will be redesigned for 2026 for the celebration;\r\nFrom 2027-2030, a series of 5 quarters annually honoring American youth sports and a half-dollar design depicting a sport in the Paralympics;\r\nGives authority for permission for the Mint to design and strike Olympic medals. \r\n \r\n\r\nThis year marks the 100th anniversary of the 19th Amendment, guaranteeing women's constitutional right to vote. 68 million women can vote today because of the work of the women's suffrage movement and this bill honors these efforts.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://luria.house.gov/media/press-releases/congresswoman-luria-votes-support-small-businesses-covid-19-relief-package", "Congresswoman Luria Votes to Support Small Businesses in COVID-19 Relief Package", "2020-12-30", "2020", "2020-12", "Democrat", "House", "VA", "Elaine Luria", "L000591", "luria.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "WASHINGTON, D.C. Today, Congresswoman Elaine Luria highlighted several small business wins within the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2021 and Emergency Coronavirus Relief package, which the President recently signed into law.\nI am glad the COVID relief package included significant aid for small businesses and our workforce during this challenging time,said Congresswoman Luria.Small businesses are the engines of our local economy, and they continue to experience catastrophic losses.This package will provide a lifeline to small business owners and help workers stay employed across Coastal Virginia and our nation.\nThis bipartisan, bicameral deal provides important funding and provisions for small businesses, including:\n $284 billion for a second round of the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) through March 31, 2021;\n\t$20 billion for emergency Economic Injury Disaster Loan grants and extension of the covered period for emergency EIDL grants to December 31, 2021;\n\t$15 billion in grants for eligible live event venue operators, an industry that has lost nearly 90% of their revenue;\n\tExpansion of expense eligibility under the PPP to include personal protective equipment and supplier costs;\n\tClarification that forgiven PPP expenses like rent and payroll are tax-deductible; and,\n\tModifications to the Employee Retention Tax Credit by increasing the credit rate from 50%-70%.\n As a former small business owner, Congresswoman Elaine Luria has been a staunch advocate for locally owned small businesses during this economic crisis. Previously, shevoted for the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act, which established the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP). Although the PPP was a necessary step to assist small business owners, it was not perfect, which is why the Congresswomanadvocated for bipartisan initiativesto allow business owners to use PPP loans over longer time periods, to provide flexibility for businesses struggling to meet the SBA's requirement that 75% of loan proceeds go toward payroll costs, and to increase the SBA's transparency.\nCongresswoman Elaine Luria represents Virginia's 2nd Congressional District. She serves on theHouse Armed Services Committee, where she is theVice Chair of the Seapower and Projection Forces Subcommittee, and theHouse Committee on Veterans' Affairs, where she serves asChair of the Disability Assistance and Memorial Affairs Subcommittee.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://maloney.house.gov/media-center/in-the-news/12-times-celebrities-fought-for-equal-pay-in-their-starring-roles", "12 times celebrities fought for equal pay in their starring roles", "2020-12-30", "2020", "2020-12", "Democrat", "Senate", "NY", "Carolyn Maloney", "M000087", "maloney.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "On January 1, 2018, spurred by the revelation of Harvey Weinstein's widespread sexual misconduct and the #MeToomovement, celebrities came together to protest sexual harassment and gender-based discrimination in Hollywood and beyond. They founded a movement of their own calledTime's Upto fight for safer workplaces and equal pay in the entertainment industry.\n\t\t\tEven before the Time's Up movement, women in Hollywood have spoken out about being paid less thantheir male co-stars. Sometimes, they have been able to negotiate fair compensation. Other times, they didn't even know they werebeing paid less until after the fact.\n\t\t\tHere are 12 times actors fought for the equal pay they deserved.\n\t\t\tEven after Patricia Arquette's viral Oscars acceptance speech, in which she called out America's gender pay gap, she told The Daily Beast that she's still offered less for her work than men.\n\t\t\tArquette's2015 Oscars acceptance speechgalvanised women everywhere to demand equal pay.\n\t\t\tTo every woman who gave birth, to every taxpayer and citizen of this nation, we have fought for everybody else's equal rights, it's our time to have wage equality once and for all, and equal rights for women in the United States of America,she said to thunderous applause.\n\t\t\tShe took her activism to Capitol Hill, as well. In 2016, Arquettemarked Equal Pay Day with Rep. Carolyn Maloney (D- NY)by highlighting the results of a Congressional report that found women make $US10,800 less per year than men. She also testified in front of the House Judiciary Constitution, Civil Rights and Civil Liberties Subcommittee about the Equal Rights Amendment in 2019.\n\t\t\tStill, Arquette finds herself fighting for equal pay in her acting work.\n\t\t\tI've walked away from several jobs because they were giving me really bullsh** deals that were really sh**** anddifferent from men in a really f***** up way, she told The Daily Beast in 2018.\n\t\t\t[...]", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://maloney.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/maloney-applauds-housing-and-rent-relief-provisions-in-covid-relief-and", "Maloney Applauds Housing and Rent Relief Provisions in COVID Relief and Omnibus Spending Bill", "2020-12-30", "2020", "2020-12", "Democrat", "Senate", "NY", "Carolyn Maloney", "M000087", "maloney.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Congresswoman Carolyn B. Maloney (D-NY), senior member of the House Financial Services Committee, today highlighted the importance of provisions in the COVID-19 relief and omnibus spending package to provide direct assistance to renters and extend the CDC's eviction moratorium.\n\nHousing is a human right and no New Yorker  no American  should be worried about keeping a roof over their head in the midst of a pandemic. In a city filled with renters, I am relieved that House Democrats were able to establish a $25 billion emergency rental assistance program to help renters pay their rent and utility bills. By providing this relief directly to renters, we are also making sure that small property owners can continue to cover their costs, including those necessary to ensure residents' health and safety.\n\nImportantly, on the federal level, we have extended the CDC's eviction moratorium until January 31, 2021  helping to ensure that millions of renters across America are not evicted while waiting to receive the additional assistance we are fighting for. I'm grateful that New York State also acted this week to extend our eviction mortarium for at least another 60 days.\n\nHouse Democrats were also able to secure $43.4 million in new, targeted vouchers to reduce homelessness among families with children, individuals, the unsheltered, veterans, and survivors of domestic violence. I am hopeful that we can build on these programs under the Biden-Harris Administration and ensure that housing is not a cause for concern during this unprecedented crisis.\n\nBackground\nCongresswoman Maloney secured a moratorium on all foreclosures and evictions from properties owned, insured, or overseen by Fannie Mae, Freddie Mac, the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), the Federal Housing Administration (FHA), the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA), and the Department of Agriculture (USDA) in March after making a request to these agencies, in which she was joined by 106 of her House colleagues.\n\nEmergency Rental Assistance Program\nEligible renters would be able to receive assistance with rent and utility payments, unpaid rent or utility bills that have accumulated since the beginning of the coronavirus pandemic, and other housing expenses that were incurred due, directly or indirectly, to the pandemic.\n\nEligible renters would also have access to services, such as case management and tenant-landlord mediation, to help them remain stably housed. A household may receive up to 12 months of assistance but may receive an additional three months of assistance only if it is necessary to ensure the household remain stably housed and funds are available.\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://mcbath.house.gov/press-releases?ID=D5591622-5DC2-41BC-BDE5-CA8FB264B275", "Rep. Lucy McBath Announces Winners of the 2020 Congressional App Challenge", "2020-12-30", "2020", "2020-12", "Democrat", "House", "GA", "Lucy McBath", "M001208", "mcbath.house.gov", "mcbath", "https://mcbath.house.gov/press-releases", "scraper", null, 0, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z"], ["https://mceachin.house.gov/media/press-releases/mceachin-blasts-gop-lawmakers-pledge-challenge-biden-victory-during-congress", "McEachin Blasts GOP Lawmakers for Pledge to Challenge Biden Victory During Congress Certification", "2020-12-30", "2020", "2020-12", "Democrat", "House", "VA", "A. McEachin", "M001200", "mceachin.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "WASHINGTON, D.C.Congressman A. Donald McEachin (VA-04)today released the following statement afterPolitico reportedthat Sen. Josh Hawley (MI-R) pledged to challenge President-elect Joe Biden's victory in Pennsylvania and possibly other states on Jan. 6, when Congress is set to certify the results of the 2020 election:\n\n\"After multiple recounts, state certifications and the Electoral College vote, it is reckless and disrespectful to American voters that a U.S. Senator is entertaining challenging the results of a free and fair election,\"said Congressman McEachin.\"Even Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell has congratulated President-elect Biden and Vice President-elect Harris on their victory in November. The American people have spoken It is time for Senator Hawley and his Republican colleagues to put what's best for our country ahead of their personal politics and end this wanton obstruction of a peaceful transfer of power to the duly-elected Biden-Harris administration.\"", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://mcnerney.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/rep-mcnerney-announces-2020-congressional-app-challenge-winner", "Rep. McNerney Announces 2020 Congressional App Challenge Winner", "2020-12-30", "2020", "2020-12", "Democrat", "Senate", "CA", "Jerry McNerney", "M001166", "mcnerney.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Stockton, CA  Today, Congressman Jerry McNerney (CA-09) announced that the winner of the 2020 Congressional App Challenge for the 9th Congressional District is Mountain House High School student, Advithi Kethidi. Advithi's app, HourShop, enables students to receive community service hours and help those in need.\nAdvithi came up with the idea for her app during the COVID-19 pandemic, when she realized the danger and difficulty high-risk populations encounter when running typical errands, such as getting groceries. She also found that students were being deprived of the opportunities to collect volunteer hours because of stay-at-home orders. Advithi designed her app as a solution for both of these situations: to provide an efficient way for students to earn community service hours during the pandemic while allowing high-risk individuals and families to stay home and stay safe.\nThe promise of technology and this generation's acute familiarity with these tools opens a world of possibilities to address our most pressing issues, while also presenting people with new opportunities, said Congressman McNerney. Advithi saw a need in our community  one that many are currently facing  and she designed a solution to not only connect people, but to provide a new way to give back. That is the beauty of technology: it can be harnessed to expand access to much needed services and revolutionize how members of our community engage with one another. I commend her for her thoughtfulness and hard work throughout the development of this award-winning app.\nThe Congressional App Challenge is a nationwide competition intended to engage students' creativity and encourage their participation in STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math) fields. Students compete with peers by creating and exhibiting their software application for web, PC, tablet, mobile, raspberry Pi or any other platform of their choice. The contest was open to all middle school and high school students who reside in California's 9th Congressional District.\nYou can watch Advithi's explanation of her app here: https://youtu.be/LK70vsb424g\n###\nRep. Jerry McNerney proudly serves the constituents of California's 9th Congressional District that includes portions of San Joaquin, Contra Costa, and Sacramento Counties. For more information on Rep. McNerney's work, follow him on Facebook and on Twitter @RepMcNerney.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://meng.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/meng-helps-make-co-ops-and-condos-eligible-for-coronavirus-relief-funds", "Meng Helps Make Co-ops Eligible for Coronavirus Relief Funds", "2020-12-30", "2020", "2020-12", "Democrat", "Senate", "NY", "Grace Meng", "M001188", "meng.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "QUEENS, NY  U.S. Rep. Grace Meng (D-Queens) announced today that she helped make housing co-ops and condominiums eligible to participate in the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP), which is the Small Business Administration's (SBA) signature coronavirus relief initiative to assist struggling small businesses during the national health crisis. This change was included in the $900 billion coronavirus relief package that was signed into law on December 27.\nIn March, the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act created PPP which provides forgivable loans provided certain conditions are met, but SBA subsequently rendered housing co-ops and condominiums ineligible to participate in the program. Since then, Meng worked with her congressional colleagues and the President's Co-op & Condo Councilto reverse this omission.\nFinancial relief is finally available to housing co-ops and condominiums in Queens who have faced declining revenues and increasing costs during COVID-19. I am relieved that they will soon be able to participate in the Paycheck Protection Program and get the assistance they need, said Meng. COVID-19 has placed an unprecedented strain on the over 100,000 affordable cooperative and condominium housing units in New York City alone. Leaving out co-ops and condominiums from PPP was a disservice to them despite their economic hardship. I was proud to press the Administration on this issue, and to help secure language in the Heroes Act and Heroes Act 2.0, which passed the House in May and October, respectively. While the Senate Republicans needlessly held up for months any relief for working families, I am glad that we finally secured eligibility for co-ops and condos in the recent coronavirus relief package. Cooperatives remain a critical source of affordable housing for Queens and New York families and they must be made whole in the midst of this unprecedented public health and economic crises. Opening up the PPP to these entities will give them this lifeline. I want to thank my congressional colleagues and the President's Co-op & Condo Council for their partnership on this issue. I encourage all to apply once the program resumes, and I will continue to push for more assistance to help families and workers in Queens in the coming months.\nThe inclusion of Coops eligibility for forgivable PPP loans in the Stimulus Package will have a profound impact on the Coop community. The many Coop groups partnering with Congresswoman Meng on this important issue was a model of how good government is supposed to work, said Geoffrey Mazel, Esq., Legal Advisor, President's Coop & Condo Council (PCCC).\nIn April, Meng and Suozzi led Members of the New York congressional delegation in a letter to Treasury Secretary Mnuchin and SBA Administrator Carranza urging them to make co-ops and condominiums eligible to participate in PPP.\nIn May, Meng along with Senator Schumer, Reps. Velzquez and Engel, and other New York lawmakers called on SBA to clarify guidance on PPP eligibility for co-ops and condominiums.\nThe House passed the Heroes Act in May and the updated Heroes Act 2.0 in October that expanded PPP eligibility to include co-ops and condominiums.\nPPP provides forgivable loans if 60 percent is used for payroll and 40 percent is used for non-payroll expenses like rent, mortgage interest payments, or utilities. The program closed on August 8 despite over $130 billion remaining.\nThe $900 billion coronavirus relief measure reopens PPP and expands eligible expenses to also include personal protective equipment, supplier costs, and business operations software and human resources needs.\n# # #", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://meng.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/meng-helps-make-housing-co-ops-eligible-for-coronavirus-relief-funds", "Meng Helps Make Housing Co-ops Eligible for Coronavirus Relief Funds", "2020-12-30", "2020", "2020-12", "Democrat", "House", "NY", "Grace Meng", "M001188", "meng.house.gov", "meng", "https://meng.house.gov/media-center/press-releases", "scraper", "QUEENS, NY \u2013 U.S. Rep. Grace Meng (D-Queens) announced today that she helped make housing cooperatives eligible to participate in the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP), which is the Small Business Administration's (SBA) signature coronavirus relief initiative to assist struggling small businesses during the national health crisis. This change was included in the $900 billion coronavirus relief package that was signed into law on December 27.\n\nIn March, the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act created PPP which provides forgivable loans provided certain conditions are met, but SBA subsequently rendered housing co-ops ineligible to participate in the program. Since then, Meng worked with her congressional colleagues and the President's Co-op & Condo Council to reverse this omission.\n\n\"Financial relief is finally available to housing cooperatives in Queens that have faced declining revenues and increasing costs during COVID-19. I am relieved that they will soon be able to participate in the Paycheck Protection Program and get the assistance they need,\" said Meng. \"COVID-19 has placed an unprecedented strain on the affordable cooperative housing units in New York City alone. Leaving out co-ops from PPP was a disservice to them despite their economic hardship. I was proud to press the Administration on this issue, and to help secure language in the Heroes Act and Heroes Act 2.0, which passed the House in May and October, respectively. While the Senate Republicans needlessly held up for months any relief for working families, I am glad that we finally secured eligibility for co-ops in the recent coronavirus relief package. Cooperatives remain a critical source of affordable housing for Queens and New York families and they must be made whole in the midst of this unprecedented public health and economic crises. Opening up the PPP to these entities will give them this lifeline. I want to thank my congressional colleagues and the President's Co-op & Condo Council for their partnership on this issue. I encourage all to apply once the program resumes, and I will continue to push for more assistance to help families and workers in Queens in the coming months.\"\n\n\"NCBA CLUSA greatly appreciates the leadership of Congresswoman Meng to provide much needed certainty for housing cooperatives to participate in the Paycheck Protection Program,\" said Doug O'Brien, President and CEO of the National Cooperative Business Association CLUSA International. \"Housing co-ops, like all cooperatives, are businesses owned and controlled by their member owners. Like other small businesses weathering the ongoing impacts of the pandemic, these co-ops keep employees on payroll for critical ongoing operations such as maintenance, safety, and other essential needs vital to the member-owners. The co-op community is grateful for leaders in Congress like Congresswoman Meng, who understands the important role that housing co-ops play in their communities and the local economy. We applaud the efforts of Congresswoman Meng who, alongside members of the NY delegation including Chairwoman Vel\u00e1zquez and Leader Schumer, have tirelessly worked on this issues since the Paycheck Protection Program launched in April.\"\n\n\"The inclusion of co-ops eligibility for forgivable PPP loans in the stimulus package will have a profound impact on the co-op community. The many co-op groups partnering with Congresswoman Meng on this important issue was a model of how good government is supposed to work,\" said Geoffrey Mazel, Esq., Legal Advisor, President's Co-op & Condo Council (PCCC).\n\nIn April, Meng and Rep. Suozzi led members of the New York congressional delegation in a letter to Treasury Secretary Mnuchin and SBA Administrator Carranza urging them to make co-ops and condominiums eligible to participate in PPP.\n\nIn May, Meng along with Senator Schumer, Reps. Vel\u00e1zquez and Engel, and other New York lawmakers called on SBA to clarify guidance on PPP eligibility for co-ops.\n\nThe House passed the Heroes Act in May and the updated Heroes Act 2.0 in October that expanded PPP eligibility to include co-ops.\n\nPPP provides forgivable loans if 60 percent is used for payroll and 40 percent is used for non-payroll expenses like rent, mortgage interest payments, or utilities. The program closed on August 8 despite over $130 billion remaining.\n\nThe $900 billion coronavirus relief measure reopens PPP and expands eligible expenses to also include personal protective equipment, supplier costs, and business operations software and human resources needs.", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-06-28T00:42:23Z"], ["https://ohalleran.house.gov/newsroom/in-the-news/blue-dogs-urge-biden-prioritize-bipartisan-legislation-pandemic-response", "Blue Dogs Urge Biden to Prioritize Bipartisan Legislation for Pandemic Response, Recovery", "2020-12-30", "2020", "2020-12", "Democrat", "House", "AZ", "Tom O'Halleran", "O000171", "ohalleran.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "WASHINGTON  Members of the Democratic Blue Dog Coalition sent a letter to President-elect Joe Biden Tuesday requesting that he prioritize bipartisan legislation dealing with novel coronavirus pandemic response and recovery.\nThe letter highlighted the coalition's policy priorities for the 117th Congressional session, including fiscal responsibility, pandemic crisis relief, job creation, government reform and holding foreign adversaries accountable, according to the text of the letter.\nWe firmly believe that in order to make lasting progress, Congress must pursue bipartisan policies that can be implemented, while prioritizing those that pertain to the pandemic response and the economic recovery, the text of the letter read. The American people have sent a clear message: Democrats and Republicans must govern together responsibly.\nThe letter was signed by all members of Blue Dog Coalition, listed as follows: Reps. Stephanie Murphy, D-Fla., Tom O'Halleran, D-Ariz., Lou Correa, D-Calif., Anthony Brindisi, D-N.Y., Kurt Schrader, D-Ore., Sanford Bishop, D-Ga., Ed Case, D-Hawaii, Henry Cuellar, D-Texas, Charlie Crist, D-Fla., Jared Golden, D-Maine, Vicente Gonzalez, D-Texas, Josh Gottheimer, D-N.J., Brad Schneider, D-Ill., Mikie Sherrill, D-N.J., and Mike Thompson, D-Calif.\nIn the letter, the coalition requests that any COVID-19 crisis relief measures signed by Biden contain stronger oversight measures to ensure taxpayer dollars are going to the right places. Further, the coalition noted the need for Congress to take measures to reform the redistricting process, strengthen inspectors general, increase federal transparency and incentivize Congress to pass budget and appropriations bills punctually.\nTo build upon already-passed coronavirus relief legislation, the coalition requested that any new bills pertaining to pandemic response include significant investments in health care, clean energy, education, job training, small businesses, manufacturing and infrastructure in order to sustain middle-class growth in the long-term.\nAdditionally, the Blue Dogs' letter addressed the unsustainable fiscal path taken to swiftly address pandemic relief during the 116th Congressional session. The coalition seeks to tackle the ballooning national debt by exclusively pursuing balanced, bipartisan measures in any upcoming relief measures.\nThe 117th Congress is going to be narrowly divided, with a slim Democratic majority in the House, and, at best, a narrow Senate majority, the text of the letter continued. Our nation faces major challenges as we emerge from the COVID-19 pandemic, and Americans are sick of Congress playing partisan games. Pursuing partisan legislation that cannot make it to your desk for your signature will not only hinder our nation's recovery, it will further feed into the divides in our country. Now more than ever we must demonstrate to the American people that cooler heads can prevail and that government can indeed work for all Americans.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://pelosi.house.gov/news/press-releases/pelosi-announces-creation-of-select-committee-on-economic-disparity-fairness-in", "Pelosi Announces Creation of Select Committee on Economic Disparity & Fairness in Growth", "2020-12-30", "2020", "2020-12", "Democrat", "Senate", "CA", "Nancy Pelosi", "P000197", "pelosi.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Contact: Speaker's Press Office,\n202-226-7616\n\nWashington, D.C.  Speaker Nancy Pelosi issued this statement announcing the creation in the 117th Congress of the new Select Committee on Economic Disparity and Fairness in Growth:\n\nAs House Speaker, I am proud to announce the creation of the new, bipartisan Select Committee on Economic Disparity and Fairness in Growth, which will be an essential force in Congressional Democrats' action to combat the crisis of income and wealth disparity in America. It is molded after the mission of the Temporary National Economic Committee, founded by President Roosevelt and the Congress after the Great Depression to study and combat the concentration of wealth in America and its role in triggering economic collapse.