{"database": "press", "table": "releases", "is_view": false, "human_description_en": "where party = \"Republican\" and year = 2026 sorted by date descending", "rows": [["https://babin.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=14406", "Chairman Babin Leads Texas Delegation in Push to Bring U.S. Space Academy to Texas", "2026-09-29", "2026", "2026-09", "Republican", "House", "TX", "Brian Babin", "B001291", "babin.house.gov", "babin", "https://babin.house.gov/news/documentquery.aspx?DocumentTypeID=27", "scraper", "U.S. Congressman Brian Babin (TX-36), Chairman of the House Committee on Science, Space, and Technology, led members of the Texas congressional delegation in a letter to the Presidential Commission on the United States Space Academy endorsing Texas\u2019s forthcoming proposal to host the U.S. Space Academy.\n\n\u201cTexas has been at the center of America\u2019s space story for more than six decades, and we are leading the way into its next chapter. From NASA\u2019s Johnson Space Center in my district, home to Mission Control and our nation\u2019s astronaut corps, to the cutting-edge commercial space companies developing the technologies of tomorrow, Texas brings together the experience, infrastructure, talent, and innovation that continue to move America forward. As Chairman of the House Committee on Science, Space, and Technology, I am committed to ensuring the United States wins this new space race and remains the undisputed global leader in exploration and discovery. The United States Space Academy will help prepare the next generation to advance that mission, enhance our space defense capabilities, and protect the homeland. Texas has an unmatched foundation on which to build this landmark institution,\u201d said Chairman Brian Babin (TX-36).\n\n\u201cFor more than 60 years, Texas has been at the heart of America\u2019s space program, and President Trump has made American leadership in space a priority. With Johnson Space Center and a thriving space industry already here, it\u2019s only right that the academy carrying the President\u2019s vision forward calls Texas home. I urge the Commission to make it official so the state that helped put Americans on the Moon can train the people who will take us back,\u201d said Rep. Randy Weber (TX-14).\n\n\"For over 60 years, when American astronauts need to reach home base, they make the same call: \u2018Houston\u2019. Today, Texas is home to Mission Control, the astronaut corps, more than 148,000 aerospace professionals, and the companies and universities leading the next era of space innovation \u2014 as well as a robust military presence. The next generation of future space leaders should train alongside people who not only built our nation\u2019s space legacy but are currently building its future,\u201d said Rep. Michael Cloud (TX-27).\n\n\u201cTexas has led the way in space for generations. From Mission Control in Houston to the innovators and engineers building the future of exploration across our state, no place is better positioned to train the next generation of American space leaders. I urge President Trump to make Texas the home of the new Space Academy, where students can learn alongside the people and industries that are already taking America to the Moon and beyond,\u201d said Rep. August Pfluger (TX-11).\n\n\u201cTexas has been a leader in space innovation for generations, and today our state is at the forefront of the next era of space exploration and national security. With a growing space economy, world-class research and industry, and a deep connection to the nation\u2019s space legacy, Texas is a natural home for the U.S. Space Academy and the next generation of space leaders,\u201d said Rep. John Carter (TX-31).\n\n\"There is no other state in the nation that makes more sense than Texas to be the home of the future Space Academy to educate and train our next astronauts, engineers, flight controllers, and innovators to ensure America dominates in space exploration and colonization. The confluence of existing resources we already have on hand from Johnson Space Center, commercial space enterprises, world class universities, and 60 years of human space flight experience is in the DNA of Texas which would allow a Space Academy to start quickly and excel immediately in this most important endeavor,\" said Rep. Beth Van Duyne (TX-24).\n\n\u201cTexas has spent decades investing billions in future exploration of space through both private and public partnerships. The Academy belongs where investments have been made and federal expertise are already working side by side. I'm proud to join Chairman Babin, and my Texas colleagues in advocating for our state to host the U.S. Space Academy,\u201d said Rep. Nathaniel Moran (TX-01).\n\n\u201cAmerican leadership in space will depend on more than the rockets we build. It will depend on the Americans we train to operate, innovate, and defend our interests in the final frontier. Texas helped put Americans on the Moon, and Texas should help train the generation that takes us back. With NASA, the Space Force, world-class universities, and a thriving commercial space industry, Texas already has the people, infrastructure, and expertise needed to make the United States Space Academy a success. Texas is the natural home for this mission,\u201d said Rep. Keith Self (TX-03).\n\n\"Texas has the infrastructure, expertise, and passion to train the next generation of American space leaders. Bringing the United States Space Academy home to Texas will ensure our future astronauts, scientists, and engineers continue to lead the world in space exploration,\u201d said Rep. Monica De La Cruz (TX-15).\n\nThe letter is signed by Sens. Ted Cruz (R-TX) and John Cornyn (R-TX) and Reps. Michael Cloud (TX-27), Pat Fallon (TX-04), Lance Gooden (TX-05), Keith Self (TX-03), Dan Crenshaw (TX-02), Randy Weber (TX-14), Michael McCaul (TX-10), Morgan Luttrell (TX-08), Beth Van Duyne (TX-24), Jodey Arrington (TX-19), Troy Nehls (TX-22), John Carter (TX-31), Nathaniel Moran (TX-01), Craig Goldman (TX-12), Roger Williams (TX-25), Pete Sessions (TX-17), Jake Ellzey (TX-06), Chip Roy (TX-21), August Pfluger (TX-11), Ronny Jackson (TX-13), Monica De La Cruz (TX-15), and Brandon Gill (TX-26).", 1, "2026-09-29T11:07:12Z", "2026-09-29T11:08:49Z"], ["https://arrington.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=4638", "Arrington Celebrates $51 Million Rural Health Investment, With More to Come for Texas", "2026-09-28", "2026", "2026-09", "Republican", "House", "TX", "Jodey C. Arrington", "A000375", "arrington.house.gov", "arrington", "https://arrington.house.gov/news/documentquery.aspx?DocumentTypeID=27", "scraper", "Washington, D.C. \u2013 Today, the Trump Administration announced that it will be investing $51 million through the Rural Health Transformation Program, created by House Budget Chairman Jodey Arrington\u2019s One Big Beautiful Bill, into Texas\u2019s Make Rural Texans Healthy Again initiative.\n\nThe funding will support 68 rural hospital districts and authorities as they develop and expand community-based prevention, wellness, and nutrition programs to improve health outcomes and prevent and manage chronic conditions, including diabetes, cardiovascular disease, chronic respiratory disease, and obesity.\n\nIn December, Arrington announced that Texas had received the largest allocation of any state under the newly established Rural Health Transformation Program. As the author of the One Big Beautiful Bill, Arrington secured a historic $50 billion investment in rural health care over five years, including $1.4 billion for Texas \u2013 the most of any state. Texas is receiving $281 million in the program\u2019s first year, with today\u2019s $51 million announcement representing one part of that broader investment.\n\n\u201cWe won\u2019t have the next generation of agriculture and energy producers providing America with food security and energy independence without access to basic health care in rural communities. Yet for years, Rural America has faced a growing health care crisis marked by fewer providers, reduced services, and limited access to quality care,\u201d said Chairman Arrington. \u201cTo combat this crisis, the One Big Beautiful Bill established the Rural Health Transformation Program, a historic $50 billion investment in rural health care over five years, including $1.4 billion for Texas, to strengthen rural hospitals, expand access to care, and improve health outcomes. In the first year alone, Texas is receiving $281 million to advance state-led solutions to our rural health care challenges. Today, I am proud to see the Trump Administration and Governor Abbott put this investment to work through Texas\u2019 Make Rural Texans Healthy Again initiative, with $51 million supporting 68 rural hospital districts and authorities as they work to prevent and manage diabetes, cardiovascular disease, respiratory disease, and obesity. This is another major win for rural America and a Texas-sized investment in a healthier, stronger future for Rural Texas.\u201d\n\n\u201cPresident Trump understands that every American deserves high-quality healthcare, no matter where they live,\u201d said Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. \u201cWe are putting resources directly into rural communities to strengthen the health workforce, modernize infrastructure, expand access, and bring care closer to home. We are giving states the flexibility to build solutions around the people they serve, while demanding accountability for results. That is how we strengthen rural health, improve the lives of patients and families, and Make America Healthy Again.\u201d\n\n\u201cPresident Trump made a historic commitment to rural America, and these investments are turning that commitment into better care for patients in communities across Texas,\u201d said Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services Administrator Dr. Mehmet Oz. \u201cThis is what rural health transformation should look like: federal investment that is putting patients first, driving lasting improvements and expanding healthcare for the hardworking Americans who call these communities home.\u201d\n\n\u201cRural Texans deserve quality health care in their own communities,\u201d said Governor Greg Abbott. \u201cThis $51 million will aid 68 rural hospital districts and authorities with prevention, wellness, and nutrition programs that keep Texans healthy and strong. I thank President Trump, Secretary Kennedy, and Administrator Oz for this investment in rural Texas.\u201d\n\nBackground:\n\nThe Rural Health Transformation Program, created under the One Big Beautiful Bill, provides $50 billion over five years to strengthen rural health care and expand access to services. Texas is receiving $1.4 billion over that timeframe, the largest allocation of any state.\n\nTexas is receiving $281 million in FY2026, with today\u2019s $51 million investment representing one part of the state\u2019s broader first-year award.\n\nThe $51 million will support 68 rural hospital districts and authorities through Texas\u2019 Make Rural Texans Healthy Again initiative, focused on prevention, wellness, nutrition, and chronic disease management.\n\nTexas\u2019 broader Rural Health Transformation strategy also includes expanding telehealth and digital health tools, strengthening the rural health workforce, and modernizing rural health infrastructure, equipment, and cybersecurity.\n\nFor more information about the RHTP, visit: https://www.medicaid.gov/resources-for-states/rural-health.", 1, "2026-09-29T11:07:12Z", "2026-09-29T11:08:49Z"], ["https://barr.house.gov/press-releases?ID=7B3729B3-907E-4B53-940D-5243218655E1", "Congressman Andy Barr Announces $160,180 FEMA Grant for Millers Creek Fire Rescue", "2026-09-28", "2026", "2026-09", "Republican", "House", "KY", "Andy Barr", "B001282", "barr.house.gov", "barr", "https://barr.house.gov/press-releases", "scraper", "Millers Creek, KY\u2014 U.S. Congressman Andy Barr (R-KY-06) announced that the Millers Creek Fire Rescue has been awarded $160,180 through the Federal Emergency Management Agency\u2019s Assistance to Firefighters Grant (AFG) program to replace critical breathing equipment used by firefighters responding to emergencies.\n\nThe funding will allow the Rescue to purchase 16 new self-contained breathing apparatus (SCBA) packs, replacing all of its current packs. Firefighters rely on SCBA equipment to provide breathable air while operating inside burning buildings and other hazardous environments.\n\nThe grant will also fund a Rapid Intervention Team (RIT) pack, which can provide emergency air to a firefighter who becomes trapped, injured or otherwise unable to immediately exit a fire.\n\nCongressman Barr submitted a letter supporting Millers Creek Fire Rescue\u2019s application for the grant and supported federal funding for the AFG program.\n\n\u201cEvery time our firefighters answer the call, they put their own safety on the line to protect their neighbors,\u201d said Congressman Barr. \u201cThis investment will ensure the firefighters at Millers Creek have reliable, lifesaving breathing equipment when they enter a burning building. I was proud to support their application, and I will continue fighting to make sure Kentucky\u2019s first responders have the resources they need to safely serve our communities.\u201d\n\n\u201cReplacing our SCBA packs has been a major need for our department, and this grant will make a real difference for our firefighters. We appreciate Congressman Barr\u2019s support throughout the process and his help in making sure departments like ours have the equipment we need to do our jobs safely,\u201d said Chad Neal, Millers Creek Fire Rescue Chief.\n\nThis is the second consecutive year Millers Creek Fire Rescue has secured AFG funding with Congressman Barr\u2019s support. Last year, the department received $83,238 to purchase personal protective equipment, including new turnout gear worn by firefighters when responding to fires. Barr also submitted a letter supporting that grant application.\n\nThe AFG program provides funding directly to eligible fire departments and other emergency response organizations for critical equipment, protective gear, training and other resources that improve firefighter and public safety.", 1, "2026-09-29T11:07:12Z", "2026-09-29T11:08:49Z"], ["https://barrett.house.gov/media/press-releases/barrett-joins-midwest-colleagues-introducing-bipartisan-legislation-bolster", "Barrett Joins Midwest Colleagues in Introducing Bipartisan Legislation to Bolster Great Lakes Conservation", "2026-09-28", "2026", "2026-09", "Republican", "House", "MI", "Tom Barrett", "B001321", "barrett.house.gov", "barrett", "https://barrett.house.gov/media/press-releases", "scraper", "Washington, D.C. \u2014 Today, Congressmen Tom Barrett (MI-07), Tim Walberg (MI-05), Hillary Scholten (MI-03), Bill Huizenga (MI-04), Debbie Dingell (MI-06), Haley Stevens (MI-11), Marcy Kaptur (OH-09), and Dave Joyce (OH-14) introduced the Regional Great Lakes Partnership Act, a bipartisan, bicameral bill to bolster federal support for Great Lakes research and conservation. This legislation designates the Great Lakes Commission (GLC) as the official Regional Great Lakes Partnership within the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration\u2019s (NOAA) Regional Ocean Partnerships Program.\n\nThis designation ensures that the Great Lakes region receives a fair share of program funding, delivering federal resources to support the GLC\u2019s longstanding work to coordinate Great Lakes research and conservation efforts.\n\n\u201cProtecting the Great Lakes means protecting our water, wildlife, and communities throughout the region,\u201d said Barrett. \u201cThis bipartisan legislation will help bring federal resources to the table and strengthen the partnerships already working to preserve our state's natural resources. I\u2019m proud to work with colleagues from across the region to ensure our Great Lakes remain healthy for generations to come.\u201d\n\n\u201cAs the largest freshwater system in the world, the Great Lakes are central to Michigan\u2019s economy, identity, and long\u2011term prosperity,\u201d said Walberg. \u201cThe bipartisan Regional Great Lakes Partnership Act ensures the region receives its fair share of federal support, strengthening the research and conservation work needed to protect this indispensable resource. We must equip our partners with the tools necessary to safeguard the waters and communities that rely on a healthy Great Lakes ecosystem.\u201d\n\n\u201cAs the largest freshwater system in the world, the Great Lakes are one of Michigan\u2019s greatest assets,\u201d said Scholten. \u201cI\u2019m proud to join my colleagues on both sides of the aisle in supporting the Regional Great Lakes Partnership Act. This commonsense bill will strengthen the research and coordination that keeps the Great Lakes region healthy. Investing in our Great Lakes is investing in our future, and it\u2019s crucial that we conserve this resource for the next generation.\u201d\n\n\u201cAs Co-Chair of the bipartisan Congressional Great Lakes Task Force, I have made it my mission to have the federal government recognize the Great Lakes as a national priority,\u201d said Huizenga. \u201cThe Regional Great Lakes Partnership Act furthers this objective by enhancing the Great Lakes Commission\u2019s steadfast work to protect and conserve Michigan\u2019s most valuable natural resource.\u201d\n\n\u201cThe Great Lakes and their connected waterways are invaluable resources for Michigan and the United States,\u201d said Dingell. \u201cAs a co-chair of the Congressional Great Lakes Task Force, I am proud to help introduce this bipartisan bill to strengthen federal support for Great Lakes research and conservation for future generations to enjoy these national treasures.\u201d\n\n\u201cMichigan is the Great Lakes state, period. Jobs, recreation, and tourism across the Midwest depend on a healthy and flourishing Great Lakes ecosystem,\u201d said Stevens. \u201cI\u2019m proud to work alongside my colleagues of both parties to ensure that Michigan receives our fair share of federal investment that will protect and preserve our Lakes for generations to come.\u201d\n\n\u201cAs a Co-Chair of the bipartisan Congressional Great Lakes Task Force, I helped introduce this legislation to close a gap in a national program that benefits only coastal ocean states. The bill continues our work together to ensure the Federal Government levels the playing field to commit equivalent, well\u2011deserved resources to our Great Lakes region,\u201d said Kaptur. \u201cThe Great Lakes are central and essential to Northwest Ohio\u2019s livelihood and economic well-being, and enabling the Great Lakes Commission to participate in this NOAA program will strengthen data sharing, enhance information access, and improve management of our coastal and ecosystem resources. In Lake Erie\u2019s Western Basin, home to the shallowest and southernmost shoreline in the Great Lakes system, we face these challenges in real ways and will continue to lead in advancing research and information exchange for the benefit of our entire region.\u201d\n\n\u201cThe Great Lakes are a critical resource for the economies and communities that surround them,\u201d said Joyce. \u201cAs Co-Chair of the Congressional Great Lakes Task Force, I am proud to be an original co-sponsor of this bipartisan legislation, which will strengthen federal partnerships and expand funding opportunities to advance the research, coordination, and conservation efforts needed to protect the Great Lakes \u2014 ensuring they remain a resource our communities can rely on for generations to come.\u201d\n\n\u201cThe Great Lakes Commission is grateful to Rep. Walberg for introducing this important legislation to designate the GLC as a regional partnership for the Great Lakes,\u201d said GLC Chair Timothy Bruno, Great Lakes Program Coordinator at the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection. \u201cThis designation will allow the agency to build on its more than 70 years of regional leadership \u2014 fostering dialogue, building consensus, and advancing coordinated solutions to the Great Lakes\u2019 most pressing challenges \u2014 to ensure the Great Lakes region continues to speak with a strong, unified voice. We look forward to working with our partners to realize the full benefits of this program for the region.\u201d\n\nBackground\n\nThe Great Lakes Commission (GLC) brings together eight U.S. states and two Canadian provinces to protect the Great Lakes and promote economic growth in the Great Lakes Basin. The GLC is composed of the States of Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, Minnesota, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, and Wisconsin.\n\nNOAA\u2019s Regional Ocean Partnerships (ROPs) coordinate interstate ocean and coastal resource management efforts and create opportunities for increased efficiency and cost-effectiveness. Although NOAA administers four Regional Ocean Partnerships (ROPs) across the Northeast, Mid\u2011Atlantic, Gulf, and West Coast, the Great Lakes currently lack an ROP. Designating the GLC as the region\u2019s ROP will ensure the Great Lakes region receives its fair share of program funding.\n\nCompanion legislation, introduced in the Senate by U.S. Senators Gary Peters (D-MI) and Bernie Moreno (R-OH), has been advanced by the Senate Commerce, Science, and Transportation Committee.", 1, "2026-09-29T11:07:12Z", "2026-09-29T11:08:49Z"], ["https://bentz.house.gov/media/press-releases/big-beautiful-bill-provides-546-million-to-wallowa-memorial-hospital", "Big Beautiful Bill Provides $5.46 Million to Wallowa Memorial Hospital", "2026-09-28", "2026", "2026-09", "Republican", "House", "OR", "Cliff Bentz", "B000668", "bentz.house.gov", "bentz", "https://bentz.house.gov/media/press-releases", "scraper", "Wallowa, OR \u2013 Wallowa Memorial Hospital announced Tuesday that it will receive $5.46 million in federal grants to modernize technology and enhance healthcare access.\n\nThis $5.46 million comes from the Big Beautiful Bill\u2019s provision that created the Rural Health Transformation Program, a $50 billion initiative intended to transform and improve rural hospitals.\n\nCongressman Cliff Bentz (R-OR) was the only member of Oregon\u2019s congressional delegation to vote YES for the Big Beautiful Bill.\n\nSaid Congressman Bentz: \u201cI am very pleased that Wallowa Memorial Hospital was selected to receive this $5.46 million grant. This federal investment in Wallowa County means that county residents will be able to obtain high-quality medical assistance much more quickly and much more closely to home. This is exactly one of the many positive outcomes I hoped for when I voted for the Big Beautiful Bill.\u201d", 1, "2026-09-29T11:07:12Z", "2026-09-29T11:08:49Z"], ["https://biggs.house.gov/media/press-releases/what-they-are-saying-about-colorado-river-basin-water-security-and", "What They Are Saying About the Colorado River Basin Water Security and Infrastructure Act", "2026-09-28", "2026", "2026-09", "Republican", "House", "AZ", "Andy Biggs", "B001302", "biggs.house.gov", "biggs", "https://biggs.house.gov/media/press-releases", "scraper", "GILBERT, ARIZONA \u2013 Following Congressman Andy Biggs\u2019s (AZ-05) introduction of the Colorado River Basin and Infrastructure Act, several public officials expressed their support for the landmark legislation. The bill would expand water supplies, accelerate critical infrastructure projects, and strengthen long-term water security throughout the Colorado River Basin.\n\n\u201cThe Colorado River powers Arizona\u2019s homes, farms, factories, and critical industries that keep America strong. Prolonged drought is pushing the system to the brink; we can\u2019t sit back while levels keep dropping,\u201dsaid Congressman Abe Hamadeh.\u201cThat\u2019s why Congressman Hamadeh joined @RepAndyBiggsAZ's bipartisan effort demanding emergency funding for infrastructure upgrades, conservation, and long-term planning in the Colorado River Basin.\u201d\n\n\u201cArizona can\u2019t make it rain or snow, but we can take action to secure our water future,\u201d said Senate President Warren Petersen. \u201cArizona has known for years that shortages could put the Central Arizona Project at risk. Valuable time to develop alternative supplies has already been lost, and we cannot afford to lose any more. That\u2019s why we worked with Congressman Biggs to make sure Arizona\u2019s priorities helped shape this federal plan.\u201d\n\n\u201cCongressman Biggs has put forward a serious proposal that addresses the problem Arizona should have started preparing for years ago: we need more water,\u201d House Speaker Steve Montenegro said. \u201cFor too long, the discussion has centered on how to divide a declining supply. This legislation takes a better approach by removing unnecessary federal delays and putting real resources behind projects that can increase supply. Long-term water augmentation is the path forward.\u201d\n\n\u201cOur job is to make sure Arizona families and businesses have reliable water without driving up costs,\u201d said Senate President Pro Tempore and Natural Resources Committee Chairman T.J. Shope. \u201cWe cannot solve a water shortage by arguing over smaller and smaller shares of the river. We need to make the pie bigger, and this bill gives Arizona and the other Basin states practical ways to bring more water into the system.\u201d\n\n\u201cWe need to stop trading paper around and start bringing new, real wet water into the state. Congressman Biggs\u2019 plan prioritizes just that,\u201d House Speaker Pro Tempore Neal Carter said. \u201cInstead of focusing on scarcity, as Governor Hobbs has done by instituting water-use moratoriums and vetoing bills designed to authorize access to new water, Biggs\u2019 bill plans for prosperity and abundance through the development of new water sources.\u201d\n\n\u201cExpanding water supply should be a bipartisan priority,\u201d House Natural Resources, Energy & Water Committee Chairman Gail Griffin said. \u201cWe need a long-term solution that protects the Colorado River system and works for everyone who depends on it. House and Senate Republicans support Congressman Biggs\u2019 legislation and will continue working on state policies that protect existing residents, increase supply, and support rural economies.\u201d\n\n\u201cCongressman Biggs\u2019 bill rewards states that invest in their own water future, and Arizona is ready,\u201d said Representative Alex Kolodin. \u201cGovernor Hobbs has spent four years managing scarcity instead of building supply. Her Colorado River talks stalled without a deal that enforces the Compact or that requires the Upper Basin to share in cuts. And when the Legislature sent her bills to develop new supplies, including brackish groundwater legislation I helped advance, she vetoed them and dismissed the idea as \u2018wishful thinking.\u2019 Arizona is less prepared today as a result. Congressman Biggs is doing what the Governor should have done years ago: putting real money and real urgency behind new water, and doing it in a way that benefits every Basin state. That is a win-win approach, and it is the one Arizona needs. The affordability and long-term future of our state depend on it.\u201d\n\n\u201cPinal County already understands that conservation alone is not a long-term water strategy,\u201d Representative Chris Lopez said. \u201cOur farmers, irrigation districts, cities, and water leaders have worked hard to stretch the supplies we have while looking for new ones. We are and continue to be the leader in water conservation and investment among Colorado River Basin states, allowing us to grow our population and economy while using less water today. Congressman Biggs\u2019 legislation builds on that record by allowing us to conserve what we have, build the infrastructure we need, and bring new wet water into the system.