{"database": "press", "table": "releases", "is_view": false, "human_description_en": "where party = \"Republican\", state = \"IN\" and year = 2016 sorted by date descending", "rows": [["https://walorski.house.gov/walorski-statement-on-secretary-kerry-speech/", "Walorski Statement on Secretary Kerry Speech", "2016-12-28", "2016", "2016-12", "Republican", "House", "IN", "Jackie Walorski", "W000813", "walorski.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Wednesday, December 28, 2016\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t Walorski Statement on Secretary Kerry Speech \n Secretary Kerry's comments  represent yet another blow to Israel in the final days of the Obama presidency. \nMISHAWAKA, Ind.  U.S. Rep. Jackie Walorski (IN-02) today released the following statement after Secretary of State John Kerry in a speech defended the Obama administration's refusal to veto a United Nations Security Council resolution that condemned Israeli settlements:\nSecretary Kerry's comments today, coming on the heels of the Obama administration's abstention on the U.N. Security Council's disgraceful anti-Israel resolution, represent yet another blow to Israel in the final days of the Obama presidency. These comments show why we need new leadership in the White House, and I look forward to working with President-elect Trump to provide real, substantive support to our good friend and ally Israel.\nWalorski represents the 2nd Congressional District of Indiana, serving as a member of the House Veterans' Affairs Committee, House Armed Services Committee and House Committee on Agriculture.\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["http://rokita.house.gov/editorial/12-23-2016-rokita-report", "12-23-2016 Rokita Report", "2016-12-23", "2016", "2016-12", "Republican", "House", "IN", "Todd Rokita", "R000592", "rokita.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Dear Friend,\nThank you for the opportunity to update you on the work of the 114th Congress.\u00a0 I trust this finds you and your family well, as we work together to bring Hoosier common sense to Washington.\nFor daily updates, please take a moment to \"Like\" my Facebook page by clicking here \u00a0or follow me on Twitter if you prefer \u00a0@ToddRokita.\n \u00a0 \n   In this week's Rokita Report \n Another Congressman Gets\u00a0a Lump of Coal - And Celebrates Fossil Fuels\nBill of Rights Day; Honoring Our First and Second Amendments\nIndiana Thank You Tour\nOffice Open House for the 115th Congress\n  \u00a0 \n  Another Congressman Gets a Lump of Coal - And Celebrates Fossil Fuels\nIn Mooresville, I was presented with a lump of coal for Christmas from Carolyn whose father was a coal miner.\nDuring my Thank You Tour, I visited Ralph and Ava's Caf\u00e9 in Mooresville and\u00a0was given a bag of coal.\u00a0 Children may get coal when Santa knows they haven't been well behaved in the course of a year, but I recognize the value of coal and other fossil fuels.\nCoal is Indiana's primary energy source.\u00a0 More than three-fourths of our electricity comes from coal-powered plants and nine of our state's ten largest power plants are coal-fired.\u00a0 It is a local energy source too with about 60% of the coal we burn coming from Indiana.\u00a0 We use other fossil fuels for our electrical and transportation needs - including natural gas, oil, and propane.\nBecause fossil fuels are an important part of our lives, I support smart policies on their use.\u00a0 I have opposed the Clean Power Plan because it would drive up electric prices by 16% per year.\u00a0 They also represent an important component for all of the above energy policy - coal is abundantly found in Indiana.\u00a0 I am excited that next year, we will have a pro-coal administration.\u00a0 President-elect Donald Trump has made clear his support for fossil fuels.\n  Bill of Rights Day\nOn December 15, 1791, the Bill of Rights was\u00a0adopted.\u00a0 The Bill of Rights consists of the first ten amendments to the U.S. Constitution.\u00a0 These amendments were written by James Madison and provide\u00a0constitutional protections for individual liberties and places specific prohibitions on government power.\nOn Bill of Rights Day, I was reminded of the news from Knightstown, Indiana.\u00a0 Hoosiers in Knightstown are witnessing an\u00a0attempt to undermine our constitutional protections.\u00a0 The American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) has sued the town over a cross displayed\u00a0on the top the Christmas Tree.\u00a0\u00a0The First Amendment is meant to protect the practice of religion, not hide it.\u00a0 This lawsuit is ridiculous.\u00a0 The accurate meaning of the First Amendment must be reapplied in our schools and civic institutions.\u00a0\u00a0\nThe text of the amendment says that \"Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances.\"\u00a0 The return of the cross to the three this week is a positive step, but the ACLU continues to prevent the cross from being displayed at the top of the tree.\u00a0\nThe Knightstown Christmas Tree before the ACLU sued to remove the cross.\nAs part of Bill of Rights Day, I took my Thank You Tour to Fort Liberty Firearms in Avon.\u00a0 Our Second Amendment states that \"a well regulated Militia, being necessary to the security of a free State, the right of the people to keep and bear Arms, shall not be infringed.\"\u00a0 In fact, I read our Second Amendment on the floor of the U.S. House in January to remind Washington that the Second Amendment\u00a0protects a right that cannot be taken away by an executive pen.\u00a0 The crowd at Fort Liberty Firearms was ready for President-elect Donald J. Trump to work with a Republican\u00a0Congress to defend the Second Amendment.\nThanks to Doug Hunter, owner of Fort Liberty Firearms, for hosting me on Bill of Rights Day.\n  Indiana Thank You Tour\nOn Thursday, I visited\u00a0Hendricks and Morgan Counties as part of my Thank You Tour.\u00a0 The Thank You Tour included stops in 16 cities, covering over 626 miles of travel within Indiana\u2019s Fourth Congressional District.\u00a0 At each stop, I met with Hoosiers to take their questions and thank them for the opportunity to continue representing and serving\u00a0them in the U.S. House of Representatives.\nRepresenting Hoosiers as a Member of Congress has been the highest honor of my life, and I am grateful for the opportunity to continue serving them.\u00a0 As an elected official, I get my marching orders from my constituents, and meetings like those on this tour\u00a0are a great way to hear the needs and thoughts of Hoosiers from across the district.\nThank You Tour Stops\nNovember 21  \n\t\t\t\t\tBrownsburg  \n\t\t\t\t\tGreencastle  \n\t\t\t\t\tCrawfordsville  \n\t\t\t\t\tLafayette  \n\t\t\t\t\tMonticello  \n\t\t\t\t\tDelphi  \n\t\t\t\t\tFrankfort  \n\t\t\t\t\tLebanon\nDecember 12  \n\t\t\t\t\tRussiaville  \n\t\t\t\t\tLogansport  \n\t\t\t\t\tRensselaer  \n\t\t\t\t\tKentland  \n\t\t\t\t\tFowler\nDecember 13  \n\t\t\t\t\tKokomo\nDecember 15  \n\t\t\t\t\tAvon  \n\t\t\t\t\tMooresville\nBe sure to keep up with the Rokita Report to find out about upcoming public meetings in 2017.\n \u00a0 \n  Office Open House for the 115th Congress\nOn Tuesday, January 3, 2017, I invite you\u00a0to celebrate my swearing-in to\u00a0the 115th Congress.\u00a0 I will be hosting an Open House in\u00a0my Washington, DC office.\u00a0 Light refreshments will be served.\nSwearing-In Open House  When: Tuesday, January 3, 2017 from 10:00 AM ET to 2:00 PM ET  Where: 2439 Rayburn House Office Building\nHope to see you there!\n \u00a0 \n  Thank you for your continued interest in Congress and for supporting my efforts to bring Hoosier common sense to Washington. Take care.\u00a0\u00a0\n\t\t\t\t\tSincerely,    \n\t\t\t\t\tTodd Rokita", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["http://rokita.house.gov/press-release/rep-rokita-supports-israel-opposes-un-security-council-resolution", "REP. ROKITA SUPPORTS ISRAEL; OPPOSES UN SECURITY COUNCIL RESOLUTION", "2016-12-22", "2016", "2016-12", "Republican", "House", "IN", "Todd Rokita", "R000592", "rokita.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE  \n\tCONTACT: 202-225-5037  \n\tDecember 22, 2016\n REP. ROKITA SUPPORTS ISRAEL; OPPOSES UN SECURITY COUNCIL RESOLUTION \n\u00a0\nDanville, IN \u2013 Today, Rep. Todd Rokita released the following statement on a proposed United Nations (UN) resolution regarding Israel.\n\"The UN should work to keep peace and develop friendly relations among the nations of the world, not to defame and bully Israel.\u00a0 It is a welcome sign that this resolution has been pulled.\u00a0\n\"Because Israel is a friend and ally to the United States, the Obama Administration should take the advice of the House of Representatives and President-elect Donald Trump to veto this resolution were it to return for a vote.\"\nRep. Rokita cosponsored H.Con.Res. 165, which expresses the sense of Congress to reaffirm longstanding American policy in support of a direct bilaterally negotiated settlement of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict and expressing opposition to UN Security Council resolutions imposing a solution to the conflict.\u00a0 H.Con.Res. 165 passed the House by voice vote on November 29 and was received in the Senate.\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["http://rokita.house.gov/press-release/rep-rokita-thank-you-tour-visits-16-cities", "REP. ROKITA THANK YOU TOUR VISITS 16 CITIES", "2016-12-20", "2016", "2016-12", "Republican", "House", "IN", "Todd Rokita", "R000592", "rokita.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "REP. ROKITA THANK YOU TOUR VISITS 16 CITIES \n\u00a0\nDanville, IN \u2013 On Thursday, Rep. Rokita completed the latest leg of his Thank You Tour, visiting both Hendricks and Morgan Counties.\u00a0 The Thank You Tour included stops in 16 cities, covering over 626 miles of travel within Indiana\u2019s Fourth Congressional District.\u00a0 At each stop, Rep. Rokita met with voters and taxpayers to take their questions and thanked them for the opportunity to continue representing them in the U.S. House of Representatives.\n\u201cRepresenting Hoosiers as a Member of Congress has been the highest honor of my life, and I am grateful for the opportunity to continue serving them.\u00a0 As an elected official, I get my marching orders from my constituents, and meetings like these are a great way to hear the needs and thoughts of Hoosiers from across the district.\u201d\nRep. Rokita regularly conducts these tours throughout the district in addition to multiple stops in each county throughout the year.\u00a0 You can find more details on Rep. Rokita\u2019s tours and events HERE.\n\u00a0\nThank You Tour Schedule\n\u00a0\nNovember 21\nBrownsburg\nGreencastle\nCrawfordsville\nLafayette\nMonticello\nDelphi\nFrankfort\nLebanon\n\u00a0\nDecember 12\nRussiaville\nLogansport\nRensselaer\nKentland\nFowler\n\u00a0\nDecember 13\nKokomo\n\u00a0\nDecember 15\nAvon\nMooresville", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://messer.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/rep-messer-calls-on-congress-to-overturn-obama-rule-forcing-states-to", "Rep. Messer Calls on Congress to Overturn Obama Rule Forcing States to Fund Abortion Providers", "2016-12-20", "2016", "2016-12", "Republican", "House", "IN", "Luke Messer", "M001189", "messer.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "WASHINGTON (Tuesday, Dec. 20, 2016) \u2014 Rep. Luke Messer (IN-06) is calling on Congress to overturn the recent Obama administration rule that would force states to distribute public tax dollars to abortion providers.\nFederal law currently prohibits government funding for abortion, but it allows certain public dollars, like Title X \u201cfamily planning\u201d grants, to support abortion providers if the funds are directed to non-abortion related health services. The new rule, filed by the Department of Health and Human Services, would prevent states from withholding Title X grants to facilities that provide abortion.\nMesser said the new rule is an attempt to block states from stopping the flow of public dollars to abortion providers, like Planned Parenthood.\nMesser is sponsoring a resolution of disapproval that would overturn this new rule under the Congressional Review Act, which gives Congress 60 days to reject proposed federal agency rules.\n\u201cIt\u2019s no surprise the Obama administration is making last-ditch efforts to trample states\u2019 rights and ignore the will of the people,\u201d Messer said. \u201cI\u2019m confident the next Congress will stand up for states and quickly overturn this rule, alongside President-elect Trump\u2019s efforts to roll back other Obama abuses of power.\u201d\nMesser plans to re-introduce the resolution in the 115th\u00a0Congress and hopes it will come to a vote in early 2017.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["http://rokita.house.gov/press-release/rep-rokita-statement-passing-mayor-hudnut", "REP. ROKITA STATEMENT ON THE PASSING OF MAYOR HUDNUT", "2016-12-18", "2016", "2016-12", "Republican", "House", "IN", "Todd Rokita", "R000592", "rokita.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "REP. ROKITA STATEMENT ON THE PASSING OF MAYOR HUDNUT  \n\u00a0\nDanville, IN \u2013 Rep. Todd Rokita released the following statement regarding the passing of former Indianapolis Mayor Bill Hudnut.\n\u201cIndiana lost one of its great champions today.\u00a0 As Mayor, Bill Hudnut laid the groundwork for Indianapolis to become the great city that it is today.\u00a0 As a Hoosier elected official, I always admired Mayor Hudnut\u2019s dedication and love for our capital city, and his commitment to improving the lives of those who called it home.\u201d\n\u00a0\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["http://susanwbrooks.house.gov/media-center/in-the-news/in-focus-indiana-lawmakers-discuss-russian-hacking-concerns", "IN Focus: Indiana lawmakers discuss Russian hacking concerns", "2016-12-18", "2016", "2016-12", "Republican", "House", "IN", "Susan Brooks", "B001284", "susanwbrooks.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Concerns about Russian interference during the 2016 campaign are mounting, as lawmakers discuss the potential for a Congressional investigation.\nTwo Republicans and two Democrats called for an investigation into American intelligence agencies\u2019 conclusion that Russian hacking was intended to help President-elect Donald Trump defeat Hillary Clinton.\n\u201cCongress\u2019s national security committees have worked diligently to address the complex challenge of cybersecurity, but recent events show that more must be done,\u201d said Sens. Chuck Schumer, the incoming Senate Democratic leader, Sen. John McCain, the Armed Services Committee chairman, fellow Republican Sen. Lindsey Graham, and Sen. Jack Reed, the top Armed Services Committee Democrat, in a joint statement last week.\n\u201cWhile protecting classified material, we have an obligation to inform the public about recent cyberattacks that have cut to the heart of our free society. Democrats and Republicans must work together, and across the jurisdictional lines of the Congress, to examine these recent incidents thoroughly and devise comprehensive solutions to deter and defend against further cyber-attacks.\u201d\nThe letter is an implicit rebuke of Trump, who has questioned whether Russia actually interfered with the election, including with hacks of Democratic operatives, and came two days after Trump sided with Russia over the CIA and attacked the US intelligence assessment of Russia\u2019s role.\n\u201cThese are the same people that said Saddam Hussein had weapons of mass destruction,\u201d Trump\u2019s transition team said in a terse, unsigned statement targeting the CIA last Friday.\n\u201cThe election ended a long time ago in one of the biggest Electoral College victories in history. It\u2019s now time to move on and \u2018Make America Great Again.'\u201d\nThe transition team\u2019s reference to the agency\u2019s most humiliating recent intelligence misfire \u2014 over its conclusion that Iraq under Saddam Hussein had weapons of mass destruction \u2014 threatens to cast an early cloud over relations between the Trump White House and the CIA, whose assessments he\u2019ll need to make monumental decisions.\nThe top leadership of the agency that presided over the Iraq failure during the Bush administration has long since been replaced. But the comments from Trump\u2019s camp will cause concern in the Intelligence community about the incoming President\u2019s attitude to America\u2019s spy agencies. CNN reported last week that Trump is getting intelligence briefings only once a week. Several previous presidents preparing for the inauguration had a more intense briefing schedule.\nIn the video above, Rep. Andre Carson (D-IN) & Rep. Susan Brooks (R-IN) discuss the possibility of a Congressional investigation, and the President-elect's response to the situation.\n \n\t\"I do think it's incredibly important for us to make sure the American people have faith in the election process, so when there are claims of hacking, I think it's very important for us to investigate those... I'm pleased that Paul Ryan and Mitch McConnell have endorsed the idea that an investigation needs to take place\" said Brooks.\n\t\"When you have directives coming from Moscow, or a Presidential candidate making overtures during the campaign to 'hack the emails, hack them all,' that is the kind of gamesmanship that is poisonous,\" said Carson.\n \nCarson also weighed in on Trump's intelligence briefing routine:\n \n\t\"Mr. Trump needs to be in those meetings... if you're going to take a laissez-faire approach to getting intelligence briefings because they sound redundant and you can't contain your ADD (Attention Deficit Disorder), then that's problematic.\"", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["http://susanwbrooks.house.gov/media-center/in-the-news/ken-de-la-bastide-column-leadership-posts-come-into-focus", "Ken de la Bastide column: Leadership posts come into focus", "2016-12-18", "2016", "2016-12", "Republican", "House", "IN", "Susan Brooks", "B001284", "susanwbrooks.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Rep. Susan Brooks, who next month will be starting her third term in the U.S. House representing the 5th District of Indiana, has been elected to another leadership position.\nEarlier this month, House Speaker Paul Ryan, R-Wis., tabbed Brooks to chair the House Ethics Committee. She was also named Ryan's representative on the GOP Steering Committee that oversees committee assignments.\nThis week, Brooks, a Republican, and Rep. Lois Frankel, D-Fla., were elected co-chairs of the Congressional Caucus for Women\u2019s Issues.\n\u201cThe Congressional Caucus for Women\u2019s Issues is an important, bipartisan forum to discuss major policy issues of our day with a focus on how these issues impact women and families,\u201d Brooks said of her election in a press release. \u201cIn the past, this caucus has been a driving force for a strong Violence Against Women Act and for the Children\u2019s Health Insurance Program.\u201d", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://bucshon.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/dr-bucshon-applauds-cms-decision-stop-medicare-experiment", "Dr. Bucshon Applauds CMS Decision to Stop Medicare Experiment", "2016-12-16", "2016", "2016-12", "Republican", "House", "IN", "Larry Bucshon", "B001275", "bucshon.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "(WASHINGTON, D.C.) \u2013\u00a0Congressman Larry Bucshon, M.D. released the following statement regarding the Obama administration\u2019s announcement that it will halt the Medicare Part B payment experiment released by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) earlier this year.\n\u201cThis experiment would have disrupted care for the most vulnerable Medicare beneficiaries,\u201d said Bucshon. \u201cI am happy the administration listened to the bipartisan concerns raised by members of Congress, patient advocates, and physician groups by putting an end to this disastrous proposal. Yesterday\u2019s announcement is a win for patients across the country.\u201d\u00a0\nBucshon, a physician, became a leading opponent of the controversial proposal and introduced legislation in May to block it from moving forward.\u00a0\nIn September, Bucshon also raised concerns that the experiment would limit access to much-needed care and increase costs for seniors during a congressional hearing with the Administrator of the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS). The interaction can be found here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jvJm5DNVD9U.\u00a0\nMore information on Bucshon\u2019s legislation, H.R. 5122, can be found here.\u00a0\nCongressman Larry Bucshon, M.D. is a physician and Republican member of the House Energy and Commerce Committee serving his third term representing Indiana's 8th Congressional district. The 8th District of Indiana includes all or parts of Clay, Crawford, Daviess, Dubois, Gibson, Greene, Knox, Martin, Owen, Parke, Perry, Pike, Posey, Spencer, Sullivan, Vanderburgh, Vermillion, Vigo, and Warrick counties.\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["http://rokita.house.gov/event/hendricks-county-avon", "Hendricks County - Avon", "2016-12-15", "2016", "2016-12", "Republican", "House", "IN", "Todd Rokita", "R000592", "rokita.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "I believe that public service is a public trust and the best way to continue earning that trust is by meeting with Hoosiers to hear my marching orders. \u00a0With a unified Republican government, now is an important time to make your voice heard.\n\u00a0\nDecember 15 - 1:30pm to 2:30pm\n\u00a0\nHendricks County - Avon\nFort Liberty Firearms\n\u00a0\nThis visit will promote the 2nd Amendment on National Bill of Rights Day.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["http://rokita.house.gov/event/morgan-county-mooresville", "Morgan County - Mooresville", "2016-12-15", "2016", "2016-12", "Republican", "House", "IN", "Todd Rokita", "R000592", "rokita.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "I believe that public service is a public trust and the best way to continue earning that trust is by meeting with Hoosiers to hear my marching orders. \u00a0With a unified Republican government, now is an important time to make your voice heard.\n\u00a0\nDecember 15 - 3:00pm (ET) to 3:30pm (ET)\n\u00a0\nMorgan County - Mooresville\nRalph and Ava's Cafe", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["http://susanwbrooks.house.gov/media-center/in-the-news/congressional-caucuses-elect-leadership-for-115th-congress", "Congressional Caucuses Elect Leadership for 115th Congress", "2016-12-15", "2016", "2016-12", "Republican", "House", "IN", "Susan Brooks", "B001284", "susanwbrooks.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Congressional Caucus for Women\u2019s Issues\nThe Congressional Caucus for Women\u2019s Issues elected its leadership for the 115th\u00a0Congress. Reps. Susan Brooks (R-IN) and Lois Frankel (D-FL) will serve as co-chairs; Reps. Mimi Walters (R-CA) and Brenda Lawrence (D-MI) will serve as the vice chairs.\nReps. Kristi Noem (R-SD) and Doris Matsui (D-CA) served as co-chairs during the 114th\u00a0Congress; Reps. Brooks and Frankel served as the vice chairs.\nRep. Brooks currently is serving her second term representing the 5th\u00a0District of Indiana. She serves on the Energy and Commerce, Ethics, and Select Benghazi Committees; in the 115th\u00a0Congress, she will chair the Ethics Committee. Rep. Brooks has been an advocate of improving access to health care and education.\nRep. Frankel is serving her second term and represents the 22nd\u00a0District of Florida. She serves on the Foreign Affairs and Transportation and Infrastructure Committees. Veterans\u2019 issues and women\u2019s health have been among her top priorities while in Congress.\nRep. Walters is serving her first term representing the 45th\u00a0District of California. She currently serves on the Judiciary and Transportation and Infrastructure Committees and will hold a Republican leadership position in the 115th\u00a0Congress. Addressing violence against women and health care have been among her priorities while in Congress.\nRep. Lawrence is serving her first term representing the 14th\u00a0District of Michigan. She serves as Ranking Member of the Oversight and Government Reform Subcommittee on Interior, and as a member of the Small Business Committee. Rep. Lawrence has been a strong advocate on behalf of education and veterans.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["http://susanwbrooks.house.gov/media-center/in-the-news/susan-brooks-85-named-to-leadership-of-congressional-caucus-for-womens", "Susan Brooks, '85, Named to Leadership of Congressional Caucus for Women's Issues", "2016-12-14", "2016", "2016-12", "Republican", "House", "IN", "Susan Brooks", "B001284", "susanwbrooks.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Susan Brooks, \u201985, has been selected to co-chair the\u00a0Congressional Caucus for Women\u2019s Issues. The bipartisan group was created in 1977 and continues to discuss and promote issues of importance to women.\nBrooks is in her second term representing Indiana\u2019s 5th\u00a0District; she was elected in 2012. She serves on the Energy and Commerce, Ethics, and Select Benghazi committees. In the next Congress, she will chair the Ethics Committee. She has been an advocate of improving access to health care and education.\nBrooks has served as senior vice president and general counsel at Ivy Tech Community College, as the U.S. Attorney for Indiana\u2019s Southern District, and as a deputy mayor of Indianapolis. Her legal practice includes stints in the government services practice group at the Indianapolis office of Ice Miller, and as a criminal defense attorney at the Indianapolis firm McClure McClure & Kammen. In addition, she is a member of IU McKinney\u2019s Board of Visitors.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://walorski.house.gov/walorski-tours-riley-hs-engineering-program/", "Walorski Tours Riley H.S. Engineering Program with South Bend Superintendent Spells", "2016-12-14", "2016", "2016-12", "Republican", "House", "IN", "Jackie Walorski", "W000813", "walorski.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Wednesday, December 14, 2016\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t Walorski Tours Riley H.S. Engineering Program with South Bend Superintendent Spells \n School's Technology and Engineering Magnet Program Gives Students Hands-On Learning, Scholarship Opportunities \nSOUTH BEND, Ind.  U.S. Rep. Jackie Walorski (IN-02) joined Dr. Kenneth Spells, superintendent of South Bend Community School Corporation, on a tour of Riley High School to learn more about its Technology and Engineering Magnet Program and discuss working together to improve education for Hoosier students.\nAs a graduate of Riley High School, I'm inspired to see this school leading the way to innovation and success in the 21st century economy, Congresswoman Walorski said. These young men and women are our future, and with their dedicated teachers and engaging STEM program, they are learning the skills they need to succeed. It's an honor to work with Dr. Spells on Team South Bend to make sure every student has the opportunity to thrive.\nWe are honored to have Congresswoman Walorski on Team South Bend, Dr. Spells said. The staff and students at Riley High School were proud to demonstrate how they create, design, build, discover, and collaborate using technology and engineering through their project-based instruction. We invite her to visit any of our schools to witness dedicated teachers, engaged students, and innovation instruction.\nThe school's magnet program is certified as an Innovation High School through Project Lead the Way, the nation's leading Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) curriculum provider. Students in the magnet program engage in project-based learning in areas such as computer science and engineering, and they can earn college credit and access scholarship opportunities.\nIn December 2015, Congress passed and the president signed the Every Student Succeeds Act, which overhauled the No Child Left Behind Act and updated federal education policy. The new law, which Walorski supported, prioritizes STEM education, including through expanded resources for STEM programs and professional development for STEM teachers.\nWalorski is a graduate of Riley High School.\nWalorski represents the 2nd Congressional District of Indiana, serving as a member of the House Veterans' Affairs Committee, House Armed Services Committee and House Committee on Agriculture.\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["http://susanwbrooks.house.gov/media-center/in-the-news/brooks-nabs-leadership-job", "Brooks nabs leadership job", "2016-12-13", "2016", "2016-12", "Republican", "House", "IN", "Susan Brooks", "B001284", "susanwbrooks.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "WASHINGTON \u2014\u00a0\u00a0 The women of the U.S. House have chosen Rep.\u00a0Susan Brooks\u00a0to co-chair a congressional caucus on women\u2019s issues.\nThe Carmel Republican has represented Indiana's 5th District since 2013.\nWomen make up about 19 percent of the 535 members of the House and Senate,\u00a0a share unchanged\u00a0by the November elections.\nThe bipartisan Congressional Women\u2019s Caucus, which Brooks will lead with Democratic Rep.\u00a0Lois Frankel\u00a0of Florida, dates to 1977. Fifteen women lawmakers gathered for the first meeting. They kept meeting to talk about Social Security, private pension reform, and the importance of child care and job training in\u00a0moving women off welfare, according\u00a0to a history of the group.\n\n\t\n\t\tBrooks said the caucus is a forum to discuss major policy issues of the day with a focus on how those issues affect women and families. She said the group was a driving force behind past legislation to protect women against violent crimes and to extend health care to lower-income children.\n\t\n\n\u201cWe will work with our colleagues as strong advocates for women and families in the upcoming Congress,\u201d Brooks said in a statement.\nBrooks will also head the House panel overseeing the ethical conduct of her colleagues.\nServing as chairman of the House Ethics Committee is an unenviable assignment as committee members sit in judgment of their colleagues. Serving, however, does build up goodwill with House leaders.\nBrooks was also chosen by House Speaker\u00a0Paul Ryan\u00a0to serve on the influential GOP panel that makes committee assignments and selects the heads of most committees.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["http://susanwbrooks.house.gov/media-center/in-the-news/brooks-selected-for-committees", "Brooks selected for committees", "2016-12-13", "2016", "2016-12", "Republican", "House", "IN", "Susan Brooks", "B001284", "susanwbrooks.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Rep. Susan Brooks was selected as Chairwoman of the House Committee on Ethics. The committee is the bipartisan supervising ethics office for the House of Representatives. Brooks also was selected by Speaker Paul Ryan to serve as the speaker\u2019s sole designee on the Republican Conference Steering Committee in the House of Representatives. The Steering Committee is responsible for making committee assignments for Republican members of the House and selecting chairmen for each committee in the House.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["http://susanwbrooks.house.gov/media-center/in-the-news/carson-brooks-join-bipartisan-call-for-investigation-of-russian-election", "Carson, Brooks Join Bipartisan Call for Investigation of Russian Election Interference", "2016-12-13", "2016", "2016-12", "Republican", "House", "IN", "Susan Brooks", "B001284", "susanwbrooks.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "INDIANAPOLIS, Ind. -- Two of\u00a0Indiana's Representatives in the U.S. House\u00a0are backing an investigation of Russian meddling in the presidential election.\nIndiana Democrat Andre Carson serves on the House Intelligence Committee. He says the committee needs to review the apparent Russian hack of Democratic email systems, not so much to look back at the election as to make sure the Trump administration doesn't ignore the threat from Russia. He says the nomination of ExxonMobil CEO Rex Tillerson for secretary of state is another worrisome sign that Trump is minimizing the danger of Russia reasserting itself on the world stage.\nCarson says he doesn't see a need for a special investigative committee. He says the House and Senate Intelligence Committees have the resource to handle the probe themselves.\nRepublican Susan Brooks says Congress needs to investigate to guarantee the integrity of American elections.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["http://susanwbrooks.house.gov/media-center/in-the-news/deadline-looms-for-coverage-on-federal-marketplace-as-republicans-promise-a", "Deadline looms for coverage on federal marketplace as Republicans promise a quick repeal", "2016-12-13", "2016", "2016-12", "Republican", "House", "IN", "Susan Brooks", "B001284", "susanwbrooks.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "INDIANAPOLIS \u2013 A last-minute sales pitch Tuesday brought together Rep. Andre Carson (D-Ind.) and federal health officials to tout the Affordable Care Act and encourage Hoosiers to sign up before the Dec. 15 deadline to guarantee coverage on Jan. 1.\n\u201cThe Affordable Care Act has made a difference in so many of our lives,\u201d Kathleen Falk said at an event at the HealthNet Administrative Offices, the U.S. Health and Human Services regional director.\nThe Thursday deadline looms large as questions swirl about the law\u2019s future.\n\u201cThe question becomes,\u201d Carson said. \u201cWill lawmakers be able to get away with political posturing and hurt millions of the American people?\u201d\nWhat was once touted as landmark healthcare legislation by President Obama is promising to be quickly dismantled by President-elect Donald Trump and Congressional Republicans.\n\u201cThe insurance companies have committed to honoring these contracts through the end of 2017,\u201d Falk said, working to reassure participants and encouraged the still uninsured to sign up.\nIn a coordinated effort to tout the law, the Obama administration said Tuesday the number of uninsured Hoosiers has dropped 35 percent since the law was enacted.\n\u201cReinforcing the fact this is important,\u201d Carson said. \u201cKids on their parents plan until they\u2019re 26, eliminating pre-existing conditions.\u201d\nHoosiers, though, are also dealing with price increases with some premiums jumping double digits in 2017, according to state officials. A growing number of insurers in Indiana and nationwide are also pulling out of the federal marketplace.\n\u201cWe want to infuse competition into the marketplace,\u201d Rep. Susan Brooks (R-Ind.) said. \u201cRight now fewer and fewer health insurance companies are participating.\u201d\nBrooks said Republicans are demanding a new approach, one that could take several years to implement.\n\u201cWe want to transition it appropriately so people do not lose their health insurance,\u201d Brooks said. \u201cI know there\u2019s definitely concerns about that.\u201d\nHoosiers with questions about the Affordable Care Act can call 211\u00a0or click here.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["http://susanwbrooks.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/congresswomen-frankel-and-brooks-selected-as-chairs-of-bipartisan", "Congresswomen Frankel and Brooks Selected as Chairs of Bipartisan Congressional Womens Caucus", "2016-12-13", "2016", "2016-12", "Republican", "House", "IN", "Susan Brooks", "B001284", "susanwbrooks.