\n\nAs President Roosevelt said before founding this Committee, The liberty of a democracy is not safe if the people tolerate the growth of private power to a point where it becomes stronger than their democratic state itself the liberty of a democracy is not safe if its business system does not provide employment and produce and distribute goods in such a way as to sustain an acceptable standard of living.'\n\nThe past several decades have shown with devastating clarity the marked imbalance between the financial fortunes of CEOs and workers. The reverence of those who amass profits by stagnating wages has seriously undermined the lives and livelihoods of many Americans, while slowing economic growth in our country. This year, the disturbing, dangerous trend of economic disparity has also been accelerated by the coronavirus economic crisis.\n\nThe devaluing of work has had a negative impact on consumer confidence, job creation and economic growth. And the situation of families no longer believing that their children will have a brighter future than they is seriously damaging and demoralizing to our society.\n\nThat is why we are creating this Select Committee, which will be a resource to the Congress to make policy related to economic fairness, access to education and workforce development. Working with the Committees of Jurisdiction, the Select Committee will study and recommend proposals to make our economy work for everyone, powering American economic growth while ensuring that no one is left out or left behind in the 21st Century Economy.\n\n# # #", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://pelosi.house.gov/news/press-releases/transcript-of-pelosi-weekly-press-conference-today-90", "Transcript of Pelosi Weekly Press Conference Today", "2020-12-30", "2020", "2020-12", "Democrat", "Senate", "CA", "Nancy Pelosi", "P000197", "pelosi.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Contact: Speaker's Press Office,\n202-226-7616\n\nWashington, D.C.  Speaker Nancy Pelosi held her weekly press conference today in the Capitol Visitor Center. Below are the Speaker's remarks:\n\nSpeaker Pelosi. Good morning. Welcome to the last weekly of this year  of this year, of this session of Congress and of this Congress. Until next week, when we'll be in a new Congress. I wish you a Happy New Year as we go forward.\n\nSadly, the Congress received the news last evening of the passing of a new Member of Congress, Luke Letlow from Louisiana, due to be sworn in this Sunday, but taken by the coronavirus yesterday. He leaves his wife and two babies, and we extend great sympathy to his family. So sad. Forty-one years old, coronavirus, blood clot complication. Could happen to anyone. And it has happened to nearly 350,000 Americans.\n\nMany of those deaths could have been avoided. As we go forward, we must, we must make sure that we are scientific and determined to crush the virus in whatever form it takes. In the meantime, though, let us extend deepest sympathy to their family and to to those little babies who have lost their daddy.\n\nSo, here we are in time, as I mentioned, the last meeting of the year for us. Let's just talk about the last week or so. In the last week or so, we sent to the President the legislation, it took some time for it to be enrolled because it was a lot  a big bill. He received it on Christmas Eve, 3:30 in the afternoon. He did sign it on Sunday evening and we were very pleased with that because it had very strong bipartisan vote in the House and in the Senate.\n\nIn the course of, though, of that week, the President announced his support for the $2,000 direct payment, which we madly embraced, and said, We join with the President in supporting this,' came in on Christmas Eve, were blocked by the Republicans for having a Unanimous Consent to bill  bring up that legislation. But on Monday, in regular session, we brought it forth and it passed with strong bipartisan support. We were very pleased then to send that over to Mitch McConnell and the Senate.\n\nThe President of the United States has expressed his support for the $2,000. The Democrats and Republicans in the House have passed that legislation. Who is holding up that distribution to the American people? Mitch McConnell and the Senate Republicans.\n\nDemocratic Leader Schumer, yesterday, asked for Unanimous Consent to bring it up in the Senate, which was blocked by Mitch McConnell and the Republicans in the Senate. In blocking it, they are in denial of the hardship that the American people are experiencing now. Health wise, financially, in every way. Their lives and livelihood in many cases are on the brink. So, they're in denial of that need in denying this benefit.\n\nI do hope that in the days ahead  we only have a few days left in this session  that they will see the light and understand what the suffering  the suffering that is going on in our country.\n\nNow, I've said before, it's amazing to see the patience that some people have with other people's suffering. These Republicans in the Senate seem to have an endless tolerance for other people's sadness. We urge Mitch McConnell to stop his obstruction and to bring that legislation to the Floor of the Senate. And we urge Republicans in the Senate to encourage him to do so.\n\nIt's really important to note though how important this money in the pockets of American people are. If they have the resources, they spend it. They inject demand into the economy. That is job-creating. It's important to note that with the bill that we passed last week, that the President signed  that we sent over last week and that the President signed on Sunday evening, brought us up to a, nearly a trillion dollars for small businesses in our country  a trillion and just about $950 billion, and we support that. We know that small businesses are the lifeblood of our economy. The most optimistic thing you can do is to start a small business, your hopes and dreams, your ideas, your vision.\n\nBut for those small businesses to take advantage of that money, they have to have customers. It's not enough to keep the doors open if nobody's walking through. And that's why these direct payments are so necessary.\n\nAnd for those small businesses to thrive, they must have services provided by state and local government. Our health care providers, our heroes: health care providers, transportation, sanitation, first responders, police and fire, our teachers, our teachers, our teachers. And that's why in this next session of Congress, in the new Congress with the new President, we must pass legislation that not only honors our heroes, but recognizes the services that they provide enable our lives to function, our businesses to thrive, our economy to prosper and our people to be healthy. So, that will be a very important part of what we do next.\n\nBut you would think that there would at least be the immediate recognition that the money in the pockets of the American people helps those small businesses thrive. Just for  I've had the poster here before. It's a bigger number now than before: about $950 billion, nearly a trillion dollars to small business. $160 billion, $160 billion to state and local government. 950, 160. State and local government: health care workers, police and fire, teachers, sanitation, transportation, food workers. 160, 950.\n\nBut we need more here to exploit the opportunity that is here. And, in the meantime, this $2,000 will go a long way, not only to sustain the financial security of America's working families, but will help small business to thrive as well. So, these things are all connected\n\nAt the same time, as we had a good day on Monday passing, in bipartisan fashion, the CASH Act. The CASH Act, Caring for Americans with Supplemental Help  Caring for Americans with Supplemental [Help], the CASH Act. We also, that day, had an overwhelming vote to override the President's veto of the National Defense Authorization Act, the NDAA. Overwhelming, overwhelming vote: [322]-87. One hundred and nine Republicans voted to override the President's veto. We hope that the Senate will follow suit. They had a big, strong vote in the Senate in favor of this bill. Hopefully, they will stand by their votes there and sustain the veto, excuse me, overturn the veto of the President. We'll see. Okay, so that's what happened in the past week.\n\nIn the past week, we have also seen reports of the vaccine distribution not measuring up to what we need to have a fair, equitable distribution of the vaccine that is free. I support what President-elect Joe Biden said yesterday, that in his Administration, the 100 million vaccinations in a short period of time, that he would engage the national Defense Production Act to make sure that we not only have the vaccines, but the means to make the inoculation. It's one thing to be in the lab, another thing to be in the arm.\n\nThere's a lot in between in terms of logistics, in terms of administration, in terms of materials. And one of the things that is holding up the further vaccinations in the country is this Administration, the Trump Administration's lack of cooperation on the distribution of syringes and other things that go into that, and holding up some of the vaccine as well.\n\nSo, this has to be done better. This has to be done better. And let's hope in the last few weeks of the Trump Administration, that they will follow the science, that they will make the vaccines available, that they will make the syringes and other materials available, so that you can have many more people vaccinated even before the inauguration.\n\nThis vaccine  this pandemic is horrible. I mean, in every way, the lives and livelihoods of the American people are affected by it in a massive way. However, it has also pulled back the curtain to reveal further disparities in our economy and in our society. They have become  come into sharper focus because of the pandemic. And that is why I have asked the Rules Committee that we will be taking up the new rules package on Monday, or Sunday night if the schedule allows, but following the vote for Speaker, I will have them announce in the next day or so, when they put forth the rules package, a Select Committee on Economic Disparity and Fairness in Growth.\n\nAs we go into this new Congress, we have to have a scientific start on crushing the virus. We have to honor heroes, state and local government, and we have to put money into the pockets of the American people. Hopefully, we can do this on this side of the weekend, rather than waiting until later, the third point, direct payments. That has always been our goal: crush the virus, honor our heroes, money in the pockets of the American people.\n\nClearly, the disparities in income and equity in our country are vast. We've known that. They've only gotten worse, and the pandemic, again, puts it in sharper focus. And that's why I'm proud to announce the creation of a new bipartisan Select Committee on Economic Disparity and Fairness in Growth, which will be a central force for the Congress to combat the crisis of income and wealth disparity in America.\n\nOur Members are full of exuberance and many suggestions, on both sides of the aisle. Yesterday, some proposed to me, $2,000 a month as this  as we go through this bad time. Others, Congresswoman Jayapal, has a wage guarantee legislation. Others have, Congresswoman Murphy, has the income  the [Employee] Retention Tax Credit, which is in  which is in the bills that the President just signed, somewhat.\n\nBut there are others: sovereign wealth funds to give the profit  the benefit  the income to poor families in America, other bonding issues to try to address the fact that the middle class is the backbone of our democracy. When that is weakened, so is our democracy. So, this is to address not only the middle class, but those who aspire to the middle class. But the disparity has only grown and so I, as a model for this, as you may recall, when we did Mr. Clyburn's committee, we used the Truman Committee as a reference to how to save money, save lives.\n\nThis is something that  it's modeled after the mission of the Temporary National Economic Committee founded by President Roosevelt and the Congress after the Great Depression to study and combat the concentration of wealth in America and its role in triggering economic collapse. This is what President Roosevelt said at the time. He said, The liberty of a democracy is not safe if the people tolerate the growth of private power to a point where it becomes stronger than their democratic state itself the liberty of a democracy is not safe if its business system does not provide employment and produce and distribute goods in a way as to sustain an acceptable standard of living.'\n\nThat is why we are creating this Select Committee, which will be a resource to the Congress to make policy related to economic fairness, access to education and workforce development, et cetera. And, again, we'll work with the committees of jurisdiction. This is not a legislative committee. It is a committee to make recommendations. The committees of jurisdiction, have all done a great job, our Education and Labor Committee, Ways and Means Committee, Energy and Commerce Committee, Financial Services, the list  they have done a great job in trying to address these concerns legislatively. We need a bigger spotlight on the problem, and on some of the solutions so that we can all participate in the very worthy suggestions that are made. And again, we will empower American economic growth, while ensuring that no one is left behind in the 21st century economy that we are putting forth.\n\nSo, we have a  we're very excited about our new President-elect, and that in three weeks, we will have a new president. It's pretty exciting, President and Vice President making history, that we have the gavel, that we have held the Congress. We look forward to what's happening in Georgia on Tuesday. So, every day is action packed. But I just wanted to review some of what happened in the past week to take us to this point.\n\nThis point, $2,000 direct payment to the American people being held up by Mitch McConnell, the same person who put $160 billion tax break for the wealthiest people and firms in America in the CARES Act. $160 billion in the CARES Act for the wealthiest in our country, refusing $2,000 to those who need it most, the same Republicans in the Congress who eagerly passed the tax bill that gave 83 percent of the benefits to the top one percent, taking us well into debt. Nearly $2 trillion for our children to pay off so that they could have a tax break for the wealthy with a mythology that it would trickle down. And it has not, nor has it ever. Mitch McConnell, remove the obstacle that you have the American people having the opportunity to have that direct payment, and do it now.\n\n* * *\n\nAny questions? Yes ma'am.\n\nQ: Madam Speaker, do you plan to seat Ms. Miller-Meeks on Sunday, and are you confident that you're going to have a Dem Majority present?\n\nSpeaker Pelosi. Yes, and yes, definitely. Yes.\n\nQ: On the stimulus checks, we're hearing on the Senate side that time is running out. Are you going to commit to bringing this idea back, the $2,000 checks, next week if it does die in this Congress?\n\nSpeaker Pelosi. Well, let us  let us be hopeful that it can happen this week, because the sooner it happens, the sooner the checks go out. So, we're not giving up on it. The President of the United States, Donald Trump, is advocating for it. The Congress, in a bipartisan way in the House, has voted for it. It would have bipartisan support in the Senate if Mitch McConnell would only allow it to come to the Floor, instead of being an obstruction to those checks going to the American people.\n\nQ: One additional question, we're just hearing from Josh Hawley that he's going to object on January 6th and force a debate on Electoral College votes. Could you comment on that move from the Republican?\n\nSpeaker Pelosi. I have no doubt that on next Wednesday, a week from today, that Joe Biden will be confirmed by the acceptance of the vote of the Electoral College as the 46th President of the United States.\n\nYes, ma'am.\n\nQ: Madam Speaker, an overview from you: you've kept your Caucus together with a fighting spirit this year through very hard times. Did the events of 2020 help keep your Caucus cohesion? And secondly, what are your thoughts on a slimmer Majority next year, next week?\n\nSpeaker Pelosi. Well, we are very excited about having won the House. We have the gavel, the Speaker's gavel. We also have 132 other gavels of chairs and subcommittees, and they are again, many of them in the hands, this past term of Freshmen and newer Members of Congress. And we're excited about that. Eighteen Freshmen had gavels, that was historic. There has been nothing even close to that before.\n\nThe  I have every confidence. Our Caucus is unified around our common ethical belief in our responsibility to America's working families. That's what brings us together. Of course, we have our differences in approach, and some other ideas. And that's our vitality. I would not want to be a leader of a party that was rubber stamp, lockstep. That's called Republicans. We, the Democratic Party, are democratic in every way, including respecting the views of all in our Caucus.\n\nSo, I have  I have great confidence that on an agenda that is there for America's working families, we will have the unity that we need to proceed under the leadership of Joe Biden, Kamala Harris, the Biden-Harris Administration, and hopefully with the Democratic Senate. We'll see what next week brings.\n\nOkay, thank you all. Thank you all very much.\n\n# # #", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://pelosi.house.gov/news/press-releases/transcript-of-pelosi-weekly-press-conference-today-91", "Transcript of Pelosi Weekly Press Conference Today", "2020-12-30", "2020", "2020-12", "Democrat", "Senate", "CA", "Nancy Pelosi", "P000197", "pelosi.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Contact: Speaker's Press Office,\n202-226-7616\n\nWashington, D.C.  Speaker Nancy Pelosi held her weekly press conference today in the Capitol Visitor Center. Below are the Speaker's remarks:\n\nSpeaker Pelosi. Good morning. Welcome to the last weekly of this year  of this year, of this session of Congress and of this Congress. Until next week, when we'll be in a new Congress. I wish you a Happy New Year as we go forward.\n\nSadly, the Congress received the news last evening of the passing of a new Member of Congress, Luke Letlow from Louisiana, due to be sworn in this Sunday, but taken by the coronavirus yesterday. He leaves his wife and two babies, and we extend great sympathy to his family. So sad. Forty-one years old, coronavirus, blood clot complication. Could happen to anyone. And it has happened to nearly 350,000 Americans.\n\nMany of those deaths could have been avoided. As we go forward, we must, we must make sure that we are scientific and determined to crush the virus in whatever form it takes. In the meantime, though, let us extend deepest sympathy to their family and to to those little babies who have lost their daddy.\n\nSo, here we are in time, as I mentioned, the last meeting of the year for us. Let's just talk about the last week or so. In the last week or so, we sent to the President the legislation, it took some time for it to be enrolled because it was a lot  a big bill. He received it on Christmas Eve, 3:30 in the afternoon. He did sign it on Sunday evening and we were very pleased with that because it had very strong bipartisan vote in the House and in the Senate.\n\nIn the course of, though, of that week, the President announced his support for the $2,000 direct payment, which we madly embraced, and said, We join with the President in supporting this,' came in on Christmas Eve, were blocked by the Republicans for having a Unanimous Consent to bill  bring up that legislation. But on Monday, in regular session, we brought it forth and it passed with strong bipartisan support. We were very pleased then to send that over to Mitch McConnell and the Senate.\n\nThe President of the United States has expressed his support for the $2,000. The Democrats and Republicans in the House have passed that legislation. Who is holding up that distribution to the American people? Mitch McConnell and the Senate Republicans.\n\nDemocratic Leader Schumer, yesterday, asked for Unanimous Consent to bring it up in the Senate, which was blocked by Mitch McConnell and the Republicans in the Senate. In blocking it, they are in denial of the hardship that the American people are experiencing now. Health wise, financially, in every way. Their lives and livelihood in many cases are on the brink. So, they're in denial of that need in denying this benefit.\n\nI do hope that in the days ahead  we only have a few days left in this session  that they will see the light and understand what the suffering  the suffering that is going on in our country.\n\nNow, I've said before, it's amazing to see the patience that some people have with other people's suffering. These Republicans in the Senate seem to have an endless tolerance for other people's sadness. We urge Mitch McConnell to stop his obstruction and to bring that legislation to the Floor of the Senate. And we urge Republicans in the Senate to encourage him to do so.\n\nIt's really important to note though how important this money in the pockets of American people are. If they have the resources, they spend it. They inject demand into the economy. That is job-creating. It's important to note that with the bill that we passed last week, that the President signed  that we sent over last week and that the President signed on Sunday evening, brought us up to a, nearly a trillion dollars for small businesses in our country  a trillion and just about $950 billion, and we support that. We know that small businesses are the lifeblood of our economy. The most optimistic thing you can do is to start a small business, your hopes and dreams, your ideas, your vision.\n\nBut for those small businesses to take advantage of that money, they have to have customers. It's not enough to keep the doors open if nobody's walking through. And that's why these direct payments are so necessary.\n\nAnd for those small businesses to thrive, they must have services provided by state and local government. Our health care providers, our heroes: health care providers, transportation, sanitation, first responders, police and fire, our teachers, our teachers, our teachers. And that's why in this next session of Congress, in the new Congress with the new President, we must pass legislation that not only honors our heroes, but recognizes the services that they provide enable our lives to function, our businesses to thrive, our economy to prosper and our people to be healthy. So, that will be a very important part of what we do next.\n\nBut you would think that there would at least be the immediate recognition that the money in the pockets of the American people helps those small businesses thrive. Just for  I've had the poster here before. It's a bigger number now than before: about $950 billion, nearly a trillion dollars to small business. $160 billion, $160 billion to state and local government. 950, 160. State and local government: health care workers, police and fire, teachers, sanitation, transportation, food workers. 160, 950.\n\nBut we need more here to exploit the opportunity that is here. And, in the meantime, this $2,000 will go a long way, not only to sustain the financial security of America's working families, but will help small business to thrive as well. So, these things are all connected\n\nAt the same time, as we had a good day on Monday passing, in bipartisan fashion, the CASH Act. The CASH Act, Caring for Americans with Supplemental Help  Caring for Americans with Supplemental [Help], the CASH Act. We also, that day, had an overwhelming vote to override the President's veto of the National Defense Authorization Act, the NDAA. Overwhelming, overwhelming vote: [322]-87. One hundred and nine Republicans voted to override the President's veto. We hope that the Senate will follow suit. They had a big, strong vote in the Senate in favor of this bill. Hopefully, they will stand by their votes there and sustain the veto, excuse me, overturn the veto of the President. We'll see. Okay, so that's what happened in the past week.\n\nIn the past week, we have also seen reports of the vaccine distribution not measuring up to what we need to have a fair, equitable distribution of the vaccine that is free. I support what President-elect Joe Biden said yesterday, that in his Administration, the 100 million vaccinations in a short period of time, that he would engage the national Defense Production Act to make sure that we not only have the vaccines, but the means to make the inoculation. It's one thing to be in the lab, another thing to be in the arm.\n\nThere's a lot in between in terms of logistics, in terms of administration, in terms of materials. And one of the things that is holding up the further vaccinations in the country is this Administration, the Trump Administration's lack of cooperation on the distribution of syringes and other things that go into that, and holding up some of the vaccine as well.\n\nSo, this has to be done better. This has to be done better. And let's hope in the last few weeks of the Trump Administration, that they will follow the science, that they will make the vaccines available, that they will make the syringes and other materials available, so that you can have many more people vaccinated even before the inauguration.\n\nThis vaccine  this pandemic is horrible. I mean, in every way, the lives and livelihoods of the American people are affected by it in a massive way. However, it has also pulled back the curtain to reveal further disparities in our economy and in our society. They have become  come into sharper focus because of the pandemic. And that is why I have asked the Rules Committee that we will be taking up the new rules package on Monday, or Sunday night if the schedule allows, but following the vote for Speaker, I will have them announce in the next day or so, when they put forth the rules package, a Select Committee on Economic Disparity and Fairness in Growth.