\u201d\n\nIn addition to the endorsements from these officials, the Arizona Farm Bureau came forward with its appreciation of the legislation:\n\n\u201cArizona Farm Bureau supports efforts to strengthen Colorado River water security and advance the infrastructure investments necessary to protect the long-term water needs of Arizona and the entire Basin. We appreciate Congressman Andy Biggs\u2019 leadership in introducing the Colorado River Basin Water Security and Infrastructure Act and his recognition that addressing the Colorado River\u2019s challenges requires meaningful action, long-term planning, and solutions that expand our water resources.\u201d\n\n\u201cThe status quo is not sustainable, and Arizona\u2019s agricultural producers cannot afford to be left carrying an ever-increasing share of the burden,\u201d said Arizona Farm Bureau President John Boelts.\n\n\u201cAgriculture is essential to Arizona\u2019s economy, food supply, rural communities, and national food security. Any effort to address the Colorado River\u2019s future must recognize agriculture\u2019s significant contributions, protect agricultural water access, and ensure producers have a meaningful seat at the table. Arizona farmers and ranchers have already demonstrated their willingness to be part of the solution but conservation alone cannot replace the need for investment in water augmentation, infrastructure, and reliable supplies. We urge policymakers to pursue durable, collaborative solutions that strengthen the Basin\u2019s water security while safeguarding the ability of Arizona agriculture to continue producing food and sustaining our rural communities for generations to come.\"\n\nRead Congressman Biggs's introductory press release here.\n\nRead the bill here.\n\n###", 1, "2026-09-29T11:07:12Z", "2026-09-29T11:08:49Z"], ["https://bilirakis.house.gov/media/press-releases/bilirakis-host-house-energy-commerce-chairman-brett-guthrie-tampa-bay-health", "BILIRAKIS TO HOST HOUSE ENERGY & COMMERCE CHAIRMAN BRETT GUTHRIE FOR TAMPA BAY HEALTH CARE AFFORDABILITY ROUNDTABLE", "2026-09-28", "2026", "2026-09", "Republican", "House", "FL", "Gus M. Bilirakis", "B001257", "bilirakis.house.gov", "bilirakis", "https://bilirakis.house.gov/media/press-releases", "scraper", "TAMPA, FL - On Wednesday, September 30, 2026, at 10:00 a.m., Congressman Gus Bilirakis (FL-12) will host House Energy and Commerce Committee Chairman Brett Guthrie (KY-02) for a regional roundtable with Federally Qualified Health Centers (FQHCs) focused on expanding access to high-quality, affordable health care and ensuring vulnerable patients do not fall through the cracks. The discussion will bring together leaders from community health centers throughout the Tampa Bay region to showcase the innovative work they are doing to deliver high-quality care while keeping services affordable and accessible for the patients and families who need them most. Importantly, the roundtable will give local health care providers and patients an opportunity to bring their real-life experiences directly to one of our nation\u2019s leading health policy makers. Patient stories will help illustrate the challenges families face accessing affordable care and inform a broader discussion about how Congress can strengthen community-based care, address barriers to access, and ensure federal health policy works for patients on the ground. The event will also highlight an innovative partnership with Feeding Tampa Bay that recognizes the important connection between nutrition and health. Through this model, health care and community partners are working together to address patients\u2019 dietary needs and combat food insecurity among vulnerable populations. Members of the media are invited to attend and cover the discussion.\n\nWHAT: Regional Federally Qualified Health Center Roundtable on Health Care Affordability and Access\n\nWHO: U.S. Congressman Gus Bilirakis (FL-12), U.S. Congressman Brett Guthrie (KY-02), Federally Qualified Health Center leaders from throughout the Tampa Bay region, Local patients and community partners\n\nWHEN:Wednesday, September 30, 2026, 10:00 a.m.", 1, "2026-09-29T11:07:12Z", "2026-09-29T11:08:49Z"], ["https://boebert.house.gov/media/press-releases/rep-boebert-backs-white-house-rescission-targeting-wasteful-spending-criminal", "REP. BOEBERT BACKS WHITE HOUSE RESCISSION TARGETING WASTEFUL SPENDING ON CRIMINAL ALIENS", "2026-09-28", "2026", "2026-09", "Republican", "House", "CO", "Lauren Boebert", "B000825", "boebert.house.gov", "boebert", "https://boebert.house.gov/media/press-releases", "scraper", "LONE TREE, COLO. \u2014 Rep. Lauren Boebert (CO-04) announced her support for the White House decision to cancel roughly $810 million in previously appropriated spending through a pocket rescission. The package includes a $567 million cut to Department of Health and Human Services programs for criminal aliens, as well as cuts to international assistance, including foreign debt relief, and other agencies.\n\n\u201cThis is America First in action,\u201d Rep. Boebert said. \u201cThe Trump Administration is cutting wasteful spending that does not benefit American citizens. Hardworking taxpayers should not be forced to bankroll health and social services for people who broke our laws.\u201d\n\n\u201cFederal health dollars are not an open invitation,\u201d Rep. Boebert said. \u201cWhen Washington subsidizes care and services for criminal aliens, it rewards lawbreaking and leaves less for American families, seniors, veterans, and rural hospitals. Reducing that spending is common sense.\u201d\n\n\u201cThese are the types of policies needed to ensure future funds go to rural hospitals,\u201d Rep. Boebert said. \u201cColorado\u2019s rural communities cannot keep emergency rooms, maternity wards, and clinics open if federal health money is treated as a magnet for illegal immigration.\u201d", 1, "2026-09-29T11:07:12Z", "2026-09-29T11:08:49Z"], ["https://boebert.house.gov/media/press-releases/rep-boebert-calls-pause-diesel-exports-help-farmers-ranchers-and-truckers", "REP. BOEBERT CALLS FOR A PAUSE ON DIESEL EXPORTS TO HELP FARMERS, RANCHERS, AND TRUCKERS", "2026-09-28", "2026", "2026-09", "Republican", "House", "CO", "Lauren Boebert", "B000825", "boebert.house.gov", "boebert", "https://boebert.house.gov/media/press-releases", "scraper", "LONE TREE, CO \u2014 U.S. Representative Lauren Boebert (R-CO) today called for a temporary pause on U.S. diesel exports through January 2027, followed by a joint review between Congress and the Administration to determine whether the pause should be extended for another three months. Colorado producers should not be forced to subsidize foreign markets while paying more at home.\n\n\u201cWhile our farmers are filling tanks at record prices and families are being impacted by affordability every day, we are still shipping diesel overseas,\" said Rep. Boebert. \"That is backwards. Pause the exports for American producers and then reassess whether another three months is needed.\u201d\n\n\"Congress and the Trump Administration must work together to pause diesel exports through January 2027,\" said Rep. Boebert, \"delivering relief to farmers, ranchers, and truckers; and putting American energy and American consumers first.\"\n\n\"This is common sense,\u201d Rep. Boebert said. \u201cEnd the squeeze on rural America. I will work with anyone serious about delivering real relief.\u201d", 1, "2026-09-29T11:07:12Z", "2026-09-29T11:08:49Z"], ["https://ciscomani.house.gov/media/press-releases/persistence-pays-ciscomani-celebrates-service-dog-victory-during-national", "Persistence Pays Off: Ciscomani Celebrates Service Dog Victory During National Service Dog Month", "2026-09-28", "2026", "2026-09", "Republican", "House", "AZ", "Juan Ciscomani", "C001133", "ciscomani.house.gov", "ciscomani", "https://ciscomani.house.gov/media/press-releases", "scraper", "Tucson, AZ - Every September, National Service Dog Month recognized the vital role service dogs played in the lives of Americans with disabilities. Representative Juan Ciscomani highlighted his bipartisan efforts to ensure students, researchers, veterans, and other individuals with disabilities were not unnecessarily prevented from pursuing opportunities in STEM and research because they relied on service dogs.\n\nEarlier this year, Ciscomani successfully led a bipartisan effort to secure greater clarity surrounding federal guidance on service dogs in laboratory settings at universities and other research facilities. His advocacy followed concerns raised by Joey Ramp-Adams and others who faced barriers stemming from an outdated loophole from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the National Institutes of Health.\n\n\"Service dogs are a lifeline to millions of Americans,\" said Juan Ciscomani. \"When I first met Joey Ramp-Adams and Sampson in 2024 where I first learned about a bureaucratic-outdated loophole that limited students who work in labs ability to bring their service dogs, I knew we had to fight to change this loophole. With the partnership of Joey, I fought to ensure this priority became a reality for students not only in Arizona but across the country. This National Service Dog Month, I\u2019m so proud that our persistence paid off and we were able to secure this win for students and will continue fighting for a more inclusive future for all.\"\n\nRamp-Adams applauded Ciscomani\u2019s advocacy and credited his persistence in addressing barriers disabled scientists and veterans face.\n\n\"As an advocate for the disabled community, we want to personally thank @RepCiscomani for doing what too many don\u2019t\u2014listening, following through, and standing firm when it mattered most. We reached out with a problem that was costing disabled scientists\u2014including many veterans\u2014the opportunities they earned and deserved. He listened. He made a promise. And then we worked together\u2014consistently, persistently\u2014 to make this happen. This was not easy. It was an uphill fight against some of the most powerful institutions in science, the @CDCgov and @NIH where outdated interpretations were driving exclusion. For two years, he and his staff stayed committed. He pushed for clarity where there was ambiguity. He honored his word when it would have been easier not to. Because of that persistence, we now have a path forward\u2014one grounded in risk assessment, not exclusion for our veterans and disabled community who are seeking science or STEM academics or careers. This is what real leadership looks like,\" said Joey Ramp-Adams.\n\n\u200bRamp-Adams later took to X thanking Ciscomani for his work once again:\n\n\"Without Rep. Ciscomani\u2019s persistence over nearly three years, this resolution may never have been achieved. His leadership, advocacy, and bipartisan approach helped establish a national standard for inclusion that can no longer be ignored. Opening doors that should never have been closed. Thank you, sir!\"\n\nSince 2024, Ciscomani has been an unwavering champion for individuals with disabilities who rely on service dogs. He fought tirelessly to ensure these Americans would never again face categorical exclusion from STEM fields or research environments because of outdated or misapplied CDC and NIH policies. Fueled by the concerns raised by Joey Ramp-Adams and other advocates, Ciscomani pressed federal agencies for action. His persistence paid off with federal guidance being ultimately revised to affirm that service animals are allowed in laboratory settings, with access determined by individualized risk assessments rather than discriminatory blanket bans.\n\nThis decisive update not only reinforced that service animals are protected disability accommodations but also established that access decisions must be anchored in individualized risk assessments, not misinterpretations of outdated language. This much needed update resulted in opened doors for students, veterans, and researchers with disabilities nationwide, and stands as a testament to the power of determined leadership.\n\nCiscomani's commitment to individuals with disabilities in Arizona is clear through his continuous support of the AbilityOne Base Supply Center Program in Tucson and Arizona Industries for the Blind. Earlier this year, he celebrated the program\u2019s 30th anniversary and visited the AbilityOne Base Supply Center at Davis-Monthan Air Force Base, recognizing its vital impact. Nationally, AbilityOne employs over 36,000 people, including approximately 2,500 veterans, and is the largest source of employment for both the blind and individuals living with disabilities.\n\nDuring National Service Dog Month, Ciscomani highlighted the impact of his advocacy and the importance of ensuring Americans who relied on service dogs could pursue an education, build careers, and contribute to their communities without unnecessary barriers.\n\nWatch a video from Rep. Ciscomani highlighting his legislative victory for service dogs during National Service Dog Month HERE or BELOW.\n\nImage\n\n###", 1, "2026-09-29T11:07:12Z", "2026-09-29T11:08:49Z"], ["https://cline.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=2696", "Cline Celebrates FCC Decision to Not Approve Verizon\u2019s Changes to Copper-Based Landline Service", "2026-09-28", "2026", "2026-09", "Republican", "House", "VA", "Ben Cline", "C001118", "cline.house.gov", "cline", "https://cline.house.gov/news/documentquery.aspx?DocumentTypeID=27", "scraper", "FINCASTLE, VA \u2013 On Friday, the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) announced that it did not grant Verizon\u2019s initial application to discontinue copper-based landline services across much of Virginia. Congressman Cline previously sent a letter to FCC Chairman Brendan Carr demanding answers about the changes and urging the Chairman to review the application.\n\n\u201cI applaud the FCC for their decision to pause any changes to Virginia\u2019s copper-based landline service, following my letter to Chairman Carr,\u201d said Rep. Cline. \u201cThe Sixth District is home to many mountainous and rural communities where reliable communication is essential. Ending copper-based landline service before dependable alternatives are widely available could leave families without a reliable way to contact emergency services or stay connected with loved ones, particularly in areas with limited cellular coverage and frequent weather-related outages. I share the concerns of my constituents about the potential impact on public safety and basic connectivity. I will continue to monitor and work with the FCC to ensure that any future changes by Verizon do not leave families without reliable service.\u201d", 1, "2026-09-29T11:07:12Z", "2026-09-29T11:08:49Z"], ["https://cloud.house.gov/posts/trump-administration-announces-51-million-for-rural-texas-nutrition-and-chronic-disease-prevention-programs", "Trump Administration Announces $51 Million for Rural Texas Nutrition and Chronic Disease Prevention Programs", "2026-09-28", "2026", "2026-09", "Republican", "House", "TX", "Michael Cloud", "C001115", "cloud.house.gov", "cloud", "https://cloud.house.gov/press", "scraper", "Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services\n\nSeptember 28th, 2026\n\nbased chronic disease prevention, wellness, and nutrition programs through the federal Rural Health Transformation Program (RHTP). This investment will help rural healthcare providers implement solutions to improve outcomes for rural Texans with diabetes, cardiovascular disease, chronic respiratory disease, or obesity, while also supporting efforts to prevent these chronic conditions.\n\n\u201cPresident Trump understands that every American deserves high-quality healthcare, no matter where they live,\u201d said Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. \u201cWe are putting resources directly into rural communities to strengthen the health workforce, modernize infrastructure, expand access, and bring care closer to home. We are giving states the flexibility to build solutions around the people they serve, while demanding accountability for results. That is how we strengthen rural health, improve the lives of patients and families, and Make America Healthy Again.\u201d\n\n\u201cPresident Trump made a historic commitment to rural America, and these investments are turning that commitment into better care for patients in communities across Texas,\u201d said Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services Administrator Dr. Mehmet Oz. \u201cThis is what rural health transformation should look like: federal investment that is putting patients first, driving lasting improvements and expanding healthcare for the hardworking Americans who call these communities home.\u201d\n\nToday\u2019s investment was made possible through the Working Families Tax Cuts Act \u2014 passed by Republicans in Congress and unanimously opposed by Democrats \u2014 delivering a historic $50 billion investment to help states transform the way healthcare is delivered in America.\n\n\u201cRural Texans deserve quality health care in their own communities,\u201d said Gov. Greg Abbott. \u201cThis $51 million will aid 68 rural hospital districts and authorities with prevention, wellness, and nutrition programs that keep Texans healthy and strong. I thank President Trump, Secretary Kennedy, and Administrator Oz for this investment in rural Texas.\u201d\n\n\u201cThe Working Families Tax Cuts Act made the single largest investment in rural health care in more than two decades,\u201d said Sen. John Cornyn. \u201cI was proud to support this once-in-a-generation law that established the Rural Health Transformation Program, and I look forward to seeing these resources expand access to care, improve health outcomes, and better support folks with chronic conditions across the Lone Star State.\u201d\n\n\u201cThis investment is critical to Texans, and I applaud CMS and Administrator Oz for approving it,\u201d said Sen. Ted Cruz. \u201cThe decision is a recognition that the needs of rural Texas communities should be met, and these resources will strengthen rural hospitals, expand access to high-quality care, and help Texans in every part of our state get the healthcare they need. I was proud to work alongside my colleagues in the Texas delegation to secure this funding.\u201d\n\n\u201cRural Texans deserve the same access to quality healthcare as anyone else in our state, and this investment is a major step toward closing that gap. Thanks to the Working Families Tax Cuts and the Rural Health Transformation Program, we\u2019re strengthening our rural hospitals and investing in prevention, wellness, and nutrition programs that get ahead of chronic conditions. Healthier communities mean stronger families, a more productive workforce, and a brighter future for rural Texas. I will always work to ensure our rural communities have the resources they need to thrive,\u201d said Rep. Nathaniel Moran.\n\n\u201cThis historic investment in rural health will expand access to care and give Texas communities more tools to prevent and manage chronic disease,\u201d said Rep. Dan Crenshaw. \u201cI\u2019m proud to see these resources going directly to rural Texans who need them most.\u201d\n\n\u201cThis is welcome news for rural Texas. I thank President Trump and his Administration for standing with our rural communities, and I was proud to join my Republican colleagues in Congress to make the Rural Health Transformation Program possible,\u201d said Rep. Keith Self. \u201cHelping families get better access to care\u2014and live healthier lives\u2014is exactly the kind of result we should keep delivering.\u201d\n\n\u201cRural hospitals are the backbone of so many North Texas communities, and new funding will help keep them strong,\u201d said Rep. Pat Fallon. \u201cI am proud that $51 million from the Rural Health Transformation Program is coming to 68 rural hospital districts and authorities across our state through the Make Rural Texans Healthy Again initiative. By investing in the health of rural Texans, we\u2019re strengthening families, supporting local providers, and building a stronger future for our communities.\u201d\n\n\u201c$51 million will improve lives, fight chronic disease, and make our rural communities healthier,\u201d said Rep. Lance Gooden. \u201cTexans should remember that in the fight to improve healthcare, every Democrat voted against this funding.\u201d\n\n\u201cOur rural communities are home to the farmers, ranchers, small business owners, and families who keep Texas and this country moving. Access to quality healthcare is critical to keeping those communities strong. Too many rural Texans still have to travel long distances or face limited options when they need care,\u201d said Rep. Jake Ellzey. \u201cThese funds will help strengthen rural hospitals, expand access to preventive care, and give communities more tools to address chronic conditions before they become more serious. By putting these resources closer to home, we can help rural Texans get the care they need while strengthening the hospitals and healthcare systems these communities depend on every day.\u201d\n\n\u201cRural Texans deserve the same access to quality care as anyone else, and this investment puts real resources into the communities that need it most. I\u2019m grateful to CMS and state leaders for recognizing the importance of these programs and working to deliver better outcomes for Texas families,\u201d said Rep. Morgan Luttrell.\n\n\u201cThis is great news for rural Texans, who deserve the same access to quality health care as anyone else. This $51 million investment will help communities across our state take a more proactive approach to improving health and preventing chronic disease. I\u2019m proud to have an administration that understands the importance of investing in rural healthcare, which strengthens our local communities,\u201d said Rep. Michael McCaul.\n\n\u201cRural Texans shouldn\u2019t have to drive hours to see a doctor or receive the life-saving care they need. I was proud to support and advocate for Texas to receive its fair share of funding from the Rural Health Transformation Program, and I\u2019m glad to see these dollars now reaching our hospitals. This historic investment will keep rural hospitals open, expand access to telehealth, and recruit and retain medical professionals. When a rural hospital or clinic has the resources it needs, the entire community benefits. I\u2019ll keep fighting for rural health care in Congress and will make sure every dollar of this funding gets to the rural hospitals it was meant to serve,\u201d said Rep. August Pfluger.\n\n\u201cTexans across our state deserves access to high-quality health care. Alongside my Texas colleagues, I\u2019m proud to have helped pass the Rural Health Transformation Program, which is investing millions of dollars into health care services in Texas,\u201d said Rep. Craig Goldman. \u201cThis innovative program will strengthen rural health care and help make Texans healthier.\u201d\n\n\u201cTexans in TX-13 and every rural community deserve access to quality healthcare,\u201d said Rep. Ronny Jackson. \u201cThis investment through the Rural Health Transformation Program will help rural communities expand prevention, wellness, and nutrition programs while addressing chronic conditions like diabetes, heart disease, respiratory disease, and obesity. I\u2019m proud to support efforts that strengthen access to care and improve health outcomes for hardworking families across rural Texas.\u201d\n\n\u201cEvery day, Texans continue to reap the benefits of the historic Working Families Tax Cuts Act I proudly voted for,\u201d said Rep. Randy Weber. \u201cToday, that means more than $50 million is heading to 68 rural hospital districts and authorities so quality health care reaches beyond the city limits and rural Texans can get the care they deserve closer to home.\u201d\n\n\u201cAccess to healthcare remains a major challenge in rural Texas, making this $51 million investment a major win for our state,\u201d said Rep. Monica De La Cruz. \u201cThe funding will fight chronic illness, train the next generation of doctors, and empower local providers. I am proud to help secure these critical resources and will keep fighting to ensure our communities receive the best care possible.\u201d\n\n\u201cRural Texans deserve access to quality health care close to home,\u201d said Rep. Pete Sessions. \u201cThis $51 million investment through the Make Rural Texans Healthy Again initiative will help our rural hospital districts expand prevention, wellness, and nutrition programs that tackle diabetes, heart disease, and other chronic conditions before they become crises. I thank CMS and Administrator Oz for standing with rural Texas and investing in healthier communities across our state.\u201d\n\n\u201cWe won\u2019t have the next generation of agriculture and energy producers providing America with food security and energy independence without access to basic health care in rural communities. Yet for years, Rural America has faced a growing health care crisis marked by fewer providers, reduced services, and limited access to quality care,\u201d said Rep. Jodey Arrington. \u201cTo combat this crisis, the One Big Beautiful Bill established the Rural Health Transformation Program, a historic $50 billion investment in rural health care over five years, including $1.4 billion for Texas, to strengthen rural hospitals, expand access to care, and improve health outcomes. In the first year alone, Texas is receiving $281 million to advance state-led solutions to our rural health care challenges. Today, I am proud to see the Trump Administration and Governor Abbott put this investment to work through Texas\u2019 Make Rural Texans Healthy Again initiative, with $51 million supporting 68 rural hospital districts and authorities as they work to prevent and manage diabetes, cardiovascular disease, respiratory disease, and obesity. This is another major win for rural America and a Texas-sized investment in a healthier, stronger future for Rural Texas.\u201d\n\n\u201cRural Texans deserve access to quality healthcare, no matter their location,\u201d said Rep. Troy Nehls. \u201cThis investment will equip rural communities across the great state of Texas with the resources to prevent chronic disease, expand access to care, and improve health outcomes. I applaud the Trump Administration for recognizing rural Texas and helping Make Rural Texans Healthy Again.\u201d\n\n\u201cTexans across my home state have President Trump and his administration to thank for prioritizing their wellness in urban and rural regions alike. I am proud to see the Working Families Tax Cut Act already start to improve efforts to make America healthy once again,\u201d said Rep. Brandon Gill.\n\n\u201cProviding access to healthcare comes with unique challenges when serving those in rural communities. This funding will help local Texas hospitals expand prevention and wellness programs where they are needed most,\u201d said Rep. Michael Cloud.\n\n\u201cBringing $51 million to Texas so rural Texans have greater access to wellness and chronic-disease prevention is a promise kept by the Trump Administration to Make America Health Again. I\u2019m proud to support these efforts to deliver real resources to the communities that need them and invest in healthier outcomes for rural families. Quality access to care before there\u2019s a problem means better outcomes when a health issue does arise, and this investment puts prevention, wellness, and stronger rural healthcare within reach for Texans across our state,\u201d said Rep. John Carter.\n\n\u201cQuality health care should never be determined by your ZIP code. Today\u2019s announcement of a $51 million investment in 68 rural hospital districts across Texas is a major step toward ensuring rural Texans have access to the care they need, close to home. As a health care professional and lifelong Southeast Texan, I\u2019ve seen firsthand the dire consequences when quality care is too far out of reach. This investment in Texas\u2019 Make Rural Texans Healthy Again initiative will deliver local solutions to combat chronic disease, strengthen rural hospitals, and improve health outcomes for families across Texas,\u201d said Rep. Brian Babin.