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "WASHINGTON, DC \u2013 Congresswoman Lois Frankel (D-FL) and Congresswoman Susan Brooks (R-IN) have been elected by the women of the House as Co-Chairs of the Congressional Caucus for Women\u2019s Issues for the 115th Congress. Congresswomen Mimi Walters (R-CA) and Brenda Lawrence (D-MI) will serve as Co-Vice Chairs.\n\u201cI look forward to working with my colleagues on finding common ground and advocating issues important to the advancement of women and girls,\u201d Frankel said.\n\u201cThe Congressional Women\u2019s Caucus is an important, bipartisan forum to discuss major policy issues of our day with a focus on how these issues impact women and families,\u201d Brooks said. \u201cIn the past, this caucus has been a driving force for a strong Violence Against Women Act and for the Children\u2019s Health Insurance Program. There is more work to be done, and I\u2019m proud to have been selected by my colleagues to serve as Co-Chair with my friend, Congresswoman Lois Frankel. Together, we will work with our colleagues as strong advocates for women and families in the upcoming Congress.\u201d\n\u201cToday, women in America still face serious obstacles in the workplace and academia,\u201d Walters said. \u201cIn the House, we are working to address this by expanding opportunities, increasing flexibility, removing barriers, and empowering the next generation. I am humbled to serve as the Congressional Women\u2019s Caucus Vice Chair, and I look forward to serving with Representatives Brooks, Frankel, and Lawrence, and all of the members of our caucus to ensure that girls and women across the country have equal access to the tools they need to pursue their American dream.\u201d\n\u201cI am honored to be a part of this bipartisan caucus advocating on behalf of women nation-wide,\u201d Lawrence said. \u201cWorking together to support the needs of women and families is a cornerstone of our country\u2019s overall success and I am committed to collaborating in creating legislation that supports the goals of this Caucus. When women succeed America succeeds, and I\u2019m excited to be a part of this Caucus and this continued movement supporting fairness and equality for women.\u201d\nFounded in 1977, the Congressional Caucus for Women\u2019s Issues has been a leading advocate on issues advancing the lives of women and families. Caucus members have helped pass legislation securing tougher child support enforcement, promoting women\u2019s health, helping women business owners, and protecting victims of domestic violence and sexual assault. The caucus works closely with the Women's Policy Inc., a nonprofit, nonpartisan public policy organization whose mission is to bring women policymakers together across party lines to work on issues of importance to women and their families.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["http://rokita.house.gov/event/benton-county-fowler", "Benton County - Fowler", "2016-12-12", "2016", "2016-12", "Republican", "House", "IN", "Todd Rokita", "R000592", "rokita.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "I believe that public service is a public trust and the best way to continue earning that trust is by meeting with Hoosiers to hear my marching orders.\u00a0 With a unified Republican government, now is an important\u00a0time to make your voice heard.\u00a0 That is why I will be holding a series of public events on Monday, December 12,\u00a0where I hope to hear from you directly.\nBenton County100 Mile Rib and Chop House", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["http://rokita.house.gov/event/cass-county-logansport", "Cass County - Logansport", "2016-12-12", "2016", "2016-12", "Republican", "House", "IN", "Todd Rokita", "R000592", "rokita.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "I believe that public service is a public trust and the best way to continue earning that trust is by meeting with Hoosiers to hear my marching orders.\u00a0 With a unified Republican government, now is an important\u00a0time to make your voice heard.\u00a0 That is why I will be holding a series of public events on Monday, December 12,\u00a0where I hope to hear from you directly.\nCass County - LogansportBoardwalk Cafe", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["http://rokita.house.gov/event/howard-county-russiaville", "Howard County - Russiaville", "2016-12-12", "2016", "2016-12", "Republican", "House", "IN", "Todd Rokita", "R000592", "rokita.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "I believe that public service is a public trust and the best way to continue earning that trust is by meeting with Hoosiers to hear my marching orders.\u00a0 With a unified Republican government, now is an important\u00a0time to make your voice heard.\u00a0 That is why I will be holding a series of public events on Monday, December 12,\u00a0where I hope to hear from you directly.\nHoward County - Russiaville  The Wooden Spoon", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["http://rokita.house.gov/event/jasper-county-rensselaer", "Jasper County - Rensselaer", "2016-12-12", "2016", "2016-12", "Republican", "House", "IN", "Todd Rokita", "R000592", "rokita.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "I believe that public service is a public trust and the best way to continue earning that trust is by meeting with Hoosiers to hear my marching orders.\u00a0 With a unified Republican government, now is an important\u00a0time to make your voice heard.\u00a0 That is why I will be holding a series of public events on Monday, December 12,\u00a0where I hope to hear from you directly.\nDecember 12 - 12:30pm (CT) to 1:00pm (CT) / 1:30pm (ET) to 2:00pm (ET)\nJasper County - RennselaerRoyal Oak Family Restaurant", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["http://rokita.house.gov/event/newton-county-kentland", "Newton County - Kentland", "2016-12-12", "2016", "2016-12", "Republican", "House", "IN", "Todd Rokita", "R000592", "rokita.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "I believe that public service is a public trust and the best way to continue earning that trust is by meeting with Hoosiers to hear my marching orders.\u00a0 With a unified Republican government, now is an important\u00a0time to make your voice heard.\u00a0 That is why I will be holding a series of public events on Monday, December 12,\u00a0where I hope to hear from you directly.\nDecember 12 - 1:50pm (CT) to 2:20pm (CT) / 2:50pm (ET) to 3:20pm (ET)\nNewton County - KentlandGood Table Family Restaurant", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["http://rokita.house.gov/event/celebrate-indiana-ignite-future", "CELEBRATE INDIANA: IGNITE THE FUTURE", "2016-12-11", "2016", "2016-12", "Republican", "House", "IN", "Todd Rokita", "R000592", "rokita.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Celebrate the finale of Indiana's Bicentennial year at \"Celebrate Indiana: Ignite the Future.\u00a0This\u00a0free,\u00a0family\u00a0event will take place on Statehood Day, Dec. 11, at the Indiana State Fairgrounds\u00a0Indiana Farmers Coliseum\u00a0from 10 a.m. to noon. The two-hour program will include a variety of speakers from diverse faith backgrounds as well as music, dance and more.\nAdditional information can be found at\u00a0http://www.in.gov/ibc/2332.htm.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["http://susanwbrooks.house.gov/media-center/in-the-news/21st-century-cures-heads-to-the-president-s-desk", "21st Century Cures Heads to the Presidents Desk", "2016-12-09", "2016", "2016-12", "Republican", "House", "IN", "Susan Brooks", "B001284", "susanwbrooks.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "The House passed 21st\u00a0Century Cures.\u00a0\nThe Senate passed 21st\u00a0Century Cures.\u00a0\nUp Next: The President\u2019s Desk!After two overwhelmingly bipartisan votes, 21st\u00a0Century Cures is\u00a0headed to the President\u2019s desk.\nThe excitement felt by the People\u2019s House is palpable. As\u00a0Energy and Commerce Committee Chairman Fred Upton (R-MI) says, \u201cAfter three years, our legislative work is finally complete. 21st Century Cures is ready for the president. With this innovation game-changer, a new day for medical research is on the horizon\u2026We all have more reason for hope.\u201d\nAnd Chairman Upton isn\u2019t the only one excited about the possibilities that come with Cures:\n Rep. Susan Brooks (R-IN) recently penned an\u00a0op-ed published online for \u00a0The Hill\u00a0outlining why we are so proud of Cures and what it can do for the American people:Brooks says 21st\u00a0Century Cures is a real plan to\u00a0\u201cencourage scientific collaboration to find cures fast and ensure that once these life-saving treatments are discovered, there is a modern, streamlined process for developing them and delivering them to patients, like the more than 37 million people diagnosed with cancer, Alzheimer\u2019s and other rare diseases.\u201d\n\tRep. Phil Roe, M.D. (R-TN), whose experience as a doctor led him to support Cures,\u00a0writes, \u201cAs a physician, I treated patients for more than 30 years. \u2026During that time, a majority of the children with cancer I treated as a young medical student died because of their disease. Today, almost 90 percent of those children live because of advances we\u2019ve made in scientific research to treat and cure diseases. But we have more work to do. I\u2019ve experienced first-hand what a devastating, incurable disease can do to a family. There are 10,000 known conditions and diseases, and we only have cures and treatments for 500 of them. Chances are, all of us know and love someone who has been diagnosed with an incurable, untreatable illness.\u201d\n\tOne of the key provisions of Cures was the\u00a0Helping Families in Mental Health Crisis Act, which addresses mental health concerns.Rep. Tim Murphy (R-PA), a staunch advocate for the mental health components of Cures, went on New Day to celebrate passage.\u00a0Here, he explains why intervention, strategic programs, and solid funding are key to helping people facing life with mental illnesses.\n\t\"There is no shortage of people who would benefit from 21st Century Cures,\u201d\u00a0says Chair Cathy McMorris Rodgers (R-WA). \u201cOur goal is not to provide life-long treatment, but to find life-saving cures. This historic, bipartisan legislation is a sign to the American people that we\u2019ve embraced the moonshot. We\u2019re proving to the 14 million cancer patients, the 25 million adults with chronic pain, and the 5 million with Alzheimer\u2019s in the United States that we won\u2019t accept wishful thinking or \u2018maybe next year\u2019 anymore. Because for the parents, siblings, and children facing a disease without a cure, there isn\u2019t time for maybes.\u201d\n As 21st Century Cures heads to the president\u2019s desk, we invite you to follow along on gop.gov.\u00a0Tomorrow, Chairman Upton will deliver the Weekly Republican Address\u00a0\u2014 here\u2019s a sneak peek from this \u00a0\u00a0leading force behind 21st Century Cures,\u00a0\u201cPatients needed an innovation game-changer, and we have it with 21st Century Cures. The landmark legislation will accelerate the discovery, development, and delivery of safe new cures and treatments. For families across the country, this legislation to help deliver #CuresNow marks a renewed dawn of hope.\u201d\u00a0Since the beginning, Chairman Upton listened and advocated for patients and researchers and their stories.Watch the Weekly Republican Address tomorrow, December 10,\u00a0by visiting House Republicans on Facebook.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["http://susanwbrooks.house.gov/media-center/in-the-news/who-will-join-house-leadership-if-cathy-mcmorris-rodgers-leaves", "Who Will Join House Leadership if Cathy McMorris Rodgers Leaves?", "2016-12-09", "2016", "2016-12", "Republican", "House", "IN", "Susan Brooks", "B001284", "susanwbrooks.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "The potential departure of Rep. Cathy McMorris Rodgers from Congress creates an opening in Republican House leadership that\u2019s already drawing interest from a number of ambitious members looking for a promotion within the GOP caucus.\nMs. McMorris Rodgers, a Washington state Republican member of Congress, is\u00a0expected to be named Interior secretary\u00a0in President-elect Donald Trump\u2019s incoming administration. That would open up\u00a0her position as Republican conference chair, the fourth-ranking leadership job in the House, at the start of what is expected to be one of the most intense periods of congressional activity in recent years.\nRepublicans who might seek to replace Ms. McMorris Rodgers include GOP Reps. Mia Love of Utah, Susan Brooks of Indiana, Mimi Walters of California and Doug Collins of Georgia, aides said.\nRepublicans just last month elected Mr. Collins the vice-chair of the House GOP conference. But the House GOP may feel pressure to replace Ms. McMorris Rodgers with another woman, given that white men hold their six other top leadership posts.\nMs. Walters has started having discussions with House Republicans about the post.\n\u201cShould [Ms. McMorris Rodgers] be appointed to serve in the Administration, I will absolutely run for Conference Chair to build on the successes House Republicans have seen in the 114th Congress,\u201d Ms. Walters said in a statement Friday. \u201cI am humbled by the support I have received in preliminary conversations, and I look forward to speaking with all the members of our Conference.\u201d\nMs. Brooks is expected to run for the post as well, if it becomes vacant, according to a person\u00a0close to her.\nThe modern incarnation of the conference chair position mainly involves working on messaging strategy and other communications initiatives designed to communicate the agenda of Republican members of Congress. The job also involves helping to organize the caucus leadership elections and assigning committees to members.\nMs. McMorris Rodgers has served in the conference chair position since 2013. Prior to that, she was the vice chair of conference between 2009 and 2014. She has been in the House since 2005.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["http://susanwbrooks.house.gov/media-center/in-the-news/alliance-for-biosecurity-praises-senate-passage-of-21st-century-cures-act", "Alliance for Biosecurity praises Senate passage of 21st Century Cures Act", "2016-12-08", "2016", "2016-12", "Republican", "House", "IN", "Susan Brooks", "B001284", "susanwbrooks.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "The Alliance for Biosecurity commended the U.S. Senate\u2019s passage of the 21st Century Cures Act, which contains provisions to promote innovation and efficiency in the development of new medical countermeasures.\nA key issue the organization cited in the bill was a provision for the development of vaccines and treatments to strengthen national security and promote public health preparedness for chemical, biological, radiological and nuclear threats.\n\u201cA combined and concerted effort among government agencies and biopharmaceutical companies has greatly improved our preparedness capabilities over the last decade, but medical countermeasure programs must evolve to continue functioning efficiently,\u201d the Alliance for Biosecurity said on Wednesday.\nThe Alliance for Biosecurity is a coalition of biopharmaceutical companies and laboratory partners that promote strong public-private partnership to ensure medical countermeasures are available to promote public health.\nThe group said the medical countermeasures provision in the legislation would also encourage private sector development of medical countermeasures by creating a priority review voucher program for national security threats identified by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security.\nThe company also praised U.S. Sens. Richard Burr (R-NC) and Bob Casey (D-PA), and U.S. Reps. Susan Brooks (R-IN), Anna Eshoo (D-CA), Lamar Alexander (R-TN), and Fred Upton (R-MI) for their work in adding medical countermeasure provisions to the final version of the bill.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["http://susanwbrooks.house.gov/media-center/in-the-news/brooks-champions-key-measures-to-fortify-us-biodefense-as-part-of-21st", "Brooks champions key measures to fortify U.S. biodefense as part of 21st Century Cures", "2016-12-07", "2016", "2016-12", "Republican", "House", "IN", "Susan Brooks", "B001284", "susanwbrooks.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "U.S. Rep. Susan Brooks (R-IN) praised the substantive 21st\u00a0Century Cures Act for including bipartisan provisions that she helped author to strengthen national security in the event of a biological attack.\nThe\u00a0Strengthening Public Health Emergency Response Act, a bill aimed at improving U.S. biodefense efforts, was introduced by Brooks and U.S. Rep. Anna Eshoo (D-CA) earlier this year. \u00a0Provisions in the biodefense bill were included in the sweeping $6.3 billion 21st\u00a0Century Cures medical research package.\nThe Senate voted 94-5 on Wednesday to approve the legislation, which now goes to President Barack Obama to be signed into law.\nThe bill\u00a0would incentivize investments in vaccines and treatments for dangerous diseases and pathogens.\n\u201cWhen we have enemies that are becoming more and more sophisticated and are trying to find more ways to harm the American people, we have to do everything we can to make ourselves more resilient and to prepare for any possible attack,\u201d Brooks said in a recent interview with the Ripon Advance.\n\u201cI think we have not focused sufficient attention on our national biodefense in this country.\u201d\nThe United States needs a strong biodefense position in the event a terrorist organization should ever weaponize a biological agent such as anthrax or small pox, Brooks said. Naturally occurring biological threats, such as Ebola or Zika, can also pose a risk to national security.\nThe provisions included in the Cures Act help streamline the process for vaccines to be developed to address biological and chemical threats and to enhance the Strategic National Stockpile. \u00a0It would expand the Priority Review Voucher program for material threats identified by the Department of Homeland Security. As a result, pharmaceutical companies would have greater incentive to develop, test and distribute vaccines and treatments for specialized diseases.\nBrooks, who focuses on biodefense issues as part of her membership on the House Energy and Commerce Committee, said the measure is an important step toward helping the private sector work with government to prepare the country in the event of an attack.\nAlso included is a measure to reinstate the original contracting authority provided to the Biomedical Advanced Research and Development Authority (BARDA), which would ensure faster development of critical medical countermeasures.\nThe biodefense provisions included in 21st\u00a0Century Cures are a meaningful part of the legislative package, but Brooks said average citizens might not realize their significance.\nBrooks served as the U.S. attorney for the Southern District of Indiana when anthrax attacks occurred following\u00a0the 9/11 terrorist attacks in 2001. Letters containing anthrax spores were mailed to several news media offices and two U.S. Senate offices, killing five people and infecting 17 others in what became the worst biological attacks in U.S. history.\n\u201cThat was one of the first times when our country really realized what an incredible threat to our national security something like anthrax could be. This has been an interest of mine personally, but I don\u2019t think it has been something the country has been focused on enough,\u201d Brooks said.\nThe Blue Ribbon Study Panel on Biodefense, chaired by former Sen. Joseph Lieberman and former Gov. Tom Ridge, sounded an alarm last year when it\u00a0released a report that found America\u2019s national biodefense strategy needed significant improvement.\u00a0The report identified capability gaps and recommended changes to U.S. policy and laws to strengthen national biodefense.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://bucshon.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/dr-bucshon-s-statement-cr-language", "Dr. Bucshons Statement on CR Language", "2016-12-07", "2016", "2016-12", "Republican", "House", "IN", "Larry Bucshon", "B001275", "bucshon.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "(WASHINGTON, D.C.) \u2013 Eighth District Congressman Larry Bucshon, M.D. released the following statement after language to protect the health benefits of retired coal miners was included in the government funding legislation: \u00a0\u00a0\n\u201cAs the son of a retired UMWA coal miner and a physician, I\u2019m happy that Congress has come to a temporary solution that will protect the healthcare benefits of retired miners and their families. Absent this legislative language, these benefits are set to expire at the end of December.\u00a0\n\u201cWhile I understand this is not a permanent solution, it is a step in the right direction that makes sure retirees do not lose their health benefits. I\u2019ve long been working with retired miners, industry leaders, and Congressional leadership to develop a more permanent solution to this impending problem facing Hoosier retirees and will continue working to get one.\n\u201cLet\u2019s also not forget why we are in this position. Unfortunately, President Obama and his allies in Washington, DC have waged a regulatory assault on coal that has devastated the industry and the jobs and benefits it supports. As we work toward a more permanent solution, I\u2019m encouraged to know coal \u2013 and those who depend on it \u2013 will have an ally in the White House beginning January 20, 2017.\u201d\u00a0  \n\t\u00a0\nCongressman Larry Bucshon, M.D. is a physician and Republican member of the House Energy and Commerce Committee serving his third term representing Indiana's 8th Congressional district. The 8th District of Indiana includes all or parts of Clay, Crawford, Daviess, Dubois, Gibson, Greene, Knox, Martin, Owen, Parke, Perry, Pike, Posey, Spencer, Sullivan, Vanderburgh, Vermillion, Vigo, and Warrick counties.\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://messer.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/reps-messer-kennedy-introduce-bipartisan-bill-to-help-grad-students-save", "Reps. Messer, Kennedy Introduce Bipartisan Bill to Help Grad Students Save for Retirement", "2016-12-07", "2016", "2016-12", "Republican", "House", "IN", "Luke Messer", "M001189", "messer.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "WASHINGTON (Dec. 7, 2016) \u2014 Reps. Luke Messer (R-IN) and Joe Kennedy III (D-MA) introduced bipartisan legislation in the U.S. House of Representatives today that would help graduate students save for retirement.\nThe Graduate Student Savings Act would allow graduate students or postdoctoral fellows who are paid for their work to save a portion of their stipend in an Individual Retirement Account (IRA). Fellowship and stipend funding is currently taxed as income by federal and state governments, but it does not qualify as \u201ccompensation\u201d and so it cannot be saved in an IRA.\n\u201cI appreciate working with Congressman Kennedy on this common sense bill to help graduate students start saving while they're still in school,\u201d Messer said. \u201cGrad students and researchers who are studying to improve all of our futures should have the chance to invest in their own.\u201d\n\u201cStudents pursuing advanced degrees should be allowed and encouraged to invest in their future without restrictions or roadblocks,\u201d Kennedy said. \u201cBy reclassifying income that is already taxed, this legislation will allow young adults to save as they begin new careers and build families. Along with Congressman Messer, I look forward to passing this bill and supporting current and future graduate students around the country.\u201d\nThe Graduate Student Savings Act was originally introduced in the U.S. Senate by Senators Elizabeth Warren (D-MA) and Mike Lee (R-UT).\u00a0 It recently passed the Senate Finance Committee, as part of a larger retirement package.\nMesser authored several bills in the 114th Congress aimed at helping Americans save for retirement. He serves on the U.S. House Financial Services Committee and the Education and Workforce Committee.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["http://susanwbrooks.house.gov/media-center/in-the-news/21st-century-cures-passes-house", "21st Century Cures passes House", "2016-12-05", "2016", "2016-12", "Republican", "House", "IN", "Susan Brooks", "B001284", "susanwbrooks.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "WASHINGTON, D.C. - The U.S. House of Representatives passed a fully paid for, transformative package of reforms and resources that will bring medical innovation process into the 21st century; accelerate the discovery, development and delivery of life-saving and life-changing treatments and cures; better prepare for biological threats; and address our most pressing national health challenges: mental health and substance abuse.Rep. Susan Brooks (R-IN) released the following statement after the vote:\u00a0\"I want to thank the countless Hoosiers and Fifth District organizations and advocates who met with me to discuss their ideas to improve this legislation and who shared their personal stories and experiences to inform this bill,\" Brooks said. \"Many of us have watched a friend or loved one struggle with cancer or Alzheimer's disease, only to be told that there was little hope of treatment or a cure. 21st Century Cures provides patients and their families with hope for a future and ensures that the United States will stay on the cutting edge of medical innovation. It is the product of years of bipartisan work with patients, researchers, innovators and health care providers to determine specific steps we can take today to encourage scientific collaboration to find cures faster. \"The 21st Century Cures Act seeks to speed and improve the discovery of promising developments in science, to streamlining the device development process, to unleashing the power of digital medicine and delivery of life-saving and life-improving therapies, thereby transforming the quest for faster cures. In addition, the legislation includes important provisions to combat the opioid and heroin crisis devastating our communities, brings about the first major overhaul of our mental health system in over half a century and includes provisions to enhance our national biodefense.\u00a0\"I'm especially pleased that the final bill includes a number of provisions that I helped lead to improve and protect our national health,\" Brooks continued. \"First, people struggling with mental illness will have more access to the care and treatment they need. Second, our state and local partners will get critical resources to address the heroin and opioid epidemic in our communities. Third, this proposal incentivizes the development and testing of vaccines and treatments for chemical and biological threats and ensures that appropriate vaccines can be added to our existing national stockpile in case of an attack.\"More information about 21st Century Cures is available online at: https://energycommerce.house.gov/cures", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["http://susanwbrooks.house.gov/media-center/in-the-news/brooks-hahn-bill-to-honor-wwii-merchant-marines-passes-house", "Brooks, Hahn Bill to Honor WWII Merchant Marines Passes House", "2016-12-05", "2016", "2016-12", "Republican", "House", "IN", "Susan Brooks", "B001284", "susanwbrooks.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "WASHINGTON, D.C. - The U.S. House of Representatives passed H.R. 2992, the Merchant Marine of World War II Congressional Gold Medal Act of 2016, a bill introduced by Rep. Susan Brooks (R-IN) and Rep. Janice Hahn (D-CA). This legislation will present the highest civilian award Congress can bestow to the Merchant Mariners who acted heroically to transport troops and provide critical supplies of war to U.S. troops by sea during World War II.\"Today, there are less than 5,000 surviving Merchant Mariners, and with nearly 500 World War II veterans dying each day, it is critical that we act this year to recognize and honor the sacrifices and contributions of this group of loyal and courageous men,\" said Brooks. \"The Merchant Marine was the linchpin connecting the fighting forces overseas with the production forces here at home. In the face of certain peril, these brave men provided efficient and reliable transport of combat equipment, fuel, food, commodities, personnel, and raw materials that were pivotal to the Allied victory. Today, I'm proud that the House has taken action to honor their service, and I hope that my colleagues in the Senate will act swiftly to ensure that these men get the recognition they deserve before the end of the year.\"With an estimated 9,300 total casualties, the Merchant Marine bore a higher per-capita casualty rate than any other branch of the U.S. Armed Forces during World War II. An additional 11,000 mariners were wounded in action and 663 men and women were taken prisoner.\"Often, the sacrifices and service of these brave men are forgotten,\" Brooks continued. \"Merchant Mariners took part in every invasion from Normandy to Okinawa, risking their lives to provide the needed supplies for war and facing danger from submarines, mines, armed raiders and destroyers, aircraft, 'Kamikaze,' and Mother Nature herself. Despite these efforts, Merchant Mariners were not recognized as veterans until 1988 and never received the benefits that other World War II veterans received under the G.I. Bill.\"H.R. 2992 has 312 bipartisan co-sponsors. Companion legislation, S. 2989, the Merchant Mariners of World War II Congressional Gold Medal Act of 2016, has been introduced in the Senate and is waiting for consideration.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["http://susanwbrooks.house.gov/media-center/in-the-news/dennis-lanane-column-growth-of-mental-health-coalition-progressing", "Dennis Lanane column: Growth of Mental Health Coalition progressing", "2016-12-04", "2016", "2016-12", "Republican", "House", "IN", "Susan Brooks", "B001284", "susanwbrooks.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Madison County Triad will hold a pitch-in Christmas luncheon on December 15 from 10 to 11:30 a.m. in the theater area of Mounds Mall.\nThose wanting to attend the luncheon should bring a dish or dessert. Triad will furnish the main dish. We will also have some door prizes, and Buddy and Joyce Patterson will provide Christmas music.\nWe want to thank St. Vincent Medical Group for providing ophthalmologist Dr. Elizabeth Groves to give a presentation on taking care of your eyes. Dr. Groves explained what causes some eye problems people experience get as they older. This was another program about health maintenance that Triad puts on throughout the year. We want our seniors to have a decent quality of life through education.\nWe have had many great programs this year. Michelle Mayer from the Indiana Attorney General's office, Indiana Attorney Charles Braun, Sheriff Scott Mellinger and Anderson Police Chief Tony Watters have told us how to protect ourselves from being victimized.\nWe've had some health maintenance programs, too. One was aimed at lowering your risks of getting Alzheimer\u2019s. We had two registered dietitians who told us what we should eat that will keep both our hearts and brains healthy. The October Triad meeting was about the resources that are available to those who might be victims of mental health issues such as depression, suicides, addictions and overdoses.\nTriad also started a fall prevention physical therapy program. It meets from 9:45 to 10:15 a.m. in the theater area of the mall, right before our regular meeting. This program is without cost and is taught by Darla Gibson, clinic director of ATI Physical Therapy.\nI want to thank the Anderson Mounds Mall for letting us use the theater area to hold our meetings and Garfield's for donating coffee every month. Health care providers also donate snacks for our members.\nIt was mentioned in a previous Triad column that we are starting our own newsletter that will give us enough space to explain some of the programs in more detail. This will happen in the next several months. These will be newsletters that you might want to keep and share the information with others about some of the programs and information we have at the mall on the third Thursday of each month at 10:30 a.m.\nThe Madison County Mental Health Coalition is making progress. Although it is hardly ever mentioned in the media, we are growing. We are starting to get government and churches more involved in our meetings now. The latest participants in the coalition are Mayor Tom Broderick and Autumn Meeker, constituent service representative for Congresswoman Susan Brooks.\nThe coalition is looking for better ways to educate the community on what resources are available to individuals and their families who have issues with mental health care, depression, addictions, etc.\nMadison County has some very serious problems. We are trying to pull all the health care agencies and law enforcement agencies together so that they better understand how to help these victims and their families.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["http://susanwbrooks.house.gov/media-center/in-the-news/recovery-law-mired-in-funding-quagmire", "Recovery law mired in funding quagmire", "2016-12-04", "2016", "2016-12", "Republican", "House", "IN", "Susan Brooks", "B001284", "susanwbrooks.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "When Susan Brooks was the\u00a0U.S. district attorney for southern Indiana in the early 2000s,\u00a0she prosecuted an Indianapolis doctor for overprescribing the painkiller\u00a0oxycodone\u00a0and an Evansville resident for injecting his ex-wife with a fatal dose of the same drug. \n\n\u201cUnless we do a lot more education about the problem, we\u2019re going to see a lot more deaths,\u201d Brooks\u00a0told the Evansville Courier and Press in 2004.\nThat year, 98 Indiana residents died from opioid overdoses, according to the Indiana State Department of Health. Over the next 10 years, more than 2,000 Hoosiers died from overdoses of opioids, a family of pain-relief drugs including\u00a0fentanyl,\u00a0heroin,\u00a0hydrocodone,\u00a0methadone\u00a0and\u00a0morphine.\nMore recently, Scott County attracted national attention because of an HIV outbreak linked to the sharing of needles by intravenous drug users. Their drug of choice was the prescription pain reliever\u00a0oxymorphone.\nBrooks today is a Republican member of the U.S. House from Carmel, fresh off election to her\u00a0third term representing central Indiana\u2019s 5th District. This year, she and nearly every other member of Congress voted in favor of the Comprehensive Addiction and Recovery Act, which President Barack Obama signed into law July 22.\nThree years in the making, CARA aims to curb prescription opioid abuse and heroin use through prevention, treatment, recovery, education and law enforcement efforts. Lawmakers and advocates hailed it as an historic approach that regards drug addiction as a\u00a0public health crisis rather than criminal activity.\n\u201cI think what we\u2019ve learned over the decades is we cannot arrest our way out of this epidemic of addictions,\u201d Brooks, who grew up in Fort Wayne, said in a recent phone interview. \u201cWe have to remove the stigma of the addiction, allow families and people to seek help without being afraid of the stigma of having this kind of addiction.\u201d\nWhen CARA is up and running, it is supposed to\u00a0provide\u00a0grants for communities to address drug crises, develop treatment alternatives to jail sentences, receive training in the use of the overdose-reversal drug naloxone and create disposal sites for unwanted prescription medicines.