\n\nAs we go into this new Congress, we have to have a scientific start on crushing the virus. We have to honor heroes, state and local government, and we have to put money into the pockets of the American people. Hopefully, we can do this on this side of the weekend, rather than waiting until later, the third point, direct payments. That has always been our goal: crush the virus, honor our heroes, money in the pockets of the American people.\n\nClearly, the disparities in income and equity in our country are vast. We've known that. They've only gotten worse, and the pandemic, again, puts it in sharper focus. And that's why I'm proud to announce the creation of a new bipartisan Select Committee on Economic Disparity and Fairness in Growth, which will be a central force for the Congress to combat the crisis of income and wealth disparity in America.\n\nOur Members are full of exuberance and many suggestions, on both sides of the aisle. Yesterday, some proposed to me, $2,000 a month as this  as we go through this bad time. Others, Congresswoman Jayapal, has a wage guarantee legislation. Others have, Congresswoman Murphy, has the income  the [Employee] Retention Tax Credit, which is in  which is in the bills that the President just signed, somewhat.\n\nBut there are others: sovereign wealth funds to give the profit  the benefit  the income to poor families in America, other bonding issues to try to address the fact that the middle class is the backbone of our democracy. When that is weakened, so is our democracy. So, this is to address not only the middle class, but those who aspire to the middle class. But the disparity has only grown and so I, as a model for this, as you may recall, when we did Mr. Clyburn's committee, we used the Truman Committee as a reference to how to save money, save lives.\n\nThis is something that  it's modeled after the mission of the Temporary National Economic Committee founded by President Roosevelt and the Congress after the Great Depression to study and combat the concentration of wealth in America and its role in triggering economic collapse. This is what President Roosevelt said at the time. He said, The liberty of a democracy is not safe if the people tolerate the growth of private power to a point where it becomes stronger than their democratic state itself the liberty of a democracy is not safe if its business system does not provide employment and produce and distribute goods in a way as to sustain an acceptable standard of living.'\n\nThat is why we are creating this Select Committee, which will be a resource to the Congress to make policy related to economic fairness, access to education and workforce development, et cetera. And, again, we'll work with the committees of jurisdiction. This is not a legislative committee. It is a committee to make recommendations. The committees of jurisdiction, have all done a great job, our Education and Labor Committee, Ways and Means Committee, Energy and Commerce Committee, Financial Services, the list  they have done a great job in trying to address these concerns legislatively. We need a bigger spotlight on the problem, and on some of the solutions so that we can all participate in the very worthy suggestions that are made. And again, we will empower American economic growth, while ensuring that no one is left behind in the 21st century economy that we are putting forth.\n\nSo, we have a  we're very excited about our new President-elect, and that in three weeks, we will have a new president. It's pretty exciting, President and Vice President making history, that we have the gavel, that we have held the Congress. We look forward to what's happening in Georgia on Tuesday. So, every day is action packed. But I just wanted to review some of what happened in the past week to take us to this point.\n\nThis point, $2,000 direct payment to the American people being held up by Mitch McConnell, the same person who put $160 billion tax break for the wealthiest people and firms in America in the CARES Act. $160 billion in the CARES Act for the wealthiest in our country, refusing $2,000 to those who need it most, the same Republicans in the Congress who eagerly passed the tax bill that gave 83 percent of the benefits to the top one percent, taking us well into debt. Nearly $2 trillion for our children to pay off so that they could have a tax break for the wealthy with a mythology that it would trickle down. And it has not, nor has it ever. Mitch McConnell, remove the obstacle that you have the American people having the opportunity to have that direct payment, and do it now.\n\n* * *\n\nAny questions? Yes ma'am.\n\nQ: Madam Speaker, do you plan to seat Ms. Miller-Meeks on Sunday, and are you confident that you're going to have a Dem Majority present?\n\nSpeaker Pelosi. Yes, and yes, definitely. Yes.\n\nQ: On the stimulus checks, we're hearing on the Senate side that time is running out. Are you going to commit to bringing this idea back, the $2,000 checks, next week if it does die in this Congress?\n\nSpeaker Pelosi. Well, let us  let us be hopeful that it can happen this week, because the sooner it happens, the sooner the checks go out. So, we're not giving up on it. The President of the United States, Donald Trump, is advocating for it. The Congress, in a bipartisan way in the House, has voted for it. It would have bipartisan support in the Senate if Mitch McConnell would only allow it to come to the Floor, instead of being an obstruction to those checks going to the American people.\n\nQ: One additional question, we're just hearing from Josh Hawley that he's going to object on January 6th and force a debate on Electoral College votes. Could you comment on that move from the Republican?\n\nSpeaker Pelosi. I have no doubt that on next Wednesday, a week from today, that Joe Biden will be confirmed by the acceptance of the vote of the Electoral College as the 46th President of the United States.\n\nYes, ma'am.\n\nQ: Madam Speaker, an overview from you: you've kept your Caucus together with a fighting spirit this year through very hard times. Did the events of 2020 help keep your Caucus cohesion? And secondly, what are your thoughts on a slimmer Majority next year, next week?\n\nSpeaker Pelosi. Well, we are very excited about having won the House. We have the gavel, the Speaker's gavel. We also have 132 other gavels of chairs and subcommittees, and they are again, many of them in the hands, this past term of Freshmen and newer Members of Congress. And we're excited about that. Eighteen Freshmen had gavels, that was historic. There has been nothing even close to that before.\n\nThe  I have every confidence. Our Caucus is unified around our common ethical belief in our responsibility to America's working families. That's what brings us together. Of course, we have our differences in approach, and some other ideas. And that's our vitality. I would not want to be a leader of a party that was rubber stamp, lockstep. That's called Republicans. We, the Democratic Party, are democratic in every way, including respecting the views of all in our Caucus.\n\nSo, I have  I have great confidence that on an agenda that is there for America's working families, we will have the unity that we need to proceed under the leadership of Joe Biden, Kamala Harris, the Biden-Harris Administration, and hopefully with the Democratic Senate. We'll see what next week brings.\n\nOkay, thank you all. Thank you all very much.\n\n# # #", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://plaskett.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=3728", "CONGRESSWOMAN STACEY E. PLASKETT ANNOUNCES $17 MILLION GRANT FROM FEMA FOR THE VIRGIN ISLAND TERRITORIAL EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT AGENCY", "2020-12-30", "2020", "2020-12", "Democrat", "House", "VI", "Stacey Plaskett", "P000610", "plaskett.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "For Immediate Release Contact: Michael J. McQuerry  \r\nDecember 30, 2020 202-215-8524\r\nPRESS STATEMENT\r\nCONGRESSWOMAN STACEY E. PLASKETT ANNOUNCES $17 MILLION GRANT FROM FEMA FOR THE VIRGIN ISLAND TERRITORIAL EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT AGENCY\r\nWashington, D.C.  Congresswoman Stacey E. Plaskett released the following statement regarding a grant totaling $17 million for the Virgin Islands Territorial Emergency Management Agency:\r\nToday, I am pleased to announce a grant from the U.S. Department of Homeland Security's Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA). The grant is for $17,417,560.24 in federal funding to the Virgin Islands Territorial Emergency Management Agency for state management costs. State Management costs, which essentially cover the costs of managing or administering the programs which are not covered by the percentage allowance, include all other direct grant administration costs' of the grantee. These costs generally represent regular time salaries and approved equipment purchases and are not intended to fund overtime, per diem, and other costs already covered by statutory administrative costs.\r\nThis important grant will benefit the Virgin Islands tremendously with our ongoing rebuilding efforts and making the Virgin Islands whole again. The United States government and the international community has an obligation to work with the affected local governments to restore infrastructure, provide critical humanitarian assistance, and help rebuild our islands.\r\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://raskin.house.gov/media/press-releases/raskin-recognizes-40-local-heroes-2020-announces-local-hero-year", "Raskin Recognizes 40 Local Heroes in 2020, Announces Local Hero of the Year", "2020-12-30", "2020", "2020-12", "Democrat", "Senate", "MD", "Jamie Raskin", "R000606", "raskin.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "ROCKVILLE, M.D. This year, Congressman Jamie Raskin (MD-08) launched a weekly video series featuring Marylanders across the 8thDistrict who are acting creatively and bravely to help others through the coronavirus crisis.Today, he honors the 40 constituents that he recognized as2020 Local Heroesover the course of the year. He is also proud to announce theLocal Hero of the Year: everyone in the 8th District and beyond for their exemplary resilience and solidarity in a challenging year.\nSince April 2020, Rep. Raskin has highlighted 8thDistrict Local Heroes every week for their critical efforts to support Maryland during this time of public health crisis and upheaval. He has interviewed a wide range of community members, including medical professionals; first responders; frontline workers such as letter carriers, grocery store clerks, and bus drivers; small business owners and more. To view all of Rep. Raskin's 2020 Local Heroes, clickhere. To view a video playlist of all of Rep. Raskin's interviews with Local Heroes, clickhere.\nI'm grateful beyond measure to be representing the remarkable people of Montgomery, Frederick and Carroll Counties who we have honored this year,said Rep. Jamie Raskin.From doctors and nurses to frontline workers and teachers, from firefighters and postal personnel to students and champions of human rights, my constituents have shown great vision, unyielding service and exemplary dedication to our community and nation in this year of trial and dread. Whether tending to sick patients through the night, delivering food to the hungry or standing up against corruption and tyranny, these local heroes have helped us surpass the challenges of COVID-19 in extraordinary ways. I look forward to continuing this video series in 2021 and working with our people to see our country and state through the end of the pandemic.\nAs the nation and the Administration carry the fight against the coronavirus into the new year, Rep. Raskin will continue recognizing and honoring 8thDistrict Local Heroes in 2021. To nominate a Local Hero, clickhere.\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://ruiz.house.gov/media-center/e-newsletters/dr-ruiz-celebrates-2019-and-looks-ahead-2020", "Dr. Ruiz Celebrates 2019 and Looks Ahead to the New Year", "2020-12-30", "2020", "2020-12", "Democrat", "House", "CA", "Raul Ruiz", "R000599", "ruiz.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "I am thrilled with all that we have accomplished this year tolower out-of-pocket health care costs,stand up for our veteransand law enforcement officers, and advocate for our seniors!\nAs we look ahead to 2020, we must continue to build on what we've accomplished. Here are some of the reasons why I'm celebrating 2019:\n We cut through the red tape:Our office helped close more than 500 constituent cases to help our friends, families, and neighbors get the benefits they deserve and secure more than $2 million from Social Security, Medicare, the VA, and the IRS.\n\t\t\n\tWe stood up for our veterans:The president has signed into law two of my provisions to address our military's use of toxic burn pits. My bill, the Burn Pits Registry Enhancement Act passed the House earlier this year, andmy two amendments included in this year's NDAAwere signed into law just this month.\n\t\t\n\tWe fought for humanity at our borders:The House passed my bill, theHumanitarian Standards for Individuals in CBP Custody Act, to restore humanity to our treatment of migrants under CBP's custody and responsibility.\n\t\t\n\tWe supported local law enforcement:With local law enforcement collaboration, my amendment to this year's Consolidated Appropriations Act more than doubled our nation's funding for mental health services for law enforcement agencies.\n\t\t\n\tWe stood up against abuse of taxpayer dollars:My legislation, thePublic Service Integrity Act, wouldensure our elected officials never use their office to enrich themselves and passed thepassed the House as part of theFor the People Act.\n I hope you had an outstanding 2019, and I wish you peace and prosperity in 2020!\nI look forward to continuing to work hard next year to lower health care costs,grow our local economy with American jobs, and strengthen our critical infrastructure.\nSincerely, Raul Ruiz, M.D.  Member of Congress", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://ruiz.house.gov/media-center/e-newsletters/dr-ruiz-looks-back-2020", "Dr. Ruiz Looks Back on 2020", "2020-12-30", "2020", "2020-12", "Democrat", "House", "CA", "Raul Ruiz", "R000599", "ruiz.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Dear Friends,\n\nAs we look back on what a year 2020 has been, it's important to remember the good things that give us joy and hope for the future. Today, I'm reflecting on all that we have overcome and achieved this past year, and looking forward to what 2021 will bring.\n\nYear in Review: Looking Back on the 116th Congress\nThis Congress, we made incredible progress for our veterans, helped expand access to crucial health care services, and helped grow American jobs. Here are just a few legislative wins from the 116th Congress:\n The Medicaid Services Investment and Accountability Act became law.This bill will strengthen the Medicaid program for children with complex medical needs, seniors, and people with disabilities.\n\tThe Easy Medication Access and Treatment for Opioid Addiction Act became law.This legislation will fight the opioid epidemic by helping patients begintheir road to recovery, increase access to care, and save lives.\n\tThe Beneficiary Enrollment Notification and Eligibility Simplification (BENES) Actbecame law. Language from my bill, the BENES Act, was signed into law to help reduce gaps in coverage for seniors who sign up for Medicare Part B.\n As your representative, I am committed to helping you cut through the red tape. I am thrilled my office helped over 1,200 constituents resolve their cases with federal agencies this year. Clickhereto learn more about real results for seniors, veterans, and CA-36 residents.\nI am ready to take on 2021  a year that promises to bring new opportunities, obstacles, and hope. Join me as I continue our look back on the year by following my posts onFacebook,Twitter, andInstagramusing #YearInReview.\nI wish you and your family a happy holiday season, and I look forward to serving you in the New Year and the 117th Congress!\nSincerely,    \n\tRaul Ruiz, M.D.  \n\tMember of Congress\n\nIn Case You Missed It:\n Are you a CA-36 resident interested in serving in the Biden-Harris Administration? Find out how to applyhere.\n\tHave questions about the COVID-19 vaccine?Here's what you need to know.\n\tIf you have a background in health care, California needs your help battling COVID-19. Find out about joining the California Health Corpshere.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://trahan.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=1922", "Congresswoman Lori Trahan Issues End of Term Report", "2020-12-30", "2020", "2020-12", "Democrat", "House", "MA", "Lori Trahan", "T000482", "trahan.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "LOWELL, MA Today,Congresswoman Lori Trahan (MA-03)released her term in review report detailing key victories she secured for residents of Massachusetts' Third District during her first two years in Congress.\r\nWhen I took office in January 2019, it was with the promise that the concerns of hardworking families across Massachusetts' Third District would always come first,Congresswoman Trahan said. Each day, that promise drives my work in the U.S. Capitol and in our community. As this report details, we've accomplished a tremendous amount over the past two years. However, there is still much work to be done, and I look forward to continuing to deliver for Massachusetts families, workers, and small businesses as we navigate this pandemic and beyond.\r\nThe report details Congresswoman Trahan's first term by the numbers, including a breakdown of her accessibility to constituents, her team's ability to successfully assist folks in need of help with a federal agency, and her performance on key legislative scorecards. It also lists solutions Trahan prioritized in response to problems experienced by folks she represents, including addressing COVID-19, strengthening education, tackling the opioid crisis, protecting the environment, and more.\r\n  \r\nThe report can be accessed by clickingHERE. ###", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://wassermanschultz.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=2555", "Wasserman Schultz on Reauthorization, Increased Funding of the EARLY Act", "2020-12-30", "2020", "2020-12", "Democrat", "House", "FL", "Debbie Wasserman Schultz", "W000797", "wassermanschultz.house.gov", "wassermanschultz", "https://wassermanschultz.house.gov/news/documentquery.aspx", "scraper", "Washington DC \u2013 U.S. Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz (FL-23) released the following statement after her legislation, the Education and Awareness Requires Learning Young Act, or EARLY Act Reauthorization of 2020, became law this week with the President\u2019s signing of the larger government spending and COVID-19 relief package:\n\n\u201cFor young women and those of certain ethnic and racial populations, breast cancer can be even more deadly because it is often more aggressive and too frequently caught later than it should be. The EARLY Act of 2020, which reauthorizes the law that I sponsored and passed in 2010 after overcoming my own battle with breast cancer, increases funding and ensures that young women\u2019s breast health awareness, education and grant programs are funded through the EARLY Act at an increased level of $9 million annually from 2022 through 2026. This vital funding will expand the effective Bring Your Brave and Health Care Provider education and awareness programs implemented by the Centers for Disease Control and fund additional grants to young women\u2019s and higher risk women\u2019s breast cancer organizations. By reauthorizing the EARLY Act, we continue the vital work of educating young and higher risk women about their breast health and help focus their attention to this deadly disease. Among other things, this legislation will fund grants and support initiatives educate and provide help to young and high-risk women, collect family histories and educate health care providers. I know first-hand this law and funding is needed, because I was a young woman who was unaware of my risk and after my breast cancer diagnosis at 41, was diagnosed with the BRCA2 gene mutation. Today, I am still cancer-free because my cancer and my genetic risk were caught early and I am committed to helping high risk and young women acquire the knowledge and resources they need to not just survive, but thrive. The earlier that cancer cases are identified, the better the chances of survival. That is just what the EARLY Act will continue to do: save women\u2019s lives.\u201d", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-06-28T00:42:23Z"], ["https://www.brown.senate.gov/newsroom/press/release/brown-senate-floor-2000-direct-payments-ohioans", "Brown Takes to Senate Floor to Demand Swift Senate Action on $2,000 Direct Payments for Ohioans", "2020-12-30", "2020", "2020-12", "Democrat", "House", "OH", "Sherrod Brown", "B000944", "www.brown.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Download Production Quality Video HERE WASHINGTON, D.C.  Today, U.S. Senator Sherrod Brown (D-OH) took to the Senate floor as he continues to call for a quick Senate vote on increasing direct payments to Ohioans struggling amid the COVID-19 pandemic from $600 to $2,000. The House passed legislation on Monday increasing the amount to $2,000, and the legislation has the support of Senators in both parties and President Trump. Brown is calling on Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY) to take quick action on the House-passed legislation. It's pretty simple: the best way to help Ohio workers and families is to put more money in their pockets  not in the bank accounts of the largest corporations and the biggest banks, hoping it will trickle down. We need to invest directly in the people who make this country work, said Brown. Brown's remarks, as prepared for delivery can be found below:  There is one simple question before the Senate this week: are we going to put more money in people's pockets? The American people made it clear in this election that they want a government that's on their side. This is our chance to deliver for them  to show the people we serve that we can make a real difference in their lives. It's pretty simple: the best way to help Ohio workers and families is to put more money in their pockets  not in the bank accounts of the largest corporations and the biggest banks, hoping it will trickle down. We know it never does. CEOs just pay themselves instead. We need to invest directly in the people who make this country work. It helps people pay the bills, stay in their homes, and get through this downturn. And it injects money into local economies that desperately need it  the more money people have, the more they can spend at small businesses that are hurting right now. We know this works  it did in the spring. We came together, across the aisle, and we passed the CARES Act, with expanded UI and direct stimulus checks. We kept 13 million people out of poverty, and we gave millions more peace of mind, with a bit of a cushion to weather this crisis. The bill we passed last week was a good step in that direction  but we can make it even stronger. Back in March, my original plan called for bigger checks for more people  $2,000 per person, adults and children. And we called for them to be sent automatically throughout the year, every quarter, as long as we remained in a public health emergency. It's clear now, that's what we should have done  no one could predict how long this crisis would last, and today, we still aren't certain when everyone will be vaccinated and when the economy will return to full strength. We don't have to sit idly by and wonder how bad it could get. We are the strongest, richest country on earth  we have the resources to do something about it. We just need leadership willing to use every tool we have. If they refuse to support this, Leader McConnell and Senate Republicans will make it painfully clear for the American people whose side they're on. They had no problem pouring money into corporations' coffers with their tax cut, and blowing up the deficit. They were all too happy to let the government shovel loans to the biggest banks and companies. But in the middle of the worst crisis of our lifetimes, faced with the chance to give money directly to ordinary Americans, they claim we can't afford it. That's a lie. Again, we are the richest country on earth. I remember what the economist Bill Spriggs told the Banking and Housing Committee in September  we didn't win WWII by worrying about whether or not we could afford it. We were in a global crisis and we marshalled all of our vast resources and talent to rise to meet it  and then we grew the economy from the middle class out, and we paid down the debt with rising wages. And if we've learned anything from this crisis, it should be that we can do the same again. Americans are tired of being told we can't. That's the only answer Leader McConnell and Congressional Republicans ever have for most people's problems  we can't help you, we can't solve problems, you're on your own. Let's aim higher. Let's deliver for the people we serve. Let's put $2,000 in their pockets  money that will make such a difference for so many families. It will help a mother worried about how she'll pay back rent. It will keep a laid-off restaurant worker from turning to a payday lender. It will allow a father to buy a new computer, so his kids are better able to learn online. There are millions of real people  people we swore an oath to serve  who would breathe a little easier this New Years, if we pass this. So let's be very clear about the decision before the Senate: are you going to give the people you serve $2,000, or are you going to stand in the way? It's that simple. Let's come together, let's pass this, and let's make a real difference in people's lives. ###", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://www.brown.senate.gov/newsroom/press/release/portman-brown-bipartisan-legislation-rename-nasas-plum-brook-station-test-facility-neil-armstrong", "Portman, Brown Announce Bipartisan Legislation to Rename NASAs Plum Brook Station Test Facility After Neil Armstrong Signed Into Law", "2020-12-30", "2020", "2020-12", "Democrat", "House", "OH", "Sherrod Brown", "B000944", "www.brown.