\n\n\u201cPresident Trump understands that your ZIP code should never determine the quality of health care you receive. Through the One Big Beautiful Bill, we made a historic investment in rural America, with the Rural Health Transformation Program,\u201d said Rep. Wesley Hunt. \u201cNow Texas is putting those resources to work, by strengthening rural hospitals, expanding access, and focusing on prevention and wellness. I\u2019m proud to have worked with the President to help deliver this for our communities and grateful for his sustained commitment to the people who live, work, and raise their families in rural Texas.\u201d\n\nToday\u2019s announcement is one part of the larger overall funding amount awarded to Texas for fiscal year 2026.\n\nTexas\u2019s broader RHTP strategy is designed to strengthen rural healthcare and support more sustainable care across the state. Key initiatives the overall RHTP funding will focus on include:\n\nStrengthening prevention and chronic disease management: Supporting community-based prevention, wellness, and nutrition programs designed to improve outcomes for rural Texans with diabetes, cardiovascular disease, respiratory illness, obesity, and other chronic conditions.\n\nExpanding technology-enabled healthcare: Investing in telehealth, digital health tools, and advanced technology to connect rural patients and providers with healthcare services and specialty expertise.\n\nBuilding the rural healthcare workforce: Supporting recruitment and retention strategies and expanded care teams to strengthen healthcare capacity in rural communities.\n\nModernizing rural healthcare infrastructure: Upgrading equipment, strengthening interoperability and cybersecurity, and improving technology and facilities used by rural hospitals, clinics, pharmacies, behavioral health providers, public health offices, and EMS. \u2018\n\nThe Trump Administration is delivering on its commitment to strengthen rural America by investing in solutions that modernize, transform and expand healthcare access for rural communities nationwide. Led by CMS, the RHTP is moving beyond the failed one-size-fits-all approach and giving rural communities the tools to build stronger, more innovative, and more sustainable health systems that deliver better care and better outcomes for the Americans they serve.", 1, "2026-09-29T11:07:12Z", "2026-09-29T11:08:49Z"], ["https://crank.house.gov/media/press-releases/rep-crank-and-administrator-dr-oz-host-roundtable-combating-waste-fraud-and", "Rep. Crank and Administrator Dr. Oz Host Roundtable on Combating Waste, Fraud, and Abuse Within Healthcare Programs in Colorado", "2026-09-28", "2026", "2026-09", "Republican", "House", "CO", "Jeff Crank", "C001137", "crank.house.gov", "crank", "https://crank.house.gov/media/press-releases", "scraper", "COLORADO SPRINGS, C.O. -- Today, Representative Jeff Crank (CO-05) and Administrator for the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services Dr. Mehmet Oz held a roundtable with local leaders focused on combating waste, fraud, and abuse of federal health programs.\n\nThis roundtable comes after the announcement that Colorado was found to have overspent on Medicaid by $158 million last year and is projected to be $443 million over budget for the \u201926-\u201927 fiscal year.\n\n\"This Administration and Congressional Republicans have worked to combat waste, fraud, and abuse throughout federal health programs to ensure they are reserved for our nation's most vulnerable as they were intended,\" said Rep. Crank. \"However, just this past year, the State of Colorado has mismanaged Medicaid funds, overspending by over $150 million and providing funding for illegal immigrants and transgender surgeries, and that is just unacceptable. I appreciate Administrator Dr. Oz coming to Colorado's Fifth Congressional District to learn more about healthcare in our community and how we can navigate the complexities of state policies that hamper our ability to combat waste, fraud, and abuse.\"\n\n\"Medicaid was created in a high-trust society, but that trust won't survive if we let fraud, waste, and abuse run rampant,\" said CMS Administrator Dr. Mehmet Oz. \"I'm grateful to Rep. Crank and local health leaders for joining me to discuss how we can shut down scams, stop runaway spending, and protect essential health care for the vulnerable Americans who need it.\"", 1, "2026-09-29T11:07:12Z", "2026-09-29T11:08:49Z"], ["https://downing.house.gov/media/press-releases/congressman-downings-bill-extend-fort-peck-rural-water-system-authorization-0", "CONGRESSMAN DOWNING'S BILL TO EXTEND FORT PECK RURAL WATER SYSTEM AUTHORIZATION SIGNED INTO LAW BY PRESIDENT TRUMP", "2026-09-28", "2026", "2026-09", "Republican", "House", "MT", "Troy Downing", "D000634", "downing.house.gov", "downing", "https://downing.house.gov/media/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON, D.C. \u2013 President Trump signed H.R. 7250 into law, Congressman Troy Downing\u2019s legislation extending authorization for the Fort Peck Reservation Rural Water System through 2028. The law allows critical water infrastructure projects across northeastern Montana to continue moving forward.\n\nThe Fort Peck Reservation Rural Water System Act of 2000 was enacted to provide safe and reliable municipal, rural, and industrial water through two interconnected systems: the Assiniboine and Sioux Rural Water System and the Dry Prairie Rural Water System. Together, these systems serve tribal and non-tribal communities across Roosevelt, Sheridan, Daniels, and Valley counties.\n\nH.R. 7250 extends the Bureau of Reclamation\u2019s authority to support construction of essential water infrastructure serving the Fort Peck Reservation and surrounding communities through December 2028.\n\n\"I\u2019m proud that the President has signed my bill, H.R. 7250, into law. This legislation will help keep critical water projects moving forward and provide greater certainty for families and communities across northeastern Montana,\" said Congressman Downing. \"Reliable water infrastructure is essential to the future of this region. I\u2019m grateful to the Montana delegation for working together to get this bill through Congress and signed into law.\u201d\n\n\u201cThis is a major win for the Treasure State. Montanans should never have to worry about whether or not their water is safe to drink. Now that President Trump has signed our bill into law, we\u2019ll be able to continue critical construction on water infrastructure on the Fort Peck reservation and throughout the northeast region. I\u2019m grateful for everyone who helped get this bill across the finish line and look forward to seeing the impacts this will have for the health and future of our communities,\u201d said Senator Steve Daines.\n\n\u201cClean, reliable water is a basic necessity, and Montanans in our rural and tribal communities deserve nothing less. I\u2019m proud to see this commonsense bill cross the finish line, and I thank President Trump for signing it into law so we can keep critical water projects moving forward in Fort Peck and across northeast Montana,\u201d said Senator Tim Sheehy.\n\nHouse Committee on Natural Resources Chairman Bruce Westerman praised the passage of H.R. 7250 and Congressman Downing\u2019s work to strengthen water infrastructure in northeastern Montana.\n\n\u201cWhere reliable water flows, opportunity and prosperity follow. H.R. 7250 reauthorizes the Fort Peck Reservation Rural Water System, helping ensure families, farmers, and businesses in northeastern Montana continue to have access to dependable water supplies,\" said Chairman Westerman. \u201cI commend Rep. Downing for his commitment to strengthening critical water infrastructure and supporting Montana\u2019s future.\u201d\n\nRead the bill HERE.\n\n###", 1, "2026-09-29T11:07:12Z", "2026-09-29T11:08:49Z"], ["https://emmer.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/emmer-cosponsors-election-integrity-legislation", "Emmer Cosponsors Election Integrity Legislation", "2026-09-28", "2026", "2026-09", "Republican", "House", "MN", "Tom Emmer", "E000294", "emmer.house.gov", "emmer", "https://emmer.house.gov/media-center/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON \u2013 Today, Congressman Tom Emmer (MN-06) cosponsored Congressman Pete Stauber\u2019s (MN-08) Voter Vouching Transparency Act, which requires states with voter vouching policies, like Minnesota, to report basic information to the U.S. Election Assistance Commission about their use in federal elections. Minnesota is one of several states that have a voter vouching policy, allowing one voter to \u201cvouch\u201d for other individuals instead of providing identification to vote.\n\n\u201cMinnesota\u2019s vouching policy is an open invitation for voter fraud. Allowing one voter to vouch for up to eight others does not make for safe, secure elections. In fact, it does the opposite,\u201d said Congressman Tom Emmer. \u201cAnyone who argues otherwise should admit the truth: they want ineligible individuals to vote in our elections. With this legislation, we will bring oversight and transparency to a policy that provides a clear avenue for fraud.\u201d\n\nBackground\n\nIn Minnesota, any individual whose name appears on Minnesota\u2019s voter rolls can \u201cvouch\u201d for the identity and eligibility of up to eight other individuals attempting to vote without ever showing any form of identification.\n\nThe Voter Voucher Transparency Act follows over a year of requests from the Department of Justice (DOJ) for information on Minnesota\u2019s voter lists and compliance with federal election guidelines. The DOJ has made numerous attempts to obtain information on Minnesota\u2019s voter-list maintenance practices and Help America Vote Act (HAVA) compliance. Minnesota has not complied with the DOJ\u2019s requests.\n\n###", 1, "2026-09-29T11:07:12Z", "2026-09-29T11:08:49Z"], ["https://gabeevans.house.gov/media/press-releases/cms-administrator-oz-joins-rep-gabe-evans-colorados-8th-district-discuss-state", "CMS Administrator Oz Joins Rep. Gabe Evans in Colorado\u2019s 8th District to Discuss State Medicaid Fraud and to Tour UNC's New College of Osteopathic Medicine", "2026-09-28", "2026", "2026-09", "Republican", "House", "CO", "Gabe Evans", "E000300", "gabeevans.house.gov", "gabeevans", "https://gabeevans.house.gov/media/press-releases", "scraper", "GREELEY Colo.\u2014 Today, Congressman Gabe Evans welcomed Administrator for the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) Dr. Mehmet Oz to the Eighth Congressional District. The visit consisted of a roundtable with Northern Colorado healthcare leaders to discuss a variety of topics such as the implementation of H.R.1 and recent trends of waste, fraud, and abuse in the State\u2019s Medicaid system and a tour of the new College of Osteopathic Medicine at the University of Northern Colorado.\n\nThis timely visit comes after CMS recently granted $169 million in Rural Health Transformation Program (RHTP) funding awarded to 91 grantees to expand healthcare access and strengthen rural health systems across Colorado. It also comes after Colorado\u2019s State Medicaid program has been in the headlines for its budget crisis, being $158 million over budget in the 25-26 cycle, and is projected to be $443 million overspent for \u201826-\u201827.\n\n\u201cI\u2019m grateful to Administrator Oz for visiting Colorado\u2019s Eighth district to sit down with the doctors, hospitals, health care providers, and local leaders who serve our communities every day. Medicaid is a lifeline for our most vulnerable neighbors, and protecting the program means making sure every taxpayer dollar is spent responsibly and reaches the people who truly need it.\n\nColorado\u2019s Medicaid program was nearly $158 million over budget last year and is now projected to be roughly $443 million over budget this year and has seen over $100 million dollars in verified fraud. That is not sustainable.\n\nAs Congress works to strengthen Medicaid, we need strong partnership from CMS, accountability at every level of government, and a serious commitment to rooting out waste, fraud, abuse, and mismanagement. I look forward to working with Administrator Oz to protect taxpayers, preserve Medicaid for those who depend on it, and ensure this program is strong for generations to come.\u201d \u2014 Congressman Gabe Evans\n\n\"Medicaid was created in a high-trust society, but fraud, waste, and abuse are eating away at its foundation. CMS is committed to partnering with local health leaders and lawmakers like Rep. Evans to restore that trust by shutting down scams, reining in runaway spending, and ensuring that Medicaid dollars fund high-quality care for the vulnerable Americans who need it.\u201d\u2014 CMS Administrator Dr. Mehmet Oz.\n\nCongressman Evans also announced the introduction of his newest legislation, called the Strengthening Tools of Oversight to Prevent (STOP) Medicaid Fraud Act. This legislation will help combat Medicaid waste, fraud, and abuse by requiring states to electronically verify and confirm the legitimate billing of two programs that have recently been exploited by scammers and criminals: non-emergency medical transport (NEMT) and applied behavior analysis (ABA).\n\nThe bill will require states, beginning January 1, 2027, to use electronic verification systems to confirm that Medicaid-funded non-emergency medical transportation (NEMT) and applied behavior analysis (ABA) services were actually provided. States that already have a qualifying electronic verification system in place when the bill is enacted would be exempt as long as they continue using it. If CMS determines that a state is not complying, the state will have 90 days to submit a corrective action plan and one year from receiving CMS\u2019s notification to come into compliance.", 1, "2026-09-29T11:07:12Z", "2026-09-29T11:08:49Z"], ["https://gallagher.house.gov/media/press-releases/gallagher-backs-bipartisan-bill-keep-america-forefront-fusion-energy", "Gallagher Backs Bipartisan Bill to Keep America at Forefront of Fusion Energy", "2026-09-28", "2026", "2026-09", "Republican", "House", "CA", "James Gallagher", "G000607", "gallagher.house.gov", "gallagher", "https://gallagher.house.gov/media/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON, D.C. \u2014 Congressman James Gallagher (CA-01), a member of the House Committee on Science, Space, and Technology, joined a bipartisan group of lawmakers in introducing the American Leadership in Fusion Act, legislation aimed at accelerating the commercialization of fusion energy and ensuring the United States remains the global leader in the next generation of energy technology.\n\nThe bipartisan legislation, led by Reps. Zoe Lofgren (CA-18) and Jay Obernolte (CA-23), would provide $10 billion in direct investments for high-priority fusion research and commercialization efforts. Reps. Don Beyer (VA-08) and Lori Trahan (MA-03) also joined Gallagher as original sponsors.\n\n\u201cFusion energy represents a tremendous opportunity to strengthen American energy dominance, drive innovation, and create new opportunities for workers and businesses for the North State and across the nation,\u201d said Congressman Gallagher. \u201cThis bipartisan bill makes critical investments to accelerate the commercialization of fusion, grow our research capabilities, and support the next generation of American talent. We must build on the breakthroughs happening across our national laboratories, universities, and private sector to ensure America remains at the forefront of fusion energy.\u201d\n\nThe American Leadership in Fusion Act would make major investments in the research and infrastructure needed to move fusion technology toward commercial deployment. The legislation includes $3.8 billion for major new test facilities, along with $5 billion for milestone-based programs designed to move fusion technologies toward demonstration and deployment. It also provides funding for fusion materials and fuel-cycle research, smaller test facilities, and efforts to strengthen critical fusion supply chains.\n\nThe legislation would also establish an Office of Fusion within the Department of Energy, led by a Senate-confirmed Assistant Secretary for Fusion Energy, to coordinate federal fusion research and commercialization efforts.\n\nPrivate investment in the fusion industry has accelerated as companies work to bring commercial fusion power to the grid. According to the Fusion Industry Association, the private fusion industry attracted a record $4.5 billion in investment over the past year.\n\n\u201cThe private fusion industry has attracted a record $4.5 billion in investment over the past year, but to deploy in the U.S. within the next decade, it needs a strong partner in the federal government,\u201d said Andrew Holland, Chief Executive Officer of the Fusion Industry Association. \u201cThe American Leadership in Fusion Act provides the DOE with the necessary guidance to support commercialization, along with the government resources needed to develop the infrastructure and grow the public-private partnerships accelerating fusion\u2019s deployment.\u201d\n\nThe legislation builds on recommendations from the bipartisan Special Competitive Studies Project\u2019s Fusion Forward report and recent recommendations from the Department of Energy and the Fusion Energy Sciences Advisory Committee.\n\nThe bill has received support from fusion companies, research universities, energy organizations, and other groups working to advance commercial fusion in the United States.\n\nRead the American Leadership in Fusion ActHERE.\n\n###\n\nClick the link here to subscribe to my eNewsletter!\n\nRep. James Gallagher | 408 Cannon House Office Building | Washington, DC 20515 US", 1, "2026-09-29T11:07:12Z", "2026-09-29T11:08:49Z"], ["https://gill.house.gov/media/press-releases/rep-gill-introduces-barrons-law", "Rep. Gill Introduces Barron\u2019s Law", "2026-09-28", "2026", "2026-09", "Republican", "House", "TX", "Brandon Gill", "G000603", "gill.house.gov", "gill", "https://gill.house.gov/media/press-releases", "scraper", "Washington, D.C. \u2014 Congressman Brandon Gill (R-TX) today introduced Barron\u2019s Law to ensure that illegal aliens cannot obtain trucking licenses. The legislation would strengthen commercial trucking safety by ensuring drivers have lawful status or proper employment authorization, requiring English-language proficiency testing, crack down on fraud, and impose enhanced penalties on motor carriers that knowingly use ineligible drivers.\n\nThis bill is named after 8-year-old Barron Ritchey of Pilot Point, Texas, who was killed in April 2023 on I-35 near Hillsboro when a wheel hub and dual tires flew off a tractor-trailer operated by RTD Carriers and struck the Ritchey family\u2019s SUV as his mother drove him home from a school trip. The driver, Martin Monreal-Alvarado, had a B-1 visa that expired six months earlier.\n\n\u201cBarron\u2019s death was a heartbreaking and preventable tragedy\u2014his family should never have had to suffer his loss as a result of Democrat-era immigration failures,\u201d said Congressman Gill. \u201cWhile nothing can fix the pain of his death, this legislation aims to prevent any other Americans from dying at the hands of illegal aliens behind the wheel on our roads. We must ensure that truckers are here lawfully and speak our language.\u201d\n\n\u201cOur son Barron was a joyful eight-year-old boy who loved his family and friends, playing with his dog Cowboy, and he especially loved making people laugh,\u201d said the Ritchey family. \u201cHe had his whole life ahead of him, and there is not a day that goes by that we don\u2019t miss his smile, his laughter, and all of the moments we should still be sharing with him. Because of our faith in the finished work of our Lord Jesus Christ and the atonement of His blood over our lives, we have the blessed assurance that we will see our son again.\n\n\u201cIn the years since we lost Barron, we have learned that his death was not the result of just one failure, but a series of failures across our transportation and immigration systems,\u201d the Ritchey family continued. \u201cMany of those same issues have now become part of a national conversation about who should be allowed to operate commercial trucks on our roads and how our laws are enforced. We are grateful to Congressman Gill for listening to Barron\u2019s story and introducing Barron\u2019s Law. Nothing can bring our son back, but we hope that changes made in his name can help prevent another family from suffering the same unimaginable loss.\u201d\n\nCosponsors (3): Reps. Weber, Williams, Self\n\n###", 1, "2026-09-29T11:07:12Z", "2026-09-29T11:08:49Z"], ["https://hinson.house.gov/media/press-releases/iowa-delegation-statement-15-billion-steel-plant-investment-coming-iowa", "Iowa Delegation Statement on $15 Billion Steel Plant Investment Coming to Iowa", "2026-09-28", "2026", "2026-09", "Republican", "House", "IA", "Ashley Hinson", "H001091", "hinson.house.gov", "hinson", "https://hinson.house.gov/media/press-releases", "scraper", "Washington, D.C. \u2014 Congresswoman Ashley Hinson, Senators Chuck Grassley and Joni Ernst, and Representatives Mariannette Miller-Meeks, Zach Nunn, and Randy Feenstra, released the following statement:\n\n\u201cThis historic investment is a major win for Iowa workers and further cements Iowa\u2019s role in the future of American manufacturing.\n\n\u201cAs the largest steel plant investment in U.S. history, this project will generate over 1,700 good-paying Iowa jobs, create new opportunities for Iowa families, and drive economic growth. Iowa has the workforce, work ethic, resources, and business climate to compete with anyone, and we are proud to welcome this project to our state.\n\n\u201cThe administration\u2019s pro-American manufacturing policies are incentivizing companies to invest, build, and create jobs in the U.S. We thank Governor Reynolds for her leadership in making Iowa a great place to do business and ensuring our state benefits from these policies by attracting transformational investments like this one.\u201d\n\n###", 1, "2026-09-29T11:07:12Z", "2026-09-29T11:08:49Z"], ["https://jackson.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=2616", "Rep. Ronny Jackson Leads Congressional Colleagues in Advocating for Amarillo-Assembled MV-75 Cheyenne Aircraft", "2026-09-28", "2026", "2026-09", "Republican", "House", "TX", "Ronny Jackson", "J000304", "jackson.house.gov", "jackson", "https://jackson.house.gov/news/documentquery.aspx?DocumentTypeID=27", "scraper", "WASHINGTON \u2014 Today, Representative Ronny Jackson (TX-13) led 86 of his Congressional colleagues in sending a letter to Secretary of War Pete Hegseth and Office of Management and Budget Director Russ Vought encouraging the Trump administration to continue prioritizing and advancing the MV-75 Cheyenne program as a critical component of America\u2019s military modernization efforts.\n\nThe MV-75 Cheyenne, the U.S. Army\u2019s next-generation Future Long Range Assault Aircraft, is designed to combine the vertical agility of a helicopter with the speed and range of an airplane. The Army has described the aircraft as capable of flying approximately twice as fast and twice as far as current platforms, expanding the Joint Force\u2019s ability to conduct long-range assault, medical evacuation, resupply, and other critical missions in contested environments.\n\nFinal assembly of the MV-75 Cheyenne will take place at Bell Helicopter\u2019s facility in Amarillo. This program will help support skilled manufacturing jobs and strengthen the region\u2019s defense industrial base.\n\n\u201cThe MV-75 Cheyenne represents the kind of transformational capability our warfighters need to meet the challenges of the future battlefield,\u201d said Rep. Jackson. \u201cOur servicemembers deserve the speed, range, survivability, and operational flexibility necessary to accomplish their missions and come home safely. We must continue advancing this critical program to ensure our military has the tools it needs to maintain our technological advantage.\u201d\n\nCo-signers include: Senators Jerry Moran (KS), Roger Marshall (KS), Jim Banks (IN), Tim Sheehy (MT), Jacky Rosen (NV), Ted Cruz (TX), John Boozman (AR), Marsha Blackburn (TN), Dave McCormick (PA), John Cornyn (TX), Todd Young (IN), Jeanne Shaheen (NH) and Representatives Jake Ellzey (TX-06), Pat Fallon (TX-04), Jack Bergman (MI-01), Scott DesJarlais (TN-04), Rudy Yakym (IN-02), Austin Scott (GA-08), Judge Carter (TX-31), Don Davis (NC-01), Mario Diaz-Balart (FL-26), Ron Estes (KS-04), Mike Ezell (MS-04), Craig Goldman (TX-12), Pat Harrigan (NC-10), Jen Kiggans (VA-02), Matt Van Epps (TN-07), Eugene Vindman (VA-07), Andre Carson (IN-07), Lance Gooden (TX-05), John McGuire (VA-05), Richard McCormick (GA-07), Mark Messmer (IN-08), Joe Wilson (SC-02), Trent Kelly (MS-01), Jefferson Shreve (IN-06), Keith Self (TX-03), Stephanie Bice (OK-05), Nicholas Langworthy (NY-23), Tracey Mann (KS-01), Riley Moore (WV-02), Johnny Olszewski (MD-02), Derek Tran (CA-45), Beth Van Duyne (TX-24), Michael Cloud (TX-27), Brad Finstad (MN-01), Michael Guest (MS-03), Joseph Morelle (NY-25), Frank Mrvan (IN-01), Derek Schmidt (KS-02), Marc Veasey (TX-33), Rick Allen (GA-12), Gabe Amo (RI-01), Salud Carbajal (CA-24), Nancy Mace (SC-01), Seth Magaziner (RI-02), Chris Pappas (NH-01), Pete Sessions (TX-17), Dale Strong (AL-05), Marlin Stutzman (IN-03), Tim Walberg (MI-05), Sheri Biggs (SC-03), Veronica Escobar (TX-16), Brandon Gill (TX-26), Diana Harshbarger (TN-01), Hillary Scholten (MI-03), Dan Crenshaw (TX-02), Kevin Hern (OK-01), Julia Letlow (LA-05), Ryan Mackenzie (PA-07), Barry Moore (AL-01), Eric Sorensen (IL-17), Herbert Conaway (NJ-03), Henry Cuellar (TX-28), Chuck Fleischmann (TN-03), Roger Williams (TX-25), Gilbert Cisneros (CA-31), James Comer (KY-01), Maggie Goodlander (NH-02), Erin Houchin (IN-09), Michael McCaul (TX-10), Bennie Thompson (MS-02), Anna Paulina Luna (FL-13), Mike Kelly (PA-16), Wesley Bell (MO-01) and Clay Fuller (GA-14).\n\n###", 1, "2026-09-29T11:07:12Z", "2026-09-29T11:08:49Z"], ["https://king-hinds.house.gov/media/newsletters/150533-fema-funding-mount-carmel-school", "$150,533 in FEMA Funding for Mount Carmel School", "2026-09-28", "2026", "2026-09", "Republican", "House", "MP", "Kimberlyn King-Hinds", "K000404", "king-hinds.house.gov", "king-hinds", "https://king-hinds.house.gov/media", "scraper", "Mount Carmel School is receiving $150,533 in FEMA funding to help replace campus contents damaged by Super Typhoon Sinlaku. FEMA is covering 90% of the $167,259 project cost under the federal disaster recovery program. We\u2019re glad to see this support helping Mount Carmel recover from the storm and restore the school\u2019s facilities and resources for our students and teachers.", 1, "2026-09-29T11:07:12Z", "2026-09-29T11:08:49Z"], ["https://king-hinds.house.gov/media/newsletters/250000-cuc-lift-stations-and-water-facilities", "$250,000 for CUC Lift Stations and Water Facilities", "2026-09-28", "2026", "2026-09", "Republican", "House", "MP", "Kimberlyn King-Hinds", "K000404", "king-hinds.house.gov", "king-hinds", "https://king-hinds.house.gov/media", "scraper", "A $250,180 FEMA grant will fund backup generators and emergency power systems for Commonwealth Utilities Corporation (CUC) lift stations and water facilities across the CNMI. The generators will provide critical backup power to help maintain water services during power outages and emergencies. The project has a total estimated cost of $1.22 million and is funded through FEMA\u2019s Hazard Mitigation Grant Program under Section 404 of the Stafford Act, following Super Typhoon Yutu. This investment will help keep essential water services running when the CNMI needs them most.", 1, "2026-09-29T11:07:12Z", "2026-09-29T11:08:49Z"], ["https://king-hinds.house.gov/media/newsletters/26-million-fema-funding-covid-19-response", "$2.6 Million in FEMA Funding for COVID-19 Response", "2026-09-28", "2026", "2026-09", "Republican", "House", "MP", "Kimberlyn King-Hinds", "K000404", "king-hinds.house.gov", "king-hinds", "https://king-hinds.house.gov/media", "scraper", "The CNMI is receiving more than $2.7 million in additional FEMA funding to cover eligible costs associated with the Commonwealth\u2019s COVID-19 emergency response. The larger award provides $2.33 million at a 100% federal cost share to the Office of Homeland Security and Emergency Management (HSEM) for emergency protective measures carried out between July 2020 and December 2021. This includes support for the Emergency Operations Center, COVID-19 testing and screening, personal protective equipment and medical supplies, temporary staging areas at community testing sites, transportation of critical medical equipment and supplies to warehouses, hospitals and testing locations, community outreach, logistics, procurement, inventory management, personnel support, and cleaning services. This award covers an eligible cost overrun beyond the $1.48 million previously awarded by FEMA, bringing the total eligible cost for that project to approximately $3.82 million.