\nOther grants will be available\u00a0for law enforcement to investigate illegal drug activities, for high schools and colleges to support students recovering from substance abuse and for states to assist\u00a0female drug offenders who are pregnant or caring for children.\nThe Department of\u00a0Health and Human Services and the Justice Department\u00a0are the main agencies to\u00a0implement the programs.\nAll they\u00a0need now is money.\n Dual programs? \nDespite overwhelming bipartisan support in Congress for CARA\u00a0\u2013 it passed the House 407-5 and the Senate 92-2\u00a0\u2013 lawmakers have been\u00a0haggling all year over its funding.\u00a0\nDemocrat\u00a0Obama had\u00a0asked the Republican-controlled Congress to spend\u00a0$1.1 billion over two years to fight\u00a0opioid addiction, an amount the White House said\u00a0would have included up to $19 million for Indiana. Congress settled on about $900 million spread over five years, or $181 million a year, for CARA.\n\u201cThis legislation includes some modest steps to address the opioid epidemic. Given the scope of the crisis, some action is better than none,\u201d Obama\u00a0said when he signed the bill in July.\nLawmakers\u00a0so far have appropriated just $7 million for CARA\u00a0as part of a stop-gap government funding measure lasting from Oct. 1 through Dec. 9. Health and Human Services has received only\u00a0$3.3 million.\n\u201cThis appropriation will not allow us to implement most provisions of the bill and will not come close to providing the level of support necessary to make treatment for opioid use disorder available in every state,\u201d HHS said recently in an email statement to The Journal Gazette.\nIt\u00a0appears that CARA might be\u00a0on track to\u00a0receive $37 million for all of fiscal 2017. But advocates on\u00a0the left and the right have said that\u2019s far from enough for the law to be effective.\nBefore Thanksgiving, four Democrats in the Senate, including Indiana Sen. Joe Donnelly, and 23 Democrats in the House sent letters to congressional leaders of both parties requesting money\u00a0for CARA. The Senate Democrats recommended it be included in the 21st Century Cures Act, which would speed federal approval of drugs and medical devices and increase funding for the National Institutes of Health.\u00a0\nSure enough, over Thanksgiving break, legislators negotiating\u00a0the Cures Act agreed to\u00a0devote\u00a0$1 billion over\u00a0the next two years to fight opioid abuse, about the same amount as Obama had sought last February. The House\u00a0passed the revised bill by a 392-26 vote Wednesday, and the Senate is expected to approve\u00a0the bill this\u00a0week.\nMichael Botticelli, director of National Drug Control Policy, said Wednesday in a conference call with reporters that much of the new money will be spent on \u201cthe opioid treatment gap.\u201d\n\u201cBy substantially investing in treatment across the country, it will, I think, dramatically change the trajectory of this disease,\u201d Botticelli\u00a0said.\nThe Cures Act will award grants to states according to\u00a0their prevalence of opioid\u00a0abuse, and the states will administer the grants. The legislation describes possible uses for the money, including prescription drug monitoring programs, training for health care workers and opioid abuse prevention activities.\nBut none of the money apparently will fund\u00a0CARA, according to Botticelli.\n\u201cThey are two different grant programs,\u201d he\u00a0said.\nIndeed, there is only one reference to\u00a0CARA in the nearly 1,000-page Cures Act, and that is related to \u201csavings in the Medicare improvement fund.\u201d Nowhere is there a mention of naloxone or the community-based coalition enhancement grants established by CARA.\nAsked whether CARA will receive sufficient\u00a0funding,\u00a0Botticelli\u00a0said, \u201cThat\u2019s up to Congress to decide.\u201d He said the $7 million appropriated so far\u00a0is \u201creally insignificant either for Justice grant programs or for the health\u00a0programs to get underway.\u201d\nDonnelly said Wednesday in a conference call with reporters that he believes Cures Act money will go to\u00a0CARA despite Botticelli\u2019s contention. Brooks\u2019 office said Thursday that although the Cures Act and CARA are separate, they may overlap.\nFor example, states might be able to tap Cures Act grants to fund addiction prevention and treatment programs offered through CARA.\nThe Cures Act \u201cis certainly not a replacement for CARA but has a similar goal, which is to fund programs helping people struggling with heroin and opioid abuse,\u201d a Brooks spokeswoman said.\nDonnelly, who like Brooks helped draft provisions of CARA, seemed\u00a0satisfied with the $1 billion infusion regardless of where it ends up.\n\u201cBy all common sense, it should be just a simple matter of providing the distribution,\u201d he said Wednesday.\nNot long before the Cures Act bargain was struck, The Journal Gazette had asked Donnelly whether\u00a0Congress was lacking\u00a0the sense of urgency on opioid addiction that it displayed when debating, amending and approving CARA\u00a0last summer.\n\u201cAll my colleagues have to do is look at the problem in their state. If anything, the sense of urgency should be increased,\u201d he said.\n\u201cIf you look at Kentucky or Ohio or West Virginia or Wisconsin; \u2026 it is killing people of all ages across the board every single day,\u201d he\u00a0said about opioid over\u00addoses.\nSenate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell is from Kentucky, and\u00a0House Speaker Paul Ryan is from Wisconsin. Kentucky\u00a0ranked fourth\u00a0nationally, behind West Virginia,\u00a0New Mexico and New Hampshire, for drug overdose death rates in 2014, according to data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Ohio was fifth, and Indiana was 15th. The death rate is the number of deaths per 100,000 people.\nThe CDC has said more than 47,000 Americans\u00a0died from drug overdoses\u00a0in 2014, including 19,000 who died\u00a0from prescription pain relievers.\u00a0\n\u201cThe alternate cost of the damage that this scourge is causing is much, much higher than that billion dollars\u00a0\u2013 the cost of medical care, the cost of family damage, the cost of lost lives,\u201d Donnelly said.\nHe called opioid addiction \u201ca wildfire.\u201d\n Lengthy process \nBrooks said it will take time for opioid abuse grants to reach their destinations.\u00a0\n\u201cHaving been involved in the federal government, having been involved in the Justice Department, nothing moves that quickly. It takes a while to stand up new grant programs,\u201d she said.\nThe process could take longer if only\u00a0because\u00a0President-elect Donald Trump will appoint\u00a0new leadership teams at the federal agencies that administer the drug grants, Brooks said.\nState and local officials said they have received little information\u00a0on available federal funding.\u00a0\n\u201cBecause details of how CARA funding will be implemented are still unclear, it\u2019s impossible to predict how Indiana might be impacted,\u201d\u00a0Jeni O\u2019Malley, public affairs director for the Indiana State Department of Health, said in an email.\nJohn Perlich, public information officer for the city of Fort Wayne, said in an email,\u00a0\u201cGrant eligibility rules, guidelines, etc. that would allow an informed decision about pursuing those grants are still unknown.\u201d\nThere have been other sources of federal money available for preventing and treating substance abuse. HHS spent $94 million this year in Affordable Care Act funds for 271 health centers to expand their delivery of substance abuse services. And the agency\u00a0announced in August it would distribute $53 million to 44 states to fight opioid misuse.\nPark Center Inc., a Fort Wayne nonprofit that provides addiction treatment services, is primarily funded by patients\u2019 private insurance, Medicaid and self-payments, said\u00a0Tom Allman, manager of addiction services.\n\u201cYou can\u2019t really provide services based on grants in a sustainable fashion,\u00a0\u2026 because those grants run out. And when they run out, you\u2019ve got nothing to fall back on,\u201d Allman said.\nBut Allman said he believes CARA is important because it represents the beginning of \u201ca shift in thinking\u201d about addiction by the federal government.\n\u201cI think CARA puts the treatment of the medical disease of addiction on the same playing field with other medical diseases, \u2026 so people will get the help they need,\u201d he said.\nBrooks said federal legislation is only one component in the fight against opioid addiction.\n\u201cJust because we got a big bill passed or just because we put millions of dollars out there, that\u2019s not going to solve this problem,\u201d she said. \u201cIt\u2019s going to help, but we\u2019ve got change the culture of the country in the way the country deals with pain, the education level of people who need to learn far more about prescription drugs and the hazards of long-term use of prescription drugs and particularly opioids.\u201d\u00a0\n Also \nThe Comprehensive Addiction and Recovery Act will set up a federal task force to develop best practices for pain management and pain medication prescribing.\nThe panel will include representatives of the Department of Health and Human Services, the Department of Justice, the Department of Veteran Affairs and the Office of National Drug Control Policy; physicians, dentists, pharmacists and hospitals; emergency first responders; veterans organizations; and pain patients and people recovering from substance use disorder.\nThe Pain Management Best Practices Inter-Agency Task Force must be established by July 22, 2018, according to CARA. It is supposed to propose updates to best practices for pain management and, within a year of convening, recommend ways to address gaps and inconsistencies in those practices.\nSen. Joe Donnelly, D-Ind., and Rep. Susan Brooks, R-5th, were among lawmakers who sponsored the CARA provision establishing the task force.\n\u2013 Brian Francisco, The Journal Gazette", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://messer.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/rep-messer-votes-to-support-america-s-troops-invest-in-national-security", "Rep. Messer Votes to Support Americas Troops, Invest in National Security", "2016-12-02", "2016", "2016-12", "Republican", "House", "IN", "Luke Messer", "M001189", "messer.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "WASHINGTON (Friday, Dec. 2, 2016) \u2014 Rep. Luke Messer (IN-06) today voted to pass the National Defense Authorization Act, which boosts support for America\u2019s military and helps defend our country against radical Islamic terrorism.\nThe National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) for Fiscal Year 2017 (S. 2943) authorizes a $619 billion national defense budget which includes provisions to:\n Provide military members with the largest pay raise in six years\n\tStrengthen military health care\n\tEnhance military training and readiness\n\tStop Obama\u2019s drawdown of troops which has threatened our status on the world stage\n\tProhibit any further transfers of terrorist prisoners from Guantanamo Bay prison to U.S. soil\n\tInvest in cybersecurity defense\n \u201cOur number one job in Congress is to provide for a national defense and keep Americans safe,\u201d Messer said. \u201cAmerica\u2019s military must be second to none as we face unprecedented threats abroad and work to defeat radical Islamic extremism. This bill invests in our national security and our troops, ensuring America is ready to meet to these challenges head on. Just as importantly, it gives our military members the pay raise they deserve and the quality care they need.\u201d\nS. 2943 passed the House of Representatives today and will need approval by the U.S. Senate to move to the president\u2019s desk.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://walorski.house.gov/fy17ndaa-strengthen-military-troop-pay-terrorists-gitmo/", "Walorski Votes to Strengthen Military, Raise Troop Pay, Keep Terrorists in Gitmo", "2016-12-02", "2016", "2016-12", "Republican", "House", "IN", "Jackie Walorski", "W000813", "walorski.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Friday, December 2, 2016\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t Walorski Votes to Strengthen Military, Raise Troop Pay, Keep Terrorists in Gitmo \n NDAA Includes Walorski Provisions to Keep Gitmo Terrorists Off U.S. Soil, Boost Electronic Warfare Innovation \nWASHINGTON  U.S. Rep. Jackie Walorski (IN-02), a member of the House Armed Services Committee, today released the following statement after voting for the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) for Fiscal Year 2017, which passed the House by a vote of 375 to 34:\nKeeping the American people safe means giving our military the tools and resources needed to confront any threat and defeat any enemy. This bill puts our servicemembers first and provides critical support for their success on and off the battlefield.\nThe U.S. military is the greatest fighting force in the world because of the brave men and women in uniform. With this bill, our troops will get the support they deserve, including their biggest pay raise in years, health care improvements, and more resources for their families here at home.\nThe Obama administration's misguided drawdown has weakened the military, and this bill will rebuild our forces and close the readiness gap. Investments in maintenance and development of equipment will ensure our military can respond to evolving threats. And my provision to boost electronic warfare innovation will help get new technologies into the field faster so our troops have the best tools at their disposal.\nThe terrorist detainees at Guantanamo Bay are the worst of the worst, and they don't belong on U.S. soil. This bill continues existing prohibitions on transferring terrorists to the U.S. or closing Gitmo.\nWith increasing threats around the world, this bill will strengthen our military and help our next commander-in-chief implement a comprehensive strategy to destroy ISIS. The Senate should pass this critical bill and the president should sign it so we can keep our nation safe and secure.\nBackground:\nThe final Conference Report to accompany S. 2943, the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2017, which was negotiated by bipartisan members of the House and Senate, is expected to reach the president's desk in the coming days. The legislation:\n \nProhibits transfer of terrorist detainees from Guantanamo Bay to U.S. soil or closure of Gitmo detention facility.\n \n \nIncludes Walorski legislation to boost electronic warfare (EW) innovation to get electromagnetic (EM) spectrum technology to warfighters more quickly to better confront existing and emerging threats.\n \n \nFully funds 2.1 percent pay raise for troops required by law.\n \n \nProvides resources to combat ISIS and support allies to counter Russian aggression.\n \n \nIncludes Walorski provision to provide children of fallen servicemembers and children of servicemembers struggling with post-traumatic stress the opportunity participate in special camps.\n \n \nInvests in personnel, training, maintenance, and procurement to close readiness gap.\n \n \nReforms acquisition policies to develop military tools more effectively and efficiently.\n \n \nImproves reporting process to combat military sexual assault and protect victims.\n \n \nProtects National Guardsmen and reservists from Pentagon clawing back re-enlistment bonuses paid in error.\n \n \nCaps size of National Security Council to restore oversight and limit interference with military decisions in the field.\n \nWalorski represents the 2nd Congressional District of Indiana, serving as a member of the House Veterans' Affairs Committee, House Armed Services Committee and House Committee on Agriculture.\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["http://susanwbrooks.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/brooks-selected-as-house-ethics-chairwoman", "Brooks Selected as House Ethics Chairwoman", "2016-12-01", "2016", "2016-12", "Republican", "House", "IN", "Susan Brooks", "B001284", "susanwbrooks.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Washington, D.C. \u2013 Today, Rep. Susan Brooks (R-IN05) was selected as Chairwoman of the House Committee on Ethics. The Committee is the bipartisan supervising ethics office for the House of Representatives. It is responsible for setting and communicating the ethical rules and standards of the House of Representatives; offering current House members, officers and staff guidance and advice about how best to comply with the rules; conducting investigations into allegations of misconduct on the part of current House members, officers and employees; and reprimanding those who are found to have violated the House rules.\n\u201cRestoring confidence in Congress has been a goal of mine since the beginning of my Congressional service,\u201d Brooks said. \u201cWith 2016 Congressional approval ratings hovering between 11 and 20 percent, transparent, responsible and ethical government is critical to rebuilding public trust and confidence in Congress. The House Committee on Ethics has an important role to play in holding members, officers and staff accountable to the American people and to our colleagues. As Chairwoman, I am committed to holding our members to a high standard of conduct; to conducting fair investigations into allegations and questions brought before the Committee; and to effectively and transparently communicating the Congressional ethics rules and standards to Members, staff and the American people.\u201d\nBrooks has served on the House Committee on Ethics since her first term. The House Committee on Ethics is one of 20 standing committees in the House of Representatives. The Committee is the only one in the House made up of an equal number of members from the Republican and Democrat parties.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["http://susanwbrooks.house.gov/media-center/in-the-news/21st-century-cures-a-real-plan-for-our-national-health", "21st Century Cures: A real plan for our national health", "2016-11-30", "2016", "2016-11", "Republican", "House", "IN", "Susan Brooks", "B001284", "susanwbrooks.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Unfortunately, like many of the treatments and cures waiting for approval or stalled by burdensome regulations, 21st Century Cures has languished since then, along with much-needed reforms to our mental health care system, provisions to strengthen and enhance our readiness for biological threats, and desperately sought after resources for states to combat the heroin and opioid epidemic.\n\t\t\t\tToday, nearly 18 months after Judy\u2019s death, 21st Century Cures is once again on the House floor for consideration as part of a package along with these other critical reforms. It is fully offset, represents a real plan to deal with these challenges to our national health, and keeps our country on the cutting edge of medical innovation. This time, we must make sure that this transformational package is enacted into law.\n\t\t\t\tBy the end of 2016, nearly 1.7 million new cases of cancer will be diagnosed in the United States alone. Nearly 40 percent of people will be diagnosed with cancer at some point in their lifetime. Today, 5.4 million Americans are living with Alzheimer\u2019s disease and 30 million Americans have been diagnosed with a rare disease.\n\t\t\t\t21st Century Cures is a real plan to encourage scientific collaboration to find cures faster and ensure that once these life-saving treatments are discovered, there is a modern, streamlined process for developing them and delivering them to patients, like the more than 37 million people diagnosed with cancer, Alzheimer\u2019s and other rare diseases that I mentioned above.\n\t\t\t\tOne in five Americans struggle with mental illness. Even those who seek treatment can\u2019t get the care they need because mental health resources are lacking and our mental health care system is broken.\u00a0\n\t\t\t\t21st Century Cures is a real plan to reform our mental health care system. It will help ensure that people struggling with mental illness will get appropriate care and treatment before a crisis occurs, and that their families and loved ones can be partners in helping to combat the very serious and sometimes dangerous results of mental illness.\n\t\t\t\tReports that ISIS is taking steps towards chemical and biological weapons are especially troubling considering that if a disease like smallpox were weaponized and released in America, one in three people infected would die.\u00a0\n\t\t\t\t21st Century Cures is a real plan to streamline and improve our readiness for a biological threat, like smallpox, by incentivizing the development and testing of vaccines for chemical and biological threats and ensuring that appropriate vaccines can be added to our existing national stockpile in case of an attack.\n\t\t\t\tMore Americans are dying of drug overdoses than car crashes today. Heroin and opioid abuse is overburdening our child welfare systems, crippling newborn babies with addiction, and impacting our veterans at alarming rates.\n\t\t\t\t21st Century Cures is a real plan that provides states with much needed resources to address the heroin and opioid epidemic in our communities.\n\t\t\t\tToday, my vote for 21st Century Cures is inspired and driven not only by Judy, but also by the millions struggling with cancer, Alzheimer\u2019s and other rare and deadly diseases; by the millions of Americans struggling with mental illness; by the millions more who are struggling with substance abuse; and by every American who could be the victim of a biological attack.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["http://susanwbrooks.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/21st-century-cures-passes-house-offers-real-solutions-to-nation-s-health", "21st Century Cures Passes House, Offers Real Solutions to Nations Health Challenges", "2016-11-30", "2016", "2016-11", "Republican", "House", "IN", "Susan Brooks", "B001284", "susanwbrooks.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Washington, D.C. \u2013 Today, the House passed a fully paid for, transformative package of reforms and resources that will bring our medical innovation process into the 21st century; accelerate the discovery, development and delivery of life-saving and life-changing treatments and cures; better prepare for biological threats; and address our most pressing national health challenges: mental health and substance abuse. Rep. Susan Brooks (R-IN05) released the following statement after the vote:\n\u201cI want to thank the countless Hoosiers and Fifth District organizations and advocates who met with me to discuss their ideas to improve this legislation and who shared their personal stories and experiences to inform this bill,\u201d Brooks said. \u201cMany of us have watched a friend or loved one struggle with cancer or Alzheimer\u2019s disease, only to be told that there was little hope of treatment or a cure. 21st Century Cures provides patients and their families with hope for a future and ensures that the United States will stay on the cutting edge of medical innovation. It is the product of years of bipartisan work with patients, researchers, innovators and health care providers to determine specific steps we can take today to encourage scientific collaboration to find cures faster. \u201d\nThe 21st Century Cures Act seeks to speed and improve the discovery of promising developments in science, to streamlining the device development process, to unleashing the power of digital medicine and delivery of life-saving and life-improving therapies, thereby transforming the quest for faster cures. In addition, the legislation includes important provisions to combat the opioid and heroin crisis devastating our communities, brings about the first major overhaul of our mental health system in over half a century and includes provisions to enhance our national biodefense.\n\u201cI\u2019m especially pleased that the final bill includes a number of provisions that I helped lead to improve and protect our national health,\u201d Brooks continued. \u201cFirst, people struggling with mental illness will have more access to the care and treatment they need. Second, our state and local partners will get critical resources to address the heroin and opioid epidemic in our communities. Third, this proposal incentivizes the development and testing of vaccines and treatments for chemical and biological threats and ensures that appropriate vaccines can be added to our existing national stockpile in case of an attack.\u201d\nMore information about 21st Century Cures is available online at: https://energycommerce.house.gov/cures", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["http://susanwbrooks.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/brooks-hahn-bill-to-honor-wwii-merchant-marines-passes-house", "Brooks, Hahn Bill to Honor WWII Merchant Marines Passes House", "2016-11-30", "2016", "2016-11", "Republican", "House", "IN", "Susan Brooks", "B001284", "susanwbrooks.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Washington, D.C. \u2013 Today, the House passed H.R. 2992, the Merchant Marine of World War II Congressional Gold Medal Act of 2016, a bill introduced by Rep. Susan Brooks (R-IN05) and Rep. Janice Hahn (D-CA44). This legislation will present the highest civilian award Congress can bestow to the Merchant Mariners who acted heroically to transport troops and provide critical supplies of war to U.S. troops by sea during World War II.\n\u201cToday, there are less than 5,000 surviving Merchant Mariners, and with nearly 500 World War II veterans dying each day, it is critical that we act this year to recognize and honor the sacrifices and contributions of this group of loyal and courageous men,\u201d said Brooks. \u201cThe Merchant Marine was the linchpin connecting the fighting forces overseas with the production forces here at home. In the face of certain peril, these brave men provided efficient and reliable transport of combat equipment, fuel, food, commodities, personnel, and raw materials that were pivotal to the Allied victory. Today, I\u2019m proud that the House has taken action to honor their service, and I hope that my colleagues in the Senate will act swiftly to ensure that these men get the recognition they deserve before the end of the year.\u201d\nWith an estimated 9,300 total casualties, the Merchant Marine bore a higher per-capita casualty rate than any other branch of the U.S. Armed Forces during World War II.\u00a0 An additional 11,000 mariners were wounded in action and 663 men and women were taken prisoner.\n\u201cOften, the sacrifices and service of these brave men are forgotten,\u201d Brooks continued. \u201cMerchant Mariners took part in every invasion from Normandy to Okinawa, risking their lives to provide the needed supplies for war and facing danger from submarines, mines, armed raiders and destroyers, aircraft, \u2018Kamikaze,\u2019 and Mother Nature herself. Despite these efforts, Merchant Mariners were not recognized as veterans until 1988 and never received the benefits that other World War II veterans received under the G.I. Bill.\u201d\nH.R. 2992 has 312 bipartisan co-sponsors. Companion legislation, S. 2989, the Merchant Mariners of World War II Congressional Gold Medal Act of 2016, has been introduced in the Senate and is waiting for consideration.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["http://susanwbrooks.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/brooks-selected-as-sole-speaker-designee-on-republican-conference", "Brooks Selected as Sole Speaker Designee on Republican Conference Steering Committee", "2016-11-30", "2016", "2016-11", "Republican", "House", "IN", "Susan Brooks", "B001284", "susanwbrooks.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "WASHINGTON, D.C.\u2014\u00a0Congresswoman Susan W. Brooks (R-IN05) was selected by Speaker Paul Ryan (R-WI01) to serve as the Speaker\u2019s sole designee on the Republican Conference Steering Committee in the House of Representatives. The Steering Committee is responsible for making committee assignments for Republican members of the House and selecting chairmen for each committee in the House.\n\u201cAdvocating for my colleagues is a privilege, and it\u2019s an honor to be selected by Speaker Ryan to serve on the Steering Committee in the next Congress,\u201d Brooks said. \u201cEach member of the House brings significant and unique expertise, experiences, interests and perspective to Congress and to their legislative work, and I want to make sure that each member can leverage the assets they bring in our committee work. I\u2019m looking forward to working with my colleagues to make sure that we put the strengths of each member to work for the American people.\u201d\nThe Steering Committee is made up of 31 members of the Republican Conference, including elected members of the leadership team, elected regional representatives, members representing Congressional classes, a Speaker\u2019s designee, and a rotating seat for committee chairs. The members selected last night will serve on the Steering Committee until the end of the 115th Congress.\u00a0A complete list of Steering Committee Members is available here.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://bucshon.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/dr-bucshon-s-statement-passage-21st-century-cures", "Dr. Bucshons Statement on Passage of 21st Century Cures", "2016-11-30", "2016", "2016-11", "Republican", "House", "IN", "Larry Bucshon", "B001275", "bucshon.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "(WASHINGTON, D.C.) \u2013On Wednesday, the House passed a landmark medical innovation package \u2013 21st Century Cures \u2013 to accelerate the discovery, development, and delivery of new cures and treatments. It also provides new funding for the National Institutes of Health and the Food and Drug Administration. The legislative package includes comprehensive reforms to our nation\u2019s mental health treatment system as well as funding to combat the opioid abuse epidemic. \u00a0\n\t\t\t\tEighth District Congressman Larry Bucshon\u2019s bill to reduce fraud in the Medicaid program (H.R. 3716) is included to help fully fund the $6.3 billion package without adding to the deficit.\n\t\t\t\t\u201cAs a physician who has cared for patients and relied on medical innovation, I can say without a doubt that 21st Century Cures will save lives and give families hope for the future,\u201d said Bucshon. \u201cNearly 10,000 diseases, like ALS and Alzheimer\u2019s, are still without a cure. This legislative package will incentivize the development and discovery of new treatments and improve the delivery of care to patients who so badly need it. It also implements our previous legislative work to reform how mental health is treated and expands on our efforts to address the opioid abuse epidemic. I\u2019m proud to have been a part of this historic process and pleased the savings in my legislation to rid Medicaid of fraudulent providers is helping to fund this much-needed investment in the discovery, development, and delivery of life-saving cures and treatments.\u201d \n\t\t\t\tBACKGROUND: \n\t\t\t\tCutting-Edge Cures: from Discovery to Treatment: \n\t\t\t\tThe 21st Century Cures Act, an innovation game-changer that includes significant investments, $5.3 billion in total, to accelerate the discovery, development, and delivery of cutting-edge, life-saving cures and treatments.\n\t\t\t\tThe National Institutes of Health (NIH): \n\t\t\t\t21st\u00a0Century Cures catalyzes cutting-edge research at NIH and helps ensure our health system can keep pace with new advances in science and technology by advancing precision medicine, supporting young and emerging scientists, facilitating collaborative research, promoting pediatric research, and other innovative solutions. \u00a0It also invests:\n\t\t\t\t$1.4 billion for the Precision Medicine Initiative to drive research into the genetic, lifestyle and environmental variations of disease.\n\t\t\t\t\t$1.8 billion for the \"Cancer Moonshot\u201d to speed up the research and development of cancer cures.\n\t\t\t\t\t$1.6 billion for the BRAIN initiative to improve our understanding, diagnosis, and treatment of diseases like Alzheimer's.\n\t\t\t\tThe Food and Drug Administration (FDA): \n\t\t\t\t21st Century Cures makes significant reforms to the FDA that will modernize clinical trials and evidence development, bring the FDA into the 21st century, improve the medical device review process, reduce unnecessary regulation, and empower patients to participate in research and development to help expedite the development and review of new life-saving treatments. \u00a0It also directs $500 million in additional funding to the FDA to accomplish these goals.\n\t\t\t\tLandmark Mental Health Reforms: \n\t\t\t\tThe 21st Century Cures package includes landmark reforms to the nation\u2019s mental health treatment system that passed the House in July.\u00a0 The reforms, introduced in H.R. 2646, the Helping Families in Mental Health Crisis Act, help ensure mental and substance use disorder prevention, treatment, and recovery programs keep pace with science and technology so that patients with mental illness have access to the treatment they need when they need it.\n\t\t\t\tCombating Opioid Abuse Disorder: \n\t\t\t\tEarlier this year, Congress passed and the President signed into law comprehensive legislation to address the opioid abuse epidemic impacting communities across the country.\u00a0 21st Century Cures builds on that success by including $1 billion in state grants to fight opioid abuse.\u00a0\n\t\t\t\tFully funded: \n\t\t\t\tThe investments made by 21st Century Cures are fully funded in part due to savings incurred by legislation introduced by Congressman Bucshon. Bucshon\u2019s bill, H.R. 3716 the\u00a0Ensuring Access to Quality Medicaid Providers Act,\u00a0strengthens the Medicaid program and saves taxpayer dollars by ridding the program of bad actors. Specifically, the bill ensures that providers terminated from Medicare or a state Medicaid program for reasons of fraud, integrity, or quality, are terminated from all other state Medicaid programs.\u00a0\n\t\t\t\tCongressman Larry Bucshon, M.D. is a physician and Republican member of the House Energy and Commerce Committee serving his third term representing Indiana's 8th Congressional district. The 8th District of Indiana includes all or parts of Clay, Crawford, Daviess, Dubois, Gibson, Greene, Knox, Martin, Owen, Parke, Perry, Pike, Posey, Spencer, Sullivan, Vanderburgh, Vermillion, Vigo, and Warrick counties.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://messer.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/rep-messer-congress-reaffirms-opposition-to-anti-israel-action-by-the-un", "Rep. Messer: Congress reaffirms opposition to anti-Israel action by the UN", "2016-11-30", "2016", "2016-11", "Republican", "House", "IN", "Luke Messer", "M001189", "messer.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "WASHINGTON (Wednesday, Nov. 30, 2016) \u2014 Rep. Luke Messer (IN-06) issued the following statement today applauding the U.S. House of Representatives\u2019 passage of H. Con. Res 165, which affirms\u00a0 Congress\u2019 opposition to any action by the UN Security Council that imposes a unilateral, one-sided solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict:\n\u201cThe U.S. must stand up for Israel and be a voice for achieving lasting peace in the region. One-sided, force-fed solutions by the UN will only aggravate tensions. I join my colleagues in urging the Obama administration to block any unilateral action by the UN to recognize a Palestinian state or impose other anti-Israel solutions to this conflict as his term comes to end.\u201d\nThe U.S. House of Representatives passed H. Con. Res 165 on Tuesday, Nov. 29.