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "WASHINGTON, DC  Today, U.S. Senators Rob Portman (R-OH) and Sherrod Brown (D-OH) announced that President Trump has signed into law their bipartisan legislation to rename NASA's Plum Brook Station, the agency's test facility in Sandusky, Ohio, after Neil Armstrong. Portman and Brown introduced the legislation last year. Plum Brook is part of the NASA Glenn Research Center. Ithouses unique world-class facilities that conduct critical and innovative ground tests for the international aerospace community. From his service as a Navy fighter pilot, to his courageous experiments as a test pilot, to his space exploration and first step on the surface of the Moon, Neil Armstrong left an indelible mark in mankind's history of flight.In all his accomplishments, he considered himself first and foremost a test pilot who pushed the boundaries of what was possible in the air and in space, Senator Portman said. Neil was a humble and patriotic Ohioan who believed the honor of serving his country was a reward in and of itself. That's why, when I asked him the year before he passed away whether he wanted me to pursue naming Plum Brook after him, he demurred. But he was a strong supporter of Plum Brook Station and the important simulations and testing being done there, and I believe it is precisely because of his humility, coupled with his unparalleled accomplishments, that the renaming is appropriate.In consultation with his family and NASA, Senator Brown and I introduced this legislation last year and I applaud President Trump for signing this legislation into law as a fitting tribute to Armstrongs amazing accomplishments in air and in space. Before Neil Armstrong became the first person to step foot on the moon, he was an up-and-coming test pilot in northeast Ohio at what is now known as the NASA John H. Glenn Research Center. I'm pleased to join Sen. Portman in honoring Ohio-native Neil Armstrong by renaming NASA Glenn's Plum Brook Station in Sandusky for a man who inspires future Ohioans to continue our state's tradition of breaking barriers in space,said Senator Brown, who nowoccupiesthe late Ohio Senator and astronaut John Glenn's old office in Washington, DC. NOTE: In July of 2019, in advance of the 50th anniversary of the Apollo 11 moon landing, Portman and Brown announced their intention to rename the facility. Prior to the 50th anniversary of the Apollo 11 moon landing, Portman paid tribute to his friend, Ohio-native Neil Armstrong in a video, as well as on the Senate floor. In August of 2019, Portman accompanied NASA Administrator Jim Bridenstine in a visit to NASA's Glenn Research Center at Lewis Field in Cleveland and Plum Brook Station in Sandusky to view progress on the agency's Artemis Program -- its multi-year plan to return American astronauts to the Moon and eventually send manned missions to Mars. ###", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://www.carper.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/2020/12/carper-celebrates-the-50th-anniversary-of-the-clean-air-act", "Carper Celebrates the 50th Anniversary of the Clean Air Act", "2020-12-30", "2020", "2020-12", "Democrat", "Senate", "DE", "Thomas Carper", "C000174", "www.carper.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "WILMINGTON, Del.  Today, U.S. Senator Tom Carper (D-Del.), top Democrat on the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee, released the following statement to commemorate the 50th anniversary of the Clean Air Act on December 31, 2020. Signed into law in 1970, the Clean Air Act created a national framework to reduce pollution and improve air quality, entrusting the Environmental Protection Agency with leading efforts to ensure everyone in this country has clean air to breathe. For fifty years, this landmark law has ushered in dramatic improvements in air quality. It has saved hundreds of thousands of lives from deadly air pollution while improving the health of millions more. During that same time, our economy has expanded and more than tripled its gross domestic product while EPA has worked with states and businesses alike to dramatically reduce harmful emissions. The progress made under the Clean Air Act is proof that improvements in public health and environmental quality goes hand in hand with economic growth and job creation. In fact, the benefits of the Clean Air Act outweigh its costs by a margin of 30 to one. This sweeping law will continue to endure because its regulations can adapt and evolve with the latest science to help us meet the most pressing air quality challenges of our day. For example, advances in science continue to elucidate the link between air pollution and human health. As our country continues to suffer from the scourge of the coronavirus pandemic, research shows that stronger safeguards for clean air can protect people from pollution that is causing more severe and even deadlier cases of COVID-19. Stronger Clean Air Act regulations can help us better protect public health. As our nation reckons with decades of systemic racism, stronger air protections can also help us address the air pollution that is disproportionately harming communities of color and reinforcing unjust disparities in health and environmental quality. Stronger Clean Air Act regulations can help us further the cause of environmental justice and, finally, fifty years later, make good on the promise of ensuring clean air for everyone in this country.\r\n Over the last fifty years, the Clean Air Act has helped our nation confront some of the toughest problems impeding our efforts to protect clean air  issues like interstate pollution, which was once considered too complex and complicated to address. Fortunately, the flexible framework provided by the Clean Air Act gives EPA the tools and authorities it needs to address complicated problems, which is why the law will be critical in the fight against the climate crisis. Through the clear authorities of the Clean Air Act, EPA will be able to lead the nation in our nationwide transition to a clean economy. On this special anniversary, we are reminded that our work to ensure clean air for everyone is far from over, but we are also reminded to be hopeful. In 1970, the gigantic strides in air quality we have made over the last fifty years would have seemed daunting, perhaps even unfeasible. But by working together  Democrats and Republicans, the environmental community and industry, the federal government and states  we achieved monumental progress that once seemed impossible. With the Clean Air Act as our guide, we can continue that progress.\r\n\r\n\r\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://www.coons.senate.gov/news/press-releases/senator-coons-returns-to-washington-to-override-ndaa-veto", "Senator Coons returns to Washington to override NDAA veto", "2020-12-30", "2020", "2020-12", "Democrat", "House", "DE", "Christopher Coons", "C001088", "www.coons.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "WILMINGTON, Del.  U.S. Sen. Chris Coons (D-Del.), a\r\nmember of the Senate Appropriations and Foreign Relations Committees, returned\r\nto Washington today for a vote to override President Donald Trump's veto of the\r\nNational\r\nDefense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2021. \"I expect we will override President Trump's veto of\r\nthe military bill,\" Sen. Coons said, \"which means several good things\r\nfor Delawareans and the country writ large including a pay increase for our\r\ntroops and more investment in cybersecurity, both steps that we should be taking\r\nto reward the sacrifice of our military and keep our country safe.\" The override of a\r\nveto, the process by which each chamber of Congress votes for\r\na second time on a bill rejected by the president, requires a two-thirds vote\r\nin each the Senate and House of Representatives. Congress has historically overridden fewer than\r\n10% of all presidential vetoes. The Senate is scheduled to convene and resume consideration of\r\nthe veto message on the NDAA for FY21 at noon tomorrow. The final override will\r\nget a vote sometime in the next few days. To check the Senate's schedule and watch live floor proceedings,\r\nvisit www.senate.gov/floor/.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://www.durbin.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/durbin-calls-on-mcconnell-to-bring-2000-direct-payment-measure-to-the-floor-for-a-vote", "Durbin Calls on McConnell to Bring $2,000 Direct Payment Measure to the Floor for a Vote", "2020-12-30", "2020", "2020-12", "Democrat", "House", "IL", "Richard Durbin", "D000563", "www.durbin.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "12.30.20\n\t\t\t Durbin Calls on McConnell to Bring $2,000 Direct Payment Measure to the Floor for a Vote \n\t\t\t\n\t\t\tWASHINGTON  In a speech on the Senate floor, U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) today called on Senate Republicans to support the House-passed CASH Act, a measure that would increase direct payments from $600 to $2,000 for individuals earning less than $75,000 per year. The measure passed the House yesterday by a vote of 275-134, with 44 House Republicans supporting the bill. Durbin also spoke about his frustration with President Donald Trump's delay in signing the final COVID-19 emergency relief package, which passed Congress last week.\r\nUnfortunately, the President delayed in signing the bill and creating needless uncertainty in America, particularly among the unemployed and others suffering from this economic and health crisis,Durbin said. One of the most widely discussed measures of the COVID-19 relief bill was the second round of economic impact payments. Just yesterday, the House of Representatives passed the CASH Act the head of the Federal Reserve, Chairman Powell, has really instructed us to keep the foot on the accelerator so that our economy doesn't slump into a recession. At a time when so many American families are laid off, unemployed, and simply struggling to get by, there is nothing more invigorating to the economy than to have a cash infusion.\r\nDurbin continued,By passing this enhanced measure, we could restore the American public's confidence in Washington, and the fact that we are listening and working together on a bipartisan basis to respond. This measure that passed the House of Representatives has the support of the President, Speaker Pelosi, House Democrats, as well as many House Republicans. Leader Schumer and my Senate Democratic colleagues support it. So I hope Senator McConnell, the Republican Leader, and his colleagues in the Republican caucus will join us to pass this bill quickly this week.\r\nIn his speech on the Senate floor, Durbin also reiterated his disappointment that funding for state and local governments was not included in the final COVID-19 emergency relief package.\r\nOne of the most important items that Congress failed to reach an agreement on was funding for state and local governments. States and localities are struggling due to increased costs and decreased revenues due to the pandemic. By this summer, my home state of Illinois will have lost more than $5 billion in revenues. I can tell you that that's going to cause pain and cutbacks,Durbin said. I certainly hope that the next President, who will be sworn in on January 20, will take this up as one of his highest priorities.\r\nVideo of Durbin's remarks on the Senate floor isavailablehere.\r\nAudio of Durbin's remarks on the Senate floor is availablehere.\r\nFootage of Durbin's remarks on the Senate floor is availableherefor TV Stations.\r\n-30-\r\n\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\n\t   \n\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t \n\t\t\n\t\t\tPrint\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\tEmail\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\tTweet\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\n\t \n\t\n\t\n\n \n\t\n    \n   \n    \n    \t\n    \t\n\t    \t  \n\t\t    \n\t\t    \tPrevious Article\n\t\t    \n\t\t    \n\t\t    \tNext Article", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://www.gillibrand.senate.gov//news/press/release/schumer-gillibrand-announce-over-22-million-in-federal-funding-for-northwell-health-incs-covid-19-response-and-emergency-management", "Schumer, Gillibrand Announce Over $22 Million In Federal Funding For Northwell Health Inc.\u2019s COVID-19 Response And Emergency Management", "2020-12-30", "2020", "2020-12", "Democrat", "House", "NY", "Kirsten Gillibrand", "G000555", "www.gillibrand.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "December 30, 2020\n\t\t\t Schumer, Gillibrand Announce Over $22 Million In Federal Funding For Northwell Health Inc.'s COVID-19 Response And Emergency Management \n\t\t\t\n\t\t\tU.S. Senate Minority Leader Charles E. Schumer and U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand today announced $22,207,274.93 in federal funding forNorthwellHealth Inc. in New York City. The funding was allocated through the U.S. Department of Homeland Security's Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) and will be used to coverprevious COVID-19 response and operational costs. Specifically, the funding will be used tocover the costs of cleaning suppliesfor facility sanitization,medical supplies and PPE includingmasks, gloves, gowns, coveralls, face shields, shoe covers and testing supplies.\r\n\r\nI'm proud to deliver these vital federal funds to help cover the massive costs of increased protective measures needed to safely care for COVID-19 patients throughout the pandemic,saidSenator Schumer. We must continue to support our local hospitals and health centers as we work to mitigate the spread of coronavirus and recover from this health and economic crisis. I will continue to prioritize the safety of our healthcare workers and facilities when fighting for federal funding.\r\n\r\nNew York City's frontline workers, hospitals, and health centers continue to be stretched thin by the surge of COVID-19 cases and need immediate federal aid,saidSenator Gillibrand.This federal funding will provideNorthwellHealth Inc. with the PPE and equipment needed to increase the safety of both patients and providers, and help mitigate further spread of COVID-19. I'm proud to fight for funding that will help New York's health care professionals keep our communities safe during this unprecedented health crisis. \r\nNorthwellHealth, Inc. is New York's largest healthcare provider, employing over 74,000 employees in over 800 hospitals and healthcare centers.NorthwellHealth Inc. played a critical role in executing New York State's COVID-19 testing plan early in the pandemic and has provided resources and support including medical supply distribution, medical care for management control, and reduction of immediate threats to public health and safety. This Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) funding is authorized under Section 403 of the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act.\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\n\t  \n\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t \n\t\t\n\t\t\tPrint\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\tEmail\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\tTweet\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\n\t \n\t\n\t\n\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n    \n\t\n\t\n    \n    \n    \n    \t\n    \t\n\t    \t  \n\t\t    \n\t\t    \tNext Article\n\t\t    \n\t\t    \n\t\t    \tPrevious Article", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://www.manchin.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/manchin-votes-to-move-forward-to-override-president-trumps-veto-of-defense-bill", "Manchin Votes To Move Forward To Override President Trump's Veto Of Defense Bill", "2020-12-30", "2020", "2020-12", "Democrat", "House", "WV", "Joe Manchin", "M001183", "www.manchin.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "December 30, 2020\n\t\t\t Manchin Votes To Move Forward To Override President Trump's Veto Of Defense Bill \n\t\t\t\n\t\t\tWashington,\r\nDC  U.S. Senator Joe Manchin (D-WV) voted to move forward in the process to\r\noverride President Trump's veto of the Fiscal Year (FY) 2021 National Defense\r\nAuthorization Act (NDAA). The Senate voted 80-12 in favor of moving forward in\r\nthe process to override President Trump's veto. Senator Manchin condemned\r\nPresident Trump's reckless decision to veto the vital legislation last week. \r\n\r\n\r\n\r\nThis evening, the Senate overwhelmingly voted\r\nto move forward in the process to override President Trump's reckless and\r\nselfish veto of the FY21 NDAA. This is the first\r\nstep in ensuring our servicemembers receive the support they need to\r\nprotect America from threats at home and abroad. The NDAA has passed with\r\noverwhelming bipartisan support for six decades and while the override is not final yet, I am relieved the\r\nSenate can come together to support our servicemembers and their families and\r\nensure America and our allies are secure and protected.  \n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\n\t  \n\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t \n\t\t\n\t\t\tPrint\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\tEmail\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\tTweet\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\n\t \n\t\n\t\n\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n    \n\t\n\t\n    \n    \n    \n    \t\n    \t\n\t    \t  \n\t\t    \n\t\t    \tNext Article\n\t\t    \n\t\t    \n\t\t    \tPrevious Article", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://www.schatz.senate.gov/news/press-releases/schatz-releases-new-covid-19-federal-resource-guide-to-help-hawaii-small-businesses-access-new-funding-programs", "Schatz Releases New COVID-19 Federal Resource Guide To Help Hawai\u2018i Small Businesses Access New Funding, Programs", "2020-12-30", "2020", "2020-12", "Democrat", "Senate", "HI", "Brian Schatz", "S001194", "www.schatz.senate.gov", "schatz", "https://www.schatz.senate.gov/news/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON \u2013 U.S. Senator Brian Schatz (D-Hawai\u2018i) today released an updated resource guide to help Hawai\u2018i small businesses better understand how to access federal loans and new federal funding. The new $900 billion relief package, which is the second largest aid package in American history and was signed into law on Sunday, includes a new round of federal funding for small businesses and nonprofits and a new program to support live venue operators, including museums and independent movie theaters.\n\n\u201cThe new round of funding will help Hawai\u2018i small businesses meet their payroll and provide people with paychecks,\u201d said Senator Schatz. \u201cAs more federal help becomes available, we\u2019ll continue to work to provide more information about how Hawai\u2018i families and businesses can access these new resources.\u201d\n\nThe new COVID-19 relief funding includes $15 billion nationwide to a new Small Business Administration (SBA) grant program for live venues impacted by the public health crisis. Eligible grant recipients include live venue operators, promoters or theatrical producers, independent movie theatre operators, museum operators, and talent representatives. Of the total amount, $2 billion is set aside for eligible entities that employ fewer than 50 full-time employees.\n\nThe new relief package also provides an additional $20 billion of targeted funding for the SBA's economic injury disaster loans (EIDL) emergency advance grants program and extends the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) to March 31, 2021, providing $284 billion nationwide for additional first- and second-round PPP loans to small businesses and nonprofits.\n\nThe full small business resource guide is available here.\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-06-28T00:42:23Z"], ["https://www.speaker.gov/newsroom/123020", "Pelosi Announces Creation of Select Committee on Economic Disparity & Fairness in Growth", "2020-12-30", "2020", "2020-12", "Democrat", "House", "CA", "Nancy Pelosi", "P000197", "www.speaker.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Washington, D.C.  Speaker Nancy Pelosi issued this statement announcing the creation in the 117th Congress of the new Select Committee on Economic Disparity and Fairness in Growth:\nAs House Speaker, I am proud to announce the creation of the new, bipartisan Select Committee on Economic Disparity and Fairness in Growth, which will be an essential force in Congressional Democrats' action to combat the crisis of income and wealth disparity in America. It is molded after the mission of the Temporary National Economic Committee, founded by President Roosevelt and the Congress after the Great Depression to study and combat the concentration of wealth in America and its role in triggering economic collapse.\nAs President Roosevelt said before founding this Committee, The liberty of a democracy is not safe if the people tolerate the growth of private power to a point where it becomes stronger than their democratic state itself the liberty of a democracy is not safe if its business system does not provide employment and produce and distribute goods in such a way as to sustain an acceptable standard of living.'\nThe past several decades have shown with devastating clarity the marked imbalance between the financial fortunes of CEOs and workers. The reverence of those who amass profits by stagnating wages has seriously undermined the lives and livelihoods of many Americans, while slowing economic growth in our country. This year, the disturbing, dangerous trend of economic disparity has also been accelerated by the coronavirus economic crisis.\nThe devaluing of work has had a negative impact on consumer confidence, job creation and economic growth. And the situation of families no longer believing that their children will have a brighter future than they is seriously damaging and demoralizing to our society.\nThat is why we are creating this Select Committee, which will be a resource to the Congress to make policy related to economic fairness, access to education and workforce development. Working with the Committees of Jurisdiction, the Select Committee will study and recommend proposals to make our economy work for everyone, powering American economic growth while ensuring that no one is left out or left behind in the 21st Century Economy.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://www.speaker.gov/newsroom/123020-0", "Transcript of Pelosi Weekly Press Conference Today", "2020-12-30", "2020", "2020-12", "Democrat", "House", "CA", "Nancy Pelosi", "P000197", "www.speaker.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Washington, D.C.  Speaker Nancy Pelosi held her weekly press conference today in the Capitol Visitor Center. Below are the Speaker's remarks: \nSpeaker Pelosi. Good morning. Welcome to the last weekly of this year  of this year, of this session of Congress and of this Congress. Until next week, when we'll be in a new Congress. I wish you a Happy New Year as we go forward.\nSadly, the Congress received the news last evening of the passing of a new Member of Congress, Luke Letlow from Louisiana, due to be sworn in this Sunday, but taken by the coronavirus yesterday. He leaves his wife and two babies, and we extend great sympathy to his family. So sad. Forty-one years old, coronavirus, blood clot complication. Could happen to anyone. And it has happened to nearly 350,000 Americans.\nMany of those deaths could have been avoided. As we go forward, we must, we must make sure that we are scientific and determined to crush the virus in whatever form it takes. In the meantime, though, let us extend deepest sympathy to their family and to to those little babies who have lost their daddy.\nSo, here we are in time, as I mentioned, the last meeting of the year for us. Let's just talk about the last week or so. In the last week or so, we sent to the President the legislation, it took some time for it to be enrolled because it was a lot  a big bill. He received it on Christmas Eve, 3:30 in the afternoon. He did sign it on Sunday evening and we were very pleased with that because it had very strong bipartisan vote in the House and in the Senate.\nIn the course of, though, of that week, the President announced his support for the $2,000 direct payment, which we madly embraced, and said, We join with the President in supporting this,' came in on Christmas Eve, were blocked by the Republicans for having a Unanimous Consent to bill  bring up that legislation. But on Monday, in regular session, we brought it forth and it passed with strong bipartisan support. We were very pleased then to send that over to Mitch McConnell and the Senate.\nThe President of the United States has expressed his support for the $2,000. The Democrats and Republicans in the House have passed that legislation. Who is holding up that distribution to the American people? Mitch McConnell and the Senate Republicans.\nDemocratic Leader Schumer, yesterday, asked for Unanimous Consent to bring it up in the Senate, which was blocked by Mitch McConnell and the Republicans in the Senate. In blocking it, they are in denial of the hardship that the American people are experiencing now. Health wise, financially, in every way. Their lives and livelihood in many cases are on the brink. So, they're in denial of that need in denying this benefit.\nI do hope that in the days ahead  we only have a few days left in this session  that they will see the light and understand what the suffering  the suffering that is going on in our country.\nNow, I've said before, it's amazing to see the patience that some people have with other people's suffering. These Republicans in the Senate seem to have an endless tolerance for other people's sadness. We urge Mitch McConnell to stop his obstruction and to bring that legislation to the Floor of the Senate. And we urge Republicans in the Senate to encourage him to do so.\nIt's really important to note though how important this money in the pockets of American people are. If they have the resources, they spend it. They inject demand into the economy. That is job-creating. It's important to note that with the bill that we passed last week, that the President signed  that we sent over last week and that the President signed on Sunday evening, brought us up to a, nearly a trillion dollars for small businesses in our country  a trillion and just about $950 billion, and we support that. We know that small businesses are the lifeblood of our economy. The most optimistic thing you can do is to start a small business, your hopes and dreams, your ideas, your vision.