\n\nA separate $372,783.19 project provides $335,504.87 in FEMA funding, with the federal government covering 90% of the eligible costs, for additional emergency measures to help prevent the spread of COVID-19. Together, these awards provide approximately $2.67 million in new FEMA funding to support the CNMI\u2019s pandemic response.", 1, "2026-09-29T11:07:12Z", "2026-09-29T11:08:49Z"], ["https://king-hinds.house.gov/media/newsletters/cnmi-judiciary-receives-252159-fema-funding", "CNMI Judiciary Receives $252,159 in FEMA Funding", "2026-09-28", "2026", "2026-09", "Republican", "House", "MP", "Kimberlyn King-Hinds", "K000404", "king-hinds.house.gov", "king-hinds", "https://king-hinds.house.gov/media", "scraper", "The CNMI Judiciary is receiving $252,159 in FEMA funding for emergency protective measures taken in response to Super Typhoon Sinlaku. FEMA is covering 100% of the eligible project costs, with no local match required. This funding will help support measures taken to protect public health, safety, and property in the immediate aftermath of the storm. We\u2019re glad to see the federal government providing the full support needed to help our institutions respond and recover from Sinlaku.", 1, "2026-09-29T11:07:12Z", "2026-09-29T11:08:49Z"], ["https://king-hinds.house.gov/media/newsletters/halynn-seo-launches-cnmis-first-hosa-chapter", "Halynn Seo Launches CNMI\u2019s First HOSA Chapter", "2026-09-28", "2026", "2026-09", "Republican", "House", "MP", "Kimberlyn King-Hinds", "K000404", "king-hinds.house.gov", "king-hinds", "https://king-hinds.house.gov/media", "scraper", "Saipan International School junior Halynn Seo visited her congressional office while in Washington for HOSA\u2019s (Future Health Professionals) Washington Leadership Academy. Halynn founded the first HOSA chapter in the Northern Mariana Islands, officially chartered as NM000. HOSA is one of the world\u2019s largest student organizations dedicated to developing future health professionals. During her visit, Halynn interviewed me about my work in Congress to improve health care services in the Marianas. Halynn also serves as interim editor-in-chief of her school newspaper and founded Saipan Social Policy Insight, a student-led publication focused on public health and social policy in the Marianas. Congratulations, Halynn, on your pioneering accomplishments and inspiring leadership. We look forward to seeing your continued impact in the years ahead.", 1, "2026-09-29T11:07:12Z", "2026-09-29T11:08:49Z"], ["https://king-hinds.house.gov/media/newsletters/macaranas-family-tour", "Macaranas Family Tour", "2026-09-28", "2026", "2026-09", "Republican", "House", "MP", "Kimberlyn King-Hinds", "K000404", "king-hinds.house.gov", "king-hinds", "https://king-hinds.house.gov/media", "scraper", "Saipan residents Michelle Macaranas and her sons, Devin and Ryan, visited their congressional office in Washington, D.C. After meeting with congressional staff, they toured the U.S. Capitol and took in views of the National Mall from the Speaker\u2019s Balcony. Thank you, Michelle, Devin, and Ryan, for stopping by. We hope to see you again soon.", 1, "2026-09-29T11:07:12Z", "2026-09-29T11:08:49Z"], ["https://king-hinds.house.gov/media/newsletters/marianas-japan-and-korea-our-enduring-ties", "The Marianas, Japan, and Korea: Our Enduring Ties", "2026-09-28", "2026", "2026-09", "Republican", "House", "MP", "Kimberlyn King-Hinds", "K000404", "king-hinds.house.gov", "king-hinds", "https://king-hinds.house.gov/media", "scraper", "We recently came across this thoughtful feature in The Herald Business, a publication of The Korea Herald, highlighting the Northern Marianas as a place where history, culture, and people from across the Pacific come together. From Saipan, Tinian, and Rota, our islands share deep and lasting connections with Japan and Korea that continue to shape our communities today. The article captures both the resilience and history of our islands. Super Typhoons Sinlaku and Bavi brought tremendous challenges, but across the Northern Marianas, our people continue to rebuild, care for one another, and move forward. Our shared history with Japan and Korea is visible throughout our islands. Historic sites and memorials remind us of the lives and sacrifices of World War II, while continuing to bring Japanese and Korean visitors to our islands. These connections remain a part of who we are today through tourism, cultural exchange, family ties, and friendship. We are proud that the Marianas can be a place of both remembrance and renewal, and I look forward to continuing to strengthen the friendships that connect the CNMI with Japan, Korea, and the wider Pacific.\n\nImage", 1, "2026-09-29T11:07:12Z", "2026-09-29T11:08:49Z"], ["https://king-hinds.house.gov/media/newsletters/mt-carmel-school-outreach", "Mt. Carmel School Outreach", "2026-09-28", "2026", "2026-09", "Republican", "House", "MP", "Kimberlyn King-Hinds", "K000404", "king-hinds.house.gov", "king-hinds", "https://king-hinds.house.gov/media", "scraper", "As we continued our back-to-school outreach, we had a fantastic visit with the Knights of Mount Carmel School! Our team was thrilled by the students' energy and enthusiasm for our Congressional Education Programs. They didn't just listen, they were engaged, asked questions, and were eager to get involved. Go Knights! Thank you, Mt. Carmel!", 1, "2026-09-29T11:07:12Z", "2026-09-29T11:08:49Z"], ["https://king-hinds.house.gov/media/newsletters/pss-awarded-669653-americorps-grant", "PSS Awarded $669,653 AmeriCorps Grant", "2026-09-28", "2026", "2026-09", "Republican", "House", "MP", "Kimberlyn King-Hinds", "K000404", "king-hinds.house.gov", "king-hinds", "https://king-hinds.house.gov/media", "scraper", "The CNMI Public School System has been awarded a $669,653 AmeriCorps State and National grant for fiscal year 2026. The funding will support 85 AmeriCorps volunteers through the Public School System AmeriCorps program, empowering them to deliver evidence-based programs that strengthen our community, ranging from youth mental health initiatives to workforce development. AmeriCorps programs use service and volunteerism to address a community\u2019s compelling needs through a wide range of activities, such as tutoring children or responding to natural disasters. Congratulations to PSS for their continued leadership in service and education.", 1, "2026-09-29T11:07:12Z", "2026-09-29T11:08:49Z"], ["https://king-hinds.house.gov/media/newsletters/usps-adjusts-package-delivery-expectations-cnmi", "USPS Adjusts Package Delivery Expectations for the CNMI", "2026-09-28", "2026", "2026-09", "Republican", "House", "MP", "Kimberlyn King-Hinds", "K000404", "king-hinds.house.gov", "king-hinds", "https://king-hinds.house.gov/media", "scraper", "Beginning October 1, 2026, the U.S. Postal Service will adjust delivery expectations for Priority Mail and USPS Ground Advantage packages to and from the Northern Mariana Islands, USPS announced Friday. Customers should expect longer delivery windows for packages, particularly those sent using Ground Advantage. Priority Mail packages to or from the CNMI will have a 2- to 6-day expected delivery window, compared with the previous 3-day expectation. Ground Advantage packages to and from the CNMI and the continental United States will have an expected delivery time of 10 days or more, with some shipments taking longer depending on distance. Ground Advantage packages will primarily travel by surface transportation regardless of weight, which will increase transit times for packages under one pound. Priority Mail Express and First-Class Mail service standards will not change. USPS says the adjustments align delivery expectations with available transportation and travel times. For more information, visit https://postalpro.usps.com/node/15616.", 1, "2026-09-29T11:07:12Z", "2026-09-29T11:08:49Z"], ["https://langworthy.house.gov/media/press-releases/congressman-nick-langworthy-announces-3-million-federal-investment-alfred", "Congressman Nick Langworthy Announces $3 Million Federal Investment to Alfred State College for Workforce Development", "2026-09-28", "2026", "2026-09", "Republican", "House", "NY", "Nicholas A. Langworthy", "L000600", "langworthy.house.gov", "langworthy", "https://langworthy.house.gov/media/press-releases", "scraper", "Washington, DC--September 28th\u2026 Congressman Nick Langworthy today announced nearly $3 million in federal funding for Alfred State College to modernize skilled-trades education, expand access to advanced technology and prepare students for in-demand careers across the region.\n\nThe investments include a $150,000 Appalachian Regional Commission (ARC) award for CNC machining enhancements and a $3 million ($1,797,430 in the first year) Department of Education Title III grant to expand access to skilled trades and next-generation technology.\n\nCongressman Langworthy, who has made strengthening the skilled trades industry a top priority during his time in Congress said, \u201cAlfred State has a long history of preparing students for good-paying careers in the skilled trades industry, and these investments will make sure that students have access to the tools and technology they need to compete in the modern workforce. We are working hard at the federal level to revive American manufacturing and strengthen domestic supply chains but if we are going to be successful, we need to make sure the next generation of workers is trained for these jobs. Whether it\u2019s a CNC machine, advanced manufacturing technology or artificial intelligence, our students will be able to gain the skills and experience necessary to hit the ground running.\u201d\n\nAWARD OVERVIEWS:\n\nARC AWARD: $150,000 for CNC Machining Enhancements for Trades Education\n\nThis investment will modernize CNC equipment at Alfred State College, giving approximately 180 students hands-on training with technology used in today\u2019s manufacturing industry. By upgrading training facilities on the Alfred and Wellsville campuses, the Shaping Manufacturing Project will help prepare the next generation of American manufacturing workers with practical skills aligned to in-demand careers in manufacturing, automotive, aerospace, and electronics. The project is expected to help at least 150 students\u2019 complete courses, earn credentials, graduate, and enter the workforce equipped to contribute to America\u2019s advanced manufacturing future.\n\nDepartment of Education Title III: $3 million to increase access to skilled trades and next generation technology\n\nAlfred State College has been awarded $1,797,430 for this year, and a total of 3 million over 5 years, will strengthen skilled-trades education by investing in modern equipment, advanced technology, and updating to industry-standard laboratories to prepare students for the next generation of American manufacturing and construction. The initiative will create a smart campus with connected classrooms, upgraded technology infrastructure, AI-integrated curriculum, and opportunities for students to learn directly from industry leaders across the country. By combining hands-on training with expanded tutoring, coaching, financial literacy, and access to tools and technology, the grant will help more students successfully complete their programs and enter the workforce with the skills needed to compete in a rapidly evolving American economy.", 1, "2026-09-29T11:07:12Z", "2026-09-29T11:08:49Z"], ["https://langworthy.house.gov/media/press-releases/congressman-nick-langworthy-proudly-announces-218000-federal-assistance-fire", "Congressman Nick Langworthy Proudly Announces  $218,000 in Federal Assistance for Fire Departments in Chautauqua and Cattaraugus Counties", "2026-09-28", "2026", "2026-09", "Republican", "House", "NY", "Nicholas A. Langworthy", "L000600", "langworthy.house.gov", "langworthy", "https://langworthy.house.gov/media/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON, D.C. \u2013 Today, Congressman Nick Langworthy (NY-23) announced $218,844 in federal moneys headed to 3 fire departments in Chautauqua and Cattaraugus Counties through the FEMA AFG Grant Program. Congressman Langworthy was proud to support the funding of this important program and has long been a vocal advocate in favor of federal investment in our local first responders. In June this year, Congressman Langworthy hosted FEMA AFT for a virtual grant writing seminar to make applying easier for our local departments.\n\n\u201cOur firefighters are true heroes, and I am proud to announce that $218,844 is on its way to upgrade the safety equipment and technology that keeps our communities safe,\u201d said Congressman Nick Langworthy. \u201cThis direct federal investment will give our firefighters critical equipment upgrades including turn out gear, air packs, or other critical equipment that means the world in the heat of crisis. When our firefighters answer the call, I want them to have the support they deserve to do the job safely. As I meet with firefighters across the district, I hear repeatedly how important congressional support for this is, and I am proud to be a loud advocate.\u201d\n\nAccording to FEMA, the primary goal of these grants is to enhance the safety and effectiveness of first responders while also improving their ability to respond to emergencies and disasters. They aim to address the evolving needs of first responders, from advanced equipment acquisition and updating aging vehicles to safety improvement and training programs.\n\nDetails on the grants are below:\n\nCHAUTAUQUA COUNTY\n\nKIANTONE INDEPENDENT FIRE DEPARTMENT\u200b\u200b $50,988\n\nSINCLAIRVILLE VOLUNTEER FIRE CO. NO. 1, INC. $97,142\n\nCATTARAUGUS COUNTY\n\nCITY OF OLEAN \u200b\u200b\u200b\u200b\u200b\u200b$70,714", 1, "2026-09-29T11:07:12Z", "2026-09-29T11:08:49Z"], ["https://lawler.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=6556", "Lawler Urges Administration to Strengthen Head Start in New Rule", "2026-09-28", "2026", "2026-09", "Republican", "House", "NY", "Michael Lawler", "L000599", "lawler.house.gov", "lawler", "https://lawler.house.gov/news/documentquery.aspx?DocumentTypeID=27", "scraper", "Washington, D.C. \u2013 9/28/26\u2026 Today, Congressman Mike Lawler (NY-17) submitted a public comment on the Administration for Children and Families\u2019 (ACF) Proposed Rule titled \u201cReducing Federal Burden for Head Start Program, Inc.\u201d In this letter, he strongly urged the Administration to revise the proposal to ensure the sustainability, financial security, and success of Head Start programs nationwide.\n\nOn August 7, 2026, the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) and ACF proposed sweeping new regulations that would undermine and weaken Head Start, one of our most substantial and successful government programs. This proposal would require English-only education, lower the cap on federal funding for administrative expenses, lower the quality of the program\u2019s performance standards, remove training requirements for staff, adjust the required staff-to-child ratios, and remove regulations governing parent committees.\n\n\u201c[T]he Proposed Rule, as currently written, would weaken the Head Start program as a whole and result in the reduction of quality services offered to low-income children and families in New York and across the country. We can reduce unnecessary bureaucracy and be responsible stewards of federal dollars without compromising sound care for children. Health and safety should not be where we seek savings or efficiencies,\u201d wrote the lawmaker.\n\nWhile some of the proposed changes include waiver provisions to provide exceptions to impacted programs or allow for programs to continue following prior guidance without enforcement or include waiver provisions to provide exceptions to impacted programs, that is not enough. Oversight and community investment often vary, and they often do not meet the high-quality standards required in existing federal regulation.\n\nRep. Lawler has been a longtime partner with and advocate for Head Start of Rockland, Inc. Over the last 62 years, this program has provided high-quality services to tens of thousands of children across the county. He has advocated for increased funding to Head Start programs and supported additional funding opportunities for Head Start of Rockland specifically.\n\nThe full letter can be found HERE.\n\nCongressman Lawler is one of the most bipartisan members of Congress and represents New York's 17th Congressional District, which is just north of New York City and contains all or parts of Rockland, Putnam, Dutchess, and Westchester Counties. He was rated the most effective freshman lawmaker in the 118th Congress, 8th overall, surpassing dozens of committee chairs.\n\n###", 1, "2026-09-29T11:07:12Z", "2026-09-29T11:08:49Z"], ["https://mace.house.gov/media/press-releases/rep-nancy-mace-introduces-bill-shine-light-pesticide-use-federal-land", "Rep. Nancy Mace Introduces Bill to Shine a Light on Pesticide Use on Federal Land", "2026-09-28", "2026", "2026-09", "Republican", "House", "SC", "Nancy Mace", "M000194", "mace.house.gov", "mace", "https://mace.house.gov/media/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON, D.C. (Sept. 28, 2026) \u2013 Congresswoman Nancy Mace (SC-01) today introduced the Pesticide Transparency on Federal Land Act, legislation requiring federal agencies to publicly disclose pesticide applications on federal land, providing needed transparency to taxpayer-funded land and facilities.\n\nThe legislation directs the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to establish a publicly accessible database documenting pesticide applications on federal land. Federal agencies would then be required to report pesticide use within five days, including where the pesticide was applied, the active ingredient used, the date of application, and the purpose of the application.\n\n\"Washington does not get to spray chemicals on federal land while keeping you in the dark,\" said Congresswoman Mace. \"Americans own these lands. If a federal agency applies a pesticide next to your home, your school, or your water, you have a right to know where, when, why, and what is being used. Transparency does not stop at the gates of federal property, and it is not optional when it comes to the health of our families.\"\n\nIn addition to requiring future reporting, the bill also makes previously compiled federal pesticide application data publicly available through the EPA's database. The legislation includes a limited and commonsense exemption for information whose disclosure would harm national security, while requiring agencies to continue reporting the information to EPA and notify Congress when such an exemption is used.\n\nUnder the Pesticide Transparency on Federal Land Act, the public database would include:\n\nThe entity applying the pesticide;\n\nThe location of the application, including geographic coordinates;\n\nThe specific pesticide and its active ingredient;\n\nThe date of the application; and\n\nThe purpose of the application.\n\nThis bill builds on Rep. Mace's ongoing work to bring accountability and transparency to pesticide use, including the Pesticide Harm Accountability Act and the SOUND Pesticide Research Act.\n\nSEE BILL TEXT BELOW:\n\n###", 1, "2026-09-29T11:07:12Z", "2026-09-29T11:08:49Z"], ["https://mikejohnson.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=2937", "Speaker Johnson: This Election is a Contrast Between Common Sense and Crazy; and Common Sense is On Our Side", "2026-09-28", "2026", "2026-09", "Republican", "House", "LA", "Mike Johnson", "J000299", "mikejohnson.house.gov", "mikejohnson", "https://mikejohnson.house.gov/media/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON \u2014 This morning, Speaker Johnson joined Mornings with Fox Business with Cheryl Casone in-studio to discuss President Trump convening AI leaders, striking a responsible balance between AI progress and the concerns of everyday Americans, and Republicans defying history in the midterms.\n\n\u201cOur candidates are right there every day, and they're talking to their constituents in common sense. This is a contrast election between common sense and crazy. Common sense is on our side\u2026\u201d Speaker Johnson said.\n\nWatch the full interview here.\n\nOn convening AI leaders:\n\nWell, let me put it simply. This meeting tomorrow has been a long time coming in my view. I've talked to the president about it several times. He's the only one that has the gravitas to be able to pull them all together. The leaders of all the different AI platforms all have different ideas and prescriptions on what the supposed guardrail should be. Now, your point that you started with here is the right one. They have a corporate responsibility, as every corporation does, to create safe products, right? And there's product liabilities laws that apply and a labyrinth of federal regulations on all this stuff already. We do not need a moratorium. We do not need to jump in and hyperregulate this because we'll lose the race to China. The innovation is important to continue, but we have to strike the right balance.\n\nOn Republicans working to defy history:\n\nI'm telling you that we can win the midterms, and I am very bullish about that. I believe we're going to defy the historic trend. Remember, it's only happened twice in 90 years that a sitting President's picked up seats for his party. But this election is unlike any other. This is not our father's Democratic Party. They're going full Marxist, socialist, communist on the other side, and that helps us in this race. We have better candidates. We have a fundraising advantage for the first time in many, many years. And we're making that case. And so, in the 22 districts that I believe are going to decide this \u2013 remember that President Trump won 21 of those 22 districts just two years ago \u2013 we have a lot of tailwinds that the media's not given us cover for. Remember, the mainstream media is trying to advance the false narrative of the Democrats, but we're running our race. Our candidates are right there every day, and they're talking to their constituents in common sense. This is a contrast election between common sense and crazy. Common sense is on our side.\n\n###", 1, "2026-09-29T11:07:12Z", "2026-09-29T11:08:49Z"], ["https://morgangriffith.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=405839", "Griffith Announces $191,331 HHS Grant to Biotherapeutics, Inc.", "2026-09-28", "2026", "2026-09", "Republican", "House", "VA", "H. Morgan Griffith", "G000568", "morgangriffith.house.gov", "morgangriffith", "https://morgangriffith.house.gov/news/", "scraper", "The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) has awarded Biotherapeutics, Inc., based in Blacksburg, Virginia, a $191,331 grant. The funding supports research into therapies for psoriasis. In response to this grant notice, U.S. Congressman Morgan Griffith (R-VA) issued the following statement:\n\n\u201cPsoriasis is a skin disease that affects millions of Americans.\n\n\u201cThis grant for more than $191,000 helps Biotherapeutics, Inc. study a first-in-class treatment for psoriasis.\u201d\n\nBACKGROUND\n\nAs a member of the House Committee on Energy and Commerce, Congressman Griffith serves as the Chairman of the Health Subcommittee.\n\nLast week, Congressman Griffith announced a separate $500,000 HHS grant to Biotherapeutics, Inc.\n\n###", 1, "2026-09-29T11:07:12Z", "2026-09-29T11:08:49Z"], ["https://nunn.house.gov/2026/09/28/nunn-welcomes-1700-jobs-and-15-billion-steel-investment-coming-to-iowa/", "Nunn Welcomes 1,700 Jobs and $15 Billion Steel Investment Coming to Iowa", "2026-09-28", "2026", "2026-09", "Republican", "House", "IA", "Zachary Nunn", "N000193", "nunn.house.gov", "nunn", "https://nunn.house.gov/category/news/press-releases/", "scraper", "DES MOINES, IA \u2014 Representative Zach Nunn (IA-03) today welcomed Mesabi Metallics\u2019 announcement of a $15 billion steel manufacturing complex in Lee County, a project expected to create 1,700 good-paying Iowa jobs. Rep. Nunn joined Congresswoman Ashley Hinson (IA-02), Senators Chuck Grassley and Joni Ernst, and Representatives Mariannette Miller-Meeks (IA-01) and Randy Feenstra (IA-04) in releasing the following statement:\n\n\u201cThis historic investment is a major win for Iowa workers and further cements Iowa\u2019s role in the future of American manufacturing.\n\n\u201cAs the largest steel plant investment in U.S. history, this project will create approximately 1,700 good-paying Iowa jobs, create new opportunities for Iowa families, and drive economic growth. Iowa has the workforce, work ethic, resources, and business climate to compete with anyone, and we are proud to welcome this project to our state.\n\n\u201cThe administration\u2019s pro-American manufacturing policies are incentivizing companies to invest, build, and create jobs in the U.S. We thank Governor Reynolds for her leadership in making Iowa a great place to do business and ensuring our state benefits from these policies by attracting transformational investments like this one.\u201d\n\nExpanding pathways into skilled trades careers has been a top priority for Rep. Nunn in Congress, building the workforce that investments like this one need across all of Iowa. He has secured nearly $5 million in federal funding for workforce training at Des Moines Area Community College, Iowa Western Community College, and Indian Hills Community College, including renovated and expanded skilled trades labs at Iowa Western\u2019s Atlantic and Clarinda Rural Centers. He is also leading the bipartisan PARTNERS Act to expand apprenticeship partnerships between small businesses, community colleges, and workforce training providers.\n\n###", 1, "2026-09-29T11:07:12Z", "2026-09-29T11:08:49Z"], ["https://rouzer.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=3239", "Rouzer Celebrates Investment in ILM Aircraft Apron Expansion...", "2026-09-28", "2026", "2026-09", "Republican", "House", "NC", "David Rouzer", "R000603", "rouzer.house.gov", "rouzer", "https://rouzer.house.gov/press-releases", "scraper", "WILMINGTON, NC - Congressman David Rouzer (NC-07) applauded a $3 million Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) grant to expand the aircraft apron at Wilmington International Airport (ILM).\n\nThe Airport Improvement Program (AIP) funding will support ILM\u2019s apron expansion, the first phase of a broader terminal expansion project that will ultimately add additional gates, improve aircraft parking and maneuvering, and position the airport to accommodate continued passenger and airline growth.\n\n\"Southeastern North Carolina relies on Wilmington International Airport to connect our community and support our growing economy,\" said Congressman Rouzer. \"This investment is a major step toward ensuring ILM can accommodate continued growth and better serve our community for years to come. I'll keep working to enhance ILM\u2019s advancement as well as our other infrastructure needs.