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://walorski.house.gov/congress-passes-veterans-mobility-safety-act/", "Congress Passes Walorski Bill to Improve Quality and Safety of Disabled Veterans Mobility Equipment", "2016-11-30", "2016", "2016-11", "Republican", "House", "IN", "Jackie Walorski", "W000813", "walorski.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Wednesday, November 30, 2016\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t Congress Passes Walorski Bill to Improve Quality and Safety of Disabled Veterans' Mobility Equipment \n Veterans Mobility Safety Act Will Update VA Standards for Automobile Adaptive Equipment \nWASHINGTON  U.S. Rep. Jackie Walorski (IN-02), a member of the House Veterans' Affairs Committee, today applauded final passage of her bill to improve the quality and safety of mobility equipment used by disabled veterans.\nWe owe a debt to our disabled veterans, and that includes making sure the mobility equipment they need is safe and reliable, Congresswoman Walorski said. With this commonsense bill on its way to becoming law, we will keep disabled veterans safe by updating the VA's outdated policies and setting comprehensive standards for the mobility equipment veterans depend on in their daily lives.\nParalyzed Veterans of America members who enjoy the independence and opportunity that driving an adaptive vehicle offers will be greatly impacted by this legislation, said Sherman Gillums, Jr., executive director of Paralyzed Veterans of America. I count myself among them, and I am gratified to see the bill taking us in a direction to make adapted vehicles safer and more functionally efficient for our nation's injured veterans. We applaud Representative Walorski's leadership and perseverance on this important legislation, and we look forward to the President signing the bill into law.\nThe Veterans Mobility Safety Act (H.R. 3471) will require the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) to set comprehensive standards for providers of automobile adaptive equipment, such as wheelchair lifts and reduced-effort steering and braking systems. The bill now heads to the president's desk to be signed into law.\nCongresswoman Walorski spoke on the House floor after passage of the legislation. Video of her remarks is available here.\nBACKGROUND\nThrough the VA's Automobile Adaptive Equipment (AAE) program, eligible disabled veterans have access to automotive mobility products, such as wheelchair lifts and reduced-effort steering and braking in vehicles. However, the VA does not require any type of quality standards for providers to participate in the AAE program, resulting in some cases of inferior providers improperly installing equipment, causing serious safety issues for veterans and motorists.\nThe House on Tuesday passed an amended version of H.R. 3471 unanimously by voice vote after it was passed by the Senate. The final version requires the VA to update its outdated policies on adaptive equipment with comprehensive quality standards developed in close consultation with stakeholders, including veteran service organizations, the National Highway Transportation Safety Administration, and industry representatives.\nH.R. 3471 was originally introduced in September 2015 by Walorski, Rep. Raul Ruiz, M.D. (CA-36), and Rep. Julia Brownley (CA-26) to ensure disabled veterans relying on mobility equipment receive the best quality, performance, and safety.\nThe bill also includes provisions authored by Rep. Sean Duffy (WI-07) to improve care for veterans with hearing aids by allowing certified hearing aid specialists to provide certain hearing aid services.\nWalorski represents the 2nd Congressional District of Indiana, serving as a member of the House Veterans' Affairs Committee, House Armed Services Committee and House Committee on Agriculture.\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["http://rokita.house.gov/press-release/rep-rokita-statement-nomination-dr-tom-price-hhs-secretary", "REP. ROKITA STATEMENT ON NOMINATION OF DR. TOM PRICE FOR HHS SECRETARY", "2016-11-29", "2016", "2016-11", "Republican", "House", "IN", "Todd Rokita", "R000592", "rokita.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE  \n\tCONTACT: 202-225-5037  \n\tNovember 29, 2016\n REP. ROKITA STATEMENT ON NOMINATION OF DR. TOM PRICE\u00a0FOR HHS SECRETARYThe nomination of Dr. Price is a huge win for the American People \n\u00a0\nWashington, D.C. \u2013 Today, Rep. Todd Rokita released the following statement after President-elect Trump announced the nomination of Dr. Tom Price for the Secretary of Health and Human Services position.\n\"I want to congratulate my friend and colleague Dr. Tom Price on his nomination for Health and Human Services Secretary.\n\"Dr. Price\u2019s career as a medical practitioner and as the Chairman of the House Budget Committee make him uniquely qualified for this position.\u00a0 As the architect of the Republican alternative to Obamacare, Dr. Price is now in a position to help President-elect Trump replace Obamacare with a patient centered plan.\u00a0 The nomination of Dr. Price is a huge win for the American people.\"\nAs Vice Chair of Budget Committee, Rep. Rokita intimately knows the inner workings of the budget process and the Committee\u2019s members, and has worked hand in glove with Dr. Price during his Chairmanship, as well as working with Speaker Ryan during his tenure as Budget Committee Chairman.\u00a0 Rep. Rokita has been a member of the Budget Committee since joining Congress in 2011.\u00a0\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["http://susanwbrooks.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/brooks-statement-on-nomination-of-seema-verma-to-serve-as-cms", "Brooks Statement on Nomination of Seema Verma to Serve as CMS Administrator", "2016-11-29", "2016", "2016-11", "Republican", "House", "IN", "Susan Brooks", "B001284", "susanwbrooks.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Washington, D.C.\u00a0 \u2013 Today, President-elect Donald Trump nominated Hoosier Seema Verma to serve as Administrator of the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS). Rep. Susan W. Brooks (R-IN05) released the following statement:\n\u201cSeema Verma is an outstanding choice to lead CMS, and I\u2019m delighted that she can bring her experience and expertise to the table for the Trump Administration. As the architect of the Healthy Indiana Plan (HIP), Indiana\u2019s alternative to traditional Medicaid expansion under the Affordable Care Act, and a leader in Medicaid reform in Iowa, Michigan, Ohio, Kentucky and Tennessee, Ms. Verma is uniquely positioned to help our country move forward, repeal and replace the broken policies of the Obama Administration and ensure that Americans have access to affordable health care. Since its creation, HIP and its successor, HIP 2.0, have expanded access to hundreds of thousands of Hoosiers, incentivized smarter healthcare spending choices through the use of health savings accounts and connected participating Hoosiers to workforce training and potential employers. I\u2019m confident that Ms. Verma will bring the same kind of proven, consumer-driven solutions to her work as CMS Administrator. I want to congratulate Ms. Verma on her nomination and encourage her swift confirmation.\u201d", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://bucshon.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/dr-bucshon-s-statement-president-elect-trump-s-healthcare-related", "Dr. Bucshons Statement on President-Elect Trumps Healthcare Related Nominations", "2016-11-29", "2016", "2016-11", "Republican", "House", "IN", "Larry Bucshon", "B001275", "bucshon.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "(WASHINGTON, D.C.) \u2013 Congressman Larry Bucshon, a physician and member of the House Energy and Commerce Committee, praised President-elect Donald Trump\u2019s nomination of Congressman Tom Price, M.D. (R-GA) as Secretary of Health and Human Services and Seema Verma, MPH as Administrator of the Center of Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS).\n\t\t\t\tRepresentative Tom Price, M.D. (R-GA) as Secretary of Health and Human Services:\n\t\t\t\t\u201cDr. Price is a good man who cares deeply about patients and their access to quality healthcare,\u201d said Bucshon. \u201cAs a physician with firsthand experience caring for patients, a leader on conservative healthcare policy, and Budget Committee Chairman, Dr. Price has both the practical and policy experience to lead the way at HHS. He\u2019s also in a unique position to work with our Republican Congress to fix our nation\u2019s healthcare system.\u201d\u00a0\n\t\t\t\tSeema Verma, MPH as Administrator of the Center of Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS):\n\t\t\t\t\u201cMs. Verma helped usher in Indiana\u2019s success with our market-based, patient-centered alternative to traditional Medicaid - Healthy Indiana Plan 2.0. Her experience with HIP 2.0 and understanding of our healthcare system will undoubtedly be an asset to the new Administration. I\u2019m looking forward to having a partner in Ms. Verma and CMS as we work in the 115th Congress to advance common-sense healthcare policy.\u201d \n\t\t\t\tCongressman Larry Bucshon, M.D. is a physician and Republican member of the House Energy and Commerce Committee serving his third term representing Indiana's 8th Congressional district. The 8th District of Indiana includes all or parts of Clay, Crawford, Daviess, Dubois, Gibson, Greene, Knox, Martin, Owen, Parke, Perry, Pike, Posey, Spencer, Sullivan, Vanderburgh, Vermillion, Vigo, and Warrick counties.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["http://rokita.house.gov/editorial/rokita-report-happy-thanksgiving-thank-you-tour-more", "Rokita Report - Happy Thanksgiving, Thank You Tour, & More", "2016-11-24", "2016", "2016-11", "Republican", "House", "IN", "Todd Rokita", "R000592", "rokita.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Dear Friend,\nThank you for the opportunity to update you on the work of the 114th Congress.\u00a0 I trust this finds you and your family well, as we work together to bring Hoosier common sense to Washington.\nFor daily updates, please take a moment to \"Like\" my Facebook page by clicking here\u00a0\u00a0or follow me on Twitter if you prefer\u00a0\u00a0@ToddRokita.\n \u00a0 \n   In this week's Rokita Report \n Happy Thanksgiving!\nTouring Indiana's 4th District\nSmall Business Saturday\n  \u00a0 \n  Happy Thanksgiving!\nToday is Thanksgiving. \u00a0This day is a time for us to spend\u00a0with our family and friends to reflect and give thanks for what we have.\nThanksgiving is a uniquely American holiday and traces its origins to our colonial roots.\u00a0 During the Revolutionary War, the Continental Congress appointed one or more thanksgiving days each year.\u00a0\u00a0Throughout our nation's history, Presidents and Governors would declare days of Thanksgiving.\u00a0 In the middle of the\u00a0Civil War, President Abraham Lincoln, proclaimed a\u00a0national Thanksgiving Day to be celebrated in November of 1863.\nIn 1941, Congress passed and President Franklin D. Roosevelt signed into law a bill making Thanksgiving a federal holiday.\nLike always, I am thankful for my family and friends.\u00a0 Kathy and I are thankful for our two boys, Teddy and Ryan.\u00a0 To leave them a stronger Republic is what truly motivates me to serve in Congress.\nI am thankful too for our Constitution.\u00a0 The wisdom of that document has stood the test of time and guides our nation.\u00a0 Nowhere before or since it's creation have the ideas of self-government of the people, for the people, and by the people ever come together as perfectly.\u00a0 It is a blessing to be an American and for this I am truly thankful.\nThis year, I am thankful that we will have strong partners in our efforts to preserve and strengthen our Republic.\u00a0 President-elect Donald Trump has laid out an agenda that will push back against\u00a0onerous federal government overreach and restore the checks and balances of our government.\u00a0 I am thankful for the optimism that Hoosiers have in the next administration.\nI hope you have a happy Thanksgiving, surrounded by family, friends, and loved ones with much to be thankful for.\n  Touring Indiana's 4th District\nOn Monday, I met with Hoosiers on a whirlwind tour of the 4th District.\u00a0 During this tour, I visited eight of the 4th District's counties and met with Hoosiers to talk about the topics that were on everyone's mind and to thank them for the continued honor of serving them in Congress.\nOutside of Allen's Country Kitchen in Crawfordsville with State Senator Phil Boots.\nI witnessed people's excitement about President-elect Donald Trump.\u00a0 I also heard from Hoosiers who are fed up with\u00a0ObamaCare's rising premiums and other failures.\u00a0 I let them know about our \"A Better Way\" policy\u00a0proposal.\u00a0 This proposal is a collaborative effort from House Republican's on a variety of topics, including health care.\u00a0 The health care proposal includes support for Medicaid block grants, an idea that I have promoted through H.R. 4362, the State Health Flexibility Act.\u00a0 Returning Medicaid power to the states through block grants would save $2.25 trillion in the next decade.\u00a0 Donald Trump and Vice President-elect Mike Pence have both expressed their support for block grant programs.\u00a0 I also let Hoosiers know that as Vice Chairman of the Budget Committee, I have helped coauthor the House Budget and reconciliation legislation.\u00a0 Reconciliation legislation is a\u00a0vehicle that will allow Congress to get\u00a0a bill to the President's desk and skip the Senate's onerous filibuster rules.\nDiscussed ObamaCare, Lakes Freeman and Shafer, and President-elect Donald Trump's agenda with Debbie, Marla, Phil, and Paul at Monticello's USA Restaurant.\nIt was an exciting day and I\u00a0appreciated the chance to hear directly from Hoosiers and get\u00a0marching orders for my work\u00a0in Washington.\u00a0 Through the tour, I visited and met Hoosiers in:\n Flap Jacks in Brownsburg.\nAlmost Home in Greencastle.\nAllen's Country Kitchen in Crawfordsville.\nSacred Grounds in Lafayette.\nUSA Restaurant in Monticello.\nStone House Restaurant in Delphi.\nFlavors Coffee and Deli in Frankfort.\nBekah's Westside Caf\u00e9 in Lebanon.\n \nGreat to see Amelia and Lucas in Bekah's in Lebanon.\u00a0 As Chairman of the Early Childhood, Elementary, and Secondary Education Subcommittee, I am committed to ensuring that mothers like Amelia have control over their children's education.\n \u00a0 \n  Small Business Saturday\nAs we embark on a busy holiday shopping season, Hoosiers have a chance to remember our local businesses during Small Business Saturday.\u00a0\u00a0This Saturday is a chance\u00a0for us to remember and visit\u00a0small businesses.\u00a0 The first\u00a0Small Business Saturday was\u00a0held in 2010 to provide a needed reminder between the\u00a0busy shopping of Black Friday and Cyber Monday.\u00a0 In 2012, consumers spent $5.5 billion in small businesses across the country on Small Business Saturday.\u00a0 Last year, that number had tripled to $16.2 billion.\nSmall businesses are the lifeblood of the American economy.\u00a0 There are 28 million small businesses in the United States, that employ nearly half of our total private sector employees, and have accounted for 63% of net new jobs over the last two decades.\u00a0 I hope you will consider visiting and supporting your local businesses on Saturday.\n  Thank you for your continued interest in Congress and for supporting my efforts to bring Hoosier common sense to Washington. Take care.\u00a0\u00a0\n\u00a0\n\t\t\t\t\tSincerely,  \u00a0  \n\t\t\t\t\tTodd Rokita", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://messer.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/house-republicans-pass-rep-messer-s-proposal-to-change-house-gop-rules", "House Republicans Pass Rep. Messers Proposal to Change House GOP Rules", "2016-11-16", "2016", "2016-11", "Republican", "House", "IN", "Luke Messer", "M001189", "messer.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "WASHINGTON (Wednesday, Nov. 16, 2016) \u2014 Today Republicans in the U.S. House of Representatives passed Rep. Luke Messer\u2019s (IN-06) proposal to change House GOP rules, making the conference more responsive to its rank-and-file members.\nMesser\u2019s rule will require committee chairs to hold a hearing on a measure within 30 legislative days if it is cosponsored by a majority of the Republican Conference and the cosponsors include one third of the Republican committee members.\n\u201cIf one thing was clear from the recent election, it\u2019s that the people are still in control of their government,\u201d Messer said. \u201cCongress must be directly responsive to the people it serves. One of the best ways to do that is to remove the barriers that prevent good ideas from succeeding. We can empower the American people by empowering their representatives in Congress to drive results.\u201d\nMesser\u2019s rule ensures that popular legislative proposals have a guaranteed path forward in the legislative process to become law. Previously, a committee chair or other powerful member could kill a proposal regardless of how much support it had from conference members \u2013 even if it was supported by over half of the conference.\n\u201cWhen Americans contact their representatives about an issue, they wonder if it makes a difference. This new rule will make sure it does,\u201d Messer said. \u201cFor the first time, the American people will be able to directly influence whether a policy idea moves forward by picking up the phone and urging their representatives\u2019 support.\u201d\nMesser also authored a rule amendment which was adopted by the House Republicans today to improve conference culture by preventing personal attacks during debate, which impedes constructive policy discussion.\nMesser\u2019s rule changes will now be part of the policies that govern the House Republican Conference for the 115th Congress.\nMesser has been advocating for changes to House Republican Conference rules for more than a year. This September, he sent a letter with Reps. Rodney Davis (IL-13) and Morgan Griffith (VA-9) to all House Republicans urging several rules changes to empower members and help them deliver for the American people.\nMesser is a member of House Republican Leadership, recently reelected to serve as Chair of the Republican Policy Committee in the 115th Congress.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://messer.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/rep-messer-reelected-to-chair-republican-policy-committee", "Rep. Messer reelected to Chair Republican Policy Committee", "2016-11-15", "2016", "2016-11", "Republican", "House", "IN", "Luke Messer", "M001189", "messer.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "WASHINGTON (Tuesday, Nov. 15, 2016) \u2014 Today,\u00a0 Republicans in the U.S. House of Representatives reelected Rep. Luke Messer (IN-06) as Chair of the Republican Policy Committee for the 115th Congress\nThe Republican Policy Committee (RPC) is tasked with developing and promoting policy solutions for the House Republican Conference. As Chair of the RPC, Messer is a member of House Republican Leadership. He previously served as RPC Chair during the 114th Congress.\n\u201cOur nation spoke loud and clear on Election Day, and Congress now has an unprecedented opportunity to deliver on conservative principles,\u201d Messer said. \u201cThe Republican Policy Committee will work with President-elect Donald Trump to drive policy results and get Washington back on the side of the American people.\u201d\nMesser said his priority as RPC Chair will be using the committee as an engine for innovative, thoughtful policy solutions that improve the lives of everyday Americans.As Policy Committee Chair during the 114th Congress, Messer promoted conservative policy by creating working groups on key issue areas, including Millennials, Law Enforcement and Women in the 21st Century Workforce.\u00a0 Next term, Messer intends to create a working group on 2nd Amendment issues.\u00a0\nHe als\u00a0facilitated member forums to discuss pressing policy issues and influence upcoming legislation, as well as held expert panels on issues like trade, health care, education and national security challenges.\nDuring House Leadership elections today, Messer ran unopposed for Republican Policy Committee Chair. Reps. Susan Brooks (IN-05), Elise Stefanik (NY-21) and Morgan Griffith (VA-9) all nominated Messer for RPC Chair.\n\"A famous Hoosier, Kurt Vonnegut, said, 'I don't know what it is about Hoosiers, but wherever you go there is always a Hoosier doing something very important there.' This is certainly true of Rep. Luke Messer, and I'm proud that he will continue his work as a conservative champion and thoughtful policymaker as Republican Policy Chairman in the 115th Congress,\" Rep. Susan Brooks said.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["http://susanwbrooks.house.gov/media-center/in-the-news/advocating-for-people-who-are-blind", "Advocating for People who are Blind", "2016-11-14", "2016", "2016-11", "Republican", "House", "IN", "Susan Brooks", "B001284", "susanwbrooks.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "With 2016 being a presidential election year, many issues that will shape America\u2019s future are in front of voters. Bosma Enterprises made participating in May\u2019s primary and November\u2019s upcoming election a little more convenient for employees who are blind or visually impaired. In April, a bipartisan group registered employees who were interested for this year\u2019s elections and came back in May to facilitate them casting their primary votes. In addition to providing employees an opportunity to vote onsite, Bosma also allows employees time off on election days to cast their vote at their local precinct. \u201cI am extremely proud of Bosma\u2019s voting initiative. Exercising your right to vote is at its core making your voice heard. It is important,\u201d said Lou Moneymaker, Bosma Enterprises\u2019 President & CEO.\nBosma Enterprises also encourages people who are blind to advocate for themselves. Every year the organization solicits applications from employees to participate in its annual trek to Washington to visit Indiana\u2019s congressional delegation. This year Imran Ahmed, JAWS script writer/assistive technology instructor at Bosma, was selected to go on the trip along with Anthony Scott, communications specialist, Lise Pace, director of marketing, and Kevin Mandrell, past chair, Bosma Enterprises Board of Directors.\nBorn in Pakistan, Imran has been blind since birth. He came to the United States in his early twenties in search of a better life with more opportunities than were available in his birth country. Recently, he became a naturalized United States\u2019 citizen, which made the trip to Washington even more significant. \u201cIn Pakistan, the government is not as centralized. It is difficult, if not impossible, to have access to legislators.\u00a0I am humbled by the opportunity to tell my story and how Bosma Enterprises has provided me the chance to live the American dream,\u201d said Imran Ahmed.\nOn May 25, 2016, the group visited all of Indiana\u2019s AbilityOne Champions to thank them for their support. AbilityOne Champions are critically important to Bosma Enterprises because the AbilityOne Program facilitates government contracts for the purpose of employing people who are blind or have other significant disabilities. Several Indiana members of the U.S. Congress are AbilityOne Champions and support this important program: Reps. Larry Bucshon (IN-8); Susan Brooks (IN-5); Andre Carson (IN-7); Luke Messer (IN-6); Todd Young (IN-9); Todd Rokita (IN-4) and Pete Visclosky (IN-1).\nSpecial thanks to all of our friends in Congress and their staffers who always make time to meet with us. Additionally, thank you to Kevin Mandrell, who dropped everything to fill in at the last minute and come on this important trip. Bosma Enterprises is extremely grateful for his support.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["http://susanwbrooks.house.gov/media-center/in-the-news/100-years-of-women-serving-in-congress", "100 years of women serving in Congress", "2016-11-11", "2016", "2016-11", "Republican", "House", "IN", "Susan Brooks", "B001284", "susanwbrooks.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Hillary Clinton is hoping to shatter an enormous glass ceiling on Tuesday by being elected to the Oval Office, but today\u2019s story looks across the reflecting pool to Capitol Hill. One hundred years ago today, Montana\u2019s Jeannette Rankin became the first woman elected to the U.S. House of Representatives.\nThat was even before all American women were given the right to vote by the 19th Amendment, which was ratified on Aug. 18, 1920.*\nWe\u2019ve come a long way since then.\nIndiana has had seven women in Congress, including two Republican women first elected in 2012 who are still serving in the House, hoping to be re-elected on Tuesday.\nU.S. Rep. Susan Brooks, whose husband David is a Hammond High School graduate, is vice chair of the congressional women\u2019s caucus and will become co-chair if re-elected. Brooks, a Republican, represents Indiana\u2019s 5th Congressional District.\nU.S. Rep. Jackie Walorski, a fellow Republican, represents the 2nd Congressional District, which includes much of LaPorte County.\nWomen\u2019s role in Congress\nThey\u2019re the only two congresswomen from Indiana currently serving in Congress, but they\u2019re not alone on Capitol Hill.\nWalorski remembers when she, Brooks and the third female Republican elected to Congress that year showed up for the freshmen class photo on Capitol Hill. There were 30-some Democratic women who asked them where the rest of their group was. When the Democrats realized there were only three Republican women, they gave the GOP members hugs and welcomed them, literally, with open arms.\nSince then, the women have been working together on a number of issues of common concern where bipartisan cooperation is feasible, Brooks and Walorski said.\nA number of the congresswomen live in the same apartment building, Walorski said, and they often meet in the lobby and elsewhere and talk about finding ways to work together to get things done.\nWomen have a common bond and reach to their \u201csisters\u201d across the aisle to get things done, she said.\n\u201cThe women in Congress I think do play an incredibly important role,\u201d Brooks said. The bipartisan women\u2019s caucus plans to work together on issues like child care, women\u2019s health and children\u2019s health and welfare, \u201cand raise up some issues that men might not,\u201d Brooks said.\n\u201cWhat I\u2019ve seen out of Congress, the women often check their egos at the door,\u201d she said. \u201cThey often really roll up their sleeves and find ways to work within not only our own parties, but I have really seen the women work across the aisle to find solutions.\u201d\nWomen are good listeners, consensus builders and problem solvers, Brooks said.\nFor Indiana, that\u2019s a tradition that dates back to 1933.\nIndiana\u2019s first congresswoman\nVirginia Jenckes, a Democrat, served 1933-1939. To win election, she had to defeat two incumbents who were in the same district following reapportionment. The farm widow\u2019s campaign strategy was simply to abolish Prohibition, her official House biography said. \u201cGet rid of Prohibition and you will have a market for your corn,\u201d she told farmers in her district.\nJenckes campaigned hard, logging 15,000 miles in a campaign that took her throughout the district in 1932.\nShe was able to help abolish Prohibition, and she was also able to secure funding for Wabash River flood control projects, but she wasn\u2019t appointed to the committees that would have matched her interests. Instead, she served on Mines and Mining, Civil Service and the District of Columbia.\nShe was a fierce anti-communist, her biography said, and pushed legislation to outlaw the mere mention of communism in public schools in the District of Columbia. She pushed for American flags to be flown atop every federal building, too.\nSecond congresswoman\nCecil Harden, the second Hoosier woman elected to the House, was a Republican. She served from 1949 to 1959. She won her first election by just 483 votes.\nHarden joined with Sen. Margaret Chase Smith of Maine and Rep. Frances Bolton of Ohio to criticize male dominance of the Republican Party and push for women\u2019s issues to be included in future platforms.\n\u201cHarden believed women had an important part to play in politics, particularly in local organizations and volunteer groups, which would provide the kind of experience they needed to move into higher offices,\u201d her House biography said.\nWalorski and Brooks have taken up that charge. They are each working to encourage more women to become politically active.\nNeither Brooks nor Walorski grew up in a political family, and neither planned to run for office. They were recruited. That\u2019s a common theme for women in public office.\n\u201cMany women are asked to run for office rather than just raising their hands and saying I\u2019m going to run,\u201d Brooks said. \u201cI think we need to do a better job encouraging more women to run, and I spend a lot of time doing that.\u201d\nWalorski said she is humbled and excited when mothers tell her that their daughters look up to her as a role model.\nIn the half century between Murray\u2019s term and Brooks and Walorski, three female Democrats from Indiana served in the House.\nKatie Hall\nKatie Hall, a Democrat from Gary, served the 1st Congressional District from 1981 to 1985. Her claim to fame in the House was authoring legislation to make Martin Luther King Jr.\u2019s birthday a federal holiday.\nAfter she left the House, she became Gary city clerk and was convicted on public corruption charges in 2003. She died in 2012.\nJill Long Thompson\nJill Long Thompson, who represented Indiana\u2019s 4th Congressional District near Fort Wayne, has deep roots in Northwest Indiana. She is a graduate of Valparaiso University and was a faculty member there when she served on the Valparaiso City Council. In addition to serving in the House from 1989 to 1995, she ran unsuccessfully for governor against Mitch Daniels in 2008. Long Thompson was named undersecretary in the Agriculture Department by President Barack Obama and became chairman and CEO of the Farm Credit Administration until her term ended in 2015. She now teaches ethics at the Kelley School of Business and the School of Public and Environmental Affairs at Indiana University in Bloomington.\nJulia Carson\nThe late Julia Carson, whose grandson Andre Carson now holds that office in the House, was elected to the House in 1996. Carson grew up poor, working part-time jobs like waiting tables, delivering newspapers and harvesting crops, her biography said.\nShe succeeded her mentor, Rep. Andy Jacobs, upon his retirement after 15 terms in office and represented greater Indianapolis.\nAmong her legislative claims to fame is authoring a bill to award the Congressional Gold Medal to civil rights activist Rosa Parks, whose refusal to move to the back of the bus in 1955 was a key moment in the civil rights movement.\nShe was still a congresswoman when she died in 2007.\nGender issues\nLong Thompson said her college students today don\u2019t realize how difficult it was for women even 20 years ago.\nWhile on the Agriculture Committee, Long Thompson got a law changed to give widows the same rights as widowers in the federal egg program. Prior to that change, women whose husbands died weren\u2019t allowed to continue egg production at the same level as before.\nAnother gender barrier broken.\n\u201cWe\u2019ve come a long way since I was elected in that special election in 1989,\u201d she said. That was when Dan Quayle was elevated to the vice presidency and Dan Coats was appointed to the Senate. Long Thompson succeeded Coats in the House.\n\u201cThere were definitely comments that were made that reflected not complete acceptance of women running for high office,\u201d she said. \u201cThere were comments made, for example, that it doesn\u2019t matter if she loses because she\u2019s a woman.\u201d\n\u201cThe research shows very clearly that not everyone is accepting of a woman holding high office, and particularly high executive office, for example governor or president,\u201d she said.\nLong Thompson stressed that those views are a minority, however. The majority believe when you bring a wider variety of talent to the table, you get better decisions.\nFuture congresswomen\n\u201cI think our big challenge is that we need to encourage more women to run for office at all levels, including Congress,\u201d Brooks said. Just 19 percent of the members of the House are female.\n\u201cAfter 100 years of having women in elected office, I\u2019m disappointed in the numbers we have in office,\u201d Brooks said. \u201cI think we have a long way to go to have more women elected to Congress and more women elected to the U.S. House.\u201d\nFormer U.S. Sen. Dick Lugar established a program to give Republican women the encouragement and skills they need to run for office. Brooks volunteers with this program.\nBrooks said women who run for office need to develop public speaking skills, become comfortable asking for campaign donations and leading teams \u2014 office staffs and campaign staffs.\nThere still has not been a female U.S. senator from Indiana, but that glass ceiling will be broken someday, just as the one in the Oval Office could yield as soon as Tuesday.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://messer.house.gov/media-center/editorials/honoring-our-veterans-0", "Honoring our Veterans", "2016-11-10", "2016", "2016-11", "Republican", "House", "IN", "Luke Messer", "M001189", "messer.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Today is Veterans Day. There is no better day to pay tribute to the heroic men and women who have served and defended our country since its founding.\nChances are many of you know someone who served or is currently serving in the U.S. military. Nearly 19 million veterans live in the United States today. Right now, there are also more than 1.4 million people serving in the Armed Forces, all across this country and here at home.\nOur military members and veterans are among the bravest, most honorable people in the world. They may be your grandfathers, brothers,\u00a0mothers, teachers or neighbors; and they are the reason we live in this great country today.\nThey devoted their time, their careers and their lives to preserve our freedom, values and way of life. It is impossible to put a price tag on the liberty and security we enjoy today because of the sacrifices of our veterans and their loved ones.\nToday and every day, it is up to all of us to ensure that those who served this country so proudly know their sacrifice is appreciated. They should never feel lost, uncared for or abandoned. Our veterans shaped our nation\u2019s history and made it the greatest country on earth to call home. They deserve our deepest admiration and our steadfast support.\nI hope each of you takes time today to thank a veteran or military member in your life. Talk to those in your family or your neighborhood who have served. Listen to their stories and remember the difference they made. If you see someone in uniform out in your community, say thank you. These small gestures can mean the most.\nAnd, once this day has passed, I hope you will continue to remember our veterans. They deserve our respect and admiration every day of the year.\u00a0\nFor generations, the American soldier has been willing to stand up and fight for our country. Every one of our veterans is a living reminder that America truly is the land of the free and home of the brave.