\nBut for those small businesses to take advantage of that money, they have to have customers. It's not enough to keep the doors open if nobody's walking through. And that's why these direct payments are so necessary. \nAnd for those small businesses to thrive, they must have services provided by state and local government. Our health care providers, our heroes: health care providers, transportation, sanitation, first responders, police and fire, our teachers, our teachers, our teachers. And that's why in this next session of Congress, in the new Congress with the new President, we must pass legislation that not only honors our heroes, but recognizes the services that they provide enable our lives to function, our businesses to thrive, our economy to prosper and our people to be healthy. So, that will be a very important part of what we do next. \nBut you would think that there would at least be the immediate recognition that the money in the pockets of the American people helps those small businesses thrive. Just for  I've had the poster here before. It's a bigger number now than before: about $950 billion, nearly a trillion dollars to small business. $160 billion, $160 billion to state and local government. 950, 160. State and local government: health care workers, police and fire, teachers, sanitation, transportation, food workers. 160, 950.\nBut we need more here to exploit the opportunity that is here. And, in the meantime, this $2,000 will go a long way, not only to sustain the financial security of America's working families, but will help small business to thrive as well. So, these things are all connected\nAt the same time, as we had a good day on Monday passing, in bipartisan fashion, the CASH Act. The CASH Act, Caring for Americans with Supplemental Help  Caring for Americans with Supplemental [Help], the CASH Act. We also, that day, had an overwhelming vote to override the President's veto of the National Defense Authorization Act, the NDAA. Overwhelming, overwhelming vote: [322]-87. One hundred and nine Republicans voted to override the President's veto. We hope that the Senate will follow suit. They had a big, strong vote in the Senate in favor of this bill. Hopefully, they will stand by their votes there and sustain the veto, excuse me, overturn the veto of the President. We'll see. Okay, so that's what happened in the past week. \nIn the past week, we have also seen reports of the vaccine distribution not measuring up to what we need to have a fair, equitable distribution of the vaccine that is free. I support what President-elect Joe Biden said yesterday, that in his Administration, the 100 million vaccinations in a short period of time, that he would engage the national Defense Production Act to make sure that we not only have the vaccines, but the means to make the inoculation. It's one thing to be in the lab, another thing to be in the arm. \nThere's a lot in between in terms of logistics, in terms of administration, in terms of materials. And one of the things that is holding up the further vaccinations in the country is this Administration, the Trump Administration's lack of cooperation on the distribution of syringes and other things that go into that, and holding up some of the vaccine as well. \nSo, this has to be done better. This has to be done better. And let's hope in the last few weeks of the Trump Administration, that they will follow the science, that they will make the vaccines available, that they will make the syringes and other materials available, so that you can have many more people vaccinated even before the inauguration.\nThis vaccine  this pandemic is horrible. I mean, in every way, the lives and livelihoods of the American people are affected by it in a massive way. However, it has also pulled back the curtain to reveal further disparities in our economy and in our society. They have become  come into sharper focus because of the pandemic. And that is why I have asked the Rules Committee that we will be taking up the new rules package on Monday, or Sunday night if the schedule allows, but following the vote for Speaker, I will have them announce in the next day or so, when they put forth the rules package, a Select Committee on Economic Disparity and Fairness in Growth.\nAs we go into this new Congress, we have to have a scientific start on crushing the virus. We have to honor heroes, state and local government, and we have to put money into the pockets of the American people. Hopefully, we can do this on this side of the weekend, rather than waiting until later, the third point, direct payments. That has always been our goal: crush the virus, honor our heroes, money in the pockets of the American people.\nClearly, the disparities in income and equity in our country are vast. We've known that. They've only gotten worse, and the pandemic, again, puts it in sharper focus. And that's why I'm proud to announce the creation of a new bipartisan Select Committee on Economic Disparity and Fairness in Growth, which will be a central force for the Congress to combat the crisis of income and wealth disparity in America.\nOur Members are full of exuberance and many suggestions, on both sides of the aisle. Yesterday, some proposed to me, $2,000 a month as this  as we go through this bad time. Others, Congresswoman Jayapal, has a wage guarantee legislation. Others have,Congresswoman Murphy, has the income  the [Employee] Retention Tax Credit, which is in  which is in the bills that the President just signed, somewhat. \nBut there are others: sovereign wealth funds to give the profit  the benefit  the income to poor families in America, other bonding issues to try to address the fact that the middle class is the backbone of our democracy. When that is weakened, so is our democracy. So, this is to address not only the middle class, but those who aspire to the middle class. But the disparity has only grown and so I, as a model for this, as you may recall, when we did Mr. Clyburn's committee, we used the Truman Committee as a reference to how to save money, save lives.\nThis is something that  it's modeled after the mission of the Temporary National Economic Committee founded by President Roosevelt and the Congress after the Great Depression to study and combat the concentration of wealth in America and its role in triggering economic collapse. This is what President Roosevelt said at the time. He said, The liberty of a democracy is not safe if the people tolerate the growth of private power to a point where it becomes stronger than their democratic state itself the liberty of a democracy is not safe if its business system does not provide employment and produce and distribute goods in a way as to sustain an acceptable standard of living.' \nThat is why we are creating this Select Committee, which will be a resource to the Congress to make policy related to economic fairness, access to education and workforce development, et cetera. And, again, we'll work with the committees of jurisdiction. This is not a legislative committee. It is a committee to make recommendations. The committees of jurisdiction, have all done a great job, our Education and Labor Committee, Ways and Means Committee, Energy and Commerce Committee, Financial Services, the list  they have done a great job in trying to address these concerns legislatively. We need a bigger spotlight on the problem, and on some of the solutions so that we can all participate in the very worthy suggestions that are made. And again, we will empower American economic growth, while ensuring that no one is left behind in the 21st century economy that we are putting forth. \nSo, we have a  we're very excited about our new President-elect, and that in three weeks, we will have a new president. It's pretty exciting, President and Vice President making history, that we have the gavel, that we have held the Congress. We look forward to what's happening in Georgia on Tuesday. So, every day is action packed. But I just wanted to review some of what happened in the past week to take us to this point.\nThis point, $2,000 direct payment to the American people being held up by Mitch McConnell, the same person who put $160 billion tax break for the wealthiest people and firms in America in the CARES Act. $160 billion in the CARES Act for the wealthiest in our country, refusing $2,000 to those who need it most, the same Republicans in the Congress who eagerly passed the tax bill that gave 83 percent of the benefits to the top one percent, taking us well into debt. Nearly $2 trillion for our children to pay off so that they could have a tax break for the wealthy with a mythology that it would trickle down. And it has not, nor has it ever. Mitch McConnell, remove the obstacle that you have the American people having the opportunity to have that direct payment, and do it now. \n* * *\nAny questions? Yes ma'am.\nQ: Madam Speaker, do you plan to seat Ms. Miller-Meeks on Sunday, and are you confident that you're going to have a Dem Majority present?\nSpeaker Pelosi. Yes, and yes, definitely. Yes. \nQ: On the stimulus checks, we're hearing on the Senate side that time is running out. Are you going to commit to bringing this idea back, the $2,000 checks, next week if it does die in this Congress? \nSpeaker Pelosi. Well, let us  let us be hopeful that it can happen this week, because the sooner it happens, the sooner the checks go out. So, we're not giving up on it. The President of the United States, Donald Trump, is advocating for it. The Congress, in a bipartisan way in the House, has voted for it. It would have bipartisan support in the Senate if Mitch McConnell would only allow it to come to the Floor, instead of being an obstruction to those checks going to the American people.\nQ: One additional question, we're just hearing from Josh Hawley that he's going to object on January 6th and force a debate on Electoral College votes. Could you comment on that move from the Republican? \nSpeaker Pelosi. I have no doubt that on next Wednesday, a week from today, that Joe Biden will be confirmed by the acceptance of the vote of the Electoral College as the 46th President of the United States. \nYes, ma'am.\nQ: Madam Speaker, an overview from you: you've kept your Caucus together with a fighting spirit this year through very hard times. Did the events of 2020 help keep your Caucus cohesion? And secondly, what are your thoughts on a slimmer Majority next year, next week? \nSpeaker Pelosi. Well, we are very excited about having won the House. We have the gavel, the Speaker's gavel. We also have 132 other gavels of chairs and subcommittees, and they are again, many of them in the hands, this past term of Freshmen and newer Members of Congress. And we're excited about that. Eighteen Freshmen had gavels, that was historic. There has been nothing even close to that before. \nThe  I have every confidence. Our Caucus is unified around our common ethical belief in our responsibility to America's working families. That's what brings us together. Of course, we have our differences in approach, and some other ideas. And that's our vitality. I would not want to be a leader of a party that was rubber stamp, lockstep. That's called Republicans. We, the Democratic Party, are democratic in every way, including respecting the views of all in our Caucus.\nSo, I have  I have great confidence that on an agenda that is there for America's working families, we will have the unity that we need to proceed under the leadership of Joe Biden, Kamala Harris, the Biden-Harris Administration, and hopefully with the Democratic Senate. We'll see what next week brings.\nOkay, thank you all. Thank you all very much.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://www.speaker.gov/newsroom/123020-1", "Dear Colleague on End of 116th Congress", "2020-12-30", "2020", "2020-12", "Democrat", "House", "CA", "Nancy Pelosi", "P000197", "www.speaker.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Dear Democratic Colleague,\nAs we prepare to close the 116th Congress, I write to express my deep appreciation for the unity of House Democrats in fighting For The People. It is with great optimism that we prepare for a new Congress and a new Administration.\nCongress has passed and the President has signed a coronavirus relief bill to help fight the virus and put money in the pockets of the American people, but much more needs to be done to honor our heroes at the state and local level. Supporting them will facilitate making the much-anticipated vaccine more readily and fairly available.\nWe must join in the Biden-Harris Administration's Build Back Better initiative for job creation and economic opportunity, including its protections of our planet. The pandemic has pulled back the veil of inequality, sharpening our focus on the disparities that rage in our economy and our society. In our work, we must promote justice in the economy, in health care, in law enforcement and in the environment.\nAs we go forward, we do so with pride in the work of our Caucus, Committee Chairs and Committee Members and with confidence that we will get the job done. It is imperative that we do so connecting with the hopes and dreams of our constituents and with prayers for a better future for all.\nThanks for your leadership and your friendship.\nBest wishes for a Happy New Year.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://gomez.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=2182", "Rep. Jimmy Gomez, House Colleagues, Demand Immediate Trump Administration Withdrawal Of Any New Oil And Gas Leases Off California Coast", "2020-12-29", "2020", "2020-12", "Democrat", "House", "CA", "Jimmy Gomez", "G000585", "gomez.house.gov", "gomez", "https://gomez.house.gov/news/documentquery.aspx?DocumentTypeID=27", "scraper", "WASHINGTON, D.C. \u2013 In an effort to head off last minute lame-duck Trump Administration efforts to expand offshore oil and gas drilling along the California coast, Congressman Jimmy Gomez (CA-34), today, joined a letter with 21 House colleagues from the California Delegation in expressing their strong opposition to any expansion of oil and gas drilling off the coast of California.\n\nIn a letter to Department of Interior Secretary David Bernhardt, co-led by Representatives Alan Lowenthal (CA-47), Salud Carbajal (CA-24), Jared Huffman (CA-2), and Mike Levin (CA-49), the Members demand the outgoing Trump Administration immediately withdraw any new oil and gas leasing off California from consideration in any future federal program.\n\n\u201cThe inevitable onshore and offshore risks associated with offshore drilling impact public health, the environment, and our climate,\" wrote the lawmakers. \"For these reasons, every single coastal governor along the Atlantic and Pacific coasts, Republican and Democrat alike, has stood in opposition to offshore drilling. In coastal communities, where livelihoods are built around fishing, tourism, and recreation, it is critically important to guard against oil leaks or spills that could harm these ocean dependent economies and fragile marine ecosystems.\u201d\n\nThe letter also points out that just three months ago President Trump, in response to loud outcry from coastal communities across the nation, issued a ten-year moratorium on offshore drilling in waters off Florida, Georgia, and South Carolina.\n\nThe letter highlights California\u2019s intimate history with off shore oil drilling impacts, most notably the 1969 oil spill off the coast of Santa Barbara, California, which at the time was the largest oil spill in the United States. This tragedy killed thousands of marine mammals, fish, and birds, and oil washed up on the beaches for hundreds of miles along Central and Southern California. In the 50 years since, there have been no new oil and gas leases in California state waters and no federal leases off California for more than 35 years.\n\nThe Members also highlight that the BP Deepwater Horizon disaster just 10 years ago highlights that offshore oil drilling is no safer today than it was in 1969.\n\nWhile it is unlikely that the Trump Administration would be able to formalize any new leases before the Biden Administration takes office on January 20, the Members conclude their letter by demanding Secretary Bernhardt put an immediate halt during the Trump Administration\u2019s remaining time in office to any consideration of new oil and gas leasing off California.\n\nClick here to read the full text of the letter.\n\nThe letter was led by Congressmen Alan Lowenthal (CA-47), Salud Carbajal (CA-24), Jared Huffman (CA-2), and Mike Levin (CA-49). In addition, the letter was cosigned by Congressmembers Mike Thompson (CA-5), Doris O. Matsui (CA-6), Ami Bera (CA-7), Jerry McNerney (CA-9), Mark DeSaulnier (CA-11), Barbara Lee (CA-13), Ro Khanna (CA-17), Anna G. Eshoo (CA-18), Jimmy Panetta (CA-20), Julia Brownley (CA-26), Adam B. Schiff (CA-28), Grace Napolitano (CA-32), Ted W. Lieu (CA-33), Karen Bass (CA-37), Maxine Waters (CA-43), Nanette Diaz Barrag\u00e1n (CA-44), and Juan Vargas (CA-51).", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-06-28T00:42:23Z"], ["http://www.feinstein.senate.gov//public/index.cfm/op-eds?ContentRecord_id=4D9828DA-9F91-4640-8A66-6267AB268F90", "Washington has to help with L.A.'s meth addiction", "2020-12-29", "2020", "2020-12", "Democrat", "Senate", "CA", "Dianne Feinstein", "F000062", "www.feinstein.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Originally published in the Los Angeles Times\r\nBy Dianne Feinstein\r\nAlthough opioids  especially oxycodone and fentanyl  dominate addiction news, another deadly drug has been lurking in the background, causing tens of thousands of fatalities: methamphetamine.\r\nMeth addiction isn't new, but it has quickly emerged in recent years as a particularly deadly threat, and Los Angeles has been hard-hit.\r\nBetween 2008 and 2018, meth-related deaths in L.A.increased tenfold, from 43 to 435, according to county statistics. By 2018, meth was involved in 44% of all drug overdose deaths in Los Angeles County.\r\nLast summer, Mark Casanova, of Homeless Health Care Los Angeles,told The Timesthat meth accounted for 70% of drug use among L.A.'s homeless population. Between 2005 and 2019, according to county data, more than 185,000 individuals who entered publicly funded treatment programs in Los Angeleswere admitted for meth.\r\nIt's way cheaper [than many other street drugs], it lasts longer, you can smoke it or inject it, it's easy to get, Casanova said.\r\nIn September, Sen. Charles E. Grassley (R-Iowa) and I introduced the Methamphetamine Response Act. The bill, which would direct the White House Office of National Drug Control Policy to develop and implement a plan to address the growing use of meth, passed the Senate in November. Unfortunately, the House has not yet addressed the bill and likely will not pass it before the 116th Congress ends.\r\nWhat did pass the House and Senate, as part of the massive omnibus end-of-year legislation that was signed into law Sunday, was a directive to the drug control policy office to finalize regulations for designating emerging drug threats. The office began the process in May; now it should finish that work as quickly as possible.\r\nThe meth surge isn't confined to California, of course. According to ananalysisby researchers at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, between 2008 and 2017, the number of people admitted nationwide for meth-related treatment rose from 260,000 to 373,000, a 43% increase. And the number admitted for meth treatment who were also using heroin increased from nearly 14,000 to more than 88,000, a stunning 530% increase. Such multiple-substance use exacerbates the dangers.\r\nBy the end of 2019,Drug Enforcement Administration data showmeth availability was growing as street prices declined. Those increases continued this year even as prices started to rise again and much of the country faced public health restrictions due to COVID-19. And between March and May of this year, one lab found that nationwide urine drug testing positivity rates for methincreasedby approximately 20%.\r\nWe're also seeing larger drug busts  again particularly in California, where the majority of meth interdictions at ports of entry occur. In October, U.S. Customs and Border Protectionseized3,000 pounds at the port of Otay Mesa, and the DEAseized2,224 pounds of meth in Riverside County. Both seizures are among the largest on record for the agencies and indicate growing demand for the drug.\r\nWhat Washington must do to address this crisis was laid out in the Methamphetamine Response Act.\r\nFirst, the drug control policy office should declare meth an emerging drug threat. Based on the use and death statistics, it's clear that it meets the criteria, and as such, it should trigger a government-wide response.\r\nSecond, the office must develop and implement a plan that is specific to meth. Addiction is complex, and while a crucial component of the overall U.S. strategy is to reduce the flow of drugs, the problem cannot be solved through law enforcement efforts alone.\r\nThat's why, in addition to providing an assessment of the current availability of meth, the policy office must set short- and long-term goals focused on reducing demand, which means expanding prevention and treatment programs, as well as on reducing supply. To ensure accountability, the meth plan should also include performance measures related to those goals.\r\nWe know that fentanyl and other opioids are ravaging our country and that we must do all we can to prevent this, but we can't ignore the risks that other drugs pose in the process.\r\nWe must act now to prevent methamphetamine from turning into a full-blown national epidemic. This is a problem that won't go away on its own.\r\nDianne Feinstein, a Democrat, is the senior U.S. senator from California.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["http://www.schatz.senate.gov/press-releases/schatz-provision-to-begin-process-for-stronger-protection-national-marine-sanctuary-designation-for-papahanaumokuakea-signed-into-law", "Schatz Provision To Begin Process For Stronger Protection, National Marine Sanctuary Designation For Papahanaumokuakea Signed Into Law", "2020-12-29", "2020", "2020-12", "Democrat", "Senate", "HI", "Brian Schatz", "S001194", "www.schatz.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Schatz Provision To Begin Process For Stronger Protection, National Marine Sanctuary Designation For Papahanaumokuakea Signed Into Law \n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\tTuesday, December 29, 2020\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\r\nWASHINGTON  On Sunday, the president signed a bipartisan government funding bill which included a provision authored by U.S. Senator Brian Schatz (D-Hawaii) that will strengthen protections for the Papahanaumokuakea Marine National Monument by starting the process to designate it as a National Marine Sanctuary.\r\nA new sanctuary designation means more resources and stronger protections for Papahanaumokuakea, said Senator Schatz. This will give us more opportunities to better understand and conserve one of our most important natural resources.\r\nThe Schatz provision directs the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) to commence the process to designate Papahanaumokuakea Marine National Monument as a National Marine Sanctuary. Following this initiation, NOAA can begin public meetings and the formal legal process to complete the requirements to finalize an official designation. Sanctuary status for the Monument would make it more difficult to weaken the protections in the Executive Orders signed by Presidents Obama and Bush.\r\nSchatz also secured $1.2 million for research and management activities at the marine monument in this year's appropriations bill, which is a $200,000 increase from last year. The funding is subject to a 100 percent non-federal match and will bring new resources to keep the Hawaiian archipelago healthy and productive. Past uses of the funding have included research to understand the impact of climate change on the ecosystem, and the removal of marine debris.\r\nPapahanaumokukea was first established as a marine national monument in 2006. It was expanded by President Obama in 2016 following a formal proposal from Senator Schatz.\r\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://adamsmith.house.gov/news/press-releases/rep-smith-introduces-bill-provide-automatic-rental-assistance-families-response", "Rep. Smith Introduces Bill to Provide Automatic Rental Assistance to Families in Response to Recessions and Natural Disasters", "2020-12-29", "2020", "2020-12", "Democrat", "House", "WA", "Adam Smith", "S000510", "adamsmith.house.gov", "adamsmith", "https://adamsmith.house.gov/news/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON, D.C. - Representative Adam Smith (D-Wash.) introduced the Crisis Housing Act which would establish a new automatic housing assistance program to provide emergency rental assistance vouchers to households during natural disasters or economic recessions.\n\n\"When responding to an unforeseen disaster like a pandemic, hurricane, or economic recession, families cannot wait in uncertainty for a relief bill to pass in Congress,\" said Congressman Adam Smith. \"As we have seen with the COVID-19 pandemic, the need for rental assistance skyrockets in times of economic downturns, and we need a system that can rapidly deploy support to ensure vulnerable families at risk of displacement continue to have access to stable housing. Housing insecurity affects far too many families as is, and this bill would provide an automatic safety net to those most in need during a crisis.\"\n\nEven before the COVID-19 outbreak, the United States had an affordable housing crisis, which puts more families on the brink of displacement. The pandemic has further highlighted the heightened vulnerability of families in the case of economic crises in the future. There is currently no housing support program that is automatically triggered when a natural or economic disaster occurs, and this bill would remedy that gap.\n\nThe Crisis Housing Act would automatically provide low-income families and individuals with rental assistance from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) when either: the Stafford Act is invoked during a natural disaster, or when the state unemployment rate suddenly increases by a specific amount.\n\nThis legislation is the House companion bill to the Crisis Housing Act introduced in the Senate by U.S. Senators Brian Schatz (D-Hawai\u2018i) and Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.). You can read a one-pager of the bill here and the full bill text here.\n\nStatements of Support:\n\n\"One of the fundamental lessons of this pandemic is how important housing assistance is in a crisis or disaster,\" said Stephen Norman, Executive Director of the King County Housing Authority. \"The speed at which aid can be provided is critical. Representative Smith's bill is a common sense approach that lays the groundwork, before a crisis, for the government to respond quickly. He should be commended for paying attention to a nuts and bolts issue in federal policy that will make a real difference in people's lives when assistance is needed.