\u201d\n\n\u201cWe\u2019re thrilled to see this investment at ILM,\u201d said Jeffrey Bourk, ILM Airport Director. \u201cOur airport has grown tremendously in recent years, and the work ahead will allow us to keep pace with the region. We thank Congressman Rouzer for his continued advocacy and support for ILM. With this funding, we can modernize our infrastructure to provide the safe, efficient service our community and passengers expect.\"\n\nAIP funding supports airport infrastructure projects, including runways, taxiways, signage, lighting, markings, and other improvements that promote safe and efficient airport operations.", 1, "2026-09-29T11:07:12Z", "2026-09-29T11:08:49Z"], ["https://salazar.house.gov/media/press-releases/salazar-joins-mount-sinai-new-emergency-center-opening-highlights-healthcare", "SALAZAR JOINS MOUNT SINAI FOR NEW EMERGENCY CENTER OPENING, HIGHLIGHTS HEALTHCARE RECORD", "2026-09-28", "2026", "2026-09", "Republican", "House", "FL", "Maria Elvira Salazar", "S000168", "salazar.house.gov", "salazar", "https://salazar.house.gov/media/press-releases", "scraper", "MIAMI, Fla. \u2014 U.S. Representative Mar\u00eda Elvira Salazar (FL-27) joined Mount Sinai Medical Center leaders, healthcare professionals, and members of the South Florida community for the ribbon cutting of Mount Sinai\u2019s new Emergency Center in Westchester, located in Florida\u2019s 27th Congressional District.\n\nThe new four-story facility will expand access to emergency treatment, advanced diagnostic imaging, and behavioral health services for families in Westchester and surrounding communities. It is scheduled to open to patients in October.\n\n\u201cQuality healthcare has to be both accessible and affordable,\u201d said Rep. Salazar. \u201cThat means having excellent care close to home, enough doctors to see patients, access to the treatments people need, and costs families can actually afford. I am proud to join Mount Sinai for this important expansion and will continue working across the aisle to strengthen healthcare for South Florida.\u201d\n\n\"When we broke ground here, we made a commitment to the Westchester community that nationally recognized care was coming. Today, it is here,\u201d said Gino R. Santorio, President and CEO of Mount Sinai Medical Center. \u201cFamilies in this community now have emergency care close to home, with advanced imaging on site so patients get answers during their visit rather than a referral and a second trip. And this is only the beginning. We are grateful to Congresswoman Salazar for standing with us today and for her continued support of Mount Sinai and the patients we serve across South Florida.\"\n\nThe Emergency Center marks the first phase of Mount Sinai\u2019s broader expansion at the site. Future phases are expected to add inpatient and observation beds, surgical services, cardiac care, and additional specialty services.\n\nSALAZAR\u2019S RECORD ON HEALTHCARE\n\nIn Congress, Rep. Salazar has built a bipartisan healthcare record focused on lowering costs, expanding access, strengthening the medical workforce, and bringing federal healthcare investments home to South Florida.\n\nShe has secured nearly $15 million in direct federal investments for healthcare and medical research in South Florida, including:\n\n$7.65 million for resilience improvements at Mount Sinai Medical Center to help protect critical hospital operations during hurricanes and other emergencies.\n\n$2.5 million for Banyan Community Health Center to expand access to care in underserved communities.\n\n$1 million for Nicklaus Children\u2019s Hospital to expand pediatric mental-health care, plus $450,000 for genetic testing to help doctors identify safer and more effective medicines for children.\n\n$3.13 million for Florida International University to advance cancer research and precision medicine.\n\nSalazar has also worked across the aisle to make healthcare more affordable for working families, supporting efforts to lower insurance premiums, prescription-drug costs, and out-of-pocket expenses while expanding access to Health Savings Accounts.\n\nShe has made addressing healthcare-worker shortages another priority, working across the aisle to strengthen South Florida\u2019s healthcare workforce and pushing for continued funding for programs that train doctors in community-based and underserved settings.\n\nHer healthcare work also includes efforts to improve cancer screening and early detection, expand care for patients with rare diseases, strengthen pediatric genomic testing, and support mental-health and addiction-treatment services.\n\nThe $7.65 million Salazar previously secured for Mount Sinai supported resilience improvements at its Miami Beach medical center and is separate from the new Emergency Center.", 1, "2026-09-29T11:07:12Z", "2026-09-29T11:08:49Z"], ["https://stauber.house.gov/media/press-releases/stauber-introduces-legislation-create-transparency-voter-vouching", "Stauber Introduces Legislation to Create Transparency on Voter Vouching", "2026-09-28", "2026", "2026-09", "Republican", "House", "MN", "Pete Stauber", "S001212", "stauber.house.gov", "stauber", "https://stauber.house.gov/media/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON, D.C. \u2013 Today, Congressman Pete Stauber (MN-08), along with Majority Whip Tom Emmer, Congresswoman Michelle Fischbach, and Congressman Brad Finstad, introduced the Voter Voucher Transparency Act, legislation that will create a standardized federal reporting requirement so the public can see how often voter vouching is used in federal elections.\n\nSpecifically, this legislation would require states to report the number of individuals who registered to vote using a voucher, the total number of voters who served as vouchers, the number of individuals vouched for by each voucher, and the number of attempted vouching registrations that were not accepted, including the reasons for denial.\n\nOf his legislation, Congressman Stauber stated, \u201cUnder Democrat leadership, Minnesota became ground zero for welfare fraud, so it should come as no surprise that these same Democrat leaders are also enabling election fraud through the state\u2019s controversial voter vouching system. Allowing one person to vouch for up to eight voters creates an environment where illegal immigrants can easily cast ballots. This is wrong, and it is un-American. Unfortunately, Minnesota Secretary of State Steve Simon has done everything in his power to prevent transparency on this issue. We can\u2019t fix what we can\u2019t measure, which is why I am proud to introduce legislation requiring a federal reporting requirement on voter vouching to understand the full scope of the issue here in Minnesota and nationwide. Only Americans should decide the outcome of U.S. elections, and I will not stop fighting until election integrity is restored.\u201d\n\nIn the state of Minnesota, an individual seeking to become registered to vote on Election Day can confirm their residency simply by having a registered voter \u201cvouch\u201d for them. Registered voters can vouch for up to eight people, and staff at residential facilities can vouch for an unlimited number of facility residents. Compounding this issue, Governor Walz also signed the \u201cDriver\u2019s Licenses for All\u201d bill into law, allowing individuals to obtain a standard driver\u2019s license or state ID regardless of their immigration status.", 1, "2026-09-29T11:07:12Z", "2026-09-29T11:08:49Z"], ["https://stauber.house.gov/media/press-releases/stauber-statement-mesabi-metallics-plan-build-15-billion-steel-mill-iowa", "Stauber Statement on Mesabi Metallics\u2019 Plan to Build a $15 Billion Steel Mill in Iowa", "2026-09-28", "2026", "2026-09", "Republican", "House", "MN", "Pete Stauber", "S001212", "stauber.house.gov", "stauber", "https://stauber.house.gov/media/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON, D.C. \u2013 Congressman Pete Stauber (MN-08) made the following statement in response to today\u2019s announcement that Mesabi Metallics plans to build a $15 billion steel mill in Iowa. This will be the largest steel plant in U.S. history and is expected to produce 7.5 million or more tons of steel each year while employing as many as 1,700 workers.\n\n\u201cI am proud that Mesabi Metallics recently opened their new mine in Minnesota\u2019s Eighth Congressional District \u2013 the first new mine to be built on the Iron Range in over 50 years. Furthermore, I appreciate the President\u2019s commitment to revitalize America\u2019s steel industry and am excited that the taconite produced on Minnesota\u2019s Mighty Iron Range will play a vital role in that national effort.\n\n\u201cHowever, building this facility in Iowa is a missed opportunity for Northern Minnesota. The hardworking union men and women on the Iron Range stood ready to build, operate, and support a facility of this scale. Yet, their state leaders failed them. While Iowa\u2019s leaders have fostered a pro-growth environment that attracts investment and jobs, the Walz-Flanagan Administration have done the opposite. Their abysmal leadership has driven away opportunity through hostility to industry and indifference to the Iron Range. They shoulder all the blame for this 15-billion-dollar project, along with its 1,700 family-sustaining jobs, going to our neighbor to the south.\n\n\u201cMinnesota cannot afford more of the same. We need state leaders who make Minnesota a place that welcomes investment and the jobs that come with it, not a place that is repeatedly overlooked because it continues to chase investment away.\"\n\n###", 1, "2026-09-29T11:07:12Z", "2026-09-29T11:08:49Z"], ["https://vandrew.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=2099", "Congressman Van Drew Issues Statement on FCC Review of Verizon Copper Service Proposal", "2026-09-28", "2026", "2026-09", "Republican", "House", "NJ", "Jefferson Van Drew", "V000133", "vandrew.house.gov", "vandrew", "https://vandrew.house.gov/media/press-releases", "scraper", "Washington, DC -Today, Congressman Van Drew welcomed the Federal Communications Commission's (FCC) decision to prevent Verizon's application to discontinue copper-based telephone service in portions of New Jersey from being automatically approved while the Commission conducts further review. Earlier this month, Congressman Van Drew sent a letter to FCC Chairman Brendan Carr urging the Commission to reject Verizon's proposal.\n\n\"This is a good first step, and I appreciate Chairman Carr and the FCC for taking these concerns seriously,\" said Congressman Van Drew. \"People across South Jersey reached out to us because they are genuinely worried about losing a service they still depend on, especially in rural areas where cell coverage is not always reliable. I will continue working with Chairman Carr and the FCC as they review this proposal, and I am still asking that it ultimately be rejected.\"", 1, "2026-09-29T11:07:12Z", "2026-09-29T11:08:49Z"], ["https://walberg.house.gov/media/press-releases/walberg-colleagues-introduce-bipartisan-bicameral-legislation-bolster-great", "Walberg, Colleagues Introduce Bipartisan, Bicameral Legislation to Bolster Great Lakes Conservation Efforts", "2026-09-28", "2026", "2026-09", "Republican", "House", "MI", "Tim Walberg", "W000798", "walberg.house.gov", "walberg", "https://walberg.house.gov/media/press-releases", "scraper", "Today, Representatives Tim Walberg (R-MI), Marcy Kaptur (D-OH), Bill Huizenga (R-MI), Debbie Dingell (D-MI), David Joyce (R-OH), Haley Stevens (D-MI), Tom Barrett (R-MI), and Hillary Scholten (D-MI) introduced the Regional Great Lakes Partnership Act, a bipartisan, bicameral bill to bolster federal support for Great Lakes research and conservation. This legislation designates the Great Lakes Commission (GLC) as the official Regional Great Lakes Partnership within the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration\u2019s (NOAA) Regional Ocean Partnerships Program.\n\nThis designation ensures that the Great Lakes region receives a fair share of program funding, delivering federal resources to support the GLC\u2019s longstanding work to coordinate Great Lakes research and conservation efforts.\n\n\"As the largest freshwater system in the world, the Great Lakes are central to Michigan\u2019s economy, identity, and long\u2011term prosperity,\u201d said Rep. Walberg. \"The bipartisan Regional Great Lakes Partnership Act ensures the region receives its fair share of federal support, strengthening the research and conservation work needed to protect this indispensable resource. We must equip our partners with the tools necessary to safeguard the waters and communities that rely on a healthy Great Lakes ecosystem.\"\n\n\"As a Co-Chair of the bipartisan Congressional Great Lakes Task Force, I helped introduce this legislation to close a gap in a national program that benefits only coastal ocean states. The bill continues our work together to ensure the Federal Government levels the playing field to commit equivalent, well\u2011deserved resources to our Great Lakes region,\" said Rep. Kaptur. \"The Great Lakes are central and essential to Northwest Ohio\u2019s livelihood and economic wellbeing, and enabling the Great Lakes Commission to participate in this NOAA program will strengthen data sharing, enhance information access, and improve management of our coastal and ecosystem resources. In Lake Erie\u2019s Western Basin, home to the shallowest and southernmost shoreline in the Great Lakes system, we face these challenges in real ways and will continue to lead in advancing research and information exchange for the benefit of our entire region.\"\n\n\"As Co-Chair of the bipartisan Congressional Great Lakes Task Force, I have made it my mission to have the federal government recognize the Great Lakes as a national priority,\" said. Rep. Huizenga. \"The Regional Great Lakes Partnership Act furthers this objective by enhancing the Great Lakes Commission\u2019s steadfast work to protect and conserve Michigan\u2019s most valuable natural resource.\"\n\n\"The Great Lakes and their connected waterways are invaluable resources for Michigan and the United States,\" said Rep. Dingell. \"As a co-chair of the Congressional Great Lakes Task Force, I am proud to help introduce this bipartisan bill to strengthen federal support for Great Lakes research and conservation for future generations to enjoy these national treasures.\"\n\n\"The Great Lakes are a critical resource for the economies and communities that surround them,\" said Rep. Joyce. \"As Co-Chair of the Congressional Great Lakes Task Force, I am proud to be an original co-sponsor of this bipartisan legislation, which will strengthen federal partnerships and expand funding opportunities to advance the research, coordination, and conservation efforts needed to protect the Great Lakes \u2014 ensuring they remain a resource our communities can rely on for generations to come.\"\n\n\"Michigan is the Great Lakes state, period. Jobs, recreation, and tourism across the Midwest depend on a healthy and flourishing Great Lakes ecosystem,\" said Rep. Stevens. \"I\u2019m proud to work alongside my colleagues of both parties to ensure that Michigan receives our fair share of federal investment that will protect and preserve our Lakes for generations to come.\"\n\n\"Protecting the Great Lakes means protecting our water, wildlife, and communities throughout the region,\" said Rep. Barrett. \"This bipartisan legislation will help bring federal resources to the table and strengthen the partnerships already working to preserve our state's natural resources. I\u2019m proud to work with colleagues from across the region to ensure our Great Lakes remain healthy for generations to come.\"\n\n\"As the largest freshwater system in the world, the Great Lakes are one of Michigan\u2019s greatest assets,\" said Rep. Scholten. \"I\u2019m proud to join my colleagues on both sides of the aisle in supporting the Regional Great Lakes Partnership Act. This commonsense bill will strengthen the research and coordination that keeps the Great Lakes region healthy. Investing in our Great Lakes is investing in our future, and it\u2019s crucial that we conserve this resource for the next generation.\"\n\n\"The Great Lakes Commission is grateful to Rep. Walberg for introducing this important legislation to designate the GLC as a regional partnership for the Great Lakes,\" said GLC Chair Timothy Bruno, Great Lakes Program Coordinator at the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection. \"This designation will allow the agency to build on its more than 70 years of regional leadership \u2014 fostering dialogue, building consensus, and advancing coordinated solutions to the Great Lakes\u2019 most pressing challenges \u2014 to ensure the Great Lakes region continues to speak with a strong, unified voice. We look forward to working with our partners to realize the full benefits of this program for the region.\"\n\nBackground\n\nThe Great Lakes Commission (GLC) brings together eight U.S. states and two Canadian provinces to protect the Great Lakes and promote economic growth in the Great Lakes basin. The GLC is composed of the States of Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, Minnesota, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, and Wisconsin.\n\nNOAA\u2019s Regional Ocean Partnerships (ROPs) coordinate interstate ocean and coastal resource management efforts and create opportunities for increased efficiency and cost-effectiveness. Although NOAA administers four Regional Ocean Partnerships (ROPs) across the Northeast, Mid\u2011Atlantic, Gulf, and West Coast, the Great Lakes currently lack an ROP. Designating the GLC as the region\u2019s ROP will ensure the Great Lakes region receives its fair share of program funding.\n\nCompanion legislation, introduced in the Senate by U.S. Senators Gary Peters (D-MI) and Bernie Moreno (R-OH), has been advanced by the Senate Commerce, Science, and Transportation Committee.", 1, "2026-09-29T11:07:12Z", "2026-09-29T11:08:49Z"], ["https://westerman.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/westerman-cosponsors-introduction-bipartisan-legislation-support", "Westerman Cosponsors the Introduction of Bipartisan Legislation to Support Veterans' Right to Build Their Own Homes", "2026-09-28", "2026", "2026-09", "Republican", "House", "AR", "Bruce Westerman", "W000821", "westerman.house.gov", "westerman", "https://westerman.house.gov/media-center/press-releases", "scraper", "This week, Reps. Bruce Westerman (R-AR) and Marie Gluesenkamp Perez (D-WA) introduced the Veterans Owner-Builders\u2019 Rights Act to expand VA home loans and provide rural veterans with the ability to use a VA home loan to build their own homes. This bill would establish a five-year pilot program under the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) to make direct housing loans to veterans in rural areas for the construction of new homes.\n\n\u201cStable, reliable housing directly contributes to the health and well-being of our veterans. Unfortunately, high construction costs and interest rates keep many from investing in their future as homeowners,\u201d said Congressman Westerman. \u201cBy working directly with the VA to expand construction loan access and investing in the domestic building materials we have in our own backyard, this bill initiates an innovative pilot program that lowers housing costs and provides more access for our veterans in addition to supporting rural America and bolstering our domestic wood supply chain. I\u2019m grateful for the opportunity to work alongside my colleague from Washington to deliver real, bipartisan solutions that address the needs of our veteran community.\u201d\n\n\u201cBuilding our own home was one of the hardest and most rewarding things I\u2019ve ever done. While many vets have the relevant skills, they functionally can\u2019t use their VA home loans and leverage their skills to build a home. In fact, only 30% of vets use their VA home loans at all,\u201d said Congresswoman Gluesenkamp Perez. \u201cMy bill creates a pilot program for rural vets to use provided blueprints and expedited permitting to start building wealth and community-while increasing the housing supply for all of us.\u201d\n\nBackground:\n\nAs the U.S. continues to face a shortage of starter homes, giving veterans the flexibility to build a home creates a new path to home ownership. In rural communities especially, housing demand frequently outpaces construction. Many veterans already have the skills and knowledge to build a home, but without benefits that give them the freedom to use those skills, they don\u2019t have an opportunity to build. This means veterans are forced into a narrow band of options for how to use VA home loans. As a result, only about 30% of veterans use VA home loans. Owner-builder opportunities, like the ones this bill creates, simultaneously build wealth for veterans and their families, while adding to the overall housing supply.\n\nSpecifically, this legislation would:\n\nCreate a new direct home loan program at VA for rural veterans who want to build their own homes, utilizing the framework and eligibility requirements of an existing VA direct home loan program;\n\nProvide blueprints with American wood sourcing and manufacturing requirements to stimulate domestic timber economies;\n\nStreamline the permitting application process by requiring permit furnishment within 45 days of submission and covering all associated fees;\n\nProvide technical assistance for veterans through the VA or a contracted third party related to the skills necessary to construct or repair a home, as well as for the permit application process; and\n\nSafeguard against home-flippers by requiring the veteran to live in the home for at least two years or otherwise accelerate repayment of their loan.", 1, "2026-09-29T11:07:12Z", "2026-09-29T11:08:49Z"], ["https://wittman.house.gov/newsroom/press-releases/congressman-wittman-earns-a-for-representing-va-01-a-for-bipartisan-leadership", "Congressman Wittman Earns A+ for Representing VA-01, A for Bipartisan Leadership", "2026-09-28", "2026", "2026-09", "Republican", "House", "VA", "Robert J. Wittman", "W000804", "wittman.house.gov", "wittman", "https://wittman.house.gov/newsroom/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON, D.C. \u2013 Congressman Rob Wittman (VA-01) highlighted two recent recognitions of his work in Congress: an \u201cA+\u201d District-Based Grade and District Excellence Award from the Institute for Legislative Analysis and an \u201cA\u201d Bridge Grade recognizing his bipartisan and collaborative work.\n\nTogether, the recognitions reflect Wittman\u2019s approach to representing Virginia\u2019s First District: knowing the communities he serves, standing up for their priorities, and working across the aisle when necessary to deliver results.\n\n\u201cRepresenting Virginia\u2019s First District has never been about checking a partisan box\u2014it is about listening to the people I represent and getting things done for them,\u201d said Rep. Wittman. \u201cI\u2019m honored to receive both of these recognitions because they reflect two principles I have always tried to bring to this job: staying grounded in the priorities of our district and being willing to work with anyone who is serious about solving problems.\u201d\n\nThe Institute for Legislative Analysis presented Wittman with its District Excellence Award after he earned an \u201cA+\u201d under its District-Based Grading system, which evaluates a Member\u2019s voting record in the context of the congressional district he or she represents.\n\nThe organization specifically cited Wittman\u2019s work to strengthen military readiness, protect taxpayers, and stand up for service members and families across Virginia\u2019s First District.\n\nWittman also earned an \u201cA\u201d rating from Bridge Grades, which evaluates Members of Congress on collaborative governance, bipartisan legislative work, coalition-building, and rhetoric.\n\n\u201cWhether we are strengthening our military, protecting the Chesapeake Bay, improving health care, modernizing infrastructure, supporting our veterans, or lowering costs for families, my focus is on results,\u201d Wittman continued.\n\n\u201cExperience matters. Leadership matters. But ultimately, what matters most is what you do with them. I will continue putting Virginia\u2019s First District first and working to deliver for the people who sent me to Washington.\"\n\nBackground:\n\nThe Institute for Legislative Analysis\u2019 District-Based Grading system compares congressional voting records with an estimate of the political and ideological makeup of each Member\u2019s district. Wittman received an A+ and the organization\u2019s District Excellence Award.\n\nBridge Grades evaluates Members based on legislative collaboration and public rhetoric, including cross-partisan bill sponsorship and coalition-building. Wittman received an A for the 119th Congress.", 1, "2026-09-29T11:07:12Z", "2026-09-29T11:08:49Z"], ["https://www.banks.senate.gov/news/press-releases/fox-news-exclusive-massive-ice-sweep-fuels-gop-push-to-lock-trump-immigration-crackdown-into-law/", "FOX NEWS\u00a0EXCLUSIVE:\u00a0Massive ICE Sweep Fuels GOP Push to Lock Trump Immigration Crackdown into Law", "2026-09-28", "2026", "2026-09", "Republican", "Senate", "IN", "Jim Banks", "B001299", "www.banks.senate.gov", "banks", "https://www.banks.senate.gov/news/press-releases/", "scraper", "Banks warns aggressive executive enforcement today won\u2019t survive a future administration without new legislation\n\nClick here to read the full story or read below.\n\nEXCLUSIVE: A massive five- day ICE operation that netted 426 arrests across Indiana is fueling Hoosier Sen. Jim Banks\u2019 push for Congress to cement President Donald Trump\u2019s immigration crackdown into law before a future administration can reverse course.\n\nBanks hailed \u201cOperation Safe Community: Indiana\u201d in a Fox News Digital interview this week after federal immigration officers fanned out across his home state from Aug. 30 through Sept. 3, arresting 426 people with records involving sex crimes, assault, domestic violence, drug trafficking and weapons offenses, according to ICE.\n\n\u201cThis is why Donald Trump was elected in 2024: for mass deportation,\u201d Banks told Fox News Digital. \u201cIt was one of his key agenda items during the campaign. And in this case in Indiana, you see the direct result of it.\u201d\n\nICE also credited cooperation with state and local law enforcement agencies in carrying out the operation, something Republicans have flagged as a key aspect to successful enforcement.\n\nBut Banks argued the operation also underscores a limitation of Trump\u2019s crackdown: aggressive executive enforcement today does not guarantee that the same immigration policies survive the next administration.\n\n\u201cIt is important that we codify Trump border security measures and tough-on-immigration policies and make them the law of the land,\u201d he said.\n\nThe busts build on the lawmaker\u2019s seven-bill immigration package, previously reported by Fox News Digital, which targets issues including birthright citizenship, family-based immigration, H-1B visas, noncitizens\u2019 CDLs and congressional authority over Temporary Protected Status (TPS) to limit judicial intervention.\n\n\u201cIf this could happen in Indiana, it could happen anywhere,\u201d he added, arguing that the opposition has made it tougher to achieve immigration goals after displacing ICE from the 2025 immigration appropriations legislation.\n\n\u201cThey\u2019ve made that one of their biggest priorities in this Congress to defund our federal law enforcement, to stop ICE from doing their job, to deport violent criminals who are here illegally,\u201d he said.\n\n\u201cSo it is important that we codify Trump border security measures and tough-on-immigration policies and make them the law of the land so that the next time, God forbid, a Joe Biden ever gets elected back to the White House or someone that comes from that radical wing of the Democrat Party\u2026\u201d\n\nBanks also directed his frustration at his own party, criticizing the Republican-led Senate for failing to advance separate election legislation that he says should be another priority.