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["http://susanwbrooks.house.gov/media-center/in-the-news/brooks-presses-fda-on-medical-device-cybersecurity", "Brooks presses FDA on medical device cybersecurity", "2016-11-07", "2016", "2016-11", "Republican", "House", "IN", "Susan Brooks", "B001284", "susanwbrooks.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "U.S. Rep. Susan Brooks (R-IN) has led a bipartisan inquiry into steps being taken by the Food and Drug Administration to protect medical devices from cyberattacks, malware and unauthorized access.\nBrooks and U.S. Rep. Diana DeGette (D-CO), both members of the House Energy and Commerce Committee, sought information about medical device vulnerabilities in letters to FDA Commissioner Robert Califf and Center for Devices and Radiological Health Director Jeffrey Shuren.\n\u201cWe applaud FDA and other stakeholders for the\u00a0steps that have already been taken to protect\u00a0patients against potential emerging threats,\u201d the\u00a0senators wrote.\n\u201cNevertheless, we have also seen\u00a0recent headlines about the potential for\u00a0unauthorized access in insulin pumps and\u00a0implantable cardiac devices, among others. As\u00a0technology will undoubtedly continue to evolve at\u00a0a rapid pace, we must ensure that FDA is equipped\u00a0with the appropriate cybersecurity expertise and\u00a0resources to evaluate not only the current risks to\u00a0new medical devices, but also how new threats\u00a0affect the medical devices already in use,\u201d the letter said.\nThere are 10 to 15 million medical devices in circulation today that are susceptible to cyber attacks, the senators said, and existing devices that are 10 years old or more might not be designed to handle today\u2019s cyberthreats.\nSpecifically, the senators requested information about how the FDA works with medical device manufacturers, ensures known vulnerabilities are mitigated, secures network infrastructures and collaborates with outside agencies.\nThe lawmakers noted that individual medical devices could serve as a gateway to criminals launching cyberattacks against health care providers, potentially threatening entire health systems.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["http://susanwbrooks.house.gov/media-center/in-the-news/brooks-next-president-will-make-obamacare-changes", "Brooks: Next president will make Obamacare changes", "2016-11-03", "2016", "2016-11", "Republican", "House", "IN", "Susan Brooks", "B001284", "susanwbrooks.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "ANDERSON \u2013 Rep. Susan Brooks expects changes in the Affordable Care Act, regardless of who is elected U.S. president on Tuesday.\nBrooks, R-5th District, visited with the editorial board of The Herald Bulletin on Wednesday to address issues facing the nation in the next four years.\nBrooks said although she supports the repeal of the Affordable Care Act (ACA), any changes will be phased in.\n\u201cWe have no intention of pulling the rug out from people who already have coverage,\u201d she said. \u201cWe (Republicans) want to inject competition back into health care.\u201d\nBrooks said the health insurance exchange programs have failed across the country and, in Indiana, four insurance companies have pulled out, leaving only four in the Hoosier state.\n\u201cThat\u2019s why the premiums are going up,\u201d she said.\nBrooks said she supports allowing people to cross state lines to purchase health insurance, expand pooling for small business owners to join together to provide coverage for their employees.\n\u201cThere are different views on fixing health care,\u201d she said. \u201cWe want to make sure people are covered. In many cases the deductibles are so high it\u2019s like not having insurance.\u201d\nBrooks said more competition will lower costs to individuals, adding that the cost of providing health care has to be reduced in the health care system.\nDuring her first term in office, Brooks said, she received many complaints from area residents because they lost their doctor and premiums were increasing.\n\u201cThe Democrats don\u2019t want it repealed because it\u2019s the main legacy of President Obama,\u201d she said. \u201cRepublicans contend it hasn\u2019t been working.\u201d\nBrooks said there is bipartisan support to redefine full-time employment as 40 hours per week instead of 30 hours under ACA, which has resulted in employees having their working hours reduced.\nLegislation has not been passed by the Congress because of the threat of a presidential veto.\n\u201cWe should keep what is working and fix what is not working,\u201d she said. \u201cI believe Hillary Clinton will be more willing to fix the system if she wins.\u201d\nBrooks said she supports a simplification, flattening of the tax code and lower rates.\n\u201cHigh corporate taxes are hurting us in global competition for jobs,\u201d she said. \u201cCompanies are moving off-shore for lower taxes.\u201d\nBrooks said the corporate tax rate should be reduced from 35 percent to 20 percent to elevate economic growth in the country.\nShe said there should be three different tax rates and fewer deductions.\n\u201cYou should be able to file taxes on a postcard,\u201d Brooks said. \u201cThe system has become too complicated.\u201d", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["http://susanwbrooks.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/degette-brooks-seek-details-from-fda-on-cybersecurity-for-medical", "DeGette, Brooks Seek Details from FDA on Cybersecurity for Medical Devices", "2016-11-03", "2016", "2016-11", "Republican", "House", "IN", "Susan Brooks", "B001284", "susanwbrooks.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "House Energy and Commerce Committee members Diana DeGette (D-CO) and Susan Brooks (R-IN) today asked the U.S. Food and Drug Administration for information about how the agency is working to address potential cybersecurity vulnerabilities in medical devices.\u00a0\nIn a letter to FDA Commissioner Dr. Robert M. Califf and Director of the Center for Devices and Radiological Health Dr. Jeffrey Shuren, DeGette and Brooks seek details regarding the agency\u2019s plans to further reduce risks of hacking, unauthorized access, or use of malware in medical devices.\nThe need for effective cybersecurity of medical devices has become more important with the increasing use of wireless, internet- and network-connected devices.\u00a0 Up to 15 million medical devices in circulation, ranging from monitors and infusion pumps to ventilators and radiological technologies, are integrated into the nation\u2019s digitized healthcare network, creating possible avenues for cyber-attacks.\u00a0 As cyber threats continue to evolve at a rapid pace, FDA must work to prevent emerging threats, mitigate existing vulnerabilities, and assess the strength of a device\u2019s cyber resilience in both pre-market and post-market contexts.\n\u201cWe applaud FDA and other stakeholders for the steps that have already been taken to protect patients against potential emerging threats,\u201d the letter said. \u201cNevertheless, we have also seen recent headlines about the potential for unauthorized access in insulin pumps and implantable cardiac devices, among others. As technology will undoubtedly continue to evolve at a rapid pace, we must ensure that FDA is equipped with the appropriate cybersecurity expertise and resources to evaluate not only the current risks to new medical devices, but also how new threats affect the medical devices already in use.\u201d\nIn the letter, DeGette and Brooks pose specific questions to the FDA related to its level of collaboration with medical device manufactures and other stakeholders, efforts to enhance cybersecurity throughout a device\u2019s entire life cycle, personnel expertise on cybersecurity and interagency coordination.\nA response from the agency is requested by December 16, 2016.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["http://susanwbrooks.house.gov/media-center/in-the-news/us-reps-susan-w-brooks-and-luke-messer-hold-school-safety-roundtable-at", "U.S. Reps. Susan W. Brooks and Luke Messer hold school safety roundtable at Hamilton Southeastern High School", "2016-11-01", "2016", "2016-11", "Republican", "House", "IN", "Susan Brooks", "B001284", "susanwbrooks.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "On Oct. 25, representatives from education, public safety and Congress attended a school safety roundtable at Hamilton Southeastern High School in Fishers. U.S. Reps. Susan W. Brooks and Luke Messer hosted the event.\nAfterward, members of the media were invited for closing remarks and a press conference.\nBrooks said one of the biggest topics of discussion were school resource officers.\n\u201cHSE implements something called text-a-tip, a communication tool for students to report anonymously or not some issues that they might be concerned about whether a student is contemplating suicide or aware of drugs on campus,\u201d Brooks said. \u201cSchool resource officers are positions of trust with students, just like teachers. They become part of the fabric of the schools. That is how they often get a lot of tips, and because of some incredible law enforcement efforts in Lawrence Schools last week, drugs were confiscated. They (drugs) are still in our schools. It\u2019s still a problem.\u201d\nMental health issues, ways of keeping potential predators and criminals out of buildings and other security issues also were discussed.\n\u201cSchool security challenges everything from dealing with drug overdoses to natural disasters to violence perpetrated by a student to terrorist attacks,\u201d Messer said. \u201cIt\u2019s a broad range of challenges and exciting to hear how Indiana is dealing with it. We can do more to physically serve the (school) facilities and make sure there is an alert system within the school so it is more difficult for someone to get in if they have bad intentions, and also make sure we have training and school resource officers on site.\u201d\nRepresentatives from Secure Schools Alliance, Fishers Police Dept., Indiana Dept. of Homeland Security, Indiana State Police, Indiana Sheriffs\u2019 Association, Shelby County Sheriff\u2019s Office, Southwestern Consolidated School District of Shelby County, Our Kids Deserve It, Stanley Security, Carmel Clay Schools, Metropolitan School District of Lawrence Township, Allegion, Zionsville Town Council, Johnson Controls, Hamilton Southeastern Schools and Fanning Howey attended the roundtable discussion.\n\u201cWe have a pretty good model here in Indiana with school safety academy, and if we can get that sort of leadership at the federal level, that could work on school safety programs by hardening the target with physical changes to the building to make it harder to get in and do damage,\u201d said Dr. Michael Beresford, assistant superintendent of staff and students.\n\u201cWe spend a lot of time traveling around and saying, \u2018See something, say something,\u201d Indiana State Police Supt. Doug Carter said. \u201cWe are asking every community in Indiana to do that. Somebody generally speaking knows something about the individual about to commit the crime. It\u2019s important you communicate with us and communicate with the school corporation. I suggest we all come together as one in an effort to try to do the right thing.\u201d", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://messer.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/ed-department-responds-to-rep-messer-agrees-to-restore-pell-grant", "Ed Department responds to Rep. Messer, agrees to restore Pell Grant eligibility to former ITT Tech students", "2016-10-31", "2016", "2016-10", "Republican", "House", "IN", "Luke Messer", "M001189", "messer.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "WASHINGTON (Oct. 28, 2016) \u2014 In response to urging by Rep. Luke Messer (IN-06), the U.S. Department of Education today announced it will\u00a0 restore Pell Grant eligibility to students who were using the grants to attend ITT Technical Institute when it abruptly closed last month.\nFederal Pell Grants are provided to low-income students pursuing postsecondary education, and lifetime eligibility for the need-based grants is limited.\nMesser sent a letter to the Education Department earlier this month, after he realized the Department was refusing to restore Pell Grant eligibility to ITT Tech students, leaving them with few options to finish their degrees.\nThe Education Department responded to Messer\u2019s letter today, saying it would reverse its previous decision and reset Pell Grant eligibility to these students, per Messer\u2019s suggestion that Section 437(c)(3) of the Higher Education Act required this action.\n\u201cITT Tech closed largely at the hand of federal bureaucrats, yet they had no back up plan for the students who would be impacted the most,\u201d Messer said. \u201cFor many low-income students, Pell Grants are their best shot to attend college and secure a better future for themselves. I\u2019m relieved that the Education Department is doing right by these students and ensuring they have a path forward to continue their education.\u201d\nIt\u2019s estimated that the Education Department\u2019s decision today could help more than 16,000 students.\nMesser has also\u00a0authored a bill\u00a0that would allow veterans to recover their GI Bill educational benefits if they were using their benefits at a college or university that closes, preventing them from completing their degree.\nThe bill (H.R. 6003) would apply to the nearly 7,000 veterans who were enrolled at ITT Tech at the time it closed.\u00a0\nBased in Indiana, ITT Tech operated 130 campuses nationwide and served about 40,000 students when it announced on Sept. 6, 2016 that it would close. The announcement followed an Aug. 25 decision by the Education Department to prohibit the institution from enrolling new students using federal student aid.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["http://susanwbrooks.house.gov/media-center/in-the-news/ken-de-la-bastide-column-lugar-index-puts-spotlight-on-bipartisanship", "Ken de la Bastide column: Lugar index puts spotlight on bipartisanship", "2016-10-30", "2016", "2016-10", "Republican", "House", "IN", "Susan Brooks", "B001284", "susanwbrooks.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Every election cycle candidates for national office profess they are willing, if elected, to work in a bipartisan manner to reach common ground with members of the opposing party.\nBut in reality how does \u201cthe rubber meet the road\u201d when it comes to following through with campaign promises.\nFormer Indiana Sen. Richard Lugar, a Republican, was recognized as being willing to cross the political aisle and work with Democrats to get legislation passed.\nIn fact it was the perception that Lugar wasn\u2019t partisan enough that led to his defeat in the 2012 Republican Party primary by Richard Mourdock, a darling of the Tea Party movement.\nThrough the Lugar Center there has been a methodology developed to rate members of Congress on the bipartisan index.\n\u201cThe Bipartisan Index measures the frequency with which a Member co-sponsors a bill introduced by the opposite party and the frequency with which a Member\u2019s own bills attract co-sponsors from the opposite party,\u201d Lugar wrote on the introduction to the index. \u201cWhat we are measuring in this Index is not so much the quality of legislation but rather the efforts of legislators to broaden the appeal of their sponsored legislation, to entertain a wider range of ideas, and to prioritize governance over posturing. With this in mind, we regard any score above zero as a good score.\u201d\nRep. Susan Brooks, R-5th District, is the only member of the Indiana delegation with a positive score and she is ranked 35th of the 435 members of the U.S. House with a positive score of .75.\nThe next highest member of the Indiana delegation is Rep. Todd Young, R-9th District, who is now running for a seat in the U.S. Senate.\nYoung\u2019s score is a negative .004 for a ranking at 138.\nMarlin Stutzman, R-3rd District, who lost to Young in the primary election, had a score of 1.81 and ranked 435th, came in last among the House members.\nOther current members of the House bipartisan index ranking are: Todd Rokita, 246; Jackie Walorski, 210; Pete Viscolosky, 267; Luke Messer, 316 and Andre\u2019 Carson, 351.\nLooking back to the 111th Congress, which ran from 2009 through 2011, former Sen. Evan Bayh had a positive score of .517 and was ranked 32nd of the 100 senators. Bayh didn\u2019t run for re-election in 2010 citing the partisan nature of the Congress but he\u2019s running for a return to the Senate against Young.\nCurrent Republican Sen. Dan Coats, who is not seeking re-election, ranked 75th with a negative score of 81.\nDemocrat Hillary Clinton, now running for president, had a negative score of 30 and was ranked 76th during the 111th Congress.\n\u201cIf a member is disappointed in his or her score, there is a straightforward way to improve it in future congresses: Put more effort into recruiting bipartisan co-sponsors for your bills and consider co-sponsoring bills introduced by the opposite party,\u201d Lugar wrote.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["http://susanwbrooks.house.gov/media-center/in-the-news/noblesville-high-school-to-host-veterans-event", "Noblesville High School to host veteran's event", "2016-10-29", "2016", "2016-10", "Republican", "House", "IN", "Susan Brooks", "B001284", "susanwbrooks.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Noblesville High School has scheduled a Veteran's Day event for 1 p.m. to 2:30 p.m. Nov. 7, 2016, in the high school auditorium and is inviting local veterans to attend.Superintendent Dr. Beth Niedermeyer, Mayor John Ditslear, Senator Luke Kenly and Congresswoman Susan Brooks are expected to be in attendance.In addition to honoring veterans, the event is designed to teach high school students about the importance of Veteran's Day. The program will last approximately an hour and will be followed by a reception in the cafeteria.Other schools throughout the district will also be honoring Veteran's Day with student/family programs.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["http://rokita.house.gov/press-release/icymi-rokita-led-federal-employee-reforms-%E2%80%98long-overdue%E2%80%99", "ICYMI: ROKITA-LED FEDERAL EMPLOYEE REFORMS LONG OVERDUE", "2016-10-28", "2016", "2016-10", "Republican", "House", "IN", "Todd Rokita", "R000592", "rokita.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "ICYMI: ROKITA-LED FEDERAL EMPLOYEE REFORMS \u2018LONG OVERDUE\u2019 \n\u00a0\nDanville, IN \u2013 Rep. Todd Rokita\u2019s Promote Accountability and Government Efficiency (PAGE) Act was praised in a recent editorial written by James Sherk, a research fellow of labor economics in the Center for Data Analysis at The Heritage Foundation.\u00a0 In his editorial, Mr. Sherk discusses the needs for changes to America\u2019s Civil Service rules, and outlines the reforms in Rep. Rokita\u2019s bill.\n\u201cThis bill makes all new federal hires at-will employees, while keeping in place all federal anti-discrimination laws,\u201d said Sherk.\u00a0 \u201cSuch reforms are long overdue. Every workplace has a few bad apples. \u00a0In the federal government they stick around, holding their agencies back. Americans can - and should - get more from their taxes.\u201d\nThe PAGE Act was introduced by Rep. Rokita on September 28, 2016, and would create at-will employment status for new federal employees, immediately suspend employees due to misconduct or poor performance, and ensure that taxpayers are only paying for official work activities.\nYou can read Mr. Sherk\u2019s editorial HERE\n\u00a0\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["http://susanwbrooks.house.gov/media-center/in-the-news/susan-brooks-and-luke-messer-securing-schools-cant-wait", "Susan Brooks and Luke Messer: Securing schools can't wait", "2016-10-28", "2016", "2016-10", "Republican", "House", "IN", "Susan Brooks", "B001284", "susanwbrooks.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Attacks on our schools, from Columbine to Sandy Hook, have shocked communities, devastated families and exposed serious security gaps. Rather than stand idly by, it is our collective responsibility to secure our schools and prevent these kinds of horrific events that affect the hearts and minds of our young people and sear our national conscience.\nThe reality is our schools may be more at risk today than ever before. With the rise of global terrorist networks and a lack of meaningful public policy to address mental illness, schools are increasingly susceptible targets for disturbed individuals seeking to attack vulnerable populations.\nThankfully, our own state and local leaders are pioneering the school security landscape. In 2016, Indiana approved a new law to establish minimum standards and best practices for school emergency response systems. This is a great first step, but many challenges still remain.\nA majority of our school buildings are outdated and unprepared for the types of violence we have seen darken the doors of our classrooms. On average, the main instructional buildings of America\u2019s approximately 100,000 K-12 schools are more than 40 years old. Many of these older buildings lack even minimal security features.\nEmergency preparedness by schools is often treated on a reactive, case-by-case basis as threats arise or after tragedies occur. There is no wider strategy to provide schools with guidance and proven tools to keep students safe.\nAs your voices in Congress, we\u2019re serving on the bipartisan Congressional School Safety Caucus to drive a national conversation about how to proactively address these challenges and best equip schools to respond to modern-day threats. The goal of this discussion is to bring together education, law enforcement, government and private-sector leaders to share best practices, increase awareness of available solutions and work to develop funding strategies so schools can prioritize student safety.\nAlready, this group of leaders has produced bipartisan legislation that seeks to help schools across the country modernize and implement improved security measures, such as training for staff and students. We\u2019ve also introduced legislation calling on the Departments of Homeland Security and Education to create a national strategy to help schools protect themselves against acts of terrorism and other emergencies.\nOf course, we know that many of the best solutions are going to come from the folks on the ground: the parents, teachers, administrators, security professionals, law enforcement and emergency personnel who work hard every day to safeguard our students.\nAddressing school security challenges is not an easy task, but it could not be more important. Protecting our children is a responsibility that requires all of us at the table, working together.\nWe encourage all community members \u2014 whether a parent, teacher, police officer, city council member or just a concerned American \u2014 to join the conversation and push for results. We cannot wait for another attack.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://bucshon.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/dr-bucshon-house-republicans-have-better-way", "Dr. Bucshon: House Republicans Have a Better Way", "2016-10-28", "2016", "2016-10", "Republican", "House", "IN", "Larry Bucshon", "B001275", "bucshon.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "(WASHINGTON, D.C.) \u2013Earlier this week, the Obama Administration confirmed that millions of Americans will feel an unwanted October surprise: more ObamaCare rate shock. Health insurance premiums are set to increase by double-digits and many Americans will, in some cases, have access to only one insurer.\nEighth District Congressman Larry Bucshon, M.D. released the following statement on the announcement: \n\u201cThe Obama administration confirmed this week that health insurance premiums will go up by double-digits.\u00a0 It\u2019s clear that the \u2018Affordable Care Act\u2019 is anything but affordable for millions of Americans \u2013 families trying to make ends meet, single parents working more than one job to get by, and young adults just starting their careers,\u201d said Bucshon.\n\u00a0\u201cThat\u2019s why as a physician I\u2019m working to repeal and replace the law with common-sense reforms that lower the cost of care. House Republicans are offering a better way on healthcare reform that implements patient-centered solutions to keep patients in charge of their healthcare decisions with plans that fit their budgets.\u201d \nBACKGROUND: \n\u00a0\nHouse Republicans have introduced A Better Way for Healthcare.Our plan gives patients more control so they can choose the plan that best meets their needs\u2014not Washington\u2019s mandates. We will:\n Make it easier to take insurance from job to job.\u00a0\n\tExpand health saving accounts.\u00a0\n\tGive small businesses more leverage to negotiate better rates, and\n\tAllow health insurance to be sold across state lines.\u00a0\n All of this will help lower premiums. And instead of Washington at the center of health care, it will be the patient and her doctor.Learn more at better.gop.\n  Congressman Larry Bucshon, M.D. is a physician and Republican member of the House Energy and Commerce Committee serving his third term representing Indiana's 8th Congressional district. The 8th District of Indiana includes all or parts of Clay, Crawford, Daviess, Dubois, Gibson, Greene, Knox, Martin, Owen, Parke, Perry, Pike, Posey, Spencer, Sullivan, Vanderburgh, Vermillion, Vigo, and Warrick counties.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["http://rokita.house.gov/event/demotte-congress-your-corner", "DeMotte Congress on Your Corner", "2016-10-26", "2016", "2016-10", "Republican", "House", "IN", "Todd Rokita", "R000592", "rokita.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Start: \n         \t  October 26, 2016 1:30 pm\n         \t  End: \n         \t    October 26, 2016 2:30 pm\n         \t   \n         \t           \t    Location: \n         \t      917 S. Halleck Street,  DeMotte, IN 46310", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["http://susanwbrooks.house.gov/media-center/in-the-news/two-indiana-lawmakers-speaking-with-school-leaders-about-ways-to-make", "Two Indiana lawmakers speaking with school leaders about ways to make schools safer", "2016-10-25", "2016", "2016-10", "Republican", "House", "IN", "Susan Brooks", "B001284", "susanwbrooks.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "INDIANAPOLIS (WISH) \u2013 Two lawmakers from Indiana will talk with school leaders from around the state about ways to make schools safer.\nCongresswoman Susan Brooks and Congressman Luke Messer are holding a roundtable talk Tuesday with administrators, superintendents, law enforcement officers, and the State Homeland Security Department.\nAccording to a release, our schools are at greater risk for attack than ever before.\n24-Hour News 8 will be at the roundtable talk. Look for coverage Tuesday at 5 p.m. and 6 p.m. on WISH-TV.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://messer.house.gov/media-center/editorials/op-ed-securing-our-schools-can-t-wait", "OP ED: Securing our Schools Cant Wait", "2016-10-25", "2016", "2016-10", "Republican", "House", "IN", "Luke Messer", "M001189", "messer.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Attacks on our schools, from Columbine to Sandy Hook, have shocked communities, devastated families and exposed serious security gaps. Rather than stand idly by, it is our collective responsibility to secure our schools and prevent these kinds of horrific events that affect the hearts and minds of our young people and sear our national conscience.\nThe reality is our schools may be more at risk today than ever before. With the rise of global terrorist networks and a lack of meaningful public policy to address mental illness,\u00a0schools are increasingly susceptible targets for disturbed individuals seeking to attack vulnerable populations.\nThankfully, our own state and local leaders are pioneering the school security landscape. In 2016, Indiana approved a new law to establish minimum standards and best practices for school emergency response systems. This is a great first step, but many challenges still remain.\nA majority of our school buildings are outdated and unprepared for the types of violence we have seen darken the doors of our classrooms. On average, the main instructional buildings of America\u2019s approximately 100,000 K-12 schools are more than 40 years old. Many of these older buildings lack even minimal security features.\nEmergency preparedness by schools is often treated on a reactive case-by-case basis as threats arise or after tragedies occur.\u00a0 There is no wider strategy to provide schools with guidance and proven tools to keep students safe.\nAs your voices in Congress, we\u2019re serving on the bipartisan Congressional School Safety Caucus to drive a national conversation about how to proactively address these challenges and best equip schools to respond to modern-day threats. The goal of this discussion is to bring together education, law enforcement, government and private-sector leaders to share best practices, increase awareness of available solutions and work to develop funding strategies so schools can prioritize student safety.\nAlready, this group of leaders has produced bipartisan legislation that seeks to help schools across the country modernize and implement improved security measures, such as training for staff and students. We\u2019ve also introduced legislation calling on the Departments of Homeland Security and Education\u00a0to create a national strategy to help schools protect themselves against acts of terrorism and other emergencies.\nOf course, we know that many of the best solutions are going to come from the folks on-the-ground; the parents, teachers, administrators, security professionals, law enforcement and emergency personnel who work hard every day to safeguard our students.\nAddressing school security challenges is not an easy task, but it could not be more important. Protecting our children is a responsibility that requires all of us at the table, working together.\nWe just marked Safe Schools Week and in that spirit, we encourage all community members \u2013 whether a parent, teacher, police officer, city council member or just a concerned American \u2013 to join the conversation and push for results. We cannot wait for another attack to remind us what\u2019s at stake.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["http://susanwbrooks.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/brooks-and-messer-securing-our-schools-cant-wait", "Brooks and Messer: Securing Our Schools Can't Wait", "2016-10-24", "2016", "2016-10", "Republican", "House", "IN", "Susan Brooks", "B001284", "susanwbrooks.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Attacks on our schools, from Columbine to Sandy Hook, have shocked communities, devastated families and exposed serious security gaps. Rather than stand idly by, it is our collective responsibility to secure our schools and prevent these kinds of horrific events that affect the hearts and minds of our young people and sear our national conscience.\nThe reality is our schools may be more at risk today than ever before. With the rise of global terrorist networks and a lack of meaningful public policy to address mental illness,\u00a0schools are increasingly susceptible targets for disturbed individuals seeking to attack vulnerable populations.\nThankfully, our own state and local leaders are pioneering the school security landscape. In 2016, Indiana approved a new law to establish minimum standards and best practices for school emergency response systems. This is a great first step, but many challenges still remain.\nA majority of our school buildings are outdated and unprepared for the types of violence we have seen darken the doors of our classrooms. On average, the main instructional buildings of America\u2019s approximately 100,000 K-12 schools are more than 40 years old. Many of these older buildings lack even minimal security features.\nEmergency preparedness by schools is often treated on a reactive case-by-case basis as threats arise or after tragedies occur.\u00a0 There is no wider strategy to provide schools with guidance and proven tools to keep students safe.\nAs your voices in Congress, we\u2019re serving on the bipartisan Congressional School Safety Caucus to drive a national conversation about how to proactively address these challenges and best equip schools to respond to modern-day threats. The goal of this discussion is to bring together education, law enforcement, government and private-sector leaders to share best practices, increase awareness of available solutions and work to develop funding strategies so schools can prioritize student safety.\nAlready, this group of leaders has produced bipartisan legislation that seeks to help schools across the country modernize and implement improved security measures, such as training for staff and students. We\u2019ve also introduced legislation calling on the Departments of Homeland Security and Education\u00a0to create a national strategy to help schools protect themselves against acts of terrorism and other emergencies.\nOf course, we know that many of the best solutions are going to come from the folks on-the-ground; the parents, teachers, administrators, security professionals, law enforcement and emergency personnel who work hard every day to safeguard our students.\nAddressing school security challenges is not an easy task, but it could not be more important. Protecting our children is a responsibility that requires all of us at the table, working together.\nWe just marked Safe Schools Week and in that spirit, we encourage all community members \u2013 whether a parent, teacher, police officer, city council member or just a concerned American \u2013 to join the conversation and push for results. We cannot wait for another attack to remind us what\u2019s at stake.\nNOTE FOR MEDIA: Brooks and Messer will host a roundtable discussion at Hamilton Southeastern High School in Fishers, Ind. on Tuesday, Oct. 25, with school administrators and superintendents, law enforcement officers, Indiana Department of Homeland Security personnel and school security providers to talk about how to improve safety and security for Hoosier students.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["http://susanwbrooks.house.gov/media-center/in-the-news/social-media-tools-help-fight-terror", "Social media tools help fight terror", "2016-10-23", "2016", "2016-10", "Republican", "House", "IN", "Susan Brooks", "B001284", "susanwbrooks.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Fort Hood, Texas; Boston, Massachusetts; San Bernadino, California; Orlando, Florida; St. Cloud, Minnesota; Seaside Park, New Jersey; Chelsea, New York. Acts of terror are becoming more frequent and more deadly in our country and our world, and radical Jihadist groups are operating in more countries than ever before. Since 2010, worldwide deaths from terror attacks have increased by nearly 800 percent according to the Investigative Project on Terrorism.\nCongress has taken steps to enhance our screening procedures for people traveling to our shores, but we can do more to vet potential visitors and immigrants to the United States. However, as we\u2019ve seen from homegrown inspired attacks, we must also focus on efforts to identify American citizens who are inspired, encouraged or instructed by terrorist groups like ISIS and al-Qaeda.\nSocial and digital media have revolutionized communication for you and me, but also for terrorists and extremists. We know that terrorist groups like ISIS have turned to social media and other technologies to reach new people with their message of fear and hate and to foster new recruits.