\"\n\n\"Disasters often hit the lowest income households hardest, yet these same families struggle to receive the housing assistance they need afterwards. The result is often a predictable and entirely preventable rise in eviction and homelessness rates,\" said Diane Yentel, President and CEO of the National Low Income Housing Coalition. \"If passed, the Crisis Housing Act would play a critical role in providing safe, accessible, and affordable homes to individuals with the greatest needs after a disaster by providing longer-term, flexible, rental assistance - helping them safely recover without the fear of being rendered homeless.\"\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-06-28T00:42:23Z"], ["https://adamsmith.house.gov/press-releases?ID=3C6B2B21-E42D-46EE-A400-F9AF5867FF5B", "Rep. Smith Introduces Bill to Provide Automatic Rental Assistance to Families in Response to Recessions and Natural Disasters", "2020-12-29", "2020", "2020-12", "Democrat", "House", "WA", "Adam Smith", "S000510", "adamsmith.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "WASHINGTON, D.C.  Representative Adam Smith (D-Wash.) introduced the Crisis Housing Act which would establish a new automatic housing assistance program to provide emergency rental assistance vouchers to households during natural disasters or economic recessions.\r\nWhen responding to an unforeseen disaster like a pandemic, hurricane, or economic recession, families cannot wait in uncertainty for a relief bill to pass in Congress, said Congressman Adam Smith. As we have seen with the COVID-19 pandemic, the need for rental assistance skyrockets in times of economic downturns, and we need a system that can rapidly deploy support to ensure vulnerable families at risk of displacement continue to have access to stable housing. Housing insecurity affects far too many families as is, and this bill would provide an automatic safety net to those most in need during a crisis.\r\nEven before the COVID-19 outbreak, the United States had an affordable housing crisis, which puts more families on the brink of displacement. The pandemic has further highlighted the heightened vulnerability of families in the case of economic crises in the future. There is currently no housing support program that is automatically triggered when a natural or economic disaster occurs, and this bill would remedy that gap.\r\nThe Crisis Housing Act would automatically provide low-income families and individuals with rental assistance from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) when either: the Stafford Act is invoked during a natural disaster, or when the state unemployment rate suddenly increases by a specific amount.\r\nThis legislation is the House companion bill to the Crisis Housing Act introduced in the Senate by U.S. Senators Brian Schatz (D-Hawaii) and Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.). You can read a one-pager of the billhere and the full bill texthere.\r\nStatements of Support:\r\nOne of the fundamental lessons of this pandemic is how important housing assistance is in a crisis or disaster, said Stephen Norman, Executive Director of the King County Housing Authority. The speed at which aid can be provided is critical. Representative Smith's bill is a common sense approach that lays the groundwork, before a crisis, for the government to respond quickly. He should be commended for paying attention to a nuts and bolts issue in federal policy that will make a real difference in people's lives when assistance is needed.\r\nDisasters often hit the lowest income households hardest, yet these same families struggle to receive the housing assistance they need afterwards. The result is often a predictable and entirely preventable rise in eviction and homelessness rates,said Diane Yentel, President and CEO of the National Low Income Housing Coalition.If passed, the Crisis Housing Act would play a critical role in providing safe, accessible, and affordable homes to individuals with the greatest needs after a disaster by providing longer-term, flexible, rental assistance  helping them safely recover without the fear of being rendered homeless.\r\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://axne.house.gov/media/press-releases/rep-axne-leads-inquiry-use-debit-cards-next-round-economic-impact-payments", "Rep. Axne Leads Inquiry on Use of Debit Cards for Next Round of Economic Impact Payments", "2020-12-29", "2020", "2020-12", "Democrat", "House", "IA", "Cynthia Axne", "A000378", "axne.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Today, Rep. Cindy Axne (IA-03) led a letter to the U.S. Department of Treasury and the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) seeking information about plans to use debit cards to distribute the second round of Economic Impact Payments (EIPs) approved by Congress last week.\nThe letter, signed by 10 of Rep. Axne's colleagues on the House Financial Services Committee, asks the Treasury Department to clarify if they plan to use debit cards to distribute this round of EIPs and urges changes to the program in the event that they are used again.\nNow that Congress has passed, and the President has signed into law, a second round of similar direct payments, we would like to know whether you plan on distributing some of these via debit card again, the members wrote. If so, we ask that you explain how you plan to improve communication, ensure there are no fees for the user, and simplify the agreement they have to sign, removing any mandatory arbitration clauses.\nRep. Axne and her colleagues seek three areas of improvement in the event that debit cards are used for the second round of EIPs:\n Better Communication:The members encouragesignificant improvements in communicatingthe plans for debit cards to the general public to avoid skepticism and potential disposal of cards, which was widely reportedafter the Treasury failed to tell people these cards were a possibilityin the first tranche of payments thisspring.\n\tComplete Elimination of Fees:As the debit cards are set up to provide Americans with the full amount of their EIP as approved by Congress and the President, Rep. Axne and her colleagues urge the Treasury Department and IRS to eliminate any fees associated with using or transferringa card'sbalance.\n\tSimplification of the Cardholder Agreement: The debit cards used in the first round of EIPs contained a dense and confusing cardholder agreement, including an arbitration clause that prevents card recipients from forming a class action suit in the case of similar problems with the card. The members demand that any potential second round of debit cards be given a revised cardholder agreement, without any arbitration clauses, that can be easily understood by card recipients.\n These and other concerns were raised by Iowa cardholders to Rep. Axne in the first round of EIP debit cards.\nRep. Axne sought similar changes to the first round of debit cards in May, including seeing the IRS and Treasury remove the fee for first-time replacements of the debit card after poor communication.\nThe letter was signed by Reps. Sean Casten (IL-06), Madeleine Dean (PA-04), Bill Foster (IL-11), Vicente Gonzalez (TX-15), Denny Heck (WA-10), Wm. Lacy Clay (MO-01), Al Lawson (FL-05), Stephen Lynch (MA-08), Rashida Tlaib (MI-13), and Jennifer Wexton (VA-10)  andthe full text of the letter can be found here:\nDear Secretary Mnuchin and Commissioner Rettig,\nWe write to urge improvements as you distribute the upcoming second round of direct payments to Americans which was included in the Coronavirus relief package signed into law on Sunday.\nMany of us previously wrote in May to share concerns with how those direct payments were distributed by debit card, and to urge changes in that program. The direct payments from the CARES Act supported more than 150 million Americans1 who received them, but many of our constituents had concerns after receiving prepaid debit cards with their Economic Impact Payment (EIP). Since the Treasury Department and Internal Revenue Service (IRS) had not alerted the public that they would be sending stimulus payments via debit card, recipients were often surprised, confused, and some even threw these away, thinking it was a fraud. Those who did use them could be charged fees simply to get the aid Congress intended and were forced into agreeing to arbitration to resolve any issues.\nNow that Congress has passed, and the President has signed into law, a second round of similar direct payments, we would like to know whether you plan on distributing some of these via debit card again, and request the following improvements in the event of additional direct payments via debit card.\nCommunication about EIP cards must be improved\nWe recognize that having seen this in May, many people will be more aware of the possibility they'll receive their payment on a debit card. However, we ask that you also directly provide more clear information about the cards to those receiving them. That should include a clear explanation that this card is their direct payment, the amount of that rebate, and how to quickly transfer this to a bank account or receive a check. We hope better communication will reduce confusion and prevent people cutting up their debit cards again because they believed this was a scam.\nThe cards should come with no fees for the recipient\nThe debit cards sent in May could cost our constituents a significant amount to use.2 While in-network ATM withdrawals were free, those ATMs are almost exclusively in larger towns and metropolitan areas, forcing people to either pay a fee or drive more than an hour to access their EIP. Waiving fees on the first ATM withdrawal out of network ATM is a positive step, but does nothing for additional withdrawals, nor does it include any fees charged by the ATM owner, or fees to check your balance. In addition, the transaction size limits will make it difficult for a family to simply get their money off the card and into a bank account.\nThese cards are intended to provide support for Americans during COVID-19, and any fees are likely to simply add insult to injury. We recognize that the card provider needs to cover its costs, but believe that the people trying to receive these cards should not have to pay fees regardless of where they live. We appreciate you taking action to waive the fee for the first replacement card, and would encourage you to remove all costs to use these cards.\nIf you are unable or unwilling to fully eliminate the fees, we ask that the lengthy fee schedule be dramatically simplified, and that transaction size limits be adjusted to allow people to easily transfer the full amount of their rebate off of the card immediately.\nThe EIP card agreement should be simplified\nThe EIP card agreement which came with the first cards3 was more than 8 pages of dense text, which can be intimidating to Americans who were expecting a simple check. We heard from numerous constituents calling with complaints and questions, including being unsure of how to even find out how much money they had just received. This agreement should be simplified as much as possible or come with a summary document to better explain the terms for those who had no idea they were getting a credit card.\nFurther, the cardholder agreement included a mandatory arbitration clause, requiring that any disputes be resolved through individual (not class-action) arbitration. Americans in the most urgent need of this aid, who must immediately access their payment through the debit card will be forced into arbitration, often without even knowing the implications.\nIn addition, the arbitration clause prevents people with the same dispute from forming a class. Not only does this practice hurt those with less financial and legal resources in virtually all situations, it makes even less sense in this case. With 4 million people receiving very similar EIP cards, it is very likely that if there are issues, many people are having the same problem, making class action simply a more efficient way to resolve disputes.\nWe urge you to simplify the agreement for anyone receiving an EIP card to reduce confusion, and specifically request that you remove any mandatory arbitration clause from future agreements.\nWe appreciate the important work you did this spring in getting Economic Impact Payments out to Americans quickly. While we appreciate the value prepaid debit cards provide to those without checking accounts, and understand that sending these cards is a part of attempting to get payments out faster, we would urge additional consideration of how to ensure the cards are providing the benefits they are intended to.\nWe understand that no further cards were sent after our letter in May, but would request a written response to our letter, explaining whether you intend to send prepaid debit cards again. If so, we ask that you explain how you plan to improve communication, ensure there are no fees for the user, and simplify the agreement they have to sign, removing any mandatory arbitration clauses.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://bass.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/rep-bass-issues-statement-regarding-arrest-international-boxer-justin", "Rep. Bass Issues Statement Regarding Arrest of International Boxer Justin Juuko", "2020-12-29", "2020", "2020-12", "Democrat", "Senate", "CA", "Karen Bass", "B001270", "bass.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "\"The Ugandan government must stop unlawfully arresting, detaining, and beating citizens who have opposing views. This action is clearly trying to intimidate Ugandans who oppose the government before the upcoming presidential elections.\n\"On December 12th, the government arrested international boxer Justin Juuko, a Ugandan citizen and California resident. Reportedly, Juuko was arrested along with Garrypaul Mayanja, an FDC activist in Masaka, a district in south-central Uganda. The two were were reportedly conducting training for polling agents ahead of the general election on January 14. The charges must be investigated, and the government should release Mr. Juuko unharmed at once.\n\"Just last week, international human rights activist and attorney Nicholas Opiyo was arrested and is still being unjustly held in custody until January 11th. Opiyo's work on human rights has earned him numerous international awards. He founded Chapter Four Uganda, an organization that advocates for legal protections to human rights, provides training and support for other Ugandan human rights law organizations, and coordinates legal responses to civil rights violations. Mr. Opiyo is being targeted and denied bail for his tireless efforts in advancing human rights and must be released immediately.\n\"Both of these men are being detained simply for their human rights advocacy and their right to peacefully challenge the current government. The Ugandan government must make the safety of all activists and opposition of the current regime a priority. The continued repression of civil society ahead of the upcoming elections cannot be tolerated.\n\"I urge the Ugandan government to release Mr. Juuko, Mr. Opiyo, and all other activists and opposition leaders at once, listen to the will of the people, and have free and fair presidential elections in January.\"", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://bonamici.house.gov/media/in-the-news/community-invited-discuss-equitable-vaccine-distribution-experts-elected-officials", "Community Invited to Discuss Equitable Vaccine Distribution with Experts, Elected Officials", "2020-12-29", "2020", "2020-12", "Democrat", "House", "OR", "Suzanne Bonamici", "B001278", "bonamici.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "The discussion features greetings from US Congresswoman Suzanne Bonamici, and US Senator Ron Wyden. Speakers include: Susheela Jayapal, Multnomah County Commissioner; Patrick Allen, Oregon Health Authority Director; Pam Treece, Washington County Commissioner; and Jessica Guernsey, Multnomah County Health Department Public Health Director. Moderators for the discussion are Juwairyah Syed, Chair of the OIA STEM Program, and Ronault Polo Catalani, Creative Writer and Founder of New Portland Foundation.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://bustos.house.gov/116th-congress-in-review-bustos-delivers-historic-accomplishments-in-unprecedented-term/", "116th Congress in Review: Bustos Delivers Historic Accomplishments in Unprecedented Term", "2020-12-29", "2020", "2020-12", "Democrat", "Senate", "IL", "Cheri Bustos", "B001286", "bustos.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Washington  Over the course of the 116th Congress, Congresswoman Cheri Bustos worked to deliver historic accomplishments in an unprecedented Congressional term. From delivering hundreds of millions in federal funding for the communities she serves to helping Illinois navigate a global pandemic to giving the Heartland a seat at the House leadership table, Congresswoman Bustos has been a tireless advocate for Northwestern and Central Illinois over the past two years.\nWhether working to increase access to affordable health care or prioritizing rebuilding our economy in the midst of the largest economic downturn since the Great Depression, it has been my honor to fight for our corner of Illinois during these last two historic years, said Congresswoman Bustos.\nThe fact is that whether you are an underserved family living in an urban community or an underserved family living in a rural community, we all want the same thing  the chance to work hard and earn a good living. That's why, this Congress, I was proud to have worked to invest in our infrastructure, help our Gold Star families and injured veterans, work to lower prescription drug costs and help our communities navigate an unprecedented global pandemic.\nINCREASING ACCESS TO HEALTH CARE\nBeginning with helping to pass legislation to protect Illinoisans with pre-existing conditions, Congresswoman Bustos has worked tirelessly to increase access to health care. In 2019, the Congresswoman convened local roundtable discussions in Peoria and Rockford and lifted up the stories of Illinoisans (VIDEO) to highlight the need for lower prescription drugs, worked to include a permanent repeal of the Cadillac Tax in a year-end spending bill, secured millions in federal funding for rural health centers and helped pass the Lower Drug Costs Now Act (VIDEO) to rein in skyrocketing drug prices and allow Medicare to negotiate prescription costs. For rural communities, the Congresswoman pushed the USDA to hire their first-ever Rural Health Liaison, whose sole focus is to improve health outcomes in rural America and introduced legislation to address rural health workforce challenges.\nIn 2020, Congresswoman Bustos secured a first-of-its-kind $3 million pilot program, modeled after her Social Determinants Accelerator Act, as part of Congress' year-end spending bill. This new program will help local governments create plans to empower communities to fight the social factors that harm long-term health, such as health care provider shortages, food deserts, unsafe and insecure housing and other environmental factors.\nThroughout the year, Congresswoman Bustos utilized her position on the powerful House Appropriations Committee to advocate for COVID-19 help for rural communities (VIDEO) and address disparate impacts of the Coronavirus on communities of color (VIDEO). Partnering with Congresswoman Lauren Underwood of Illinois, she convened a roundtable to discuss Black maternal health. And as mental health struggles reached epidemic levels in the midst of state and local shutdowns, Congresswoman Bustos introduced the Crisis Care Improvement and Suicide Prevention Act to help states upgrade crisis care programs and strategies. This legislation was passed as part of the year-end package.\nIn Rockford, when Mercyhealth refused the insurance of Medicaid patients and downgraded the community's access to critical health services in the midst of a pandemic, Congresswoman Bustos stood up to CEO Javon Bea, calling on House leadership to limit federal support unless Bea restored service to all Medicaid patients and protesting the institution's mental health unit closure.\nEXPANDING OUR FARMERS' ACCESS TO MARKETS\nAccess to markets is critical for the survival of our growers and producers. When negotiations began on an update to North American Free Trade Agreement, Illinois' farmers and workers deserved the strongest trade deal possible. In 2019, Congresswoman Bustos worked to create a path forward that would provide a seat at the table for labor and agricultural stakeholders, including convening a meeting in Illinois with the Speaker of the House, the Illinois Farm Bureau and Farmers for Free Trade. The United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement, which delivered real progress for labor, farmers and manufacturers, was passed and signed into law (VIDEO).\nCongresswoman Bustos also worked to make sure that our region's goods can continue to get to market efficiently by pushing the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to provide the first funding in a decade for the Navigation and Ecosystem Sustainability Program (NESP). In FY20, the Corps invested $4.5 million for preconstruction engineering and design for NESP, which would modernize and expand seven outdated locks and restore ecosystems along the Upper Mississippi River.\nDELIVERING FOR OUR RURAL COMMUNITIES\nIn rural Illinois, one in four people do not have access to high speed internet. Congresswoman Bustos helped pass the Moving Forward Act, a funding package and an infrastructure bill that included nearly $1 billion for rural broadband.\nIn 2019, Congresswoman Bustos introduced the Rural Green Partnership  a framework of principles and policies to combat climate change, spur economic growth and lift farmers' voices in the conversation on climate. The Rural Green Partnership details a set of policies that work with federal, local and state governments, producers, businesses, unions, non-governmental organizations and other stakeholders to lower greenhouse gas emissions in every economic sector of rural America.\nIn 2020, the House Select Committee on the Climate Crisis released their Climate Crisis Action Report, which included critical aspects of the Rural Green Partnership. Voluntary incentives for farmers, utilization and expansion of carbon capture, ongoing roles for biofuels and increased deployment of other renewables like wind and solar were included as key recommendations on how we can best tackle the climate crisis head-on.\nTo bring an environmental lens to biofuels production, Congresswoman Bustos introduced the Next Generation Fuels Act, a bill to leverage greater fuel octane to reduce carbon emissions from transportation, improve air quality by reducing the use of harmful aromatics and increase demand for biofuels. Named bold and innovative by stakeholders, this legislation continues to gain support from producers and industry leaders.\nTo address severe nationwide shortages of early childhood and K-12 teachers that disproportionately impacts students from low-income backgrounds and students of color, Congresswoman Bustos introduced the bicameral Retaining Educators Takes Added Investment Now (RETAIN) Act, which would create a fully refundable tax credit for teachers and other education professionals to encourage recruitment and retention in rural communities and communities of color. The legislation has earned the support of local school officials in Rockford, Peoria, Monmouth and Rock Island.\nSUPPORTING OUR SERVICE MEMBERS AND VETERANS AND HONORING OUR HEROES\nThis Congress, Congresswoman Bustos was honored to hold two different ceremonies to rename our post offices after local heroes who paid the ultimate sacrifice in service to our nation: the Alpha Post Office after Captain Joshua E. Steele and the Pekin Post Office after Lance Cpl. Jordan Bastean, and introduced and passed a bill to rename the Galesburg Post Office in honor of Senior Airman Daniel Miller (VIDEO). Congresswoman Bustos spearheaded support for Gold Star families and spouses of catastrophically injured service members through her bipartisan, bicameral Gold Star Spouses and Spouses of Injured Servicemembers Leasing Relief Expansion Act, which was signed into law as part of the 2019 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA).\nIn the 2020 NDAA legislation passed this December, the Congresswoman worked to include provisions to establish a Zillow-style real estate online tool for the Army, provide a pay raise for our military, enhance student loan benefits for National Guard and Reserve members and require the Department of Defense to provide answers for its inconsistent and troubling record on National Guard COVID-response funding. As cash-strapped states faced cuts to federal support for pandemic response efforts, Congresswoman Bustos urged the Administration stop playing political games, restore full funding and extend National Guard deployments for the duration of the pandemic.\nAfter re-introducing her All American Flag Act last year, to ensure that all American flags purchased with taxpayer funds are made in America (VIDEO), Congresswoman Bustos secured a provision in the final Congressional package to encourage all federal agencies to purchase only American flags made in America and with American products. This was passed this month.\nWORKING TOWARD RACIAL JUSTICE\nFollowing the national outcry after George Floyd's death, Congresswoman Bustos attended listening sessions and meetings with religious leaders and members of communities of color throughout Northern and Central Illinois. As an original co-sponsor of the bill, she helped introduce and pass the historic George Floyd Justice in Policing Act (VIDEO), an important step toward comprehensive reform that aims to protect civil rights at the federal level, increase accountability and build trust between law enforcement and the communities they serve.\nTo address ongoing segregation in our educational institutions, and provide support to school districts that are developing, implementing and expanding school diversity initiatives, Congresswoman Bustos helped pass the Strength in Diversity Act and the Equity and Inclusion Enforcement Act.\nWhen minority-owned businesses faced additional barriers during the COVID-19 pandemic, Congresswoman Bustos hosted virtual small business roundtables for Latino and Black small business owners from across the region to provide resources at the state and federal level, featuring special guests Congresswoman Nydia Velazquez (NY-07), Chair of the House Small Business Committee, and House Majority Whip Congressman Jim Clyburn (SC-06).