\n\nMany on the right have pressed for passage of the SAVE Act, a bill requiring documentary proof of U.S. citizenship to register to vote in federal elections.\n\n\u201cThat\u2019s one of my biggest disappointments with this Republican Senate \u2013 we haven\u2019t passed [it],\u201d he said.\n\n\u201cI hope by the end of the year that we can find a way to pass it. I\u2019m going to keep fighting for it, but at the end of the day, the Trump administration and the Department of Justice is doing a lot crack down on illegals voting in our elections.\u201d\n\nIn a separate Indiana case, DHS arrested an illegal immigrant on Sept. 18 who had entered the U.S. during the Obama administration and later cast a federal ballot.\n\nICE Enforcement Division Assistant Director Patricia Hyde said the right to vote is the \u201ccornerstone of democracy\u201d in announcing the capture of Guatemalan national Helda Mendez-Merida for \u201cpoisoning our elections.\u201d\n\n\u201cWe cannot allow that sacred right [to vote] to be perverted,\u201d she said.\n\nBanks said such incidents keep surfacing \u201cbecause Joe Biden and Democrats flooded our country with tens of millions of illegals \u2013 they\u2019re still here [and] mass deportation is important.\u201d\n\nSenate Majority Leader John Thune, R-S.D., has repeatedly pushed back on criticism he is not working hard enough to pass the SAVE Act or advance the Trump agenda.\n\nThune previously told Fox News Digital that he is an original co-sponsor of a previous version of the bill and that the 50-vote threshold needed to pass provisions that qualify for the parliamentary maneuver known as reconciliation remains a sticking point.\n\n\u201cI keep asking the question, am I the only one in this town that can count to 50? Because it seems like these questions recur and there are a lot of people out there who haven\u2019t seemed to internalize the fact that there aren\u2019t Democrats that are going to flip and vote for this,\u201d Thune said.\n\n###", 1, "2026-09-29T11:07:12Z", "2026-09-29T11:08:49Z"], ["https://www.banks.senate.gov/news/press-releases/icymi-inside-indiana-business-banks-calls-for-grissom-to-be-new-u-s-space-academy-home/", "ICYMI: Inside Indiana Business:\u00a0Banks\u00a0Calls\u00a0for Grissom\u00a0to\u00a0Be\u00a0New U.S. Space Academy Home", "2026-09-28", "2026", "2026-09", "Republican", "Senate", "IN", "Jim Banks", "B001299", "www.banks.senate.gov", "banks", "https://www.banks.senate.gov/news/press-releases/", "scraper", "Click here to read the full story or read below.\n\nBunker Hill, Ind. \u00ad\u00ad\u2014 Sen. Jim Banks, R-Ind., wants a site in north central Indiana to become the new home of the U.S. Space Academy.\n\nIn a letter sent Thursday to Jared Isaacman, chairman of the Presidential Commission on the United States Space Academy, Banks urged the commission to select Grissom Air Reserve Base and the surrounding Grissom Aeroplex as the site for the academy.\n\nBanks cited Grissom\u2019s connection to Lt. Col. Virgil \u201cGus\u201d Grissom, an Indiana native and the second American to fly in space. He also highlighted the site\u2019s \u201csubstantial capacity for future classrooms, housing, and training infrastructure, along with access to a 12,501-foot runway, one of the longest in the Midwest.\u201d\n\nPresident Donald Trump issued an order on Aug. 28 establishing the U.S. Space Academy and the commission, led by Isaacman, which will develop the framework for the academy and select a permanent physical location.\n\nThe order said the country must \u201cprepare the next generation of astronauts, scientists, engineers, operators, entrepreneurs, civil servants, and warfighters and ensure that they are capable of advancing American interests in space.\u201d\n\nGrissom Air Reserve Base is home to the 434th Air Refueling Wing, which is equipped with the KC-135 Stratotanker aircraft and special taskings to generate aircraft and crews in support of the Air Mobility Command. The Grissom Aeroplex is a business park that encompasses more than 850 acres.\n\nIn his letter, Banks said Indiana offers the academic and industrial ecosystem necessary to support the Academy\u2019s long-term mission.\n\n\u201cThe state offers a low cost of living, leading STEM and research universities, and a growing aerospace, defense, and advanced-manufacturing workforce,\u201d Banks said. \u201cIndiana companies already contribute directly to America\u2019s space missions, including 21 suppliers supporting NASA\u2019s Artemis program. Locating the Space Academy at Grissom would give cadets access to this broader network and create opportunities to connect classroom education with hands-on experience across the civil, commercial, and national security sectors.\u201d\n\nThe commission is required to submit its report on establishing the academy to the president within 120 days of the order.\n\nYou can read the full letter from Banks by clicking here.\n\n###", 1, "2026-09-29T11:07:12Z", "2026-09-29T11:08:49Z"], ["https://www.banks.senate.gov/news/press-releases/sens-banks-king-introduce-bipartisan-bill-to-improve-veterans-access-to-high-cost-prescription-medication-in-state-homes/", "Sens. Banks, King Introduce Bipartisan Bill to Improve Veterans\u2019 Access to High-Cost Prescription Medication in State Homes", "2026-09-28", "2026", "2026-09", "Republican", "Senate", "IN", "Jim Banks", "B001299", "www.banks.senate.gov", "banks", "https://www.banks.senate.gov/news/press-releases/", "scraper", "WASHINGTON, D.C. \u2013 Today, Senator Jim Banks (R-Ind.) and Angus King (I-ME) introduced bipartisan legislation to improve access to high-cost prescription drugs for veterans living in state veterans\u2019 homes. TheProviding Veterans Essential Medications Act would require the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) to reimburse state veterans\u2019 homes for high-cost medications or provide the drugs directly. Currently, VA only provides a limited per diem rate to cover drug costs, which is often insufficient.\n\nSen. Jim Banks (R-Ind.): \u201cState veterans\u2019 homes should never have to turn away elderly and disabled veterans because lifesaving medications are too expensive. This bipartisan bill will help states cover those costs and expedite care for our nation\u2019s heroes.\u201d\n\nSen. Angus King (I-Maine): \u201cOur men and women in uniform didn\u2019t hesitate when it came time to answer the call and serve our nation \u2013 we shouldn\u2019t hesitate to make their retirement from service as comfortable as possible. If the VA covers veterans\u2019 medication when they are living at a private nursing home, those cost reimbursements should be the same when veterans choose to enter a facility that specializes in taking care of veterans. This bipartisan Providing Veterans Essential Medications Act is a crucial piece of legislation that will ensure our veterans continue to receive the care they have earned, regardless of where they choose to live.\u201d\n\nIndiana Department of Veterans\u2019 Affairs Director Jake Adams: \u201cVeterans have earned the peace of mind that comes with reliable, affordable access to the medications they depend on. The Providing Veterans Essential Medications Act reinforces that commitment by ensuring state veterans\u2019 homes have the resources necessary to supply high-cost medications\u2014allowing them to serve more veterans who need specialized care.\u201d\n\nKey Provisions of the Providing Veterans Essential Medication Act:\n\nRequires the VA to reimburse state veterans\u2019 homes for prescription medications that cost more than the 8.5% applicable VA per diem rate.\n\nAllows the VA to provide high-cost medications directly to state veterans\u2019 homes as an alternative reimbursement.\n\nGives state veterans\u2019 homes the same type of support that the VA already provides to many private contract nursing homes.\n\nHelps prevent elderly and severely disabled veterans from being denied admission or discharged because of the cost of lifesaving medications.\n\nBackground:\n\nThe VA covers high-cost medications for eligible veterans living in VA community living centers and private contract nursing homes. However, veterans living in state veterans\u2019 homes do not receive the same coverage. Instead, they receive a daily per diem from the VA and are expected to use that payment to cover all necessary care, including prescription medications. Some lifesaving medications, including chemotherapy and cutting-edge cancer treatments, can cost as much as $20,000 per month \u2013 far exceeding the VA\u2019s daily payment. As a result, state veterans\u2019 home may struggle to absorb the costs, deny admission to severely disabled veterans, or discharge residents whose medications become too expensive.\n\n###", 1, "2026-09-29T11:07:12Z", "2026-09-29T11:08:49Z"], ["https://www.britt.senate.gov/news/press-releases/u-s-senators-katie-britt-chris-coons-james-lankford-brian-schatz-introduce-bipartisan-ai-safety-and-transparency-legislation/", "U.S. Senators Katie Britt, Chris Coons, James Lankford, Brian Schatz Introduce Bipartisan AI Safety and Transparency Legislation", "2026-09-28", "2026", "2026-09", "Republican", "Senate", "AL", "Katie Boyd Britt", "B001319", "www.britt.senate.gov", "britt", "https://www.britt.senate.gov/media/press-releases/", "scraper", null, 0, "2026-09-29T11:07:12Z", "2026-09-29T11:07:12Z"], ["https://www.budd.senate.gov/2026/09/28/senator-budd-wraps-second-official-100-county-tour/", "Senator Budd Wraps Second Official 100 County Tour and is Ready to Get Back on the Road", "2026-09-28", "2026", "2026-09", "Republican", "Senate", "NC", "Ted Budd", "B001305", "www.budd.senate.gov", "budd", "https://www.budd.senate.gov/category/news/press-releases/page/", "scraper", "Washington, D.C. \u2014 U.S. Senator Ted Budd (R-N.C.) has completed his second official 100-County Tour during his time serving in the Senate, traveling to all 100 counties across North Carolina. Senator Budd has completed a total of three 100-County Tours, spanning from Murphy to Manteo, the first of which he completed during his 2022 U.S. Senate campaign.\n\nUpon wrapping his second tour of the state, Senator Budd said:\n\n\u201cThroughout my career in public service, I have firmly believed that representing North Carolina cannot be done from behind a desk in Washington. I work for the people of North Carolina, and that means being where they are, listening to their concerns firsthand, and bringing their voices back to Washington to shape the policies that affect their lives. That is what my 100-County Tour is all about.\n\n\u201cNorth Carolina didn\u2019t become the number one state economy by accident. It happened because communities across all 100 counties are building, innovating, and investing in our state\u2019s future. That\u2019s why I have made it a point to travel to every corner of our state to understand what is happening on the ground and ensure Washington is working with North Carolina\u2014not against it.\n\n\u201cIn Western North Carolina, that means keeping up the momentum to rebuild the communities and infrastructure devastated by Hurricane Helene and making them more resilient than before. In the Piedmont Triad and the Northeast, it means strengthening our workforce and supporting the farmers who power North Carolina\u2019s number one industry. In the Triangle, it means driving investment and innovation to keep our state at the forefront of advanced manufacturing and cutting-edge technology. In Central North Carolina, it means fostering a business environment where companies want to invest. And in the Southeast, it means standing with our service members and ensuring they have the resources and support they need to defend our nation and put America first.\n\n\u201cNow that I\u2019ve completed my second tour, my work is far from over. I\u2019m resetting the odometer and ready to get back on the road.\u201d\n\n100-County Tour Highlights\n\nWhile traveling across all 100 counties, Senator Budd visited farms, factories, military installations, schools, healthcare facilities, and businesses shaping North Carolina\u2019s future. The tour stops below showcase the industries driving North Carolina\u2019s growth, creating jobs, and keeping the state at the forefront of American innovation and competitiveness.\n\nBACKING OUR FARMERS\n\nWilson County | Scott Farms \u2014 Senator Budd visited Scott Farms, a sixth-generation family farm in Lucama and one of the largest family-owned and operated farms in the state. During his visit, he held a roundtable to discuss issues that limit farmers from meeting their bottom line, such as operational costs and production capacity. Given these challenges, Senator Budd has introduced the FARM AI Act to invest in agricultural technology to improve workforce development with the goal of educating farmers on the latest AI technologies to advance production and better compete in the global marketplace. At the roundtable, Senator Budd also highlighted wins in the Working Families Tax Cut Act for North Carolina farmers, including over $10 billion in tax cuts for producers and preventing the death tax from harming the future of our nation\u2019s 2 million family-owned farms.\n\nCaswell County | Yarborough Farms \u2014 Senator Budd visited Yarborough Farms in Prospect Hill, one of the state\u2019s top tobacco producers, where he met with local farmers and business leaders to discuss the state of the rural economy, agricultural labor shortages, and trade issues. Senator Budd secured a duty drawback on tobacco in the Working Families Tax Cut Act, and has continued to bring the needs of the flue-cured tobacco industry to President Trump\u2019s attention, especially during trade negotiations with China. After hearing from farmers about the lack of clarity in forecasting labor costs, Senator Budd introduced the FARM Stability Act to give farmers greater certainty and clarity as they plan for future growing seasons.\n\nDEFENDING THE HOMELAND\n\nWayne County | Seymour Johnson Air Force Base \u2014 Senator Budd visited Seymour Johnson Air Force Base and delivered on a long-term defense priority for the state, confirming Seymour Johnson to be the first F-15E base to receive the new, modernized F-15EX aircraft. Senator Budd continues to champion the effort in the Senate in the Fiscal Year (FY) 2027 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA), which includes provisions from his bipartisanAirpower Acceleration Act granting the U.S. Air Force authority to use multiyear procurement to expand the F-15EX fleet.\n\nPasquotank County | U.S. Coast Guard Base Elizabeth City \u2014 Senator Budd visited the men and women at Coast Guard Base Elizabeth City, home to the Coast Guard\u2019s largest aviation footprint. During his tour of the Air Station, Senator Budd spoke with service members supporting the base\u2019s field support operation at the Aviation Logistics Center, Aviation Technical Training Center, Support Center, and Boat Station. Senator Budd was proud to ensure the U.S. Coast Guard received the largest investment in the branch\u2019s history in the Working Families Tax Cut Act.\n\nHELENE \u2013 THE ROAD TO RECOVERY\n\nSenator Budd kicked off his second official 100-County Tour in Western North Carolina following Hurricane Helene. He surveyed damage and relief efforts in Ashe, Watauga, Avery, Mitchell, Yancey, Madison, Buncombe, Henderson, Rutherford, and Polk counties during the first leg of the tour. Read more about those visits HERE.\n\nRutherford County | Surveying WNC Recovery Needs with Secretary Mullin \u2014 Senator Budd hosted U.S. Secretary of Homeland Security, Markwayne Mullin, in Western North Carolina to survey outstanding recovery needs post Hurricane Helene in Lake Lure. Additionally, Senator Budd and Secretary Mullin held a roundtable discussion in Chimney Rock with local and state leaders and emergency responders to discuss recovery gaps and the Federal Emergency Management Agency\u2019s (FEMA) response to outstanding needs.\n\nHenderson County | USDA Disaster Grant Signing at Mountain State Fair \u2014 Senator Budd joined U.S. Deputy Secretary of Agriculture, Stephen Alexander Vaden, and N.C. Agriculture Commissioner, Steve Troxler, at the Mountain State Fair in Asheville, where the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) announced over $221 million in recovery assistance for North Carolina farmers to recover losses caused by Hurricane Helene. Senator Budd led the charge to release these funds from USDA in a letter he sent with his colleagues.\n\nADVANCING HEALTHCARE & BIOTECHNOLOGY\n\nMecklenburg County | The Pearl \u2014 Senator Budd toured Charlotte\u2019s first four-year medical school, The Pearl. Given the Queen City\u2019s leadership as a hub for advancing healthcare, The Pearl will expand Charlotte\u2019s leadership by creating over 5,500 on-site jobs and over 11,500 jobs regionally over the next 15 years, positioning the city as a global destination for medical advancement.\n\nFranklin County | Novonesis \u2014 Senator Budd toured Novonesis\u2019 North American headquarters in Franklinton, where he met with the company\u2019s leadership to discuss how their manufacturing facility is leveraging microbiology and science to improve a wide range of consumer products. Additionally, Senator Budd discussed how his bipartisan Biomanufacturing Excellence Act, geared toward promoting U.S. leadership in biotechnology, could support Novonesis\u2019 goals in developing the next generation of BioSolutions.\n\nINVESTING IN NORTH CAROLINA\u2019S WORKFORCE & INDUSTRY\n\nCaldwell County | Caldwell Community College & Technical Institute Small Business Center \u2013 The Hub Station \u2014 Senator Budd visited many community colleges and universities on the 100-County Tour, including Caldwell Community College & Technical Institute\u2019s Hub Station, which has seen great success in implementing the workforce training benefits in Senator Budd\u2019s PELL Act. The PELL Act, signed into law as part of the Working Families Tax Cut Act, is now helping low-income students move into family-sustaining careers by accessing in-demand credentials in as little as 8 weeks.\n\nGuliford County | JetZero\u2019s Flagship Airplane Manufacturing Facility \u2014 Senator Budd spoke at the groundbreaking ceremony for JetZero\u2019s first aircraft factory in Greensboro. The $4.7 billion project is projected to create over 14,500 jobs over the next 10 years. JetZero will be developing its Z4 plane at the factory, bringing a next-generation commercial and military aircraft to market. As a member of the Senate Commerce Committee, Senator Budd has a vested interest in maintaining America\u2019s global competitiveness in aerospace innovation, and JetZero\u2019s investment in North Carolina is a step in the right direction to further American dominance.\n\nRandolph County | Toyota\u2019s First U.S. Electric Battery Manufacturing Plant \u2014 Senator Budd spoke at the opening ceremony of Toyota\u2019s first electric battery manufacturing plant in North America and toured the Liberty facility with U.S. Secretary of Transportation, Sean Duffy. Toyota\u2019s $13.9 billion investment in North Carolina will create over 5,000 jobs and support working parents at its childcare center, which will care for up to 312 children.\n\nFOSTERING THE FUTURE OF TECHNOLOGY\n\nJohnston County | Vulcan Elements \u2014 Senator Budd joined state and local leaders to highlight Vulcan Elements\u2019 $1 billion investment in Benson to build its Polaris Facility and strengthen America\u2019s rare earth magnet supply chain. Rare earth magnets are critical to many of the technologies shaping the future, and Senator Budd is fighting to ensure America\u2014not China\u2014leads the world in robotics, drones, semiconductors, and other next-generation technologies.\n\nRichmond County | Amazon Data Center \u2014 Senator Budd toured the new Amazon Data Center construction site in Hamlet to expand America\u2019s artificial intelligence (AI) and cloud computing footprint. Amazon has invested $10 billion in Richmond County, one of North Carolina\u2019s 40 most economically distressed counties. The data center is projected to significantly boost the county\u2019s economic development, creating 500 high-skilled jobs and thousands of supply chain support jobs, in addition to the company\u2019s $150,000 community fund contribution to support STEM education, workforce development, and economic growth in Richmond County.\n\n###", 1, "2026-09-29T11:07:12Z", "2026-09-29T11:08:49Z"], ["https://www.cornyn.senate.gov/news/cornyn-texas-receives-51-million-to-improve-rural-health-care/", "Cornyn: Texas Receives $51 Million to Improve Rural Health Care", "2026-09-28", "2026", "2026-09", "Republican", "Senate", "TX", "John Cornyn", "C001056", "www.cornyn.senate.gov", "cornyn", "https://www.cornyn.senate.gov/news/", "scraper", "WASHINGTON \u2013 U.S. Senator John Cornyn (R-TX) released the following statement after the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) today announced the allocation of $51 million to 68 rural hospital districts in Texas to improve health care as part of the \u201cMake Rural Texans Healthy Again\u201d initiative. The funding comes from the Rural Health Transformation Program (RHTP), which Sen. Cornyn championed and helped establish through enactment of the Working Families Tax Cuts Act:\n\n\u201cThe Working Families Tax Cuts Act made the single largest investment in rural health care in more than two decades,\u201d said Sen. Cornyn. \u201cI was proud to support this once-in-a-generation law that established the Rural Health Transformation Program, and I look forward to seeing these resources expand access to care, improve health outcomes, and better support folks with chronic conditions across the Lone Star State.\u201d\n\nBackground:\n\nThe funding will support community-based prevention, wellness, and nutrition programs to improve health outcomes and address chronic conditions, including diabetes, cardiovascular disease, chronic respiratory disease, and obesity. Last year, Sen. Cornyn announced the Trump administration allocated $281,319,361 for Texas from the Rural Health Transformation Program. Prior to that, Sen. Cornyn and Congressman August Pfluger (TX-11) led a letter with members of the Texas congressional delegation to CMS Administrator Mehmet Oz, urging him to prioritize funding for the State of Texas. Sen. Cornyn also released a statement in support of Texas\u2019 application last November.", 1, "2026-09-29T11:07:12Z", "2026-09-29T11:08:49Z"], ["https://www.cramer.senate.gov/news/press-releases/senate-passes-bill-strengthening-american-college-athletics-system", "Senate Passes Bill Strengthening American College Athletics System", "2026-09-28", "2026", "2026-09", "Republican", "Senate", "ND", "Kevin Cramer", "C001096", "www.cramer.senate.gov", "cramer", "https://www.cramer.senate.gov/news/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON, D.C. \u2013 After years of litigation, conflicting state laws and uncertainty over Name, Image, and Likeness (NIL) rules, player transfers, and athlete eligibility, the Senate passed the Protect College Sports Act today by a vote of 77 to 22, establishing a national framework designed to bring stability and predictability to college athletics. The landmark bill, which now heads to the House of Representatives for consideration, will create a uniform set of rules governing collegiate athletics, including NIL compensation and antitrust disputes.\n\nThe Protect College Sports Act is designed to provide schools with clear, enforceable standards while helping protect scholarships and opportunities across college sports. More than 370 colleges and universities nationwide support the bill, including the University of North Dakota and North Dakota State University.\n\nU.S. Senator Kevin Cramer (R-ND), who voted in favor of the legislation, said, \u201cThe Protect College Sports Act gives schools and student-athletes certainty. College sports should be about being in college\u2014not creating a professional minor league. We are trying to protect what most of us who grew up with college sports know: for the vast majority, college athletics is a pathway to an education, while only a very small number go on to make it a career. We\u2019re talking about students and their futures, and that\u2019s something worth coming together for.\u201d", 1, "2026-09-29T11:07:12Z", "2026-09-29T11:08:49Z"], ["https://www.daines.senate.gov/2026/09/28/daines-downing-bill-protecting-rural-water-infrastructure-signed-by-president-trump-officially-law/", "Daines, Downing Bill Protecting Rural Water Infrastructure Signed by President Trump, Officially Law", "2026-09-28", "2026", "2026-09", "Republican", "Senate", "MT", "Steve Daines", "D000618", "www.daines.senate.gov", "daines", "https://www.daines.senate.gov/news/press-releases/", "scraper", "WASHINGTON, D.C. \u2013 U.S. Senator Steve Daines and Representative Troy Downing announced that their bill to reauthorize the Fort Peck Reservation Rural Water System Act was signed by President Trump and is officially law.\n\n\u201cThis is a major win for the Treasure State. Montanans should never have to worry about whether or not their water is safe to drink. Now that President Trump has signed our bill into law, we\u2019ll be able to continue critical construction on water infrastructure on the Fort Peck reservation and throughout the northeast region. I\u2019m grateful for everyone who helped get this bill across the finish line and look forward to seeing the impacts this will have for the health and future of our communities,\u201d said Daines.\n\n\u201cI\u2019m proud that the President has signed my bill, H.R. 7250, into law. This legislation will help keep critical water projects moving forward and provide greater certainty for families and communities across northeastern Montana. Reliable water infrastructure is essential to the future of this region. I\u2019m grateful to the Montana delegation for working together to get this bill through Congress and signed into law,\u201d said Downing.\n\nRead the bill text HERE.\n\nBackground:\n\nThe bill reauthorizes the Fort Peck Dry Prairie Rural Water System. It extends authority for the Bureau of Reclamation to continue constructing essential water infrastructure in the Fort Peck Reservation and in Roosevelt, Sheridan, Valley, and Daniels counties from December 2026 to December 2028. The Fort Peck Dry Prairie Reservation Rural Water System is one of four regional water systems in Montana. Read Daines\u2019 press release from when he introduced the bill in January 2026 HERE. Read Daines\u2019 press release from when the bill passed the Senate HERE.\n\n###", 1, "2026-09-29T11:07:12Z", "2026-09-29T11:08:49Z"], ["https://www.ernst.senate.gov/news/press-releases/ernst-joins-president-trump-to-tout-transformative-15-billion-steel-investment-in-iowa", "Ernst Joins President Trump to Tout Transformative $15 Billion Steel Investment in Iowa", "2026-09-28", "2026", "2026-09", "Republican", "Senate", "IA", "Joni Ernst", "E000295", "www.ernst.senate.gov", "ernst", "https://www.ernst.senate.gov/news/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON \u2013 Today, U.S. Senator Joni Ernst (R-Iowa) joined President Donald Trump at the White House to announce a $15 billion investment by Mesabi Metallics to build a new steel mill in eastern Iowa.\n\nWatch Senator Ernst\u2019s statement here.\n\n\u201cI am grateful to President Trump for securing this historic deal that will create thousands of jobs for Iowans,\u201d said Ernst. \u201cAs chair of the Senate Small Business Committee, I\u2019ve long advocated to make \u2018Made in America\u2019 the norm and not the exception. I am excited to see this project move forward and will continue working with the Trump administration to strengthen U.S. manufacturing.\u201d\n\nBackground:\n\nMesabi Metallics plans to invest $15 billion to build a major steel mill in eastern Iowa, with steel production expected to begin as soon as 2030.