\nAt the same time, social and digital media are at the center of effective response and prevention efforts. Law enforcement and intelligence organizations can gather information about and alert the public to persons of interest using social and digital media platforms, as we saw most recently in New York City. First responders use these tools to help quickly and accurately convey important information to impacted communities and offer real-time updates on developing threats. Thanks to functions like Facebook\u2019s check-in feature, family members and friends can have peace of mind that their loved ones are safe from harm in an emergency setting.\nIn fact, just last year, I worked with my colleagues in Congress to establish a public-private working group that would set up guidance and best practices for using social media during a terrorist attack or other emergency. Signed into law last fall, this legislation requires the Department of Homeland Security to bring together federal, state and local government and private sector representatives to improve communications and information sharing between the public and private sector in a crisis.\nTechnology is constantly changing, and so collaborating with our tech sector to effectively use social and digital media channels is an important piece of our strategy to combat terrorism, and specifically the radicalization of American citizens. Not only is public-private collaboration essential in investigating and identifying Jihadists and American recruits, it helps us communicate an alternative to extremist propaganda used in Jihadist recruitment.\nThat\u2019s why I have cosponsored House Homeland Security Committee Chairman Michael McCaul\u2019s (R-TX) Digital Security Commission Act of 2016. This bill brings together experts from law enforcement, technology, intelligence, and civil liberty communities to develop solutions that keep criminals and terrorists from exploiting technological innovations and that also safeguard constitutional liberties. These experts will assess and make recommendations for policy and practice concerning security in the digital world as it stands today, as well as to offer new recommendations as technology evolves in the coming years.\nAs a member of the Energy and Commerce Committee, I will continue to have important conversations with technology industry partners and our allies around the world to better understand how we partner to accurately and efficiently identify Jihadists on social media before they have the opportunity to spread their message to millions of people around the globe. As individual citizens, it is our collective responsibility to report any suspicious activity to law enforcement immediately. If you see something, whether it\u2019s140 threatening characters in your Twitter feed or a suspicious bag at the airport, say something.\n# # #\nCongresswoman Susan W. Brooks is a second term Republican who represents eight urban, suburban and rural counties in Central Indiana, including the north side of Indianapolis. She uses her background as a Deputy Mayor of Indianapolis, a U.S. Attorney and a community college administrator to improve education, jobs, health and homeland security. Through her membership on the Energy and Commerce Committee, she is working on mental health, substance abuse, biodefense and Medicaid reform issues. As a member of the Ethics Committee, she works with her colleagues to restore confidence in Congress.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://bucshon.house.gov/media-center/blog/in08-social-roundup-10162016-10222016", "50th Anniversary of the Vietnam War Commemoration", "2016-10-22", "2016", "2016-10", "Republican", "House", "IN", "Larry Bucshon", "B001275", "bucshon.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Recently, Congressman Bucshon joined\u00a0local veterans at an event commemorating the 50th Anniversary of the Vietnam War. The ceremony was held at the Indiana Military Museum in Vincennes, a fitting location to recognize the contributions of the brave men and women who served this great nation and the indelible mark they left on our history.\nCongressman Bucshon speaking with Vietnam\u00a0Veterans about their experiences in the war.\u00a0\n\u201cAs we recognize the 50th Anniversary of the Vietnam War, let us never forget what has been given up by so many so that we may stand here today.\u201d\nCongressman Bucshon delivering a speech at the 50th anniversary commemoration.\nYou can view Congressman Bucshon's remarks by clicking the image above from the event here.\nThe Rolling Thunder Indiana Chapter 6 also performed the \u201cMissing Man Table\u201d presentation to honor the soldiers who have become Prisoners of War or Missing in Action, including the 1,600 Americans still missing or unaccounted for today.\nMembers of the Rolling Thunder Indiana Chapter 6 performing the \"Missing Man Table\" presentation.\nDuring the Vietnam War, over 9 million Americans served on active duty. Tragically, 58,286 American soldiers lost their lives, including 1,534 Hoosiers. After bravely serving in the conflict, thousands of Hoosiers returned home to raise families, work, and continue their lives. It was an honor to speak with these brave Hoosier Vietnam Veterans about the issues they faced during the conflict, after leaving the military, and the ones they still dealing with today.\nThe world would surely be a different place without those who have selflessly answered the call at home and abroad.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["http://rokita.house.gov/editorial/10-21-2016-rokita-report", "10-21-2016 Rokita Report", "2016-10-21", "2016", "2016-10", "Republican", "House", "IN", "Todd Rokita", "R000592", "rokita.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Dear Friend,\nThank you for the opportunity to update you on the work of the 114th Congress.\u00a0 I trust this finds you and your family well, as we work together to bring Hoosier common sense to Washington.\nFor daily updates, please take a moment to \"Like\" my Facebook page by clicking here \u00a0or follow me on Twitter if you prefer \u00a0@ToddRokita.\n   In this week's Rokita Report \n Future Leaders in Indiana's Logistics Community\n2016 Friends of Farm Bureau Award\nSecuring the Expansion of Indianapolis Airport\nCongress on Your Corner - DeMotte\n   Future Leaders in Indiana's Logistics Community\nLogistics is an important industry for Indiana.\u00a0 The industry encompasses our airspace, our roads, our ports, and more.\u00a0 In total, nearly 375,000 Hoosiers work in the industry.\u00a0 Last week, I was honored to be able to recognize some of the future leaders of this industry.\nOver seventy college\u00a0students on eighteen teams from across Indiana competed in the Conexus Logistics Case Competition.\u00a0 The competition challenged students in simulations of logistics situations and encouraged them to seek solutions.\u00a0 In doing so, the students had direct contact with industry leaders.\u00a0 As the teams competed, it was an honor to be able to present awards to the winners.\u00a0 The competition was a positive and proactive way to showcase the talent at Indiana's colleges and universities.\nPresenting the award to Purdue University for the Conexus Logistics Case Competition.\nThe team from Valparaiso University came in first place and the team from the 4th District's Purdue University placed second.\n  2016 Friends of Farm Bureau Award\nRecently, I was honored to receive the \"2016 Friend of the Farm Bureau Award\" at the Culp Family Farm.\u00a0 It was presented to me by my\u00a0friend, Indiana Farm Bureau Vice President and Jasper County Commissioner, Kendell Culp.\nRecipients for the award are first nominated by their state Farm Bureau organization, and are then approved by the American Farm Bureau Federation's board of directors.\u00a0 Kendell shared with me\u00a0that I had a\u00a0perfect voting\u00a0record of standing up for Hoosier farmers.\nReceiving the \"Friend of the Farm Bureau Award.\"\nFarmers are the lifeblood of the agriculture industry, the critical component of our food supply,\u00a0and an important part of Indiana's 4th Congressional District.\u00a0 According to the U.S. Census, there are over 8,000 farms that spread across over 3,000,000 acres of farm land.\u00a0 Corn and soybean are the largest crops and farmers in Indiana's 4th District grow more of those two crops than any of Indiana's other Congressional districts do.\u00a0 Nationwide, the district is the 16th largest grower of corn and 20th largest grower of soybean.\n \u00a0 \n  Securing the Expansion of Indianapolis Airport\nIndiana's airports continue to improve.\u00a0 The Indianapolis Airport Authority has been awarded nearly $13 million in Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) grants.\u00a0 These grants will pay for additional buses, taxiway rehabilitation, emergency notification equipment, and stormwater management efforts.\u00a0 These funds will benefit Hoosiers by creating 220 direct and indirect jobs.\u00a0 The receipt of these funds was made possible by strong advocacy to the FAA.\u00a0 As the only Hoosier member from the majority party on the Transportation& Infrastructure Committee, I wrote to the agency letting them know the importance of our aviation community.\nIndiana's airports serve our state's logistics industry.\u00a0 We are the \"Crossroads of America\" and thanks to Indianapolis International Airport, we are a leader in cargo.\u00a0 Indianapolis International Airport is the 25th busiest cargo airport in the world.\u00a0 In 2015, the airport shipped out nearly one million tons of cargo.\nAs a commercially aviator and member of the Subcommittee on Aviation, I know the importance of this industry for our state.\u00a0 In addition to securing this grant for the Indianapolis International Airport, I have helped other Hoosier airports secure grants for needed improvements, including runway expansions in Crawfordsville Municipal Airport and at White County Airport.\u00a0 In addition, I introduced legislation to repeal an onerous medical certificate requirement, the General Aviation Pilot Protection Act, that was incorporated into the FAA reauthorization bill that was signed into law in July.\u00a0 These medical certificates were causing many pilots to give up their wings and were hurting the general aviation industry, which accounts for nearly $6 billion in economic activity statewide.\n \u00a0 \n  Congress on Your Corner - DeMotte\nThe best way for me to hear from you is directly.\u00a0 That is why I enjoy hosting public events throughout the 4th District.\u00a0 At these events no questions are off limits, no reservations are required, and we can engage in a direct dialogue.\u00a0 I take what I hear from you with me as your Representative.\nI wanted to let you know about my next such event.\u00a0 Next week, I will be hosting a Congress on Your Corner in Demotte.\nDate: Wednesday, October 26  \n\t\t\t\t\tTime: 1:30 PM CT to 2:30 PM CT  \n\t\t\t\t\t(2:30 PM ET to 3:30 PM ET)  \n\t\t\t\t\tLocation: ReChic Unique Boutique& Somethin's Brewin Coffee Shop  \n\t\t\t\t\t917 S. Halleck Street  \n\t\t\t\t\tDeMotte, IN 46310\nI hope to see you there.\n \u00a0 \n  Thank you for your continued interest in Congress and for supporting my efforts to bring Hoosier common sense to Washington. Take care.\u00a0\u00a0\n\u00a0\n\t\t\t\t\tSincerely,    \n\t\t\t\t\tTodd Rokita", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["http://susanwbrooks.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/brooks-statement-on-new-clinton-fbi-documents", "Brooks Statement on New Clinton FBI Documents", "2016-10-18", "2016", "2016-10", "Republican", "House", "IN", "Susan Brooks", "B001284", "susanwbrooks.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Carmel, Ind. - Congresswoman Susan Brooks (R-IN) released the following statement in response\u00a0to new documents released under a Freedom of Information Act request related to the FBI investigation of former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton\u2019s private email server:\n\"We've known for some time that Secretary Clinton deceived the American people. Yesterday's report of a top State Department official, who remains employed there today, negotiating with the FBI to change the classification of information Clinton had on her private unsecure server in return for completely unrelated FBI resources smacks of corruption. Yesterday, we saw, once again, the lengths that the Administration and Secretary Clinton's State Department will go to cover-up her mishandling of classified information and continue the culture of deception that characterized Secretary Clinton's State Department.\"", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["http://susanwbrooks.house.gov/media-center/in-the-news/prescription-drug-abuse-symposium-focuses-on-heroin-epidemic", "Prescription Drug Abuse Symposium Focuses On Heroin Epidemic", "2016-10-14", "2016", "2016-10", "Republican", "House", "IN", "Susan Brooks", "B001284", "susanwbrooks.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "More than 900 people are in Indianapolis for a symposium on the country\u2019s opioid crisis. It\u2019s a two-day event, and much of Thursday\u2019s focus was on altering how drugs are prescribed.\nThis is the seventh year for the Prescription Drug Abuse Symposium, but the first time it has focused on heroin abuse and how to reduce its supply. In order to do that, officials including Indiana Attorney General Greg Zoeller are talking about where the heroin epidemic began: prescription opioids.\n\u201cI think the use of opioids, and particularly in large quantities, is not really something that we should have ever started our youth on, and now they\u2019re starting to recognize that,\u201d Zoeller says.\nCongresswoman Susan Brooks says part of the Comprehensive Addiction and Recovery Act, a federal bill signed into law in July, aims to change the way opioids are prescribed \u2014 starting with education.\n\u201cWe\u2019ve been pushing the medical educators to be part of the solution,\u201d Brooks says. \u201cBegin these discussions about pain and prescribing practices first year of med school.\u201d\nAccording to the Drug Enforcement Association, four in five new heroin users start out by misusing prescription painkillers.\nDay two of a drug abuse symposium in Indianapolis focused on prevention. \u00a0Officials say a disproportionate amount of time and money is focused on what to do after someone gets addicted rather than preventing someone from becoming an addict.\nThe philosophy behind drug prevention has changed in the last 20 years, says Jasynda Radanovich, program manager of education and training services at the Indiana Prevention Resource Center.\nShe says the iconic \u2018This is your brain on drugs\u2019 video, which featured an egg being fried in a skillet, represents a fear-based approach that hasn\u2019t proven successful.\n\u201cThere\u2019s been decades of research about fear tactics that show a lot of interesting information, one is that they can have the opposite effect, or that they are not taken seriously, or they\u2019re not understood,\u201d she says.\nRadanovich says comprehensive, individualized strategies are needed, but notes that nuanced tactics are more expensive.\nIn respect to funding, professor of prevention from University of Washington J. David Dawkins says it\u2019s easier for lawmakers and media outlets to notice those already suffering, instead of those at risk of becoming an addict. Dawkins says public health advocates must become more vocal about their needs.\nIndiana ranked 48th on public health funding in a 2015 report from the United Health Foundation.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["http://susanwbrooks.house.gov/media-center/in-the-news/inside-methodists-new-ebola-unit", "Inside Methodist's new 'Ebola unit'", "2016-10-12", "2016", "2016-10", "Republican", "House", "IN", "Susan Brooks", "B001284", "susanwbrooks.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Indiana University Health unveils its special pathogens unit, designed to fight exotic, highly contagious diseases.\n\n\n\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t(Photo: Matt Kryger/IndyStar)\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\n\nThe patient sat swathed in protective gear, only her eyes peeking out above her face mask. Nurses swarmed around her, garbed from head to toe in zombie-like suits. Packs on their backs filtered the air they breathed. The patient clutched\u00a0a pink basin encased in a plastic bag lest nausea overcome her.\nThe group raced through\u00a0IU Health\u00a0Methodist Hospital,\u00a0down an empty, remote corridor into a locked elevator and up to the sixth floor, where they reached the hospital\u2019s Special Pathogens Unit, thought to be the only such facility in the state.\nBorn out of the Ebola epidemic two years ago, the unit represents state-of-the-art care for patients who have or are suspected of having highly infectious, relatively rare diseases such as Ebola, Lassa fever, SARS or even bioterrorism. The hospital opened the one-room unit in January 2015 but Tuesday unveiled it to the media and public officials, who watched a drill unfold.\n\u201cThe idea is to be ready,\u201d said Dr. Douglas Webb, medical director for infection control for IU Health. \u201cThis is a result of \u2026 trying to prepare for the possibility that any of the major hospitals around the county could see a highly infectious contagious patient.\u201d\nIn the summer of 2015, the facility saw two patients, each for about three to four days, long enough to ascertain they had malaria, not Ebola, Webb said.\nWhen IU Health started contemplating such a unit in 2014, only four such sites existed nationwide, including one at the National Institutes of Health and one atEmory University Hospital\u00a0in Atlanta. That's where IU School of Medicine alum Dr. Kent Brantly went to recover after contracting Ebola while working as a medical missionary in Liberia.\nSince then, about 40 to 50 hospitals have created units designed to handle such cases. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has certified the IU Health unit as an assessment center, but the facility also is capable of treating these diseases, Webb said.\nA hospital in\u00a0Nebraska has the largest such unit, with capacity for 10 patients. Most such units, however, have space for only a few patients, and most sit idle for months or even years between suspected cases.\nRenovating the space for Methodist\u2019s unit, where the room is under negative pressure to keep pathogens from escaping, cost hundreds of thousands of dollars, Webb said.\nU.S. Rep. Susan Brooks praised IU Health\u2019s efforts Tuesday before watching a drill of how it could operate in a crisis.\n\n\t\u00a0\n\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\tIU Health infectious disease experts are ready in case that a highly contagious disease such as SARS or Ebola comes to Indiana. Paramedics, nurses and doctors are part of the hospital\u2019s new special pathogens unit, specially designed in the wake of the 2014-2015 Ebola epidemic. IU Health Methodist hospital is now capalbe to care for a patient with Ebola or a similar disease.\u00a0\u00a0\n\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\u00a0\n\t\t\t\u201cWe as a country have really not taken biological threats as seriously as we should be taking them,\u201d she said. \u201cI think they (IU Health) will be a national model.\u201d\n\t\t\n\t\n\nFor now, IU Health wants to make sure it\u2019s ready, training about 20 staff members in how to handle such concerns.\nOn Tuesday, the simulation kicked off with the arrival of an actor pretending to be a\u00a0student suffering symptoms consistent with Lassa fever, a\u00a0viral hemorrhagic illness that occurs in West Africa. The student had recently returned from Nigeria, which in the past year has seen an outbreak of nearly 275 cases of that disease.\nShe arrived in an ambulance, and staff whisked her to the unit. Had the drill been real, a team of hospital environmental specialists \u2014\u00a0also dressed in protective gear \u2014 would have swooshed behind, cleaning everything in the patient\u2019s wake. Once the patient entered the room, anyone who went in would have to exit through a rear door.\nRed tape on the floor marks the no-return line for those stepping through double doors. The only time both sets of doors open is to allow a patient to enter.\nThe staff wore suits equipped with air-purifying respirators, mobile air filters that provide the wearer with a constant flow of clean air through a hose.\nEverything that could have had contact with the patient\u2019s germs is decontaminated, including the vials that hold the blood the nurses draw to test for disease. The nurses double-bag the vials and wipe the plastic bag\u00a0with bleach. When the vials reach the lab, the staff don personal protective equipment of their own and study the samples under a special hood.\nNurses tending to the patient will spend no more than two hours at a time encased in the protective suits. Although the suits can be put on relatively quickly, taking them off requires attention and time.\nA trained observer watches over video as the two nurses carefully remove the clothing, including multiple pairs of gloves. One missed step could prove fatal.\n\u201cIt\u2019s like peeling an onion layer by layer,\u201d said Stephen Kitts, a nurse on the unit.\nOne of the most expensive costs of operating such a unit is disposing of the potentially toxic waste it produces, said Dr. Bryan Schmitt, IU Health clinical pathologist. Little touches abound, such as lining vomit basins with kitty litter-like material so that if the patient is sick, the waste is more solid. The hospital stores the waste until a diagnosis is reached because it must use a special vendor certified to remove the most highly toxic detritus.\nHealth care workers\u2019 safety is taken into account at every step.\n\u201cThere\u2019s a need for a unit like this. I don\u2019t think there needs to be a lot of them,\u201d Webb said. \u201cWe just want to try to recognize these unusual diseases of having this property of being highly contagious and very lethal.\u201d\nCall IndyStar reporter Shari Rudavsky at (317) 444-6354. Follow her onTwitter:\u00a0@srudavsky.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["http://susanwbrooks.house.gov/media-center/in-the-news/legislators-speak-at-chamber-luncheon", "Legislators speak at chamber luncheon", "2016-10-12", "2016", "2016-10", "Republican", "House", "IN", "Susan Brooks", "B001284", "susanwbrooks.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Five Indiana legislators and an Indiana congresswoman participated in a Zionsville Chamber of Commerce luncheon and business expo Tuesday, Oct. 4, at Golf Club of Indiana. The annual event allows local business people to connect and network with one another and listen to a panel of speakers about issues that affect them.\nThe panel included Indiana State Representatives Donna Schaibley (R-Dist. 24) and Dr. Tim Brown (R-Dist. 41); and State Senators Phil Boots (R- Dist. 23), Brandt Hershman (R-Dist. 7) and Mike Delph (R-Dist. 29). Congresswoman Susan Brooks (R-5th District) also participated in the event.\n\"It was a wonderful and successful event, with great panelists and attendees,\" said Diane Schultz, director of member services and interim executive director for the chamber.\nAbout 120 people attended the luncheon, where 20 expo booths representing a variety of businesses and industries were set up around the perimeter of the banquet room.\nSee Wednesday's Times Sentinel for the full story.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://messer.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/rep-messer-urges-dept-of-education-to-restore-pell-grant-eligibility-to", "Rep. Messer urges Dept. of Education to restore Pell Grant eligibility to ITT Tech students", "2016-10-12", "2016", "2016-10", "Republican", "House", "IN", "Luke Messer", "M001189", "messer.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "WASHINGTON (Oct. 12, 2016) \u2014 Rep. Luke Messer (IN-06) is urging the U.S. Department of Education to restore Pell Grant eligibility to approximately 16,000 students nationwide who were using the grants to attend ITT Technical Institute when it abruptly closed last month.\nFederal Pell Grants are provided to low-income students pursuing postsecondary education, and lifetime eligibility for the need-based grants is limited.\nThe Department of Education is currently telling former ITT Tech students it will not restore or \u201creset\u201d their Pell Grant eligibility, leaving many of these students with few options to finish their degrees.\n\u201cFor many low-income students, Pell Grants are their best shot to attend college and secure a better future for themselves,\u201d Messer said. \u201cITT Tech closed largely at the hand of federal bureaucrats at the Education Department, and for them to now leave these students high-and-dry is a disgrace.\u201d\nIn a letter sent to the Education Department, Messer urged the Department to immediately reverse its decision so that these students are not harmed and questioned why the Department is not using its statutory authority to take such action.\u00a0\nAccording to U.S. House of Representatives legal counsel, Section 437(c)(3) of the Higher Education Act requires the Education Department to restore Pell Grant benefits for students who are unable to complete their course of study due to the closure of an institution.\u00a0\n\u201cIt\u2019s frustrating that the Department did not do its homework to ensure students were protected and had options before taking action against ITT Tech,\u201d Messer said. \u201cStudents should not be blamed for this closure, and we must do everything we can to ensure they have the opportunity to continue their education.\u201d\nBased in Indiana, ITT Tech operated 130 campuses nationwide and served about 40,000 students when it announced on Sept. 6, 2016 that it would close. The announcement followed an Aug. 25 decision by the Education Department to prohibit the institution from enrolling new students using federal student aid.\nMesser has also authored a bill that would allow veterans to recover their GI Bill educational benefits if they were using their benefits at a college or university that closes, preventing them from completing their degree.\nThe bill (H.R. 6003) would apply to the nearly 7,000 veterans who were enrolled at ITT Tech at the time it closed.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["http://rokita.house.gov/editorial/10-07-2016-rokita-report", "10-07-2016 Rokita Report", "2016-10-07", "2016", "2016-10", "Republican", "House", "IN", "Todd Rokita", "R000592", "rokita.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Dear Friend,\nThank you for the opportunity to update you on the work of the 114th Congress.\u00a0 I trust this finds you and your family well, as we work together to bring Hoosier common sense to Washington.\nFor daily updates, please take a moment to \"Like\" my Facebook page by clicking here\u00a0\u00a0or follow me on Twitter if you prefer\u00a0\u00a0@ToddRokita.\n \u00a0 \n   In this week's Rokita Report \n Federal Employee Reform\nFighting Washington's Reckless Spending\nOverriding the President's Veto\nObamaCare Payments to Insurers\n  \u00a0 \n  Federal Employee Reform\nRecently, I introduced H.R. 6278, the\u00a0Promote Accountability and Efficiency (PAGE) Act.\u00a0\u00a0The PAGE Act\u00a0addresses growing concerns about the conduct and performance of federal employees.\nLike many Hoosiers, I am tired of seeing federal employees from the Internal Revenue Service, Veterans Affairs, General Services Administration, and many other agencies maintain employment, at the taxpayers\u2019 expense, after engaging in misconduct, receiving consistent poor performance reviews, and abusing the appeals process for employees.\u00a0 Even more, taxpayers should not have to pay for employees who don\u2019t answer letters, return phone calls, or solve problems that often times are created by the bureaucrats themselves.\u00a0 This bill is a step toward holding federal employees accountable to ensure that citizens are receiving the best service possible.\nThe\u00a0PAGE Act\u00a0would create at-will employment status for new federal employees, immediately suspend employees due to misconduct or poor performance, and ensure that taxpayers are only paying for official work activities.\n  Fighting Washington's Reckless Spending\nLast Wednesday, I voted against a reckless spending resolution that authorized more spending without making needed cuts.\u00a0With our national debt already over $19 trillion, I could not support the continuing spending resolution because several of the provisions were not even paid-for, including Zika funding, and therefore add to the national debt.\nAs an alternative, I recently introduced a fully paid-for Zika bill, the Zero Impacted Kids in America (ZIKA) Act which provided the requested levels of virus research while remaining budget-neutral.\u00a0 My legislation was not considered.\u00a0 This continuing resolution also fails to pay for disaster relief funds for the flooding that has devastated parts of the South. \u00a0I saw the need for these relief funds firsthand during a visit earlier this month, but without being paid-for, this bill will try to solve one problem only by enlarging another: our debt.\nThis funding bill passed the House and\u00a0provides\u00a0money to fund the government through December 9.\u00a0 Of the $1.1 billion in Zika funding research, only $400 million is paid for.\u00a0 As Vice-Chairman of the House Budget Committee, I look forward to continuing to fight for fiscal responsibility.\n \u00a0 \n  Overriding the President's Veto\nLast week, the House and Senate overturned President Obama's veto of the Justice Against Sponsors of Terrorism Act (JASTA).\u00a0 This was the first time that a veto from President Obama has been successfully overturned.\nThe House and Senate took this historic step towards restoring the checks and balances of our government by taking a hard line against President Obama's senseless veto.\u00a0 The override effort passed the House with the support of 348 members, including myself.\nFifteen years after the 9/11 terrorist attacks killed nearly 3,000 Americans, JASTA allows the families of the victims to pursue justice and finally present their case in our nation's courts.\u00a0 The bill does so by amending federal law to allow civil claims against foreign countries involved in acts of terrorism perpetrated on United States soil.\n \u00a0 \n  ObamaCare Payments to Insurers\nThis month is the third anniversary of the ObamaCare insurance exchanges.\u00a0 We have new from auditors at the Government Accountability Office that the Obama administration is illegally sending payments to health insurers instead of the federal Treasury as the law requires.\nObamaCare created a reinsurance program that collects money from all health plans to help insurers cover the cost of sicker patients in the health care law's exchanges.\u00a0 To manage this program the government collects taxes from the insurers.\u00a0 After covering the cost of the program, the law requires the payments be sent to the federal Treasury.\u00a0 In 2014, the Department of Health and Human Services paid insurers $7.9 billion in claims and held the remaining $1.7 for future payments, instead of sending it to the Treasury.\nThis is another in a long string of examples on how ObamaCare is failing Hoosiers.\u00a0 To offer an alternative, I co-authored the American Health Care Reform Act with my colleagues on the Republican Study Committee.\u00a0 Our bill repeals and replaces ObamaCare with patient-centered solutions.\u00a0 In addition, I have served on the Health Care Task Force, which has laid a series of proposals to reform healthcare that includes my proposal for Medicaid Block Grants.\n \u00a0 \n  Thank you for your continued interest in Congress and for supporting my efforts to bring Hoosier common sense to Washington. Take care.\u00a0\u00a0\n\u00a0\n\t\t\t\t\tSincerely,  \u00a0  \n\t\t\t\t\tTodd Rokita", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://messer.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/rep-messer-port-in-lawrenceburg-would-transform-local-economy-0", "Rep. Messer: Port in Lawrenceburg would transform local economy", "2016-10-07", "2016", "2016-10", "Republican", "House", "IN", "Luke Messer", "M001189", "messer.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "WASHINGTON (Friday, Oct. 7, 2016) \u2014 Rep. Luke Messer (IN-06) issued the following statement today following news that Lawrenceburg, Ind. could be the site of Indiana\u2019s fourth port:\n\u201cThis is great news. Building a port in this region would transform our local economy, connecting more Hoosier industry with the world marketplace. This would be a boon to existing agriculture and manufacturing companies, and it would also draw more 21st-century job creators to our communities. World-class transit and logistics options are as key to job growth as low taxes and less burdensome regulation. I thank local and state leaders for helping make southeast Indiana a great place to invest and grow.\u201d\nThe Ports of Indiana announced yesterday that it has identified a possible site in Lawrenceburg, Ind. for use as the state\u2019s fourth port. More information can be found here.\nMesser represents Lawrenceburg as part of the 6th Congressional District.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["http://susanwbrooks.house.gov/media-center/in-the-news/ag-zoeller-announces-additional-grant-for-training-equipping-first", "AG Zoeller announces additional grant for training, equipping first responders with Naloxone", "2016-10-05", "2016", "2016-10", "Republican", "House", "IN", "Susan Brooks", "B001284", "susanwbrooks.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "INDIANAPOLIS \u2013 The Indiana Attorney General\u2019s Prescription Drug Abuse Prevention Task Force will distribute an additional $400,000 grant to equip first responders with naloxone, the fast-acting antidote for people who have overdosed on prescription opioids or heroin.\nLast January, Zoeller awarded an initial grant to Overdose Lifeline, Inc., the Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department, and the Indiana State Police in response to the growing overdose epidemic throughout Indiana. The grant allowed the organizations to purchase nearly 7,500 kits. More than 5,000 kits have already been distributed to first responders to at least 45 counties statewide, and has resulted in at least 90 lives being saved since the program began.\n\u201cI\u2019m proud of the men and women in law enforcement who have always been there to serve and protect us, but now take on this new role of saving lives as first responder during this opioid epidemic,\u201d Attorney General Greg Zoeller said. \u201cIt\u2019s up to all of us to find ways to become involved and seek solutions to this public health crisis that is devastating lives across Indiana.\u201d\nThe new grant will be administered by the nonprofit organization, Overdose Lifeline, Inc., a main provider of naloxone training and kits. Overdose Lifeline will expand efforts and prioritize counties that have not received initial kits and high risk counties. The Naloxone kits distributed are in the form of a nasal spray sold as Narcan, the brand name for naloxone, and work by reversing the effects of an overdose of heroin or other opiates.\n\u201cHigh-risk individuals are more vulnerable than ever to increasing numbers of overdoses on the new form of heroin laced with fentanyl. This synthetic drug has increased heroin\u2019s potency by 30- to 50 times and now is the time to strengthen our state\u2019s response to this epidemic.\u201d Zoeller added.