\nENSURING THE ROCK ISLAND ARSENAL'S SUCCESS FOR THE FUTURE\nCongresswoman Bustos worked across the aisle to prioritize support for the Rock Island Arsenal's success, including advocating for the Arsenal during key Appropriations Committee hearings and securing over $50 million in funding for much needed building repairs on the Island.\nAs part of a major 2019 funding package, Congresswoman Bustos included millions for the Rock Island Arsenal's Joint Manufacturing and Technology Center (JMTC), the conversion of Humvees into service trucks and future projects. In addition to increased federal investment in the Arsenal, the Congresswoman joined her colleagues in the Senate to announce 50 new jobs at the Arsenal in 2019. After the Congresswoman's continued advocacy, a total of 65 new human resources professionals were hired in 2020.\nAfter the pandemic hit, she joined Senators Dick Durbin and Tammy Duckworth and U.S. Army Secretary Ryan D. McCarthy to visit the Arsenal to discuss their ability to pivot to produce desperately-needed personal protective equipment.\nSUPPORTING THE CHICAGO ROCKFORD INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT\nWith a long track record of supporting the Chicago Rockford International Airport, Congresswoman Bustos founded the Air Cargo Caucus in 2019 to allow members of Congress and industry leaders the opportunity to collaborate, share ideas and foster relationships. In May, Congresswoman Bustos announced $9 million in federal funding for the airport, and later announced additional $11 million in grant funding to rehabilitate the airport's taxis and runways.\nCongresswoman Bustos also helped secure $10 million for aviation workforce development grants for the aircraft pilot workforce and aviation maintenance workforce, in order to address the skills gap in the industry and in 2020, announced another $2.6 million to reconstruct a de-icing containment facility.\nLast year, Congresswoman Bustos joined Senator Duckworth in introducing the bipartisan, bicameral Promoting Aviation Regulations for Technical training (PART) 147 Act to update the decades-old federal regulations for training aviation maintenance workers and make sure those regulations align with work that more accurately reflects what is actually done on the job. This critical aviation legislation was passed as part of the Congressional year-end package.\nSUPPORTING THE QUAD-CITIES RAIL ROUTE\nCongresswoman Bustos believes in investing in public transportation infrastructure  that's why in 2019, she was proud to announce an extension of $177 million in Federal Railroad Administration funding for the Amtrak route between Chicago and Moline, through December 31, 2024. Support for this critical rail funding passed the House as part of a major funding package in December.\nSAVING THE PEORIA AG LAB AND FIGHTING FOR OUR NATIONAL GUARD\nCongresswoman Bustos has spent this Congress tirelessly working to support the Peoria Ag Lab and Air National Guard Project's successes. She ensured that the President's budget included funding for the program after it was proposed to be eliminated. A 2019 legislative package included a requirement that the United States Department of Agriculture's Agricultural Research Service fill its vacant staff positions with permanent scientists, in order to help the Peoria Ag Lab fully staff up.\nCongresswoman Bustos also worked to protect and secure funding for the construction of a new fire station at the Peoria Air National Guard base after the funding was threatened to be diverted to construction of a Southern border wall.\nAfter fighting to save funding for the National Guard base, the Congresswoman pushed the Department of Defense to commit to leaving the Fire House funds untouched and later announced the award of a $7.8 million contract for the construction of a new Fire Crash Rescue Station at the Peoria Air National Guard.\nCongresswoman Bustos worked to include $79 million for engine enhancement packages for C-130H aircraft in a 2019 year-end package. In the 2020 NDAA bill, she worked to include authorization for continued propulsion and propeller upgrades for C-130H aircraft, such as those in operation at the 182nd Air National Guard squadron.\nCLEANING UP CORRUPTION AND STRENGTHENING OUR DEMOCRACY\nAt the beginning of this term, Congresswoman Bustos helped introduce and pass H.R. 1 the For the People Act (VIDEO), to strengthen ethics laws, end the dominance of big money in elections and make it easier for Americans to vote.\nBuilding on the For the People Act, she passed legislation to protect the sanctity of the election process, strengthen our voting infrastructure and combat foreign interference in our elections. This year, she introduced a resolution to recognize the critical role election workers played in the historic Presidential election.\nLast year, Congresswoman Bustos introduced a bipartisan, bicameral bill that would save significant taxpayer dollars by cutting down on wasteful government payments to people who have passed away or are otherwise ineligible to continue receiving these benefits. After news broke this June that the Administration had been sending stimulus checks to deceased people, Congresswoman Bustos continued to advocate for federal agencies to share data in order to avoid wasteful spending. A compromise version of this legislation passed this year as part of the year-end Congressional package.\nNAVIGATING THE COVID-19 GLOBAL PANDEMIC\nIn response to the COVID-19 pandemic, Congresswoman Bustos helped pass the most significant series of relief packages in American history. These packages invested in our health care infrastructure; supported federal, state and local public health agencies and health centers; provided billions for research and the development of vaccines, therapeutics and diagnostics; and supported the procurement of pharmaceuticals, masks, personal protective equipment and other medical supplies. Legislation included: Coronavirus Supplemental Legislation, Families First Coronavirus Response Act, Paycheck Protection Program and Health Care Enhancement Act, the CARES Act and the final pandemic relief package signed into law this week. Despite Senate Republicans' failure to act, Congresswoman Bustos also worked to pass both the Heroes Act and Heroes 2.0 in May and October, as well as legislation increasing direct payments to $2,000 yesterday.\nCongresswoman Bustos also brought resources and information directly to constituents throughout the months following the first COVID-19 cases. She hosted multiple tele-town halls with public health experts, held regional webinars for small businesses, and virtual meetings with local stakeholders, including Farm Bureaus, postal workers, child care providers, public health experts, public health departments, hospital administrators, emergency management agencies, school superintendents, faith leaders and ministers, nursing homes and food banks.\nAs frontline and essential workers faced a lack of critical child care services, Congresswoman Bustos also helped pass two major pieces of legislation to support and stabilize access to child care  the Child Care is Essential Act and the Child Care for Economic Recovery Act. Together, these critical bills work to ensure child care providers can remain open, cover increased costs, operate safely, retain employees, expand access to care and support hardworking families.\nAt Thomson and Pekin prisons, both staff and inmates faced unique challenges in navigating how the pandemic would impact each of their locations. After Thomson was initially included in a list of prison quarantine sites, Congresswoman Bustos joined Senators Durbin and Duckworth to push back and was successful in having the site removed from the list altogether. Later, when COVID-19 cases were confirmed both at Thomson and at Pekin, the Congresswoman worked to fight for testing and pressed the BOP Director on testing practices in a Congressional hearing (VIDEO). She also worked to help secure a new 25 percent relocation and recruitment incentive for Thomson Prison, in order to address long-standing understaffing at the site.\nFinally, when the USPS was threatened, putting veterans, seniors and small business owners at risk, Congresswoman Bustos met with local letter carriers (VIDEO) and helped pass the Delivering for America Act (VIDEO).\nBY THE NUMBERS\n201 (2019) + 352 (2020) = 553  Total events in the district hosted or attended by Congresswoman Bustos, including teleconferences, virtual town halls, webinars, supermarket visits, business and organization tours, Cheri on Shifts, roundtable discussions and rural library visits, in addition to book donations. Congresswoman Bustos is proud to maintain strong outreach in Peoria, Rockford, the Quad-Cities and the many communities in between.\n605 (2019) + 1,088 (2020) = 1,693  Constituent cases resolved. Congresswoman Bustos is fighting to make sure the government works for the people and is dedicated to helping Illinoisans cut through red tape at the VA, IRS and other federal agencies.\n$319,593.90 (2019) + $669, 183.48 (2020) = $988,777.38  Nearly $1 million in constituent money recovered from the Social Security Administration, the IRS and the VA, and returned to constituents in the district. Constituents having problems with any of these agencies are encouraged to reach out to one of our offices in Peoria, Rock Island or Rockford.\nCongresswoman Bustos' office was also proud to be recognized as a 2020 Democracy Awards Finalist for Constituent Services, one of only eight House offices in the nation.\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://carbajal.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=771", "Carbajal, Colleagues Demand Immediate Trump Administration Withdrawal Of Any New Oil And Gas Leases Off California Coast", "2020-12-29", "2020", "2020-12", "Democrat", "House", "CA", "Salud Carbajal", "C001112", "carbajal.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Santa Barbara, CA  In an effort to head off last minute efforts by the Trump Administration to expand offshore oil and gas drilling along the California coast, Rep. Carbajal joined a letter with 21 House colleagues from the California Delegation in expressing their strong opposition to any expansion of oil and gas drilling off the coast of California. In a letter to Department of Interior Secretary David Bernhardt, co-led by Representatives Salud Carbajal (CA-24), Alan Lowenthal (CA-47), Jared Huffman (CA-2), and Mike Levin (CA-49), the Members demand the outgoing Trump Administration immediately withdraw any new oil and gas leasing off California from consideration in any future federal program. The Members wrote, The inevitable onshore and offshore risks associated with offshore drilling impact public health, the environment, and our climate. For these reasons, every single coastal governor along the Atlantic and Pacific coasts, Republican and Democrat alike, has stood in opposition to offshore drilling. In coastal communities, where livelihoods are built around fishing, tourism, and recreation, it is critically important to guard against oil leaks or spills that could harm these ocean dependent economies and fragile marine ecosystems. The letter also points out that just three months ago President Trump, in response to loud outcry from coastal communities across the nation, issued a ten-year moratorium on offshore drilling in waters off Florida, Georgia, and South Carolina. The letter highlights California's intimate history with off shore oil drilling impacts, most notably the 1969 oil spill off the coast of Santa Barbara, California, which at the time was the largest oil spill in the United States. This tragedy killed thousands of marine mammals, fish, and birds, and oil washed up on the beaches for hundreds of miles along Central and Southern California. In the 50 years since, there have been no new oil and gas leases in California state waters and no federal leases off California for more than 35 years. The Members also highlight that the BP Deepwater Horizon disaster just 10 years ago highlights that offshore oil drilling is no safer today than it was in 1969.  While it is unlikely that the Trump Administration would be able to formalize any new leases before the Biden Administration takes office on January 20, the Members conclude their letter by demanding Secretary Bernhardt put an immediate halt during the Trump Administration's remaining time in office to any consideration of new oil and gas leasing off California. Click here to read the full text of the letter.  The letter was led by Congressmen Alan Lowenthal (CA-47), Salud Carbajal (CA-24), Jared Huffman (CA-2), and Mike Levin (CA-49). In addition, the letter was cosigned by Congressmembers Mike Thompson (CA-5), Doris O. Matsui (CA-6), Ami Bera (CA-7), Jerry McNerney (CA-9), Mark DeSaulnier (CA-11), Barbara Lee (CA-13), Ro Khanna (CA-17), Anna G. Eshoo (CA-18), Jimmy Panetta (CA-20), Julia Brownley (CA-26), Adam B. Schiff (CA-28), Grace Napolitano (CA-32), Ted W. Lieu (CA-33), Jimmy Gomez (CA-34), Karen Bass (CA-37), Maxine Waters (CA-43), Nanette Diaz Barragn (CA-44), and Juan Vargas (CA-51).\r\n ###", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://cleaver.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/congressman-cleaver-votes-to-override-president-s-veto-of-the-ndaa", "Congressman Cleaver Votes to Override Presidents Veto of the NDAA", "2020-12-29", "2020", "2020-12", "Democrat", "Senate", "MO", "Emanuel Cleaver", "C001061", "cleaver.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "(Washington, D.C.)  Last night, the House of Representatives voted to override the President's veto of the Fiscal Year 2021 National Defense Authorization Act (FY21 NDAA) by a vote of 322-87. With the requisite two-thirds majority supporting the measure, the President's veto has been overridden in the House of Representatives. United States Representative Emanuel Cleaver, II (D-MO) voted in favor of the legislation, which will provide a 3% pay raise for servicemembers, authorize and increase hazardous duty pay for servicemembers in harm's way, provide long-overdue benefits to Vietnam-era veterans exposed to Agent Orange, strengthen our nation's cybersecurity, remove all names and symbols honoring the Confederacy from Department of Defense installations, and more. The NDAA will become law if the Senate also votes to override with a two-thirds majority.\nFor 59 consecutive years, the U.S. Congress has passed the NDAA to ensure the needs of our military personnel and their families are met so that they have the tools necessary to continue defending the freedoms we hold so dearly, said Congressman Cleaver. While there are certainly provisions I would have personally taken out and others I would have liked to see included, this year's NDAA is a solid compromise that provides our military members with the pay raise and hazard pay they deserve, some critical benefits that are long-overdue, and the means to protect our nation in every field from the seas to the latest cyber threats. Despite the President's latest temper-tantrum, I'm pleased we were able to pass this critical legislation with overwhelming bipartisan support.\nIncluded in this year's NDAA was the Coordinating Oversight, Upgrading and Innovating Technology, and Examiner Reform (COUNTER) Act, a bill introduced by Congressman Cleaver to update and overhaul the Bank Secrecy Act (BSA), which dictates banks' responsibilities to help the government detect and root out illicit financial transactions from nefarious actors domestically and abroad.\nThe COUNTER Act would be the largest overhaul of the BSA since we cracked down on illicit financing following the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001, said Congressman Cleaver. This is critical to preventing money laundering and other illicit financial activity that funds nefarious actors within the United States and abroad, which has exploded with the introduction of digital banking and digital currencies. I'm proud of the work we were able to do in a bipartisan fashion that will bring our financial security infrastructure into the 21st Century and help defund the bad actors who wish to do our country harm by taking advantage of outdated safeguards.\nThe COUNTER Act would empower the U.S. Treasury Department to protect our national security and safeguard our financial systems by codifying an information-sharing program between law enforcement, financial institutions, and the Treasury Department, which will better ensure the detection and capture of illicit financial activity. In addition, the bill would close a number of loopholes that have long enabled financial crimes, positioning our national security apparatus to face the financial security challenges of tomorrow. Finally, the COUNTER Act will provide much-needed relief to small banks and credit unions by bringing outdated regulations weighing on smaller institutions into the 21st century while still reinforcing our national security.\nSome noteworthy provisions advocated by Rep. Cleaver in the FY21 NDAA include:\n Authorizing a 3% pay raise for servicemembers;\n\tProviding a long sought after health benefit for tens of thousands of Vietnam-era veterans who were exposed to Agent Orange\n\tRemoving all names, symbols, displays, monuments, and paraphernalia that honor or commemorate the Confederate States of America from all military installations;\n\tExtending paid parental leave to approximately 100,000 federal civilians who were inadvertently excluded in the FY20 NDAA, including employees at the VA, TSA, FAA, and more;\n\tSetting limits on the use of Defense Department emergency construction funds to prevent future Presidents from attempting to reallocate military construction accounts for projects which Congress has declined to appropriate funds;\n\tCreates a Chief Diversity Officer of the Department of Defense as well as a Senior Advisor for Diversity and Inclusion for each military service;\n\tCreating a Task Force on Domestic Violence and enabling victims of sexual harassment to make confidential reports outside the chain of command;\n\tCreation of an alternative fuel vehicle pilot program, which would require the Department of Defense to expand the use of hybrid and electric vehicles;\n\tRequiring the Department of Defense to submit a report on its greenhouse gas emissions from the last 10 years; and\n\tRequiring steps to ensure the Department of Defense's consumption of fossil fuels is reduced by 30% in 25 years.\n The COUNTER Act was endorsed by the following organizations: the Conference of State Bank Supervisors, Bank Policy Institute, National Association of Federal-Insured Credit Unions, Credit Union National Association, Mid-Size Bank Coalition of America, Financial Accountability & Corporate Transparency Coalition, American Bankers Association, Consumer Bankers Association, One Campaign, Financial Services Forum National Association of Realtors, Institute for International Finance, American Land Title Association, and Bankers Association for Finance and Trade.\n\nEmanuel Cleaver, II is the U.S. Representative for Missouri's Fifth Congressional District, which includes Kansas City, Independence, Lee's Summit, Raytown, Grandview, Sugar Creek, Blue Springs, Grain Valley, Oak Grove, North Kansas City, Gladstone, Claycomo, and all of Ray, Lafayette, and Saline Counties. He is a member of the exclusive House Financial Services Committee; Chairman of the House Subcommittee on National Security, International Development, and Monetary Policy; member of the Select Committee on the Modernization of Congress; member of the Committee on Homeland Security; and a Senior Whip of the Democratic Caucus. For more information, please contact Matt Helfant at 202-590-0175 or Matthew.Helfant@mail.house.gov A high-resolution photo of Congressman Cleaver is available here.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://dankildee.house.gov/media/press-releases/coronavirus-daily-update-december-29", "Coronavirus Daily Update: December 29", "2020-12-29", "2020", "2020-12", "Democrat", "Senate", "MI", "Dan Kildee", "K000380", "dankildee.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Tuesday, December 29, 2020\nDear Constituent\nThe coronavirus pandemic is developing very quickly, and I know many people have questions and concerns. I will try to answer some of them below.\nThese are incredibly stressful times for all Michiganders. I am working, along with my staff, around the clock, seven days a week to answer your questions, provide community resources and provide up-to-date, accurate information. Please do not hesitate to reach out to my office anytime by calling (810) 238-8627.\nThe Michigan Department of Health and Human Services (MDHHS) has updated the epidemic order that restricts indoor social gatherings and other group activities, to allow indoor activities where Michiganders can remain masked, including in-person learning at high schools and indoor entertainment venues. Indoor dining is still prohibited. This order is effective December 21, 2020 through January 15, 2021. More information can be foundhere.\nThe Pure Michigan Small Business Relief Initiativewill provide $10 million in grants to meet the needs of Michigan small businesses impacted the COVID-19 virus. Applications for businesses to apply will open on December 15, 2020. Grants will be awarded in the amount of up to $15,000 per eligible business. More information can be foundhere.\nThe Unemployment Insurance Agency (UIA) provided additional guidance to workers and employers who may be affected COVID-19. Michiganders who were on unemployment, went back to work, and are now temporarily unemployed again due to COVID-19 can reopen their claim online. More information can be foundhere.\n\nLEGISLATIVE UPDATE\nOn December 21, Congress passed theConsolidated Appropriations Act of 2021, which includes a nearly $1 trillion emergency relief packageto support American workers, families and small businesses during the coronavirus pandemic. More information can be foundhere.\nOn October 1, the U.S. House of Representatives passed an updatedversionThe Heroes Act. Thesenewprovisions are essential to supporting our schools, small businesses, restaurants, performance spaces, airline workers and others.More information can be foundhere.\nOn August 22, the U.S. House of Representatives passedThe Delivering for America Act, to fund the U.S. Postal Service and prohibit changes to operations until the pandemic has ended. More information can be foundhere.\nOn May 12, the U.S. House of Representatives passedThe Heroes Act.TheHeroes Actincludes a number of key policies I have advocated for, including additional direct payments to families and seniors, expanding unemployment insurance, increasing the Earned Income Tax Credit and the Child Tax Credit, and funding to prevent water shutoffs. More information can be foundhere.\nOn May 15, I introduced a bipartisan bill,TheRecharge and Empower Local Innovation and Entrepreneurs Fund for Main Street Act(RELIEF for Main Street Act), with Reps. Evans (D-PA), Fitzpatrick (R-PA) and Upton (R-MI). The billcreates a $50.5 billion Small Business Local Relief Program to provide direct federal support to cities, counties and states in order to seed and scale local relief funds and target smallbusinesses with 20 employees or fewer, orwith 50 employees or fewer located in low-income neighborhoods. More information can be foundhere.\nCongress has also passedtheCoronavirus Preparedness and Response Supplemental Appropriations Act,TheCARES Act,Families First Coronavirus Response Actand thePaycheck Protection Program and Health Care Enhancement Actto help families and health care facilities respond to the coronavirus pandemic.\n\nCORONAVIRUS TESTING UPDATE\nThe Governor has expanded testing opportunities for Michiganders to access testing in their own backyards. More information can be foundhere.\nThe U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has launched a website and app with a coronavirus screening tool and resources to help people protect their health. The website can be foundhereand the app can be accessedhere.\n\nUNEMPLOYMENT INSURANCE RESOURCES UPDATE\nGovernor Whitmer signed bipartisan bills restoring many unemployment provisions from her previous executive orders, including extending state unemployment benefits for Michiganders who have lost work as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic from 20 to 26 weeks until the end of the year. More information can be foundhere.\nUIA is now offering telephone appointments for customers with specific claim issues. By scheduling a phone appointment, customers will be able to get assistance with issues at their convenience. Phone appointments are available Monday through Friday from 8:15 a.m.  4:25 p.m. More information can be foundhere.\nThe last federal $600 weekly unemployment benefit was paid to Michiganders on July 25. The U.S. Federal Emergency Management Administration (FEMA) provided the state funding to provide six weeks of an additional $300 per week unemployment benefit, covering dates July 26 through September 5. To qualify, claimants must self-certify that they are unemployed or partially unemployed due to COVID-19.More information can be foundhere.\nAdditionally, unemployed Michiganders who have exhausted their regular and extended weeks of unemployment eligibility will receive up to 20 weeks of additional benefits, through the Federal Extended Benefits program. More information can be foundhere.\nOn May 1, I introducedTheStrengthening UI for COVID Impacted Workers and StudentsActto expand unemployment insurance for American workers, which was included inThe Heroes Act. For more information, visithere.\nUnemployment Insurance Benefits: Individuals should apply online atwww.Michigan.gov/UIAor call 866-500-0017 and are encouraged to follow afiling schedulebased on last name and use off-peak times (8 p.m.  8 a.m). The UIA offersresourcesto help workers resolve online technical issues with their account. More information can be foundhere.\n\nHOUSING UPDATE\nGovernor Whitmer created the Eviction Diversion Program, which outlines a process for renters to get fast rental assistance or establish a manageable payment plan to help them stay in their homes. The program also includes assistance to landlords. More information can be foundhere.\nThe Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB), the Federal Housing Finance Agency (FHFA) and the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) have a website to help renters and homeowners understand their housing assistance options. This includes information on mortgage and rental relief as well as resources for additional help that may be needed. More information can be foundhere. The CFPB has also put out a step by step videoherefor homeowners that are interested in mortgage forbearance.