\n\nThe project is expected to support more than 1,700 jobs and initially produce 7.5 million tons of steel annually, with future development potentially increasing capacity to roughly 10 million tons per year.\n\nThe eastern Iowa location provides strategic access to the Mississippi River, allowing Mesabi to transport iron ore from its Minnesota mine directly to the facility.\n\nThe plant will process that iron ore for use in electric arc furnaces alongside recycled scrap steel, expanding domestic steel production and strengthening the American manufacturing supply chain.\n\n###", 1, "2026-09-29T11:07:12Z", "2026-09-29T11:08:49Z"], ["https://www.ernst.senate.gov/news/press-releases/ernst-names-small-business-of-the-week-ludlows-steakhouse", "Ernst Names Small Business of the Week, Ludlow\u2019s Steakhouse", "2026-09-28", "2026", "2026-09", "Republican", "Senate", "IA", "Joni Ernst", "E000295", "www.ernst.senate.gov", "ernst", "https://www.ernst.senate.gov/news/press-releases", "scraper", "RED OAK, Iowa \u2013 U.S. Senator Joni Ernst (R-Iowa), Chair of the Senate Small Business Committee, today announced her Small Business of the Week: Ludlow\u2019s Steakhouse of Wayne County. Throughout the 119th Congress, Chair Ernst plans to recognize a small business in each of Iowa's 99 counties.\n\n\u201cIt\u2019s prime time to recognize Ludlow\u2019s Steakhouse,\u201d said Chair Ernst. \u201cThrough their entrepreneurial spirit and commitment to their employees and community, the Pershys have grown Ludlow\u2019s Steakhouse into a Wayne County staple \u2014 a job truly well done.\u201d\n\nFor more than two decades, Ludlow\u2019s Steakhouse has proudly served the people of Wayne County. Ron and Maureta Redmon opened Ludlow\u2019s in 2004 and operated the restaurant until 2013, when they sold the business to Craig and Brenda Onstot. Truett and Sheena Pershy took ownership in 2017 and have since expanded the menu, launched a catering business, and overseen a major renovation and relocation to better serve their customers and community. From custom-cut aged steaks and seafood to pasta, sandwiches, and more, Ludlow\u2019s offers something for everyone to enjoy.\n\nStay tuned as Chair Ernst continues to recognize outstanding Iowa small businesses with her Small Business of the Week award.\n\n###", 1, "2026-09-29T11:07:12Z", "2026-09-29T11:08:49Z"], ["https://www.fischer.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/news?ID=88B99E68-7577-48F5-8AC0-B8262C8DE641", "Fischer Statement on Gregory Ibach USDA Nomination", "2026-09-28", "2026", "2026-09", "Republican", "Senate", "NE", "Deb Fischer", "F000463", "www.fischer.senate.gov", "fischer", "https://www.fischer.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON \u2013 Today, U.S. Senator Deb Fischer (R-NE) issued the following statement on Gregory Ibach\u2019s nomination to serve as the Under Secretary of Agriculture for Trade and Foreign Agricultural Affairs at the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA):\n\n\u201cCongratulations to Greg on another well-deserved nomination. Having worked with Greg over the years, I know he will bring his experience and expertise to USDA at a time when farm country truly needs it. I look forward to working with him and finding new ways we can help producers in Nebraska.\u201d\n\nGregory Ibach served as the Under Secretary of Agriculture for Marketing and Regulatory Programs at USDA in President Donald Trump\u2019s first term. Before his time at USDA, Ibach served as Nebraska\u2019s Director of Agriculture.\n\n###", 1, "2026-09-29T11:07:12Z", "2026-09-29T11:08:49Z"], ["https://www.grassley.senate.gov/news/news-releases/grassley-ernst-recognize-15-years-of-iowa-national-guard_kosovo-security-force-partnership", "Grassley, Ernst Recognize 15 Years of Iowa National Guard-Kosovo Security Force Partnership", "2026-09-28", "2026", "2026-09", "Republican", "Senate", "IA", "Chuck Grassley", "G000386", "www.grassley.senate.gov", "grassley", "https://www.grassley.senate.gov/news/news-releases", "scraper", "BUTLER COUNTY, IOWA \u2013 U.S. Sens. Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa) and Joni Ernst (R-Iowa) are introducing a resolution to recognize the 15-year partnership between the Iowa National Guard (IANG) and the Republic of Kosovo, highlighting its contributions to advancing peace, democracy, stability and mutual understanding.\n\nAs Russia, China and Iran seek to weaken Western institutions and undermine Euro-Atlantic integration, the IANG\u2013Kosovo partnership helps provide stability to the eastern European region. Last week, NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte visited IANG Joint Force Headquarters in Johnston to highlight the partnership\u2019s benefits and recognize Iowa\u2019s longstanding relationship with Kosovo.\n\n\u201cI\u2019m very proud Iowa has such a close relationship with one of the most pro-American countries in the world. In those fifteen years, both our peoples have felt the benefit of this bond and strengthened our security postures. I\u2019m happy to partner with Senator Ernst in leading this resolution to honor Iowa\u2019s historic partnership with Kosovo and celebrate its enduring impact,\u201d Grassley said.\n\n\u201cHaving served in the Iowa National Guard and trained alongside the Kosovo Security Forces during my service, I know firsthand the value of the partnership between Iowa and the Kosovo Security Force that has been built over the past 15 years,\u201d Ernst said. \u201cDuring my recent visit, I saw firsthand the strength of this bond and the deep respect Kosovars have for Iowa and our men and women in uniform. Through joint training and operations, our forces advance a shared commitment to security and stability. I am proud to mark this milestone and look forward to this partnership growing even stronger.\u201d\n\nIn remarks on the Senate floor in February, Grassley marked the 18th anniversary of Kosovo\u2019s declaration of independence.\n\nText of the resolution can be found HERE.\n\nBackground:\n\nIn 2011, the Iowa National Guard and the Kosovo Security Force were formally partnered through the National Guard Bureau\u2019s State Partnership Program, which was established to foster mutual interests and long-term relationships between National Guard units and partner countries.\n\nThe resolution notes Kosovo\u2019s Ministry of Defense is working to designate a military liaison officer, deployed to Iowa, to help foster continued cooperation.", 1, "2026-09-29T11:07:12Z", "2026-09-29T11:08:49Z"], ["https://www.grassley.senate.gov/news/news-releases/grassley-iowa-congressional-delegation-applaud-historic-steel-investment-in-iowa", "Grassley, Iowa Congressional Delegation Applaud Historic Steel Investment in Iowa", "2026-09-28", "2026", "2026-09", "Republican", "Senate", "IA", "Chuck Grassley", "G000386", "www.grassley.senate.gov", "grassley", "https://www.grassley.senate.gov/news/news-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON \u2013 Sens. Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa) and Joni Ernst (R-Iowa) and Reps. Ashley Hinson (R-Iowa), Mariannette Miller-Meeks (R-Iowa), Zach Nunn (R-Iowa) and Randy Feenstra (R-Iowa) released the following statement:\n\n\u201cThis historic investment is a major win for Iowa workers and further cements Iowa\u2019s role in the future of American manufacturing.\n\n\u201cAs the largest steel plant investment in U.S. history, this project will generate over 1,700 good-paying Iowa jobs, create new opportunities for Iowa families, and drive economic growth. Iowa has the workforce, work ethic, resources, and business climate to compete with anyone, and we are proud to welcome this project to our state.\n\n\u201cThe administration\u2019s pro-American manufacturing policies are incentivizing companies to invest, build, and create jobs in the U.S. We thank Governor Reynolds for her leadership in making Iowa a great place to do business and ensuring our state benefits from these policies by attracting transformational investments like this one.\u201d", 1, "2026-09-29T11:07:12Z", "2026-09-29T11:08:49Z"], ["https://www.hagerty.senate.gov/press-releases/2026/09/28/icymi-hagerty-joinssunday-morning-futures-on-fox-news-channel-to-discuss-trump-gop-accomplishments/", "ICYMI\u2014Hagerty JoinsSunday Morning Futures\u00a0on Fox News Channel to Discuss Trump, GOP Accomplishments", "2026-09-28", "2026", "2026-09", "Republican", "Senate", "TN", "Bill Hagerty", "H000601", "www.hagerty.senate.gov", "hagerty", "https://www.hagerty.senate.gov/press-releases/", "scraper", "WASHINGTON\u2014On Sunday, United States Senator Bill Hagerty (R-TN), a member of the Senate Foreign Relations, Appropriations, and Banking committees, joined Sunday Morning Futures on Fox News Channel to discuss the radical policies of the Democratic Socialists of America (DSA), President Donald Trump\u2019s agenda, and the accomplishments of the GOP.\n\n*Click the photo above or here to watch*\n\nPartial Transcript\n\nHagerty on the DSA\u2019s radical agenda: I think we need to listen to what the Democrats are saying. You think about [Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-NY-14)], [Abdul El-Sayed], [Sen. Bernie Sanders (D-VT)], even what Mamdani is doing with socialist, government-run grocery stores. We need to make it very clear that their answer [is] basically more government control. You think about the welfare state that they want to see\u2026 collapse the borders, more fentanyl into the country, more terrorism, more crime, defund the Pentagon. Every direction they want to turn weakens America. We need to be emphasizing exactly what [President Donald Trump] has done these past two years and where we\u2019re headed\u2026 We are seeing economic strength coming through. We are seeing policies that are making a real difference because we have actually cut taxes. We are deregulating. The Biden administration would\u2019ve added $4 trillion more worth of compliance costs. We are taking them away. My Freedom to Build Act could take up to $100,000 off the cost of a new home, again, cutting regulatory and permitting costs. So, we need to convey those messages; we need to convey a positive economic message. And the fact is that the world stands stronger with a strong America. The Republicans have the answers for this. We are putting forward policies to do it. The Democrats\u2019 view is \u201clet\u2019s shut down the government.\u201d That\u2019s all they\u2019ve delivered the past two years\u2014 the two longest government shutdowns in history. We even had a permitting reform package that we were trying to pass last week. They walked away from it. They do not want to see the economy do well; they want to control it.\n\nHagerty on the GOP\u2019s path to maintain the majority: [President Trump] is our best communicator. But you\u2019re going to see the world respecting us again too. And I think the visit by [Chinese President Xi Jinping] underscores this. That would not have happened under [former President Joe Biden]\u2026 We are back in a position of strength. [Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent] did a great job of articulating how we\u2019re dealing with Iran. We will deal with that. And again, the world needs a strong America. You and I both know this. We saw President Trump deliver this in his first term and we served in his administration. We just need to come back and make these points more and more clearly.\n\nHagerty on diesel prices and affordability: I think [Republicans] can definitely strengthen [their messaging]. I think there has been a lot of focus on the cost of gas and diesel fuel. It\u2019s understandable. As Secretary Bessent said, I think that gets resolved. But if you think about the Democrat\u2019s solution to this, an absolute war on domestic energy\u2014they want to outlaw diesel fuel, they don\u2019t want to lower the cost of it. You think about the measures that [Republicans] can take, particularly on the deregulatory front. There is so much more we can do and that we will do. We need to convey this message clearly and again, contrast what the Democrats are standing for right now, which I think is a very sad story for America. And you don\u2019t have to look very far back to what happened under Joe Biden to realize how chaotic it could possibly be again.", 1, "2026-09-29T11:07:12Z", "2026-09-29T11:08:49Z"], ["https://www.hawley.senate.gov/icymi-hawley-chairs-subcommittee-hearing-exposing-flock-cameras-calls-for-accountability/", "ICYMI: Hawley Chairs Subcommittee Hearing Exposing Flock Cameras, Calls for Accountability", "2026-09-28", "2026", "2026-09", "Republican", "Senate", "MO", "Josh Hawley", "H001089", "www.hawley.senate.gov", "hawley", "https://www.hawley.senate.gov/press-releases/page/", "scraper", "WASHINGTON \u2014 U.S. Senator Josh Hawley (R-Mo.) chaired a Senate Judiciary Subcommittee on Crime hearing on Flock cameras and the threat they pose to national security and the privacy of everyday Americans. This hearing follows Senator Hawley\u2019s investigation into major automated license plate reader (ALPR) companies and the nationwide AI surveillance network they have created. Hawley invited the CEOs of Flock, Axon, Motorola, and Verkada to testify in the hearing and provide answers to the American people. Each declined.\n\nFlock did provide some answers in a written letter to Senator Hawley, agreeing that Congress needs to create a federal framework to regulate these cameras. Flock also admitted to instituting some guardrails on their products after coming under public scrutiny.\n\nIn the hearing, Chairman Hawley began, \u201cThere are many players in this industry, but there\u2019s one name that really stands out above the rest, and that is Flock. If you haven\u2019t heard of Flock, all I have to say is Flock\u2019s probably heard of you. In fact, the truth is, you have probably been scanned and surveilled and tagged and logged multiple times this week alone, and that\u2019s because Flock, by its own admission and its own statistics, maintains a network of 120,000 individual cameras in 49 states all across this country. It estimates that those cameras scan and then generate some 20 billion images. That\u2019s what it means: 20 billion images of individuals in their cars or on their motorcycles or other vehicles every single month.\u201d\n\nHe continued, \u201cFlock is a privately held company. Based on what we know, it\u2019s backed by a venture capital firm. It\u2019s worth about $10 billion, and it has amassed in a very short time frame a surveillance network unlike any we\u2019ve ever seen in this country. And really, what makes it unique, based on what we can tell from the reporting and the reporting on what these networks can do\u2026 What seems to make these networks unique is not just the sheer number of cameras, it\u2019s the fact that they\u2019re all linked together and powered and searchable by AI. It\u2019s unlike anything we\u2019ve ever seen in this country before.\u201d\n\n\u201cThis is still the United States of America, and it shouldn\u2019t be that when you walk out your door in the morning, you just have to agree and assent and accept the fact that you\u2019re going to be on camera morning, noon, and night,\u201d Hawley asserted.\n\nChairman Hawley asked Alasdair Whitney, Legislative Counsel for the Institute of Justice, \u201cWhat\u2019s the difference between this technology that we\u2019re talking about today, this AI-powered technology, and a traditional license plate reader technology? \u2026 My understanding is what we\u2019re talking about here today, with this linked network of private cameras all uploading to the cloud, searchable and powered by AI, is something very different.\u201d\n\n\u201cYou said it. The fact that this technology is now interlinked with cameras across the country in this network that allows a government official or an officer in one side of the country, say California, reconstruct the past movements over weeks or even months of somebody driving in Maryland or Virginia is something that is both qualitatively and quantitatively different than \u2026 a technology that we\u2019ve ever seen before, and that is why we are concerned about this,\u201d Mr. Whitney responded. \u201cA couple of years ago, you couldn\u2019t possibly sift through 20 billion images with just a few officers, or even 100 or 1,000 officers. But AI now makes it much easier to do that with, again, a click of button or a couple of keystrokes.\u201d\n\nHawley questioned, \u201cIf you have hundreds of billions of images now that are being collected and collated and available on the cloud, and you\u2019ve got AI able to search them, you really can reconstruct, or the AI can reconstruct, the very granular movements of individuals over long periods of time. Isn\u2019t that right? I mean, they could track me driving from Missouri out here, taking my kids to school, going to church, doing everything that it is that I do, and you could do it for days and weeks at a time using this this vast network. I mean, am I exaggerating? Is that is that right?\u201d\n\nWhitney answered, \u201cYou are not exaggerating. That is exactly right. I mean, again, we\u2019ve heard from the proponents of this technology \u2026 that they don\u2019t use it to track people. I think that that\u2019s just simply not true. The value of this technology is tracking the people and is determining where they are and what they\u2019ve been doing.\u201d\n\nChairman Hawley then asked Benn Jordan, a cybersecurity engineer, \u201cThe the CEO of Flock has said \u2026 that Flock has never been hacked \u2026 Now, based on what you know, is that accurate?\u201d\n\nMr. Jordan responded, \u201cI would say that\u2019s inaccurate. The company has, at various times, changed the definitions of the word \u201chacked, tracked data, breached. But in the general definition of accessing unauthorized data, yes, I would say that they\u2019ve been hacked.\u201d\n\n\u201cHow how vulnerable, in your professional opinion, are flux systems that contain all of these images, billions with a B, billions of images?\u201d Hawley questioned.\n\n\u201cThe Flock devices that we tested were running on an old version of Android that has been out of service for years, and newer devices of Flocks run on a modified kernel of Android, which is far from government-grade security,\u201d Jordan answered.\n\n\u201cHow easy would it be for a bad actor to download, modify, and/or upload false ALPR data into this system?\u201d asked Senator Hawley.\n\nJordan said, \u201cI did find an administrative interface, as I mentioned earlier, online of live cameras, which is easy as clicking a link and then hitting a delete button to get rid of footage or something like that \u2026 In some cases, I was able to go back a week and read what was on someone\u2019s phone screen as they were texting somebody walking under the camera.\u201d\n\nHawley then turned to Lindsey Isaacs, a women wrongfully accused because of a Flock camera.\n\nHe said to her, \u201cI just want to come back to you and your extraordinary story, because I think it illustrates the the dangers here of this technology if it\u2019s not properly cabined and accounted for. I think we have a picture of you with your your beautiful new Durango, here it is. I think right. This is this is you, and that Durango does look like it\u2019s in pristine shape.\u201d\n\n\u201cThat was the day I got it,\u201d Ms. Isaacs responded.\n\n\u201cNow, as I understand it, the Durango that was involved in the vehicular crash that indeed caused three other people to die was a vehicular homicide. That Durango was maroon, red. Is that correct? This this Durango doesn\u2019t look red to me. What color is this?\u201d he asked.\n\n\u201cThis is a black Durango,\u201d she affirmed.\n\nSenator Hawley queried, \u201cYou are returned as a false positive out of an AI search in the flock system. We know it wasn\u2019t a traditional license plate search because they weren\u2019t your your car was never there, correct? There are no images of your car at the scene. Is that correct? And there was no assertion by anybody ever that you were there. Is that correct? It was just that the flock cameras, based on some description, some general description entered into them. The AI pulled out your car and said, \u2018This this is a match,\u2019 correct? And that led to 13 days in jail for you, including solitary confinement, and you very, very nearly lost your entire livelihood. Isn\u2019t that right?\u201d\n\nIsaacs responded in the affirmative to all his questions.\n\nChairman Hawley concluded, \u201cThe Constitution is as valuable and as valid today as it was when it was first written. If anything, the Bill of Rights protections are probably more important today than they were all those years ago because the threats to our liberties are actually much greater, and the technology that both bad foreign actors, private actors, corporations, and government have at their disposal are much more powerful. We need the Bill of Rights more than we ever did, and we\u2019ve got to find a way to enforce it.\u201d\n\nWatch the full hearing here.", 1, "2026-09-29T11:07:12Z", "2026-09-29T11:08:49Z"], ["https://www.marshall.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/senator-marshall-leads-letter-for-federal-disaster-aid-for-kansas-communities-2/", "Senator Marshall Leads Letter for Federal Disaster Aid for Kansas Communities", "2026-09-28", "2026", "2026-09", "Republican", "Senate", "KS", "Roger Marshall", "M001198", "www.marshall.senate.gov", "marshall", "https://www.marshall.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/", "scraper", "Washington \u2013 Following severe storms and straight-line winds that caused significant damage across Wyandotte County and Kansas City, Kansas, U.S. Senators Roger Marshall, M.D., Jerry Moran, Congressman Derek Schmidt, and Congresswoman Sharice Davids have urged President Trump to approve the state\u2019s request for a major disaster declaration. This federal support is critical in ensuring communities have the resources needed to repair and rebuild essential public infrastructure.\n\nIn their letter, the Members of Congress wrote:\n\n\u201cThis devastating weather event tore through a dense urban area, damaging hundreds of homes and businesses and pushing the local utility system to the brink. Winds of up to 80 mph snapped utility poles, tore down miles of electric wire, and damaged transformers across Wyandotte County.\n\n\u201cThe Kansas City Board of Public Utilities (BPU) called it the largest and most destructive storm in its history, with about 27,000 Kansans losing power\u2026 These damages have placed significant financial strain on local government as it works to recover. Damage assessments conducted jointly by the state and FEMA have determined that Kansas is eligible for approximately $5.5 million in federal assistance.\u201d\n\nIf approved, the following county would be eligible for federal assistance: Wyandotte.\n\nUpon approval, local governments and public utility providers would be eligible to submit storm-related expenses to FEMA for reimbursement.\n\nClick here to read the full text of the letter.\n\n###", 1, "2026-09-29T11:07:12Z", "2026-09-29T11:08:49Z"], ["https://www.moody.senate.gov/press-releases/support-for-senator-moodys-legislation-to-locate-u-s-space-academy-in-florida-grows-reps-donalds-and-haridopolos-file-companion-bill-in-the-u-s-house/", "Support for Senator Moody\u2019s Legislation to Locate U.S. Space Academy in Florida Grows\u2014Reps. Donalds and Haridopolos File Companion Bill in the U.S. House", "2026-09-28", "2026", "2026-09", "Republican", "Senate", "FL", "Ashley Moody", "M001244", "www.moody.senate.gov", "moody", "https://www.moody.senate.gov/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON, D.C.\u2014Support for Senator Ashley Moody\u2019s legislation to locate the new U.S. Space Academy in Florida is growing. Rep. Byron Donalds, with the aid of Rep. Mike Haridopolos, recently filed companion legislation to Senator Moody\u2019s STARS Act in the U.S. House of Representatives.\n\n\u201cThank you, Representative Donalds and Representative Haridopolos, for introducing the STARS Act to bring the new U.S. Space Academy to the Sunshine State. Momentum for our mission is growing, and Florida is unified in this effort to ensure our state remains the leader in space innovation and exploration,\u201d said Senator Ashley Moody.\n\nBACKGROUND:\n\nThe newly announced U.S. Space Academy will be for students looking to enter the U.S. Space Force, and it will also serve NASA and the civilian spaceflight industry.\n\nSenator Moody recently filed the legislation in the Senate. In addition to filing this legislation, Senator Moody has been working with state partners to address the RFI put out by the Administration to encourage the establishment of the new Space Academy in Florida.\n\nEarlier this month, Senator Moody rallied space industry leaders to make the pitch for Florida to house the new academy.\n\nSenator Moody has a staunch record supporting Florida\u2019s Space Coast, where launches have increased by over 500%since 2016.\n\nSenator Moody passed the Secure U.S. Leadership in Space Act, to ensure the U.S. remains competitive and at the forefront of space innovation and exploration.\n\nThe legislation bolsters public-private partnerships by making spaceport facility bonds tax-exempt, treating spaceports the same as airports and seaports.\n\nSenator Moody recently introduced the Space Ready 2.0 Act, which would establish a NASA-wide pilot program allowing the agency to accept voluntary private contributions for infrastructure improvement projects at NASA centers.\n\nThe proposal does not create a new spending program, establish a new Treasury fund, or authorize new federal spending. Rather, it builds upon NASA\u2019s existing authority and allows private-sector partners to voluntarily invest in infrastructure improvements that directly support the missions they rely upon.\n\nSenator Moody also introduced the CAPE Canaveral Act to relocate NASA headquarters to Florida\u2019s Space Coast\u2014where it belongs.\n\nEarlier in July, Senator Moody met with the crew of Artemis II at Kennedy Space Center where the crew thanked the hundreds of NASA engineers, mathematicians, and scientists who built the rocket that launched them farther into space than any human has ever traveled.\n\n# # #", 1, "2026-09-29T11:07:12Z", "2026-09-29T11:08:49Z"], ["https://www.moreno.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/nasa-administrator-ohios-got-a-good-shot-at-landing-space-academy/", "NASA Administrator: Ohio\u2019s Got a \u201cGood Shot\u201d at Landing Space Academy", "2026-09-28", "2026", "2026-09", "Republican", "Senate", "OH", "Bernie Moreno", "M001242", "www.moreno.senate.gov", "moreno", "https://www.moreno.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON \u2013 In case you missed it, Senator Bernie Moreno (R-Ohio) is leading the statewide effort to bring the Space Academy to Dayton, Ohio. On Sunday, September 27, 2026, NASA Administrator Jared Isaacman spoke to Spectrum News about Ohio\u2019s \u201cgood shot\u201d at landing the academy.\n\n\u201cNASA Administrator Jared Isaacman weighed in on Ohio as a potential Space Academy location on Sunday, saying, \u2018it\u2019s got a good shot.\u2019\u201d\n\n[\u2026]\n\n\u201c\u2018We know Ohio is very, very interested in it,\u2019 Isaacman said.\u201d\n\n\u201cSenator Bernie Moreno (R-Ohio) is leading the push to bring the Space Academy to Ohio. In a press release, Moreno argues the state has premier space infrastructure, including NASA\u2019s Glenn Research Center, the Armstrong Test Facility, Wright-Patterson Air Force Base and The Ohio State University\u2019s Voyager Institute for Space, Technology and Advancement.