\nZoeller was joined by Justin Phillips the founder and president of Overdose Lifeline. She formed the nonprofit following the death of her 20-year-old son, Aaron, to a heroin overdose, three years ago this coming weekend.\n\u201cOverdose Lifeline\u2019s primary goal is to have naloxone available for anyone to have in their hands and use it with those at risk of overdosing from opioids,\u201d said Justin Phillips, founder/president of Overdose Lifeline. \u201cIf just one young life is saved by a first responder administering naloxone, then our efforts are worth it.\u201d\nIn 2015, Aaron\u2019s Law was passed, which allows for layperson access to Naloxone. For more information on Overdose Lifeline and resources available, please visit here.\nThe naloxone grant program is paid for with settlement funds received by the Office of The Indiana Attorney General for off-label and deceptive marketing by pharmaceutical companies.\n7th Annual Drug Abuse & Heroin Symposium\nAttorney General Greg Zoeller, creator and co-chair of the Indiana Prescription Drug Abuse Prevention Task Force, will host the 7th-annual Indiana Prescription Drug Abuse Symposium on Oct. 13-14. Space is still available and the public can register here.\nThis year\u2019s symposium, titled \u201cRebuilding the Hoosier Heartland\u201d, offers sessions on arming communities with strategies for curtailing abuse and providing treatment.\nThe symposium will for the first time focus on heroin abuse and how to reduce its supply. Special guests at the symposium include Congresswoman Susan Brooks, Attorney General of the State of Puebla, Mexico Victor Carranc\u00e1 Bourget, and this year\u2019s keynote speaker Sam Quinones, author of the book, Dreamland.\nSam Quinones is a journalist, storyteller, former LA Times reporter, and author of three acclaimed books of narrative nonfiction.\nVisit\u00a0www.BitterPill.IN.gov\u00a0for more information about the Attorney General\u2019s Prescription Drug Abuse Prevention Task Force, naloxone expansion efforts and other responses to the state\u2019s opioid overdose crisis.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["http://susanwbrooks.house.gov/media-center/in-the-news/drug-issues-continue-to-plague-communities", "Drug issues continue to plague communities", "2016-10-05", "2016", "2016-10", "Republican", "House", "IN", "Susan Brooks", "B001284", "susanwbrooks.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Over 60 people gathered for the Critical Issues Community Forum: The Heroin Crisis Sept. 29 at Ivy Tech Community College.\nThe event, which was sponsored by the Batesville Rotary Club, Coalition for a Drug-Free Batesville, Batesville Area Chamber of Commerce, The Herald-Tribune, Margaret Mary Health and Ivy Tech, allowed participants to hear what was going on regarding the heroin issue at the local, state and federal levels.\nMike Kruse, Rotary District 6580 assistant governor, explained how this forum came about: \"In October 2015, the Batesville Rotary Club invited state Rep. Cindy Ziemke to talk to our group and community members about what was happening in the Legislature .... She also talked about how heroin affected her family ... (and) encouraged us to promote community discussions\" concerning this issue.\nLocally\nBatesville Police Chief Stan Holt reported, \"About five years ago, we realized we had a problem here in Batesville with heroin. We noticed it in traffic stops, and it surprised us because we never saw that before. In 2011, we were also shocked to see that surveys done in the schools showed that some students were doing heroin. We started pulling together a small group for a (drug-free) coalition.\n\"Within just a few weeks after that, I got a phone call about a young girl (Cierra Adams) who had died from a heroin overdose .... Then we started hearing of other heroin overdoses on the outskirts of town.\n\"You talk about going into a little panic .... I looked at it as what is law enforcement going to do? One of the first things we did as a police department was we started getting the training on drug enforcement. We already had good partnerships with the Indiana State Police and county sheriff's departments. I took one of my guys and had him work with the state police.\n\"With the overdose of this 18-year-old girl, we started getting tips in our department. Everyone wanted to help as much as they could. We arrested 15 local drug dealers in that first year going undercover with the state police. These big drug dealers were high school graduates who just graduated the year before .... I gave my cell phone number to any family members who were having trouble with their kids. I was getting calls late at night from parents crying and saying they didn't know what to do .... We realized this is a community problem, not just a law enforcement problem.\n\"I wanted something to happen quickly .... I went through spells asking 'why do we have the drug-free coalition because we're not doing anything?'\n\"As time went on, we had more people coming to the table (from local entities). The schools were putting on programs about alcohol and gateway drugs education ... Margaret Mary Health began funding Narcan for our officers, and they continue to fund this program .... We began to see that the coalition was making progress.\"\nHolt noted, \"We continue to have drug investigations going on .... (Individuals) go to jail and bond out, and we see the same faces over and over again.\n\"The key is treatment,\" he stressed. \"We've got families here in this community who are sending loved ones to Florida, California, Kentucky ... to try to find the best treatment centers ....\n\"We believe the drugs are funnelled into our community from Cincinnati .... We have a local state trooper who's on a national drug task force, and it's very common for him to say, 'The DEA (Drug Enforcement Administration) is working on a case out of Chicago. Can we use your dog (K-9 Jinx)?' .... Our K-9 program was started in 2011 and was fully funded by the community.\"\nThe chief said, \"We work with the prosecutors in both counties (Franklin and Ripley) ... but the one we work with the most is (Ripley County's) Ric Hertel.\n\"A few months ago, we discussed how to go after a dealer in Cincinnati ... Our plan was to get an informant who works with us to go to Cincinnati and and work with the drug task force over there so we can get (the dealer on a) charge of conspiracy to transport drugs across state lines. (Please see story in Oct. 7 issue.)\n\"In Ohio, those dealers' sentences are so much lower, about four years, compared to 30-40 years in Indiana. That's the message we want to send back to them .... If our people go over to deal and get caught, they will spend their lives in jail.\"\nHolt emphasized, \"We believe our efforts are paying off .... We will aggressively continue doing everything we can .... How can the regular citizen help? If you see something that doesn't look right, report it immediately.\"\nState level legislative update\nState Sen. Jean Leising reported, \"This drug problem has crossed all levels of income .... We have to realize that we have to work together with law enforcement, prosecutors and state level people ....\n\"My interest peaked when I realized Fayette County, Connersville, had a serious, serious problem. Not only did they have a heroin problem, they had a hepatitis C problem, and their jail was overflowing.\"\nShe said Senate Enrolled Act 187 requires pharmacies to have a standing order for opioid overdose intervention drugs such as naloxone, commonly known as Narcan, which block the effects of opioids, stopping the overdose. \"It gives access to Narcan to any individual.\"\nLeising admitted she was a little skeptical about this at first, thinking, \"Doesn't that encourage somebody to do drugs?\" However, someone said to me, 'What if it was your brother's kids? Would you want to have them live or die?'\"\n\"The missing component is treatment. What can we do for that person whose life was saved?\" SEA 297 requires more regulation for opioid treatment centers to ensure they operate in a reputable way. Researchers have found that medication like methadone, which is used to reduce withdrawal symptoms of opioid addictions like heroin, can be extremely addictive. By having these treatment centers accept Medicaid and the Healthy Indiana Plan, more oversight on the integrity of their operations can be provided.\nHouse Enrolled Act 1347 \"requires Medicaid to assist in mental health and addiction counseling. That is a good direction.\"\nShe revealed, \"Everyone tells me ... detox is so horrible. It's tough for jails to deal with or people at home.\" There is a totally different concept, a device called the Neuro-Stims Systems Bridge, which attaches to the ear, which helps reduce the pain of going off drugs. \"This device has been approved by the FDA (Food and Drug Administration) for pain control, but not for drug detox.\"\nThe senator also revealed two acts of legislation that target drug dealers:\n\u2022 SEA 290 closes a loophole that allowed some drug traffickers to escape drug-dealing charges by being charged with the lesser crime of drug possession. It specifies that if a person possesses a large amount of drugs, he or she can be charged and convicted for drug dealing based solely on the amount of drugs in his or her possession\n\u2022 HEA 1235 institutes mandatory minimum sentences for the worst meth and heroin dealers.\n\"We've got to get those big, bad guys off the street,\" she pointed out.\n\"I was in favor of the Syringe Exchange Program,\" a public health strategy that offers drug users clean needles to prevent the spread of hep C and HIV. \"Only six counties (Clark, Fayette, Madison, Monroe, Scott and Wayne) have been approved to operate SEPs.\"\nTo be put in place, the Indiana State Department of Health commissioner must declare a public health emergency in a county, city or town. The declaration cannot last more than one year, but can be renewed by the commissioner if the emergency continues.\nLeising stressed, \"For anyone who doesn't think there is a problem here (in southeastern Indiana), there is.\"\nFederal level\nMelanie Douglas, regional director for U.S. Sen. Joe Donnelly's southeastern Indiana Office, Jeffersonville, reported, \"For more than two years, Senator Donnelly has been working to address heroin and opioid use .... He and Sen. Susan Brooks have held two roundtables on the opioid abuse epidemic. The first was in September 2015 with federal, state and local public health officials, doctors and pharmacists to discuss the role providers play in helping to address the opioid abuse problem. The second was in April 2016 with Indiana University School of Medicine doctors, professors, faculty and medical residents to learn more about IUSM\u2019s efforts to educate and train medical students, residents and current physicians on best prescribing practices, pain management, substance abuse and treating addiction.\n\"In June 2016, he held a roundtable in northwest Indiana focused on drug abuse prevention efforts with federal, state and local officials to discuss federal and local partnerships and programs that are at work.\"\nHe also worked on CARA, the Comprehensive Addiction and Recovery Act, which will provide states and local communities with important tools to prevent and treat drug addiction and support individuals in recovery, she said.\nAccording to a Fairbanks Foundation study, \"opioid overdose deaths cost Indiana $1.4 billion in 2014 related to medical costs and lost lifetime earnings.\n\"As a community, we continue to be affected by heroin and the opioid epidemic, and it will take all of us working together to solve this problem,\" Douglas emphasized.\nDiane Raver can be contacted at\u00a0diane.raver@batesvilleheraldtribune.com\u00a0or 812-934-4343, Ext. 114.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["http://susanwbrooks.house.gov/media-center/in-the-news/indiana-farm-bureau-names-brooks-and-bucshon-a-friend-of-farm-bureau", "Indiana Farm Bureau Names Brooks and Bucshon a Friend of Farm Bureau", "2016-10-05", "2016", "2016-10", "Republican", "House", "IN", "Susan Brooks", "B001284", "susanwbrooks.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Indiana Farm Bureau will be presenting Representative Susan Brooks with a Friend of Farm Bureau award at Evermilk Logistics, an agribusiness in Anderson focused on milk product transportation.Friend of Farm Bureau awards are presented to federal lawmakers who have demonstrated support for policies that foster a positive climate for agriculture and rural communities.\u00a0Receiving that award is separate from receiving an endorsement from the Indiana Farm Bureau ELECT PAC.The award will be presented Oct. 7 from 1:30 to 3 p.m. in Anderson.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["http://susanwbrooks.house.gov/media-center/in-the-news/us-rep-susan-brooks-visits-ymca-child-care-development-center", "U.S. Rep. Susan Brooks visits YMCA Child Care Development Center", "2016-10-04", "2016", "2016-10", "Republican", "House", "IN", "Susan Brooks", "B001284", "susanwbrooks.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "KOKOMO - U.S. Rep. Susan Brooks visited Kokomo Tuesday and toured the YMCA Child Care Development Center.\nBrooks, R-5th District, visited the center as part of a congressional initiative to offer quality, affordable child care to working families, especially those in poverty.\nBrooks met with YMCA Director Dave Dubois, Senior Program Director Ikeia Prince and Child Care Director Christie Tate.\nAs they toured the center, Brooks talked about her personal experience with child care. Her children are now in their 20s, she said, and it\u2019s been awhile since she\u2019s been in an early childhood education center like the YMCA\u2019s.\nTate talked about some of the ways the center encourages students to learn. In the infant room, which can hold up to 10 babies, cribs are adorned with signs showing who can roll over on their own.\nIn a class full of two-year-olds Tuesday, the children fed themselves yogurt, and the staff talked about how they focus on developing motor skills and muscle control.\n\u201cDid you put that puzzle together?\u201d Brooks asked students in a pre-K classroom.\n\u201cYeah. All by ourselves.\u201d one student said excitedly.\nBrooks asked Tate, Dubois and Prince several questions about the center and child care in the Kokomo area. She wanted to know whether there are enough centers to meet the needs of area families.\u00a0\nTate said there are several different options, including licensed facilities like the YMCA\u2019s, in-home care and ministry centers, and she stressed that different families have different needs and price ranges.\nThe YMCA center costs $160 a week, but about 50 percent of families receive some type of assistance or pay no fees at all, Tate said. Their ability to offer assistance depends on funding from the Child Care Development Fund, a federal program that assists low-income families in getting child care.\nParents who receive vouchers from the Children\u2019s Bureau for a child to attend the center have to meet various requirements, Tate said, including one stating their child must be present at the center at least 20 hours a week.\nTate said she and her staff try to help families as much as possible. If she knows a family needs assistance with clothing or groceries, she has a list of resources, such as The Salvation Army or Kokomo Urban Outreach, to share with families. Helping families is a way to help the kids, she said.\n\u201cIf we\u2019re taking care of the parents, we\u2019re taking care of the kids,\u201d she said.\nDubois said the YMCA also offers a number of resources for families, and they never turn anyone away because they can\u2019t afford it, he said.\n\u201cI\u2019m a big fan of the Y,\u201d Brooks added.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["http://susanwbrooks.house.gov/media-center/in-the-news/march-across-bridge-a-sign-of-unity", "March across bridge a sign of unity", "2016-10-01", "2016", "2016-10", "Republican", "House", "IN", "Susan Brooks", "B001284", "susanwbrooks.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "ANDERSON \u2013 More than 150 people from across the city\u2019s religious and racial lines marched across the Eisenhower Bridge as one in a show of unity Saturday morning.\nThe Reconciliation March was a nod to an event just 51 years ago when civil rights protesters were beaten and bloodied trying to cross a bridge in Selma, Alabama. The march was later called \u201cBloody Sunday.\u201d\n\u201cThey were never able to walk across that bridge in Selma until everyone came together,\u201d said the Rev. Anthony Harris, who organized the event that started at the Anderson City Building and proceeded east on Eighth Street to Athletic Park for prayer.\nThe march was the realization of a dream Harris had to see people of faith marching with police and community leaders of all races and cultures come together to unite under the banner of peace, particularly in a time when there is so much strife in the world, he said.\n\u201cThis should happen every day, but with what\u2019s happening now, it\u2019s going to be a special time,\u201d he said.\nU.S. Rep. Susan Brooks, R-5th District, said she \u201cinvited\" herself to the march because she wanted to hold up a community that can work together in unity. She urged the community members to follow the example of the religious leaders and officers who took part in the march.\n\u201cI have seen firsthand in Indianapolis in the 1990s what good things can happen when the faith community and law enforcement comes together,\u201d she said. \u201cThat\u2019s what good citizens do.\u201d\nBill Thompson, president of the Christian Clergy Association of Anderson, said the event was also a way to show support for the police department in Anderson in the wake of riots that have broken out across the country following police action shootings.\nThe walk was meant as a preemptive step to show solidarity in case a similar situation were to happen in Anderson.\n\u201cI felt it was important that if something happens here we are already together and that may let us know we are together and that (rioting and fighting) won\u2019t happen,\u201d Thompson said.\nBrooks touched on the topic as well in her opening speech.\n\u201cI believe in this community,\u201d she said. \u201cI believe if something happens here we won\u2019t see the violent protests in this community because of you. You can be a model for other communities.\u201d\nFor Rodney Clark of Anderson, the march was a way for him to do his part to show the Anderson community that there are people united in support of peace.\n\u201cThis is what me and my wife can do to do our part,\u201d he said. \u201cI hate that things have to happen for us to see that we can be united, though.\u201d\nHis wife, Audrey Clark, added: \u201cSome things go on because we are not united. I am hoping (the Anderson community) can see the demonstration of unity and say \u2018we are here to fight for our city.\"\nKen de la Bastide contributed to this article.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["http://rokita.house.gov/press-release/rokita-leads-federal-employee-accountability", "ROKITA LEADS ON FEDERAL EMPLOYEE ACCOUNTABILITY", "2016-09-30", "2016", "2016-09", "Republican", "House", "IN", "Todd Rokita", "R000592", "rokita.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "ROKITA LEADS ON FEDERAL EMPLOYEE ACCOUNTABILITY \nINTRODUCES CIVIL SERVICE REFORM BILL\nWashington, D.C. \u2013 This week, Rep. Todd Rokita introduced the Promote Accountability and Government Efficiency Act, addressing growing concerns about the conduct of federal employees.\u00a0 The bill would create at-will employment status for new federal employees, immediately suspend employees due to misconduct or poor performance, and ensure that taxpayers are only paying for official work activities.\n\u201cAmericans are tired of seeing federal employees from the Internal Revenue Service, Veterans Affairs, General Services Administration, and many other agencies maintain employment, at the taxpayers\u2019 expense, after engaging in misconduct, receiving consistent poor performance reviews, and abusing the appeals process.\u00a0 Even more, taxpayers should not have to pay for employees who don\u2019t answer letters, return phone calls, or solve problems that often times are created by the bureaucrats themselves.\u00a0 This bill is a step toward holding federal employees accountable to ensure that citizens are receiving the best service possible.\u201d\u00a0 \n\u00a0\n\u00a0\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://bucshon.house.gov/media-center/blog/house-floor-september", "From the House Floor in September", "2016-09-30", "2016", "2016-09", "Republican", "House", "IN", "Larry Bucshon", "B001275", "bucshon.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Congressman Bucshon spoke on the House Floor multiple times this month to recognize and discuss important Hoosier stories and concerns.\u00a0\nThe Patrolman of Franklin Street\n\u201cNic has always wanted to be a police officer, and has become known for his support of local law enforcement and first responders. His dream recently became a reality as he was welcomed onto the Evansville Police Department as an honorary officer.\u201d\u00a0\u00a0\nUniversity of Southern Indiana Nexus Award\n\u201cI personally have toured USI\u2019s healthcare programs and met with the college\u2019s leadership as recently as last month, and I have long supported USI\u2019s work to fill healthcare delivery gaps, including serving urban and rural populations that would otherwise not receive primary healthcare services.\u201d\n\u201cChamber of the Year\u201d\n\u201cSouthern Indiana has a reputation as a great place to live, work, and raise a family. And people around the country are taking notice thanks in part to the hard work and dedication of this organization.\u201d\nOpposing Burdensome Federal Regulations\n\u201cThis rule will undoubtedly harm Hoosier small businesses, non-profits, and the jobs they support.\u201d\nNational Suicide Prevention Month\n\u201cTragically we know that many of these individuals who experience suicidal thoughts suffer from some form of mental illness, but have not received proper treatment. Here in the House we passed landmark legislation to overhaul our nation\u2019s mental health treatment system to make sure these individuals have access to the care they need.\u201d", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://messer.house.gov/media-center/editorials/defending-a-pro-life-pillar-no-tax-dollars-for-abortion", "Defending a pro-life pillar  no tax dollars for abortion", "2016-09-30", "2016", "2016-09", "Republican", "House", "IN", "Luke Messer", "M001189", "messer.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Two-thirds of Americans oppose taxpayer funded abortion. In this era of divided politics, there are few issues on which so many people agree.\nOn September 30, 1976, this bipartisan consensus became the law of the land when the Hyde Amendment passed the House of Representatives. Its impact on our nation has been lasting and profound. \u00a0\nThe Hyde Amendment stands as a pillar in pro-life policy, but also as a reflection of the will of millions of Americans on an issue over which common ground is hard to find.\u00a0 Unfortunately, in what would be an unprecedented move, presidential candidate Hillary Clinton has called for the Hyde Amendment\u2019s repeal. That would be a giant mistake.\nThe Hyde Amendment acknowledges a shared recognition that abortion is not just another medical procedure. The truth is even most pro-choice Americans believe abortion should be rare. When you fund something, you make it more likely to occur.\u00a0The Hyde Amendment blocks government funding so that it doesn\u2019t encourage the practice of abortion.\nThe results of this policy are striking. Since the Hyde Amendment took effect, research from the Lozier Institute indicates that it has prevented more than two million abortions. The number of lives saved is roughly equivalent to the populations of Rhode Island and Delaware combined.\u00a0\nThe Hyde Amendment also respects Americans deep, moral beliefs about abortion. This is an issue of conscience. \u00a0That's why Americans overwhelmingly believe their fellow taxpayers, many with deeply held convictions on the issue, should not be forced to fund the procedure.\u00a0\nThe Hyde Amendment is morally appropriate, politically responsible and it saves lives. But it is not perfect. First of all, it is not permanent law. Each year, Congress must re-pass the Hyde Amendment language in an annual legislative drama. There are also loopholes and workarounds that need to be addressed.\nThe Hyde Amendment should be made permanent and its principles applied throughout each federal measure dealing with healthcare.\u00a0 I will continue to fight to expand the Hyde Amendment and for other policy changes that preserve life. \u00a0We cannot let Hillary Clinton or any other politician abandon our progress on this issue.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["http://rokita.house.gov/press-release/rokita-votes-%E2%80%98no%E2%80%99-continuing-resolution", "ROKITA VOTES NO ON CONTINUING RESOLUTION", "2016-09-29", "2016", "2016-09", "Republican", "House", "IN", "Todd Rokita", "R000592", "rokita.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "ROKITA VOTES \u2018NO\u2019 ON CONTINUING RESOLUTION \nWashington, D.C. \u2013 Representative Todd Rokita released the following statement after the House passed legislation to fund the federal government through December.\u00a0 The bill passed the House by a vote of\u00a0342 to 85.\n\u201cGiven that our national debt is already over $19 trillion, I cannot support this bill because several of the provisions are not even paid-for, including Zika funding, and therefore add to the national debt.\u00a0 To solve this problem, I introduced a fully paid-for Zika bill, which was not considered. \u00a0This continuing resolution also fails to pay for disaster relief funds for the flooding that has devastated parts of the South. \u00a0I saw the need for these relief funds firsthand during a visit earlier this month, but without being paid-for, this bill will try to solve one problem only by enlarging another: our debt.\u201d\nThis funding bill passed today provides money to fund the government through December 9.\u00a0 Of the $1.1 billion in Zika funding research, only $400 million is paid for.\u00a0 On September 15, Rep. Rokita introduced a fully paid-for alternative, the Zero Impacted Kids in America (ZIKA) Act, which provided the requested level of virus research while remaining budget-neutral.\n\u00a0\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://bucshon.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/dr-bucshon-highlights-suicide-prevention-month", "Dr. Bucshon Highlights Suicide Prevention Month", "2016-09-29", "2016", "2016-09", "Republican", "House", "IN", "Larry Bucshon", "B001275", "bucshon.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "(WASHINGTON, D.C.) \u2013Eighth District Congressman Larry Bucshon, M.D. took to the floor of the U.S. House of Representatives to bring awareness to suicide and mental illness. September is designated as National Suicide Prevention Month.\n\t\t\t\t\u201cMr. Speaker, suicide is the second leading cause of death for young Americans ages 10 to 24\u2026As a father of four, all in this age group, I can\u2019t tell you how heartbreaking it is that kids across the country feel hopeless and feel that suicide is their only option.\u201d \n\t\t\t\tBucshon also highlighted his work on important legislation to address mental illness, which passed the House earlier this year. \u00a0\n\t\t\t\t\u201cTragically, we know that many of the individuals who experience suicidal thoughts suffer from some form of mental illness, but have not received proper treatment. Here in the House, we passed landmark legislation to overhaul our nation\u2019s mental health treatment system to make sure these individuals have access to the care they need. And we need to see it across the finish line.\u201d \n\t\t\t\tThe full version of his speech can be viewed by clicking here or on the image below:", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://messer.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/rep-messer-house-committee-questions-wells-fargo-ceo-about-egregious", "Rep. Messer: House committee questions Wells Fargo CEO about egregious fraud, breach of trust", "2016-09-29", "2016", "2016-09", "Republican", "House", "IN", "Luke Messer", "M001189", "messer.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "WASHINGTON (Sept. 29, 2016) \u2014 Rep. Luke Messer (IN-06) today joined committee members in questioning Wells Fargo Chairman and CEO, John Stumpf, about apparent widespread fraud in which company employees opened as many as two million false accounts using customer information and funds.\nSince 2011, 5,300 Wells Fargo employees have been fired due to unethical behavior, none of whom were senior managers or executives.\nThe House Financial Services Committee, which Messer serves on, held a hearing today aimed at holding the company and its executives accountable for this alleged fraud perpetrated against Wells Fargo customers over the past five years.\n\u201cThe American people want answers,\u201d Messer said. \u201cHow could 5,000 employees rig the system without any alarm bells going off? And, how will Wells Fargo make this right for all the customers whose credit ratings are now at risk?\u201d\nWells Fargo employees are accused of opening accounts in customers\u2019 names without their authorization from 2011-2015, and taking other illegal and unethical actions such as transferring funds from existing customers\u2019 accounts to temporarily fund others.\nEarlier this month, the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB), the Office of the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency (OCC) and the City and County of Los Angeles entered into a settlement agreement with Wells Fargo over these allegations, fining the bank $185 million. Wells Fargo must pay an additional $5 million in customer remediation, which includes at least $2.5 million the bank has already refunded customers, averaging $25 per account.\nBut questions have been raised about the thoroughness and timeliness of the CFPB\u2019s investigation into this matter, Messer said, noting it took years to uncover this fraud scheme.\n\u201cThe CFPB is charged with protecting American consumers,\u201d Messer said. \u201cRight now, we don\u2019t know whether they deserve praise or a share of the blame.\u201d\nThe House Financial Services Committee is conducting a full investigation of Wells Fargo\u2019s banking practices to determine how this fraud occurred, if customers were fully compensated, how it will be prevented in the future and who will be held accountable. The committee will also investigate CFPB\u2019s role in the matter.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["http://rokita.house.gov/press-release/rokita-supports-911-bill-votes-overturn-obama-veto", "ROKITA SUPPORTS 9/11 BILL, VOTES TO OVERTURN OBAMA VETO", "2016-09-28", "2016", "2016-09", "Republican", "House", "IN", "Todd Rokita", "R000592", "rokita.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "ROKITA SUPPORTS 9/11 BILL, VOTES TO OVERTURN OBAMA VETO \nWashington, D.C. \u2013 Today, Rep. Todd Rokita issued a statement after voting in favor of overturning President Obama\u2019s veto of the Justice Against Sponsors of Terrorism Act (JASTA).\n\u201cThe House and Senate took a historic step towards restoring the checks and balances of our government by taking a hard line against President Obama\u2019s senseless veto.\u00a0 Fifteen years after the 9/11 terrorist attacks killed nearly 3,000 Americans, this bill allows the families of the victims to pursue justice and finally present their case in our nation\u2019s courts.\u201d\nJASTA amends federal law to allow civil claims against foreign countries involved in acts of terrorism perpetrated on United States soil. \u00a0The measure to overturn the veto passed the House by a vote of 348 to 77, with one member voting present.\n\u00a0\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://bucshon.house.gov/media-center/blog/in08-social-roundup-9212016-9272016", "#IN08 Social Roundup (9/21/2016 - 9/27/2016)", "2016-09-28", "2016", "2016-09", "Republican", "House", "IN", "Larry Bucshon", "B001275", "bucshon.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Fighting opioid abuse, celebrating the Constitution, and stopping ransom payments to Iran in Congress.\u00a0\nIn case you missed it, here's what happened last week...\u00a0\nDeaconess-MD Anderson Cancer Partnership\nAs a physician, Congressman Bucshon knows firsthand the impact a cancer diagnosis has on a patient and their family. That\u2019s why he\u2019s working in Congress to pass landmark legislation called 21st Century Cures, which will fund the research and development of and expedite the approval of life-saving treatments. And that\u2019s why he was proud to join Deaconess for this exciting announcement. \u00a0\n\u00a0\n \n\tThank you! Happy to be there to support this great partnership! https://t.co/aS6uzSTrPU\n\t\u2014 Larry Bucshon, MD (@RepLarryBucshon) September 19, 2016 \n\u00a0\nService Academy Day\u00a0\nCongressman Bucshon met with a\u00a0students from across the Eighth Congressional District interested in attending the various United States Service Academies for an informational briefing on\u00a0Saturday September 17, 2016.\u00a0Students that are interested can apply through Congressman Bucshon\u2019s office until October 14, 2016. More info is available here:\u00a0https://goo.gl/68LrY9.\u00a0\n\u00a0\n \n\tYou're welcome. Thanks for joining us. Please let me know if your son needs any additional info about the process. https://t.co/1jdAEPaADY\n\t\u2014 Larry Bucshon, MD (@RepLarryBucshon) September 19, 2016 \n\u00a0\nCelebrating our founding principles\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\nAmerican Business Women\u2019s Day\nSeptember 22nd\u00a0was \u201cAmerican Business Women\u2019s Day,\u201d\u00a0a day that\u00a0commemorates women\u2019s accomplishments in the workplace and general economy.\u00a0Dr. Bucshon celebrated the day by highlighting how A Better Way policy agenda will help\u00a0Hoosier women-owned\u00a0businesses\u00a0succeed\u00a0and grow.\u00a0\nStudents Leading Students\nCongressman Bucshon\u2019s second annual Student Leadership Summit is coming up on October 4th. Last week's highlighted speakers are the University of Evansville's Leadership Academy.\nFighting Opioid Abuse in Indiana\nLast week, the Coalition to Stop Opioid Overdose recognized Congressman Bucshon\u2019s efforts to end the opioid abuse epidemic\u00a0and the significant role he played in helping pass comprehensive legislation.\u00a0The bipartisan legislation passed earlier this year and signed by President Obama included provisions from many members of Congress, including Congressman Bucshon\u2019s H.R. 4981, which increased Hoosiers\u2019 access to opioid addiction treatments.\n\u00a0\n \n\t@StopOpioidOD @RepLarryBucshon it's about the only damn thing he does in congress...besides line his pockets with Koch money\n\t\u2014 tbone1812 (@TBone1812) September 23, 2016 \n\u00a0\nEvansville\u2019s Newest Air Traffic Controller\nLast week, Congressman Bucshon helped swear-in an air traffic controller in Evansville\nProhibiting Ransom Payments to Iran Bill\u00a0\nIn January, President Obama transferred a cash ransom payment of $1.7 billion to Iran.\u00a0As the Speaker stated this week,\u00a0\u201cWe now know that the administration misled the public about the details of its arrangement with the Iranian regime. First there was a payment, but it had nothing to do with the hostages. Then it did have to do the hostages, but it wasn\u2019t a ransom. Then the president said we couldn\u2019t have wired the money, but all now know it turns out we could have wired the money. The administration is not just circumventing the parameters of the agreement\u2014it is pushing legal and ethical boundaries to appease the regime.