\nThe CDC has issued a moratorium on evictions of renters through December 31, 2020 based on non-payment of rent. For individuals that have questions on how this moratorium works or how they can access help, the National Low Income Housing Coalition has put together an overview of the orderhere, while Michigan Legal Help has more tools and informationhere.\n\nCOMMUNITY RESOURCES UPDATE\nThe Pure Michigan Small Business Relief Initiativewill provide $10 million in grants to meet the needs of Michigan small businesses impacted the COVID-19 virus. Applications for businesses to apply will open on December 15, 2020. Grants will be awarded in the amount of up to $15,000 per eligible business. More information can be foundhere.\nThe SBA has put out a step by step guide for businesses with a PPP loan on how to apply for loan forgiveness. More information can be foundhere.\nThe Governor launched the Futures for Frontliners' program, a tuition-free path to community college for essential, frontline workers who continued working during the COVID-19 Stay Home, Stay Safe orders between April  June 2020. Those eligible must apply for this scholarship before the end of the year. More information can be foundhere.\nThe Governor announced low-income residents, seniors, schools and homeless shelters will benefit from the MI Mask Aid partnership that is part of the Mask Up Michigan Campaign. More information can be foundhere.\nPersonal Protective Equipment: The Michigan Economic Development Corporation has launched a platform to help re-opening businesses acquire PPE. More information can be foundhere.\nMichigan's Virtual Food Bank:Seniors in need of food support cansign up for assistance, including meal delivery, delivery of non-perishable food items, and daily wellness-check calls, through the MDHHS coronavirus website, or by contacting their localArea Agency on Aging. More information on the virtual food bank can be foundhere.\nFlint Cares Help Centers: The city of Flint is offering resources and services including bottled water and food assistance. Services will continue to be provided from two semi-trailers staged in church parking lots across the city to distribute items directly to cars as residents drive through. For more information please call 810-410-2020 or visithere.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://delbene.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=2689", "DelBene Announces 2020 Congressional App Challenge Winner", "2020-12-29", "2020", "2020-12", "Democrat", "House", "WA", "Suzan DelBene", "D000617", "delbene.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "DelBene Announces 2020 Congressional App Challenge Winner \r\n   \r\n    \r\n       \r\n      \r\n  \r\n    \r\n      f \r\n      t \r\n      #\r\n      e\r\n      \r\n      \r\n    \r\n    \r\n      \r\n        Kirkland, WA,\r\n        December 29, 2020\r\n      \r\n       \r\n    \r\n  \r\n  \r\n  \r\n  \r\n  \r\n  \r\n  \r\n    \r\n      \r\n      \r\n      Congresswoman Suzan DelBene (WA-01) today announced the winner of the 2020 Congressional App Challenge from Washington's 1st Congressional District. The winning app, called Distancing Camera, was created by Pierce Zhang, Sidharth Ganesh, and Trung Pham of Tesla STEM High School.\r\nTheir app is designed to make social distancing easier by warning users if others are too close. The app uses a phone's camera to measure the distance between the phone and other people or the distance between two people in its view. The app alerts the user if social distancing is being violated in either case. A demo of Distancing Camera can be found here.\r\nAs a tech leader before coming to Congress, I know firsthand that innovation requires creative entrepreneurs, said DelBene. I am immensely proud of the students from Washington's 1st Congressional District for their ingenuity, and I thank all those who entered this year's App Challenge for their willingness to share their hard work with us. This year's winner designed and created a useful tool with timely application to the current public health crisis. Congratulations on all your hard work.\r\nThe winning app was selected by a panel of impartial judges. Distancing Camera will now go on display in the U.S. Capitol for one year, along with winning apps from other congressional districts.\r\nDelBene has been a Co-chair of the Congressional App Challenge since 2018.\r\n    \r\n  \r\n  \r\n  \r\n    \r\n      f \r\n      t \r\n      #\r\n      e", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://doggett.house.gov/media-center/in-the-news/washington-dc-wric-americans-are-hopeful-covid-19-vaccines-will-make-2021", "ABC News8: Congressman calls for FDA to continue vaccine trials", "2020-12-29", "2020", "2020-12", "Democrat", "Senate", "TX", "Lloyd Doggett", "D000399", "doggett.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "WASHINGTON, D.C. (WRIC)  Americans are hopeful that the COVID-19 vaccines will make 2021 a better year than 2020. However, there are concerns that Pfizer and Moderna will stop their clinical trials and immediately treat everyone in their placebo group.\nSome scientists, doctors and now a Congressman argues that can be dangerous because they said there is still so much unknown about the vaccines.\nRep. Lloyd Doggett of Texas wrote a letter to the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) urging for the clinical trials to continue.\nthe continuation of clinical trials is critical to our understanding of the efficacy and length of immunity the vaccines offer, Doggett wrote.\nIn the letter, Doggett said while the initial results received from Pfizer and Moderna are showing positive results, it's not definitive given the limited data.\nClinical trials have suffered from a lack of diverse participant enrollment and evaluation of subpopulations, Doggett said. Including individuals with comorbidities, children, pregnant and breastfeeding patients, long-term care residents and individuals with diverse racial and ethnic backgrounds.\nDiana Zuckerman, President of the National Center for Health Research, a non-partisan think tank in Washington D.C., agrees that the clinical trials should continue. She said healthcare workers who volunteered for the clinical trials should have immediate access to the vaccine if they want it.\nLike most public health experts, I've been very concerned that Pfizer and Moderna told the FDA that they want to stop their clinical trials of the COVID vaccine and instead immediately inoculate everyone in their placebo groups, Zuckerman said. While I understand the desire to reward the clinical trial volunteers for their service, it would be a huge loss of information from a public health point of view. Losing the placebo group means we'd have no way to scientifically determine which of the vaccines  if any  have 95% efficacy rates that last more than 2 or 3 months. Or how long the vaccine works on people over 75.\nZuckerman added the people who volunteer for the clinical trials shouldn't be vaccinated before those in priority groups such as teachers, essential workers, etc.\nSince many of the study volunteers are young and healthy, it also seems unfair for them to cut in line for a vaccine while healthcare workers and others at high risk are still waiting their turn, she said.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://khanna.house.gov/media/in-the-news/19-house-democrats-join-ro-khanna-voting-against-bloated-military-budget", "19 House Democrats Join Ro Khanna in Voting Against Bloated Military Budget", "2020-12-29", "2020", "2020-12", "Democrat", "House", "CA", "Ro Khanna", "K000389", "khanna.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Just 20 House Democrats opted to break with their party and their Republican counterparts late Monday to vote against overriding President Donald Trump's veto of the National Defense Authorization Act, a sprawling bill that greenlights over $740 billion in military spending for fiscal year 2021.\nRep. Ro Khanna (D-Calif.), one the few House Democrats who voted against overriding the president's NDAA veto,applaudedhis colleagues for having the courage tonight to vote no on the bloated defense budget.\nThey are changing the culture of endless war and calling for more investment instead in the American people, said Khanna.\nThe veto override ultimately succeeded in the House by a322-87margin and now heads to the Senate, where Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) and other members of the Democratic caucus arethreatening to hold upthe NDAA in an effort to force a vote on $2,000 direct payments.\n\nHere are the 20 Democrats who voted against overriding Trump's NDAA veto: Reps. Earl Blumenauer (Ore.), Suzanne Bonamici (Ore.), Yvette Clarke (N.Y.), Mark DeSaulnier (Calif.), Adriano Espaillat (N.Y.), Tulsi Gabbard (Hawaii), Jess Garca (Ill.), Jimmy Gomez (Calif.), Jared Huffman (Calif.), Pramila Jayapal (Wash.), Joe Kennedy (Mass.), Ro Khanna (Calif.), Barbara Lee (Calif.), Jim McGovern (Mass.), Grace Meng (N.Y.), Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (N.Y.), Ilhan Omar (Minn.), Mark Pocan (Wis.), Ayanna Pressley (Mass.), and Rashida Tlaib (Mich.).\nNearly 70 House Republicans also voted against the veto override, but more out ofallegiance to the presidentthan opposition to out-of-control military spending.\nTrump vetoed the NDAA last week not because of the bloated military budget, but rather because he objected to the exclusion of a repeal of Section 230 of the Communications Decency Act and inclusion of a provision ordering the Pentagon to rename military installations named after Confederate generals.\nIn aninterviewonDemocracy Now!ahead of Monday's vote, Khanna said that while Trump's reasons for opposing the NDAA don't align with progressive objections, the bottom line is, $740 billion is way too much defense spending.\nWe're spending money on the modernization of nuclear weapons. And we can't find money to get food in to people who need it? Khanna said. We can't find money to get more rental assistance for folks who are going to face evictions? We can't find money to get $2,000 into the pockets of Americans? The priorities are wrong, and so I'm not going to vote to override his veto.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://langevin.house.gov/press-release/langevin-votes-override-trump-veto-defense-bill", "Langevin Votes to Override Trump Veto of Defense Bill", "2020-12-29", "2020", "2020-12", "Democrat", "Senate", "RI", "Jim Langevin", "L000559", "langevin.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "WARWICK, R.I.  Congressman Jim Langevin (D-RI), a senior member of the House Armed Services Committee and a member of the Cyberspace Solarium Commission, today voted to override President Trump's veto of the Fiscal Year 2021 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA). The measure passed the House by a vote of 322-87. The following statement may be attributed to Congressman Langevin:\nFor sixty consecutive years, members of Congress have reached across the aisle to pass a bipartisan defense bill to ensure our country is protected against threats and that our service members and their families are adequately supported. This year's national defense authorization bill contains critical provisions to provide well-deserved pay raises for troops, support programs vital to national security like the Virginia-class submarines built in Rhode Island, and promoteinclusiveness and diversity among our armed forces.\nIn the wake of what could be one of the most consequential cyber intrusions in our nation's history, this bill also contains several provisions I authored to better defend Americans and our systems against evolving cyber threats. Most notably, this bill will establish a National Cyber Director to ensure there is someone leading cyber policy andstrategy development and coordinating incident response in the Executive Office of the President. Having someone in charge of cybersecurity at the highest levels of government is critical to help prevent an incident of significant consequence that could impact our economy and our way of life.\nUnfortunately, despite these important victories, the President chose to veto this bill. By vetoing the National Defense Authorization Act, the President offered a parting gift to our adversaries. Tonight, Congress has voted to override the President's veto because we won't allow him to undermine our nation's readiness and because we refuse to turn our backs on our troops who sacrifice so much. I'm glad that the House could once again put politics aside and prioritize the common defense.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://lawson.house.gov/media/press-releases/rep-lawson-returns-more-than-24-million-to-north-florida-families", "Rep. Lawson Returns More than $2.4 Million to North Florida Families", "2020-12-29", "2020", "2020-12", "Democrat", "House", "FL", "Al Lawson", "L000586", "lawson.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "December 29, 2020\n\t\t\t Rep. Lawson Returns More than $2.4 Million to North Florida Families \n\t\t\tWASHINGTON DC U.S. Rep. Al Lawson (FL-05) announced that this year, his office has helped to return more than $2.4 million owed to the citizens of Florida's Fifth Congressional from the federal government.\r\nSince January 2020, his office worked to close more than 200 cases and ensured that North Florida residents receive their long-awaited financial reimbursement from several federal agencies. A few of the top agencies include the Social Security Administration, Internal Revenue Service, FEMA and Veterans Affairs. \r\nThere are many reasons as to why a person's case may become stagnant, but my team and I have worked hard to break the federal logjam and help citizens of our community get their cases reactivated, back on track or even expedited, Rep. Lawson said.\r\nJacksonville native Brian Salter was involuntarily separated from his job with the Navy after 14 years of service. He reached out to Rep. Lawson's office because after a year without separation pay, he was still not being helped. His staff placed multiple inquiries to the Navy, to the Defense Finance and Accounting Service (DFAS), and the Board of Corrections, and were able to get Salter's case reviewed and approved quickly. Salters was awarded 14 years' worth of back separation pay.\r\nSince I was involuntarily separated with an honorable discharge, I was entitled to Involuntary Separation Pay, Salter said. I was supposed to receive those funds immediately  within a week or two after separation from active duty service. I turned to Congressman Al Lawson for help. Sherry, my caseworker, fought for me for 18 months. I don't think I would have been able to get this pay if it wasn't for her sheer tenacity and dedication to my case. I cannot express my gratitude enough. I am happy I turned to Congressman Lawson's office for help with my case.\r\nIndividuals seeking help with a federal agency  such as backlogged veterans' benefits, stalled tax refunds, issues with social security, the postal service or the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services, should call my office at 904-354-1652 (Jacksonville), 850-558-9450 (Tallahassee)or visithttps://lawson.house.gov/services/help-with-a-federal-agency.\r\nTotal Number of Cases: 200\r\nGrand Total Amount Saved: $2,467,927 \n\t\n\t  \n\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\n\t    \t  \n\t\t    \n\t\t    \tPrevious Article", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://lowenthal.house.gov/media/press-releases/congressman-lowenthal-colleagues-demand-immediate-trump-administration", "Congressman Lowenthal, Colleagues, Demand Immediate Trump Administration Withdrawal Of Any New Oil And Gas Leases Off California Coast", "2020-12-29", "2020", "2020-12", "Democrat", "House", "CA", "Alan Lowenthal", "L000579", "lowenthal.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "In an effort to head off last minute lame-duck Trump Administration efforts to expand offshore oil and gas drilling along the California coast, Congressman Alan Lowenthal (CA-47), today, led a letter with 21 of his House colleagues from the California Delegation in expressing their strong opposition to any expansion of oil and gas drilling off the coast of California. In a letter to Department of Interior Secretary David Bernhardt, co-led by Congressmen Salud Carbajal (CA-24), Jared Huffman (CA-2), and Mike Levin (CA-49), the Members demand the outgoing Trump Administration immediately withdraw any new oil and gas leasing off California from consideration in any future federal program. The Members wrote, The inevitable onshore and offshore risks associated with offshore drilling impact public health, the environment, and our climate. For these reasons, every single coastal governor along the Atlantic and Pacific coasts, Republican and Democrat alike, has stood in opposition to offshore drilling. In coastal communities, where livelihoods are built around fishing, tourism, and recreation, it is critically important to guard against oil leaks or spills that could harm these ocean dependent economies and fragile marine ecosystems. The letter also points out that just three months ago President Trump, in response to loud outcry from coastal communities across the nation, issued a ten-year moratorium on offshore drilling in waters off Florida, Georgia, and South Carolina. The letter highlights California's intimate history with off shore oil drilling impacts, most notably the 1969 oil spill off the coast of Santa Barbara, California, which at the time was the largest oil spill in the United States. This tragedy killed thousands of marine mammals, fish, and birds, and oil washed up on the beaches for hundreds of miles along Central and Southern California. In the 50 years since, there have been no new oil and gas leases in California state waters and no federal leases off California for more than 35 years. The Members also highlight that the BP Deepwater Horizon disaster just 10 years ago highlights that offshore oil drilling is no safer today than it was in 1969. While it is unlikely that the Trump Administration would be able to formalize any new leases before the Biden Administration takes office on January 20, the Members conclude their letter by demanding Secretary Bernhardt put an immediate halt during the Trump Administration's remaining time in office to any consideration of new oil and gas leasing off California. Click here to read the full text of the letter. The letter was led by Congressmen Lowenthal, Salud Carbajal (CA-24), Jared Huffman (CA-2), and Mike Levin (CA-49). In addition, the letter was cosigned by Congressmembers Mike Thompson (CA-5), Doris O. Matsui (CA-6), Ami Bera (CA-7), Jerry McNerney (CA-9), Mark DeSaulnier (CA-11), Barbara Lee (CA-13), Ro Khanna (CA-17), Anna G. Eshoo (CA-18), Jimmy Panetta (CA-20), Julia Brownley (CA-26), Adam B. Schiff (CA-28), Grace Napolitano (CA-32), Ted W. Lieu (CA-33), Jimmy Gomez (CA-34), Karen Bass (CA-37), Maxine Waters (CA-43), Nanette Diaz Barragn (CA-44), and Juan Vargas (CA-51).", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"]], "truncated": false, "filtered_table_rows_count": 48900, "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 \"year\" = :p1 order by date desc limit 101", "params": {"p0": "Democrat", "p1": "2020"}}, "facet_results": {"party": {"name": "party", "type": "column", "hideable": false, "toggle_url": "/press/releases.json?party=Democrat&year=2020", "results": [{"value": "Democrat", "label": "Democrat", "count": 48900, "toggle_url": "http://dpwillis-congress-press-search.hf.space/press/releases.json?year=2020", "selected": true}], "truncated": false}, "chamber": {"name": "chamber", "type": "column", "hideable": false, "toggle_url": "/press/releases.json?party=Democrat&year=2020", "results": [{"value": "House", "label": "House", "count": 44350, "toggle_url": "http://dpwillis-congress-press-search.hf.space/press/releases.json?party=Democrat&year=2020&chamber=House", "selected": false}, {"value": "Senate", "label": "Senate", "count": 4550, "toggle_url": "http://dpwillis-congress-press-search.hf.space/press/releases.json?party=Democrat&year=2020&chamber=Senate", "selected": false}], "truncated": false}, "state": {"name": "state", "type": "column", "hideable": false, "toggle_url": "/press/releases.json?party=Democrat&year=2020", "results": [{"value": "CA", "label": "CA", "count": 6842, "toggle_url": "http://dpwillis-congress-press-search.hf.space/press/releases.json?party=Democrat&year=2020&state=CA", "selected": false}, {"value": "MD", "label": "MD", "count": 3300, "toggle_url": "http://dpwillis-congress-press-search.hf.space/press/releases.json?party=Democrat&year=2020&state=MD", "selected": false}, {"value": "NY", "label": "NY", "count": 3172, "toggle_url": "http://dpwillis-congress-press-search.hf.space/press/releases.json?party=Democrat&year=2020&state=NY", "selected": false}, {"value": "MA", "label": "MA", "count": 3063, "toggle_url": "http://dpwillis-congress-press-search.hf.space/press/releases.json?party=Democrat&year=2020&state=MA", "selected": false}, {"value": "NJ", "label": "NJ", "count": 2701, "toggle_url": "http://dpwillis-congress-press-search.hf.space/press/releases.json?party=Democrat&year=2020&state=NJ", "selected": false}, {"value": "IL", "label": "IL", "count": 2678, "toggle_url": "http://dpwillis-congress-press-search.hf.space/press/releases.json?party=Democrat&year=2020&state=IL", "selected": false}, {"value": "VA", "label": "VA", "count": 2045, "toggle_url": "http://dpwillis-congress-press-search.hf.space/press/releases.json?party=Democrat&year=2020&state=VA", "selected": false}, {"value": "TX", "label": "TX", "count": 1689, "toggle_url": "http://dpwillis-congress-press-search.hf.space/press/releases.json?party=Democrat&year=2020&state=TX", "selected": false}, {"value": "MI", "label": "MI", "count": 1677, "toggle_url": "http://dpwillis-congress-press-search.hf.space/press/releases.json?party=Democrat&year=2020&state=MI", "selected": false}, {"value": "CT", "label": "CT", "count": 1606, "toggle_url": "http://dpwillis-congress-press-search.hf.space/press/releases.json?party=Democrat&year=2020&state=CT", "selected": false}, {"value": "OR", "label": "OR", "count": 1592, "toggle_url": "http://dpwillis-congress-press-search.hf.space/press/releases.json?party=Democrat&year=2020&state=OR", "selected": false}, {"value": "OH", "label": "OH", "count": 1300, "toggle_url": "http://dpwillis-congress-press-search.hf.space/press/releases.json?party=Democrat&year=2020&state=OH", "selected": false}, {"value": "FL", "label": "FL", "count": 1213, "toggle_url": "http://dpwillis-congress-press-search.hf.space/press/releases.json?party=Democrat&year=2020&state=FL", "selected": false}, {"value": "WA", "label": "WA", "count": 1180, "toggle_url": "http://dpwillis-congress-press-search.hf.space/press/releases.json?party=Democrat&year=2020&state=WA", "selected": false}, {"value": "NM", "label": "NM", "count": 1121, "toggle_url": "http://dpwillis-congress-press-search.hf.space/press/releases.json?party=Democrat&year=2020&state=NM", "selected": false}, {"value": "PA", "label": "PA", "count": 972, "toggle_url": "http://dpwillis-congress-press-search.hf.space/press/releases.json?party=Democrat&year=2020&state=PA", "selected": false}, {"value": "NH", "label": "NH", "count": 965, "toggle_url": "http://dpwillis-congress-press-search.hf.space/press/releases.json?party=Democrat&year=2020&state=NH", "selected": false}, {"value": "MN", "label": "MN", "count": 962, "toggle_url": "http://dpwillis-congress-press-search.hf.space/press/releases.json?party=Democrat&year=2020&state=MN", "selected": false}, {"value": "HI", "label": "HI", "count": 926, "toggle_url": "http://dpwillis-congress-press-search.hf.space/press/releases.json?party=Democrat&year=2020&state=HI", "selected": false}, {"value": "RI", "label": "RI", "count": 902, "toggle_url": "http://dpwillis-congress-press-search.hf.space/press/releases.json?party=Democrat&year=2020&state=RI", "selected": false}, {"value": "CO", "label": "CO", "count": 901, "toggle_url": "http://dpwillis-congress-press-search.hf.space/press/releases.json?party=Democrat&year=2020&state=CO", "selected": false}, {"value": "AZ", "label": "AZ", "count": 865, "toggle_url": "http://dpwillis-congress-press-search.hf.space/press/releases.json?party=Democrat&year=2020&state=AZ", "selected": false}, {"value": "NV", "label": "NV", "count": 783, "toggle_url": "http://dpwillis-congress-press-search.hf.space/press/releases.json?party=Democrat&year=2020&state=NV", "selected": false}, {"value": "WI", "label": "WI", "count": 768, "toggle_url": "http://dpwillis-congress-press-search.hf.space/press/releases.json?party=Democrat&year=2020&state=WI", "selected": false}, {"value": "DE", "label": "DE", "count": 643, "toggle_url": "http://dpwillis-congress-press-search.hf.space/press/releases.json?party=Democrat&year=2020&state=DE", "selected": false}, {"value": "MT", "label": "MT", "count": 544, "toggle_url": "http://dpwillis-congress-press-search.hf.space/press/releases.json?party=Democrat&year=2020&state=MT", "selected": false}, {"value": "GA", "label": "GA", "count": 476, "toggle_url": "http://dpwillis-congress-press-search.hf.space/press/releases.json?party=Democrat&year=2020&state=GA", "selected": false}, {"value": "WV", "label": "WV", "count": 456, "toggle_url": "http://dpwillis-congress-press-search.hf.space/press/releases.json?party=Democrat&year=2020&state=WV", "selected": false}, {"value": "TN", "label": "TN", "count": 442, "toggle_url": "http://dpwillis-congress-press-search.hf.space/press/releases.json?party=Democrat&year=2020&state=TN", "selected": false}, {"value": "MP", "label": "MP", "count": 434, "toggle_url": "http://dpwillis-congress-press-search.hf.space/press/releases.json?party=Democrat&year=2020&state=MP", "selected": false}], "truncated": true}, "year": {"name": "year", "type": "column", "hideable": false, "toggle_url": "/press/releases.json?party=Democrat&year=2020", "results": [{"value": "2020", "label": "2020", "count": 48900, "toggle_url": "http://dpwillis-congress-press-search.hf.space/press/releases.json?party=Democrat", "selected": true}], "truncated": false}}, "suggested_facets": [], "next": "2020-12-29,https~3A~2F~2Flowenthal~2Ehouse~2Egov~2Fmedia~2Fpress-releases~2Fcongressman-lowenthal-colleagues-demand-immediate-trump-administration", "next_url": "http://dpwillis-congress-press-search.hf.space/press/releases.json?party=Democrat&year=2020&_next=2020-12-29%2Chttps~3A~2F~2Flowenthal~2Ehouse~2Egov~2Fmedia~2Fpress-releases~2Fcongressman-lowenthal-colleagues-demand-immediate-trump-administration&_sort_desc=date", "private": false, "allow_execute_sql": true, "query_ms": 1743.54642117396, "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"}