\u201d\n\u00a0\n \n\t.@HouseForeign Affairs Comm compiled 5 false claims the Obama Admin made re: Iran cash payments. Take a look below. https://t.co/bMskisDf7n\n\t\u2014 Larry Bucshon, MD (@RepLarryBucshon) September 19, 2016 \n\u00a0\nOpposing Burdensome Federal Rules\nCongressman Bucshon reaffirmed his opposition to a new Department of Labor regulation that will cost Indiana jobs. From the House floor, Congressman Bucshon said,\u00a0\u201cThis rule will undoubtedly harm Hoosier small businesses, non-profits, universities, and the jobs they support.\u201d You can watch his full speech here: https://youtu.be/1e44AooL6V8.\u00a0\n\u00a0\n \n\tThank you @RepLarryBucshon for standing with @NFIB against the @USDOL #overtime rule: https://t.co/53tZsVkYEu\n\t\u2014 NFIB (@NFIB) September 21, 2016", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://walorski.house.gov/walorski-stands-up-for-small-businesses-votes-to-delay-harmful-regulation/", "Walorski Stands Up for Small Businesses, Votes to Delay Harmful Regulation", "2016-09-28", "2016", "2016-09", "Republican", "House", "IN", "Jackie Walorski", "W000813", "walorski.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Wednesday, September 28, 2016\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t Walorski Stands Up for Small Businesses, Votes to Delay Harmful Regulation \n House Acts to Stall Department of Labor Rule That Would Impact Small Businesses, Schools, Nonprofits, Employees \nWASHINGTON  U.S. Rep. Jackie Walorski (IN-02) today voted to delay the Obama administration's burdensome overtime rule that, if implemented, would increase costs and red tape for small businesses, colleges, universities, and nonprofits and lead to reduced wages and hours for workers. The House passed H.R. 6094, the Regulatory Relief for Small Businesses, Schools, and Nonprofits Act, by a vote of 246 to 177.\nSmall businesses and their hardworking employees are vital to our economy, but too often bureaucratic red tape gets in the way of job growth, Congresswoman Walorski said. The administration is rushing to implement a misguided regulation that will lead to pay cuts and reduced flexibility for workers. With this bill the House is standing up for the small businesses, schools, and community organizations that will be hardest hit and the employees who will see their paychecks shrink if the rule goes into effect.\nBACKGROUND\nThe Department of Labor in May finalized a rule raising the compensation level for executive, administrative, and professional employees to be exempt from overtime pay. The rule is set to take effect December 1.\nIf implemented, the rule would have wide-ranging effects on businesses and employees, including reduced flexibility as salaried employees are forced to clock in and out of work, increased compliance costs and time-consuming paperwork for small businesses, and higher operating costs for colleges, universities, and nonprofit organizations.\nH.R. 6094 delays the implementation of the rule for six months to allow businesses, schools, and nonprofits to prepare for the rule's effects, and to give Congress more time to reform outdated federal overtime rule in a responsible way that does not harm small businesses, nonprofits, and working families.\nWalorski represents the 2nd Congressional District of Indiana, serving as a member of the House Veterans' Affairs Committee, House Armed Services Committee and House Committee on Agriculture.\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["http://susanwbrooks.house.gov/media-center/in-the-news/brooks-helps-introduce-bipartisan-bill-to-provide-legal-support-to", "Brooks helps introduce bipartisan bill to provide legal support to survivors of domestic abuse", "2016-09-27", "2016", "2016-09", "Republican", "House", "IN", "Susan Brooks", "B001284", "susanwbrooks.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "U.S. Rep. Susan Brooks (R-IN) co-introduced legislation last week that would help survivors of domestic abuse find legal representation to secure restraining orders and explore other legal avenues.\nThe Power Act, H.R. 6149, introduced by U.S. Rep. Joe Kennedy III (D-MA), would require each U.S. Attorney\u2019s office to annually host public events to support pro bono legal services for survivors of domestic violence.\n\u201cApproximately one in four women will experience\u00a0domestic violence in their lifetime, and domestic\u00a0violence survivors are not guaranteed a lawyer,\u201d Brooks said. \u201cAs a\u00a0result, many of these survivors are trapped in a cycle\u00a0of abuse with no way to escape.\u201d\nUnder the bill, U.S. Attorneys would report to the Department of Justice, which would then compile and deliver a single report to Congress each year detailing public events and the results of the initiative.\n\u201cCivil legal aid\u00a0has been proven to reduce domestic violence,\u00a0because it helps survivors secure protective orders\u00a0and get out of abusive situations,\u201d Brooks said. \u201cAs a former U.S.\u00a0Attorney, I am hopeful that U.S. Attorney offices\u00a0across the country can play a role in raising\u00a0awareness for the need of pro bono legal services,\u00a0connecting victims of domestic violence with legal\u00a0aid, and ultimately, empowering survivors.\u201d\nKennedy said that the justice system should be a haven for survivors of domestic abuse, but instead too many survivors face the fear and intimidation they are trying to escape in court.\n\u201cWithout access to legal assistance, many confront\u00a0their abuser alone in court, victimized once again,\u201d Kennedy said.\u00a0\u201cThe Power Act will help restore the promise of equal\u00a0protection for the millions of domestic violence\u00a0victims across our country.\u201d", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://messer.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/rep-messer-house-bill-bans-deadly-synthetic-fentanyl-helps-fight", "Rep. Messer: House bill bans deadly synthetic fentanyl, helps fight overdose crisis", "2016-09-27", "2016", "2016-09", "Republican", "House", "IN", "Luke Messer", "M001189", "messer.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "WASHINGTON (Sept. 27, 2016) \u2014 Legislation passed by the U.S. House of Representatives to ban additional synthetic drugs, including deadly fentanyl, will give law enforcement more tools to fight the drug abuse and overdose crisis plaguing Indiana, Rep. Luke Messer (IN-06) said.\nThe U.S. House of Representatives passed H.R. 3537 yesterday, which would add 22 synthetic substances to Schedule I of the Controlled Substances Act (CSA).\u00a0The substances include various versions of the synthetic opioid fentanyl and other compounds that mirror the effects of heroin and other illegal drugs.\u00a0\nAccording to the\u00a0Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), fentanyl is\u00a050 times more powerful than heroin. The synthetic opioid caused 75 overdose deaths in Indiana and Ohio in the span of one week in August.\n\u201cSynthetic drugs continue to flood into our communities, taking Hoosier lives as our state battles widespread addiction,\u201d Messer said.\u00a0 \u201cThese cooked-up, laboratory concoctions are often deadlier than the drugs they are trying to mimic, and the results are disastrous.\u00a0 Indiana has been aggressive in passing state legislation to outlaw these lethal substances, and an improved federal ban will bolster those efforts and hopefully save lives.\u201d\nIndiana\u2019s state law, enacted in 2012, bans synthetic drugs and their look-alike compounds.\nH.R. 3537 would also criminalize the sale, manufacture, import and distribution of these drugs. The legislation must now pass the U.S. Senate and be signed by the president to become law.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["http://susanwbrooks.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/house-honors-dr-otis-doc-bowen", "House Honors Dr. Otis Doc Bowen", "2016-09-26", "2016", "2016-09", "Republican", "House", "IN", "Susan Brooks", "B001284", "susanwbrooks.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "WASHINGTON\u2014Today, the House passed H.R. 5509, legislation introduced by Rep. Susan W. Brooks (R-IN) to rename the Veterans House of the Richard L. Roudebush Veterans Administration Medical Center in Indianapolis in honor of Dr. Otis \u2018Doc\u2019 Bowen, former Secretary of Health and Human Services, Indiana Governor and member of the Army Medical Corps during World War II. The Veterans House is a home away from home for veterans receiving outpatient medical care and family members of hospitalized veterans at Roudebush. The bill must now be considered by the Senate.\n\t\u201cWhether it was in the trenches of war, in political office, or at the doctor\u2019s office, Doc Bowen had a clear passion for serving others,\u201d Brooks said. \u201cHis experiences as a combat physician and as a family doctor built a strong foundation for his efforts first as Governor of our great state of Indiana and then later as Secretary of Health and Human Services under President Ronald Reagan. Doc Bowen recognized that the love and support of family and friends are critical components to recovery, and so it\u2019s only right that when Hoosier veterans and their families are in need of a home away from home to find support, to find comfort and to heal, they can find it in a building that bears his name. I\u2019m proud that the Dr. Otis Bowen Veterans House will be a living legacy to honor and continue the life\u2019s work of this great Hoosier.\u201d \n\tFrom 1985 to 1989, Bowen served as Secretary of Health and Human Services (HHS) under President Ronald Reagan. The first doctor to serve as Secretary, he spearheaded the federal government\u2019s response to the spread of AIDS, promoted public awareness of the dangers of the disease and worked towards its eradication.\n\tAs the Governor of Indiana from 1973 to 1981, Bowen restructured the state\u2019s tax system to reduce reliance on property taxes, instituted major improvements to state park facilities, developed a statewide emergency medical services system, and adopted a medical malpractice law that became a national model. He first won elected office in 1956 as a member of the Indiana House of Representatives, and was reelected again for seven consecutive terms between 1960 and 1972, serving as Speaker during four legislative sessions.\n\tBefore his career in public service, Bowen established a successful family medical practice in Bremen, Indiana, that remained open for 26 years. He served in the U.S. Army Medical Corps from 1943 to 1946, and he was with the first wave of Allied troops in the invasion of Okinawa in 1945. Bowen earned both B.A. and M.D. degrees from Indiana University, and was born in Richland Center, Indiana. He died in 2013 in Donaldson, Indiana.\n\tThe Veterans House, located at 2669 Cold Springs Road in Indianapolis, features 28 fully furnished guest suites with private baths, a common kitchen and dining area, laundry and recreation rooms. The Veterans House was established to provide temporary lodging for veterans and their families, many of whom are unable to incur extra costs associated with a long medical stay away from their home. There is no cost to the veteran or family members to stay at the Veterans House. Funding to build the Veterans House was provided by a generous grant from Lilly Endowment Inc. At the time of the grant, Bowen was a member of the Endowment\u2019s board of directors and encouraged its support of veterans\u2019 causes. In addition to the Lilly Endowment grant, the donations of many service and community organizations are making the project possible.\n\tRep. Brooks spoke in honor of Dr. Bowen on the House floor before H.R. 5509 passed. Her remarks are available online at: https://youtu.be/rGywKIO1hMY.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["http://susanwbrooks.house.gov/media-center/in-the-news/tully-mayor-fights-his-city-s-heroin-epidemic", "Tully: Mayor fights his citys heroin epidemic", "2016-09-24", "2016", "2016-09", "Republican", "House", "IN", "Susan Brooks", "B001284", "susanwbrooks.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Shon Byrum got into his car early on a recent morning and began the 90-minute drive to Downtown Indianapolis. The 33-year-old mayor of Winchester hoped the trip would bring a bit of good news for his east central Indiana town, which faces a painful heroin epidemic.\n\u201cThe one word that comes to my mind is desperate,\u201d the first-year mayor said. \u201cWe are desperately in need of help, and so many people are desperate to get their loved ones the help that they need. People are searching for answers. I hear it every day.\u201d\nHe hears it in questions about the plague of heroin abuse that has grabbed hold of many Indiana communities, large and small. In Randolph County, where Winchester serves as the county seat, officials have recorded 49 deaths since 2012, including five in one recent week, and many more overdoses. That, in a county of only 26,000 people.\n\u201cOur health services are overwhelmed and people don\u2019t have access to the inpatient rehabilitation services that they need,\u201d Byrum said. \u201cThat\u2019s the reality we have in this part of the state.\u201d\nByrum is a father and former teacher who ran for mayor in 2015 for the same reason a lot of people first decide to get involved in politics: to help a community address its challenges. When his campaign began, he expected to spend his days talking about road repairs, drainage issues, economic development and public safety.\n\u201cI want to make a difference in people\u2019s lives,\u201d he said. \u201cI want my community to be better.\u201d\nAs he knocked on voters\u2019 doors night after night last year, he soon realized that if he won the race he would have to put a different issue at the top of his agenda. That\u2019s because so many voters told him about how their lives had been touched by the heroin and opioid addictions of relatives and friends. He heard about the cost, to families and the community, of the epidemic. He saw the fear in the faces of parents and grandparents, friends and neighbors. He listened to tales of hopelessness.\nHe knew about the problem before the election. But all those conversations, all those nights spent talking to his future constituents on their doorsteps, underscored the scope of the crisis.\n\u201cEverybody knows somebody that has been involved in this,\u201d Byrum said. And, so, when he won his election in November he told his constituents that, \u201cWe are going to address this issue. It is not going to be ignored. We are going to do what we can to bring to our community the help that it needs.\u201d\nThat\u2019s a mighty task for the mayor of a city of fewer than 5,000 people. A mayor who still has to deal with road and drainage issues, and who manages a community that, like many other parts of rural Indiana, has seen investment and resources wane in recent decades. No matter. Byrum insists more can and must be done, and his words should echo at the Statehouse on behalf of Indiana\u2019s rural communities.\nOn that recent morning, Byrum drove to Indianapolis to tour a Volunteers of America program that serves young mothers facing heroin and opioid addiction. He told his community\u2019s story to U.S. Rep. Susan Brooks and state officials, hoping to draw attention and support his community\u2019s way. His goal, and VOA officials said they would work with him, is to bring the treatment program he toured that day to Randolph County. He also is working to bring a much-needed detox facility closer to his community.\nBack home, grass-roots groups have begun raising money for the cause, and a new support group has been flooded with participants. The mayor told me about a relative of his who died of a heroin overdose last winter, and about a local woman, a recovering heroin addict, who has dedicated her life to counseling others. He said his public safety agencies are working to better tackle drug crimes, but are also working with local schools and helping people find the support they need. \u201cThis is not a problem that we can just arrest our way out of,\u201d he warned.\nAs we talked, Byrum insisted that his community\u2019s story is not the heroin crisis it faces, but rather the way so many have stepped up to address it.\n\u201cWe have people here in rural Indiana who care so much about their fellow citizens,\u201d he said. \u201cThey are giving of themselves to help. That\u2019s what we need more of at the state and federal level.\u201d\nEarlier this week, Byrum walked into his office shortly after sunrise and was met by a woman who has organized support meetings for families ripped apart by heroin. Her son, whom Byrum has known since childhood, has been fighting a fierce addiction for years. That morning, he told his family he was ready to try rehab.\nThere are many others just like him, the mayor said. Many others who are desperate for help. Unfortunately, adequate services are not in place to address the scope of the problem. Reversing that, he said, should be the cause of leaders across Indiana, in communities big and small.\n\u201cIf I get nothing else accomplished as mayor, but I\u2019m able to get more programs started to help with this crisis,\u201d he said, \u201cI\u2019ll be good with that.\u201d\nThank you for reading. You can reach me atmatthew.tully@indystar.com\u00a0or on Twitter: @matthewltully.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["http://susanwbrooks.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/brooks-votes-to-block-all-ransoms-and-cash-payments-to-iran", "Brooks Votes to Block All Ransoms and Cash Payments to Iran", "2016-09-23", "2016", "2016-09", "Republican", "House", "IN", "Susan Brooks", "B001284", "susanwbrooks.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Washington, DC \u2013\u00a0Last night, Congresswoman Susan W. Brooks (R-IN) voted in favor of\u00a0H.R. 5931, the Prohibiting Future Ransom Payments to Iran Act, to make it clear that the Obama Administration violated longstanding U.S. policy by paying ransom for the return of American held hostages by Iran in untraceable currency, and prohibiting such action in the future. The bill passed the House by a vote\u00a0of 254-163. Following the vote, Brooks released the following statement:\n\u201cRansom payments to countries like Iran \u2013 the largest state sponsor of terrorism \u2013 only serve to fund terrorist activities and encourage Iran to take more hostages, further endangering American citizens abroad. The Administration deliberately misled Congress and the American people, and we are already witnessing the effects. In fact, since the deal, Iran has detained three more Iranian Americans and four other Western dual-nationals. We can\u2019t allow this practice to continue, and in the best interests of the security of our country and our citizens, we must prevent any future ransom or cash payments to Iran.\u201d\u00a0\nIn January, the Administration revealed that it paid a $1.7 billion \u201csettlement\u201d to Iran coinciding with the release of five unjustly detained Americans. Last month, Congress learned that the payment, made in unmarked foreign cash, was airlifted to Iran, and hostages were only freed once the money was secured. Currently, no law prohibits this from happening again, which is why H.R. 5931 is so important. These payments are dangerous and will only fund more terrorism and put Americans travelling abroad at risk.\nSpecifically, H.R. 5931:\n Cites concerns that the Obama Administration violated longstanding U.S. policy by releasing prisoners and paying ransom for the return of Americans held hostage by Iran, a designated state sponsor of terrorism.\n\tStates that it remains U.S. policy not to pay ransom or release prisoners in order to obtain the release of U.S. citizens who are taken hostage abroad.\n\tProhibits the U.S. government from making any direct or indirect payments to Iran in U.S. or foreign currency, as well as cash-like forms of exchange, such as bearer bonds.\n\tDemands transparency on any future settlements with Iran to ensure that they are not used to pay ransom.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://bucshon.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/dr-bucshon-recognized-work-end-opioid-epidemic", "Dr. Bucshon Recognized for Work to End the Opioid Epidemic", "2016-09-23", "2016", "2016-09", "Republican", "House", "IN", "Larry Bucshon", "B001275", "bucshon.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "(WASHINGTON, D.C.) \u2013Eighth District Congressman Larry Bucshon, M.D. was one of eight lawmakers from around the country recognized on Thursday by the Coalition to Stop Opioid Overdose for his significant work to solve the opioid abuse epidemic impacting Indiana.\n\t\t\t\t\u201cI\u2019m incredibly honored to be recognized by the Coalition to Stop Opioid Overdose for my work to bring an end to this epidemic that is sweeping across Indiana,\u201d said Bucshon. \u201cOpioid abuse knows no boundaries. It does not discriminate based on income, race, gender, geography, or age. That\u2019s why it is so important that we all work together to bring hope to our communities and expand access to treatment for those who need it.\u201d \n\t\t\t\tAccording to the coalition, Bucshon and his colleagues were recognized for \u201ctheir tireless work to stop the opioid misuse, addiction and overdose epidemic. These Congressional leaders are the authors, co-authors and co-sponsors of critical legislation, including the Comprehensive Addiction and Recovery Act (CARA), the Recovery Enhancement for Addiction Treatment Act (TREAT) and the Opioid Use Disorder Treatment Expansion and Modernization Act, among others.\u201d\n\t\t\t\t\u201cWe want to recognize the considerable effort undertaken by Congress, and Dr. Bucshon in particular, to address the opioid misuse and overdose epidemic,\u201d said R. Corey Waller, MD, DFASAM, Chair of the American Society of Addiction Medicine\u2019s Legislative Advocacy Committee. \u201cAs a Coalition, we remain committed to carrying this work forward to help communities in desperate need of a solution to this public health crisis.\u201d\n\t\t\t\tEarlier this year, the U.S. Congress passed the Comprehensive Addiction and Recovery Act (CARA), Congress\u2019 opioid crisis response package, which included a\u00a0major provision\u00a0authored by Bucshon to expand access to comprehensive, evidence-based treatment options, such as medication assisted treatments, and minimize the potential for drug diversion.\u00a0 Bucshon also served a member of the special conference committee\u00a0comprised of members of the House and Senate that negotiated the final language signed into law by President Obama.\n\t\t\t\tMost recently, Bucshon introduced the bipartisan Youth Opioid Use Treatment Help or YOUTH Act to help adolescents and young adults suffering from opioid use disorders access the treatment they need.\n\t\t\t\tThe other members recognized were Senator Kelly Ayotte (R-NH), Senator Ed Markey (D-MA), Senator Rob Portman (R-OH), \u00a0Senator Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI), Energy and Commerce Chairman Fred Upton (R-MI), Rep. Frank Pallone (D-NJ), and Rep. Paul Tonko (D-NY).\n\t\t\t\tThe award coincides with Prescription Opioid and Heroin Epidemic Awareness Week.\n\t\t\t\tAbout the Coalition to Stop Opioid Overdose\n\t\t\t\tThe Coalition to Stop Opioid Overdose is an organization of more than 40 local, regional and national groups that are committed to advancing meaningful legislative and regulatory policies in response to the opioid epidemic. The Coalition seeks to address the U.S. opioid epidemic by engaging policy makers, public health leaders, chronic pain and addiction specialists, individuals in and seeking recovery and family members, so that legislation and policies get the support and funding needed.Congressman Larry Bucshon, M.D. is a physician and Republican member of the House Energy and Commerce Committee serving his third term representing Indiana's 8th Congressional district. The 8th District of Indiana includes all or parts of Clay, Crawford, Daviess, Dubois, Gibson, Greene, Knox, Martin, Owen, Parke, Perry, Pike, Posey, Spencer, Sullivan, Vanderburgh, Vermillion, Vigo, and Warrick counties.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://bucshon.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/reps-young-brooks-and-bucshon-question-dhs-secretary-over-recent-agency", "Reps. Young, Brooks, and Bucshon question DHS Secretary over recent agency failures", "2016-09-23", "2016", "2016-09", "Republican", "House", "IN", "Larry Bucshon", "B001275", "bucshon.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "WASHINGTON, D.C. \u2014On Thursday, Reps. Todd Young (IN-09), Susan Brooks (IN-05), and Larry Bucshon (IN-08) requested answers from Secretary of Homeland Security Jeh Johnson after an Inspector General report found as many as 1,811 individuals with deportation orders may have been erroneously granted citizenship.\nThe Indiana lawmakers said they are focused on immediate actions needed to mitigate the security risks which arose from the mismanagement within the Department of Homeland Security.\n\u201cThe failure to robustly review and vet individuals for naturalization allowed several aliens with prior final deportation orders or with criminal histories to be granted security clearances and sensitive public positions,\u201d their letter states.\nRep. Young also issued a statement Wednesday which said a breakdown of this magnitude between homeland security and immigration agencies \u201cidentified an alarming flaw in our immigration system. \u2026 \u201c [click to read Young\u2019s full statement].\nThe lawmakers called on the DHS Secretary to clarify the extent of the problem and actions being taken to \u201cprevent such lapses from endangering U.S. homeland security.\u201d\u00a0  \n\t\u00a0\n  September 22, 2016  \n\tThe Honorable Jeh Johnson  \n\tSecretary of Homeland Security  \n\tWashington D.C. 20528\n\u00a0\nDear Secretary Jeh Johnson:\nThis month, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Office of Inspector General found that as many as 1,811 individuals failed to receive appropriate vetting by the U.S. Customs and Immigration Service (USCIS) due to failure to properly maintain records within the Automated Biometric Identification System (IDENT). We are writing to clarify the extent of this problem and the intended actions to mitigate the security risks that arose from this negligence.\nBeginning in 2012, the Department of Homeland Security began the process of digitizing hardcopy records of fingerprints from the hundreds of thousands of aliens with prior deportation orders and criminal records. However, this crucial task was seemingly abandoned after U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) completed only half of the fingerprint digitization effort.\nThe agency\u2019s failure to properly maintain a robust electronic record of deportation orders resulted in the naturalization of 858 individuals who had previously been ordered to be deported or were removed under alternate identities. An additional 953 individuals have been identified by the DHS Office of Operations Coordination (OPS) team for further review due to inaccurate recordkeeping. This failure to robustly review and vet individuals for naturalization allowed several aliens with prior final deportation orders or with criminal histories to be granted security clearances and sensitive public positions.\nWe respectfully request that you provide responses to the below questions by no later than October 3rd, 2016:\n The DHS Office of Inspector General identified approximately 148,000 fingerprint records that need to be processed and digitized into IDENT. Within the OIG report, the Department identified the previous 2012 digitization effort as costly and time intensive. The Department indicated that a contract would be awarded before the end of this fiscal year, with an estimated project completion date of September 30, 2017. What additional checks will be put into the naturalization review process in FY 2017 to prevent further naturalization of these 315,000 aliens who were previously identified as having criminal records or were assigned final deportation orders?\n\t\t\u00a0\n\tWhy was Operation Janus discontinued knowing it could impede further identification of fraud? Please provide what rationale was utilized to disband a team that appeared to effectively identify numerous flaws.\n\t\t\u00a0\n\t120 naturalized individuals have been identified and prioritized by ICE officials for potential prosecution and denaturalization. What factors necessitated the prioritization of these individuals, whether it be a flawed review process, prior criminal history, current job status, special interest countries ties, etc?\n\t\t\u00a0\n\tWhat are the Department of Justice\u2019s standards for bringing either criminal or civil proceedings against individuals who were improperly naturalized? What rationale did the Department of Justice provide to the DHS prior to 2015 as to why Justice did not pursue criminal prosecution for fraudulent cases? What prompted the DOJ\u2019s Office of Immigration Litigation to change their policy in late 2015?\n\t\t\u00a0\n\tWhat is the breakdown of countries that these 1,811 individuals arrived from, including either special interest countries or countries bordering special interest countries?\n\t\t\u00a0\n\tIn 2008, ICE staff was allegedly directed to begin transmitting fingerprints to IDENT. However, the Inspector General indicates that it wasn\u2019t until 2010 when records were consistently added. What flaws existed that prevented consistent and reliable recordkeeping practices for this two year period?\n\t\t\u00a0\n\tThe Inspector General report indicates that the existence of a prior deportation order does not automatically disqualify an individual from eligibility for citizenship. How many individuals does USCIS naturalize each year with previous deportation orders? What circumstances allow such an individual to be granted naturalization?\n\t\t\u00a0\n\tThe report indicates that four naturalized individuals admitted to USCIS staff alternate identities and receipt of final deportation orders but that the individuals were eventually naturalized. What rationale was provided by the USCIS adjudicators regarding these instances of ignoring prior final deportation orders and granting naturalization?\n Thank you in advance for your prompt response. We look forward to working with your department moving forward to prevent such lapses from endangering U.S. homeland security.\nSincerely,\nTodd C. Young  \n\tIN-09\nSusan Brooks  \n\tIN-05\nLarry Bucshon  \n\tIN-08", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://walorski.house.gov/walorski-votes-to-prohibit-future-iran-ransom-payments/", "Walorski Votes to Prohibit Future Iran Ransom Payments", "2016-09-23", "2016", "2016-09", "Republican", "House", "IN", "Jackie Walorski", "W000813", "walorski.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Friday, September 23, 2016\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t Walorski Votes to Prohibit Future Iran Ransom Payments \n House Action Follows Administration's $1.7 Billion Cash Payments to World's No. 1 State Sponsor of Terrorism \nWASHINGTON  U.S. Rep. Jackie Walorski (IN-02) today released the following statement after voting to prohibit future cash payments to Iran as long as the regime continues to support terrorism:\nWe don't negotiate with terrorists because it endangers American lives. Paying ransom to the world's biggest state sponsor of terrorism is no different. The administration already sent Iran $1.7 billion in cash, and we know at least some of that will be used to fund terrorism. This bill protects Americans by ensuring nothing like that ever happens again.\nBACKGROUND\nThe Prohibiting Future Ransom Payments to Iran Act (H.R. 5931) would prohibit the U.S. from making any cash payments to Iran unless the president certifies Iran is not a primary money laundering concern or a state sponsor of terrorism. The bill passed the House on Thursday by a vote of 254to 163.\nIn January, the Obama administration paid the government of Iran $1.7 billion in three separate cash payments over the course of three weeks. The administration last month admitted the initial cash payment of $400 million, delivered by plane, was contingent on the release of five Americans who were being unjustly detained in Iran. The apparent exchange of cash for hostages coincided with the implementation of the agreement over Iran's nuclear weapons program.\nThe Prohibiting Future Ransom Payments to Iran Act would block similar ransom payments or other cash transfers to Iran as long as the regime continues to support terrorism. Secretary of State John Kerry has acknowledged payments and sanctions relief Iran will receive under the nuclear agreement will likely be used to fund terrorism.\nWalorski represents the 2nd Congressional District of Indiana, serving as a member of the House Veterans' Affairs Committee, House Armed Services Committee and House Committee on Agriculture.\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"]], "truncated": false, "filtered_table_rows_count": 385, "expanded_columns": [], "expandable_columns": [], "columns": ["url", "title", "date", "year", "month", "party", "chamber", "state", "member_name", "bioguide_id", "domain", "scraper", "source", "date_source", "text", "has_text", "collected_at", "updated_at"], "primary_keys": ["url"], "units": {}, "query": {"sql": "select url, title, date, year, month, party, chamber, state, member_name, bioguide_id, domain, scraper, source, date_source, text, has_text, collected_at, updated_at from releases where \"party\" = :p0 and \"state\" = :p1 and \"year\" = :p2 order by date desc limit 101", "params": {"p0": "Republican", "p1": "IN", "p2": "2016"}}, "facet_results": {"party": {"name": "party", "type": "column", "hideable": false, "toggle_url": "/press/releases.json?party=Republican&state=IN&year=2016", "results": [{"value": "Republican", "label": "Republican", "count": 385, "toggle_url": "http://dpwillis-congress-press-search.hf.space/press/releases.json?state=IN&year=2016", "selected": true}], "truncated": false}, "chamber": {"name": "chamber", "type": "column", "hideable": false, "toggle_url": "/press/releases.json?party=Republican&state=IN&year=2016", "results": [{"value": "House", "label": "House", "count": 385, "toggle_url": "http://dpwillis-congress-press-search.hf.space/press/releases.json?party=Republican&state=IN&year=2016&chamber=House", "selected": false}], "truncated": false}, "state": {"name": "state", "type": "column", "hideable": false, "toggle_url": "/press/releases.json?party=Republican&state=IN&year=2016", "results": [{"value": "IN", "label": "IN", "count": 385, "toggle_url": "http://dpwillis-congress-press-search.hf.space/press/releases.json?party=Republican&year=2016", "selected": true}], "truncated": false}, "year": {"name": "year", "type": "column", "hideable": false, "toggle_url": "/press/releases.json?party=Republican&state=IN&year=2016", "results": [{"value": "2016", "label": "2016", "count": 385, "toggle_url": "http://dpwillis-congress-press-search.hf.space/press/releases.json?party=Republican&state=IN", "selected": true}], "truncated": false}}, "suggested_facets": [], "next": "2016-09-23,https~3A~2F~2Fwalorski~2Ehouse~2Egov~2Fwalorski-votes-to-prohibit-future-iran-ransom-payments~2F", "next_url": "http://dpwillis-congress-press-search.hf.space/press/releases.json?party=Republican&state=IN&year=2016&_next=2016-09-23%2Chttps~3A~2F~2Fwalorski~2Ehouse~2Egov~2Fwalorski-votes-to-prohibit-future-iran-ransom-payments~2F&_sort_desc=date", "private": false, "allow_execute_sql": true, "query_ms": 145.56045876815915, "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"}