\u201d", 1, "2026-09-29T11:07:12Z", "2026-09-29T11:08:49Z"], ["https://www.schmitt.senate.gov/media/press-releases/schmitt-celebrates-senate-passage-of-protect-college-sports-act/", "Schmitt Celebrates Senate Passage of Protect College Sports Act", "2026-09-28", "2026", "2026-09", "Republican", "Senate", "MO", "Eric Schmitt", "S001227", "www.schmitt.senate.gov", "schmitt", "https://www.schmitt.senate.gov/media/press-releases/", "scraper", "U.S. SENATE \u2014 Today, U.S. Senator Eric Schmitt (R-MO) praised passage of the bipartisan \u201cProtect College Sports Act\u201d in the U.S. Senate. Schmitt is a lead cosponsor of the bill and spoke on the Senate floor before the vote to underscore the instability threatening college sports in America and emphasize the need for Congress to act to provide clarity while protecting student-athletes and the future of college sports.\n\n\u201cCollege sports are a uniquely American institution defined by legendary rivalries and some of the most prolific moments in sports history. College sports have created countless opportunities for student athletes to learn and grow\u2014both on and off the field, they unite Americans from all corners of the country, and they\u2019re responsible for some of the greatest American traditions. Yet over the last few years, college sports have come to be defined by increasing financial and regulatory instability that have thrown the entire system into jeopardy.\n\n\u201cAs an original co-sponsor of this bill, I called on my colleagues to do something the Senate rarely does: meet the moment. By passing the \u2018Protect College Sports Act,\u2019 we\u2019re delivering much-needed stability to college sports, protecting the future of women\u2019s and Olympic sports, and ensuring fans can continue to enjoy one of America\u2019s favorite pastimes. The ball is now in the House\u2019s court. It\u2019s time we send this bill to the President\u2019s desk. Let\u2019s get this done,\u201d said Senator Schmitt.\n\nThe \u201cProtect College Sports Act\u201d:\n\nEstablishes new eligibility guardrails for athletes so professional athletes cannot return to play college sports;\n\nImplements a one-time transfer option; and\n\nAddresses critical revenue pitfalls in college sports programs, allowing schools to take advantage of new media pooling rights to generate billions in new funding for sports programs, particularly women\u2019s and Olympic sports.\n\nSchmitt, an original cosponsor of the \u201cProtect College Sports Act,\u201d drafted the legislation with Chairman Ted Cruz (R-TX), Ranking Member Maria Cantwell (D-WA), and Senator Chris Coons (D-DE).\n\n###", 1, "2026-09-29T11:07:12Z", "2026-09-29T11:08:49Z"], ["https://www.schmitt.senate.gov/media/press-releases/schmitt-introduces-modern-skies-act-to-invest-in-americas-airports-support-air-traffic-control/", "Schmitt Introduces Modern Skies Act to Invest in America\u2019s Airports, Support Air Traffic Control", "2026-09-28", "2026", "2026-09", "Republican", "Senate", "MO", "Eric Schmitt", "S001227", "www.schmitt.senate.gov", "schmitt", "https://www.schmitt.senate.gov/media/press-releases/", "scraper", "Legislation Would Invest $30 Billion in Air Traffic Control, Airport Towers, Terminals, and Infrastructure to Improve Reliability for Americans\n\nU.S. SENATE \u2014 Today, U.S. Senator Eric Schmitt (R-MO) introduced the \u201cModern Skies Act\u201d to update America\u2019s aviation infrastructure by investing $30 billion in air traffic control, airport towers, airport terminals, and other critical airport infrastructure. Senator Schmitt joined Department of Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy in a press conference today to announce the bill.\n\n\u201cAir travel is more accessible than ever, but for too many Americans, getting where they need to go still feels like a gamble. Travelers face long lines, aging airports, constant delays, and an air traffic control system in desperate need of attention. That is a far cry from the golden age of American aviation that St. Louis\u2019 own Charles Lindbergh helped usher in. The Modern Skies Act will launch a new era of American aviation by building a world-class system that works better for air traffic controllers, airlines, and, most importantly, passengers,\u201d said Senator Schmitt. \u201cPresident Trump and Secretary Duffy are tackling these challenges head-on, and I\u2019m proud to lead this effort alongside them to make air travel great again.\u201d\n\n\u201cUnder President Trump, we have made historic progress revitalizing our airspace. With investments from the Working Families Tax Cut, we\u2019ve already replaced the majority of outdated copper wire with high-speed fiber in our towers, transitioned nearly a third of radios controllers used, and installed new surveillance technology in half of our target airports. We\u2019ve also reimagining how we manage the airspace \u2013 deploying a state-of-the-art scheduling tool to prevent delays and cancellations,\u201d said U.S. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy. \u201cBut to finally fix air travel for the American people, we need to pass the Modern Skies Act. This bill will give us the funding we need to modernize the digital architecture powering air traffic control, replace crumbling aviation infrastructure, and build world-class airports across the country. I\u2019m grateful for Senator Schmitt\u2019s partnership to help us finish the job and deliver real change for the flying public.\u201d\n\nBackground:\n\nSchmitt\u2019s legislation builds on the $12.5 billion Congress provided through the Working Families Tax Cuts for a new Air Traffic Control system to upgrade telecommunications, radar, facilities, controller training, and runway safety. The legislation provides an additional $10 billion for Phase 2 of the modernization effort. This investment would move beyond replacing aging infrastructure and begin delivering the technology needed for more integrated management of aircraft, routes, trajectories, and airspace. For passengers, the goal is to help the FAA move flights through the country more reliably and recover more effectively when weather, congestion, or equipment problems occur.\n\nThe legislation would also invest in airports and airport infrastructure, building on President Trump\u2019s success at Dulles and continuing momentum toward restoring America\u2019s airports to the world-class standard the American people deserve.\n\nThe \u201cModern Skies Act\u201d would provide:\n\n$10 billion for an Aging Terminal Pilot Program: Modernize or rebuild major terminals at up to three medium hub airports. The pilot program would demonstrate how substantial federal investment can improve aging terminals, expand passenger capacity, preserve distinctive architecture, support airline competition, strengthen service to smaller communities, and develop design approaches that could be used by other airports.\n\n$10.1 billion for Air Traffic Control Modernization: Fund the next phase of FAA air traffic control modernization, building on the $12.5 billion investment in the One Big Beautiful Bill. The funding would support consolidation of air traffic control facilities, a common automation platform and controller workstation, cloud and telecommunications infrastructure, and modern air traffic flow-management technology. These investments would help integrate the National Airspace System, improve congestion and disruption management, and support future aviation growth.\n\nFlexibility for Existing ATC Funding: Allow the FAA to transfer previously appropriated funding among components of the Brand-New Air Traffic Control System as implementation progresses, while maintaining congressional reporting requirements.\n\n$10 billion for Terminal, Tower, and Airport Improvements: Provide $2 billion to construct and modernize air traffic control towers and facilities, including digital tower technology; $3 billion for discretionary Airport Improvement Program projects; and $5 billion for airport terminal modernization. The funding would support airports of different sizes and continue the success of the Airport Terminal Program.\n\nModernize the Full Aviation System: Together, the investments would upgrade the technology used to manage aircraft, the towers and facilities controllers rely on, and the airport infrastructure passengers and airlines depend on improving how aircraft move through the airspace while modernizing the airports where trips begin and end.\n\nFAA expects commercial flights to increase by more than 40 percent by 2046, alongside continued growth in drones, commercial space launches, and new types of aircraft.\n\nStatements of Support:\n\n\u201cU.S. airlines staunchly support President Trump and Secretary Duffy\u2019s continued efforts to modernize our nation\u2019s air traffic control (ATC) system. In the past year, DOT has proven their ability to use taxpayer dollars wisely, tackling numerous navigation and telecom projects at record speed. This progress demonstrates what is possible when our leaders prioritize sustained investment in the National Airspace System (NAS), but the work is not done,\u201d said Airlines for America President and CEO Chris Sununu. \u201cWe urge Congress to provide the additional $30 billion needed to sustain this momentum and deliver a modern ATC system equipped to meet the demand of today and tomorrow. This effort is essential to bolstering safety and efficiency, supporting the needs of the traveling and shipping public and maintaining the United States\u2019 position as the world\u2019s aviation leader.\u201d\n\n\u201cModernizing our air traffic control system was long overdue, and pilots are already seeing some of the benefits from the work that started last year. Fiber is being installed, digital radios are coming online, and dozens of airports now have better tools to keep aircraft moving safely on the ground. But the first round of funding was never going to solve every problem. Many vulnerabilities still exist that can disrupt some of the busiest airspace in the country. Addressing those will require the additional funding that is being requested. ALPA supports this request, and we appreciate Secretary Duffy\u2019s leadership and continued commitment to ensuring that the funding is put to good use,\u201d said Air Line Pilots Association President Capt. Jason Ambrosi.\n\n\u201cDepartment of Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy and the FAA are attempting to make meaningful progress in modernizing our nation\u2019s air traffic control system, and NATCA supports Sen. Schmidt\u2019s efforts to secure an additional $30 billion from Congress to continue that work. This investment will build on the $12.5 billion Congress provided last year, accelerate the replacement of aging infrastructure, deploy modern technology, and give the professionals who operate the National Airspace System the tools they need to keep our skies safe and efficient,\u201d said NATCA President Nick Daniels.\n\n\u201cModernizing our aviation system requires investment in both cutting-edge technology and the infrastructure that supports it. AAAE applauds the Administration\u2019s proposal for an additional $30 billion, including $10 billion for ATC towers and $10 billion for airport modernization, to enhance safety, efficiency, and reliability across the National Airspace System,\u201d said American Association of Airport Executives President & CEO Todd Hauptli.\n\n\u201cAviation manufacturers continue to invest, innovate and provide solutions that improve safety. As aircraft technologies advance, so must the equipment and facilities that keep the skies safe, secure and resilient. We applaud the Administration\u2019s proposal for new investments in the air traffic control system and airport infrastructure. It is imperative that Congress work expeditiously to approve this critical initiative to modernize and strengthen the aviation system and facilitate aviation safety and efficiency,\u201dsaid GAMA President & CEO James Viola.\n\n###", 1, "2026-09-29T11:07:12Z", "2026-09-29T11:08:49Z"], ["https://www.thune.senate.gov/news/press-releases/thune-republicans-help-americas-small-businesses-grow-put-more-money-in-americans-pockets/", "Thune: Republicans Help America\u2019s Small Businesses Grow, Put More Money in Americans\u2019 Pockets", "2026-09-28", "2026", "2026-09", "Republican", "Senate", "SD", "John Thune", "T000250", "www.thune.senate.gov", "thune", "https://www.thune.senate.gov/news/press-releases/", "scraper", "Click here to watch the video.\n\nWASHINGTON \u2014 U.S. Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R-S.D.) today delivered the following remarks on the Senate floor:\n\nThune\u2019s remarks below (as delivered):\n\n\u201cMadam President, so far this year, 4.3 million Americans have filed to start their own business.\n\n\u201cThat\u2019s a 13 percent increase over the same time last year.\n\n\u201cAnd as these entrepreneurs get underway, their businesses will be able to take advantage of the pro-growth tax reform that Republicans enacted last year in the Working Families Tax Cuts.\n\n\u201cAnd because we delivered permanent tax reform, an entire generation of American small business owners, entrepreneurs, and innovators will have a better environment in which to pursue their American Dream.\n\n\u201cMadam President, small businesses are already benefiting from this landmark law.\n\n\u201cThis year, 12 million small business owners saw a lower tax bill \u2013 a $7,000 average tax cut.\n\n\u201cThat\u2019s the result of lower tax rates across the board.\n\n\u201cThe permanent 199A small business deduction.\n\n\u201cImmediate expensing for new equipment and for factory construction.\n\n\u201cAnd the permanent research and development tax credit.\n\n\u201cMadam President, these tax policies are helping small businesses across an array of industries as well as family farms and ranches across America.\n\n\u201cThat\u2019s certainly true in my home state of South Dakota.\n\n\u201cAn agricultural co-op in my state says the 199A small business deduction \u2013 which Republicans first implemented with the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act back in 2017 \u2013 has allowed them to pass $140 million in tax savings back to South Dakota farmers over the last decade.\n\n\u201cA car dealership in Sioux Falls was able to put an addition on and hire 10 new employees thanks to the bonus depreciation provision.\n\n\u201cJust to the west, a rancher in Montana said that thanks to the Working Families Tax Cuts\u2019 expensing provisions, his ranch, and I quote, \u2018will be able to upgrade equipment, increasing [its] efficiency without being hit by a huge tax burden.\u2019\n\n\u201cU.S. Metal Powders \u2013 a manufacturer in Palmerton, Pennsylvania \u2013 has broken ground on a new production line that will allow the business to double the size of its workforce.\n\n\u201cA convenience store operator in Denver has said the Working Families Tax Cuts will help him double the size of one of his stores and reopen two others \u2013 allowing him to grow job opportunities at his company by 50 percent.\n\n\u201cAnd they\u2019re not the only ones.\n\n\u201cBusinesses across the country have been able to make investments in new equipment, raise their employees\u2019 pay, and create jobs because of the tax policy in Republicans\u2019 landmark bill.\n\n\u201cMadam President, one thing that business owners invariably bring up when they talk about the Working Families Tax Cuts is what it does for their employees.\n\n\u201cThey talk about how they\u2019ve been able to increase pay \u2013 not to mention the fact that more of that pay stays in their employees\u2019 pockets.\n\n\u201cThe Working Families Tax Cuts was responsible for no tax on tips and overtime, which allows hardworking people to keep more of their hard-earned money.\n\n\u201cAnd then there are the benefits \u2026 employers \u2026 have been able to offer because of this legislation.\n\n\u201cA business owner in Chicago has made long-term investments in paid maternity leave and a 401(k) matching program.\n\n\u201cAnother company in Missouri is giving its employees a profit-sharing bonus.\n\n\u201cA number of employers are pledging to invest in the Trump Accounts that their employees have been able to set up for their children.\n\n\u201cAnd provisions in this legislation support employer efforts to offer child care and help repay their employees\u2019 student loans.\n\n\u201cMadam President, I said that the Working Families Tax Cuts provides tax relief that will help small businesses and family farms and ranches for years to come.\n\n\u201cAnd on that point, perhaps no policy is as significant as the death tax relief we provided in this bill.\n\n\u201cMadam President, for a lot of family businesses, especially ag families, the death tax has cast a dark shadow over their dream.\n\n\u201cIt\u2019s a cause for anxiety especially among farmers and ranchers \u2013 businesses that might look well-off on paper, but are actually cash poor.\n\n\u201cTheir wealth is tied up in land, tractors and combines, and livestock.\n\n\u201cBut because that doesn\u2019t matter when it comes to the death tax, many families have had to sell off all or part of their operation just to pay the tax bill when a family member dies.\n\n\u201cMadam President, eliminating this fundamentally unfair tax has long been a priority of mine.\n\n\u201cAnd I\u2019m proud that the Working Families Tax Cuts permanently raised the exemption threshold on the death tax, which means that a lot more families will be protected from losing their livelihood when they lose a loved one.\n\n\u201cThis was an important priority for Republicans last year, and it\u2019s encouraging to see farmers and ranchers breathing a sigh of relief with the burden of this tax off of their shoulders.\n\n\u201cOne farmer in Iowa said, and I quote, \u2018One of my goals when I started farming was to be able to pass this farm onto the next generation, and I\u2019m doing that. I feel very good about that.\u2019\n\n\u201cA rancher in Montana said this, and again I quote, \u2018Without the estate tax reforms \u2026 ranches like ours would have likely had to decide whether to sell off cattle or land just to cover the tax bill when it was time to pass it [down]. Now we have a fair shot at keeping the whole ranch together for the next generation.\u2019\n\n\u201cThanks to this bill, Madam President, family farms and ranches and family businesses have a fair shot at staying in the family for generations to come.\n\n\u201cMadam President, these are just some of the results of the Working Families Tax Cuts.\n\n\u201cAnd I can\u2019t overstate how significant this bill is.\n\n\u201cThe owners of a small business in Arizona wrote in their local paper last year that if Congress had not passed the Working Families Tax Cuts, they \u2018would,\u2019 and I quote, \u2018have had to raise prices and cut costs, and over time, the pressure would have only increased.\u2019\n\n\u201cMadam President, they\u2019re not alone.\n\n\u201cThis Republican majority has worked hard to put more money in American families\u2019 pockets, in many cases by getting government out of the way.\n\n\u201cWe\u2019ve delivered permanent \u2013 permanent \u2013 tax relief.\n\n\u201cWe\u2019ve rescinded a number of Biden-era regulations that would have reduced choice and raised prices for Americans.\n\n\u201cWe passed a housing bill that eliminated a lot of red tape that has driven up the cost of homeownership, and implemented new measures to drive down prices at the pharmacy counter.\n\n\u201cMadam President, Republicans are working to put more money in hardworking Americans\u2019 pockets and to help \u2026 America\u2019s small businesses grow.\n\n\u201cWe\u2019re setting the conditions for a brighter future and keeping the American Dream alive and strong for future generations.\u201d", 1, "2026-09-29T11:07:12Z", "2026-09-29T11:08:49Z"], ["https://www.tuberville.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/tuberville-graham-introduce-resolution-honoring-religious-education/", "Tuberville, Graham Introduce Resolution Honoring Religious Education", "2026-09-28", "2026", "2026-09", "Republican", "Senate", "AL", "Tommy Tuberville", "T000278", "www.tuberville.senate.gov", "tuberville", "https://www.tuberville.senate.gov/press-releases/", "scraper", "WASHINGTON \u2013 U.S. Senator Tommy Tuberville (R-AL) joined U.S. Senator Darline Graham (R-SC) in introducing a resolution to designate this week, September 27-October 3, 2026, as \u201cReligious Education Week\u201d to highlight the importance of religious education in the United States.\n\n\u201cAs Republicans, we believe that parents, not the government, should be in charge of a child\u2019s education,\u201d said Sen. Tuberville. \u201cOur country was founded on Christian values, and private religious schools are a great option for many Alabamians. There\u2019s a myth out there that our Founders wanted to keep God out of the public square. That just isn\u2019t true. This country was built on love of God, love of country, and love of family.\u201d\n\nSens. Tuberville and Graham were joined by Sens. Jim Banks (R-IN), John Barrasso (R-WY), Marsha Blackburn (R-TN), Katie Britt (R-AL), Ted Budd (R-NC), Shelley Moore Capito (R-WV), Bill Cassidy (R-LA), John Cornyn (R-TX), Tom Cotton (R-AR), Kevin Cramer (R-ND), Mike Crapo (R-ID), Steve Daines (R-MT), Bill Hagerty (R-TN), Josh Hawley (R-MO), Cindy Hyde-Smith (R-MS), Jim Justice (R-WV), James Lankford (R-OK), Mike Lee (R-UT), Cynthia Lummis (R-WY), Roger Marshall (R-KS), Pete Ricketts (R-NE), Jim Risch (R-ID), Eric Schmitt (R-MO), Rick Scott (R-FL), Tim Scott (R-SC), Roger Wicker (R-MS), and Todd Young (R-IN) in cosponsoring the resolution.\n\nThe resolution is supported by School Time Bible Ministries, the Foundation for American Christian Education, Agudath Israel of America, the Association of Christian Schools International, the Coalition for Jewish Values, and Catholic Education Partners.\n\nRead full text of the resolution here.\n\nSenator Tommy Tuberville represents Alabama in the United States Senate and is a member of the Senate Armed Services, Agriculture, Veterans\u2019 Affairs, HELP and Aging Committees.\n\n###", 1, "2026-09-29T11:07:12Z", "2026-09-29T11:08:49Z"], ["https://www.tuberville.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/tuberville-takes-action-to-ban-toxic-forever-chemicals-in-food-packaging/", "Tuberville Takes Action to Ban Toxic \u201cForever Chemicals\u201d in Food Packaging", "2026-09-28", "2026", "2026-09", "Republican", "Senate", "AL", "Tommy Tuberville", "T000278", "www.tuberville.senate.gov", "tuberville", "https://www.tuberville.senate.gov/press-releases/", "scraper", "WASHINGTON \u2013 U.S. Senator Tommy Tuberville (R-AL) reintroduced legislation to ban toxic PFAS chemicals \u2013 also known as \u2018forever chemicals\u2019 \u2013 in food wrappers and packaging. PFAS chemicals, which are sometimes used in food wrappers to repel grease, oil, and water, are linked to serious health challenges in humans, including cancer.\n\n\u201cThanks to the Make America Healthy Again movement, Americans have started waking up to the toxic chemicals that are in many of the products and foods we use every day,\u201d said Senator Tuberville. \u201cAmerica has the best resources, technology, and people in the world, so why are we sicker than ever? We need to start taking a closer look at things in our environment that are poisoning us. Our children are the most precious resource we have and we owe it to them to ban toxic chemicals like PFAS from products that have proven to be cancerous.\u201d\n\nSen. Tuberville was joined in introducing this bill by Senator Maggie Hassan (D-NH). Read the full text of the bill here.\n\nBACKGROUND:\n\nAs a founding member of the Senate Make America Healthy Again Caucus, Sen. Tuberville has been a vocal advocate against allowing toxic chemicals in American foods. In December of 2024, Sen. Tuberville made remarks during a Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions (HELP) hearing with a Biden FDA official about the dangers of allowing cancer-linked Red Dye No. 3 in foods, despite banning its use in other products. Following Sen. Tuberville\u2019s remarks, the Trump administration banned Red Dye No. 3 from foods in January 2025.\n\nSenator Tommy Tuberville represents Alabama in the United States Senate and is a member of the Senate Armed Services, Agriculture, Veterans\u2019 Affairs, HELP and Aging Committees.\n\n###", 1, "2026-09-29T11:07:12Z", "2026-09-29T11:08:49Z"], ["https://www.wicker.senate.gov/2026/09/28/wicker-announces-44-million-roadway-investment-for-desoto-county/", "Wicker Announces $44 Million Roadway Investment for DeSoto County", "2026-09-28", "2026", "2026-09", "Republican", "Senate", "MS", "Roger F. Wicker", "W000437", "www.wicker.senate.gov", "wicker", "https://www.wicker.senate.gov/category/press-releases/", "scraper", "WASHINGTON \u2013 U.S. Senator Roger Wicker, R-Miss., today celebrated a $44 million federal award to improve roadways and traffic systems in DeSoto County, Mississippi. Senator Wicker worked with DeSoto County officials and the Mississippi Department of Transportation (MDOT) to secure this competitive grant. The award flows from the Nationally Significant Multimodal Freight & Highway Projects (INFRA) program, which was funded in the 2022 Bipartisan Infrastructure Law. Senator Wicker helped negotiate the legislation as the senior Republican on the Senate Commerce, Science, and Transportation Committee.\n\n\u201cDeSoto County has posted impressive growth numbers for years, and this roadway funding is an investment in its continued success,\u201d said Senator Wicker. \u201cBy improving infrastructure, we attract job creators, facilitate tourism, and boost local businesses. I will continue working with local and state leaders to bring federal support to projects all over the Magnolia State.\u201d\n\n\u201cThis $44 million INFRA grant will help MDOT move a critical capacity project forward, making travel safer and reducing congestion along an important freight corridor. I want to thank Senator Wicker for his steadfast advocacy for our state\u2019s roads and infrastructure,\u201d said Brad White, Executive Director, MDOT.\n\nAbout the $44 million roadway improvement grant:\n\nThe funding will help expand a corridor of I-55/I-69 in DeSoto County that runs from Church Road to one mile north of SR 302. Today, the corridor is four lanes. It will be expanded into a ten-lane thoroughfare by adding three travel lanes in each direction and modifying the interchanges at Church Road and SR 302, specifically by adding ramp lanes, turning lanes, and lengthened acceleration and deceleration lanes.\n\n###", 1, "2026-09-29T11:07:12Z", "2026-09-29T11:08:49Z"], ["https://jasonsmith.house.gov/2026/09/27/smith-helps-secure-small-business-grant-for-houston-small-business-incubator/", "Smith Helps Secure Small Business Grant for Houston Small Business Incubator", "2026-09-27", "2026", "2026-09", "Republican", "House", "MO", "Jason Smith", "S001195", "jasonsmith.house.gov", "jasonsmith", "https://jasonsmith.house.gov/category/press_release/", "scraper", "HOUSTON, Mo. \u2013 Congressman Jason Smith (MO-08), Chairman of the House Ways and Means Committee, released the following statement after helping secure a U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Rural Business Development Grant for the City of Houston\u2019s Idea Lab Small Business Incubator.\n\n\u201cSmall businesses are the backbone of our economy, and everyone with the drive to start one should have a fair shot at success \u2014 no matter if they grew up in a small town like Houston or a city like St. Louis,\u201d said Congressman Smith. \u201cWhen a small business has the resources it needs to succeed, it creates jobs, keeps dollars in the local economy, and gives families the chance to build something of their own. That\u2019s the American Dream, and that\u2019s exactly why I pushed so hard for this grant.\n\n\u201cI\u2019m proud to have helped bring more than $127,000 to Texas County to make the Idea Lab a reality and provide folks in the area with the space, tools, and mentorship they need to turn their ideas into thriving businesses. I want to thank Houston\u2019s Economic Development Director Travis Witzemann, USDA Rural Development, and everyone who contributed time, effort, and funding to invest in Houston\u2019s entrepreneurs.\u201d\n\nBackground:", 1, "2026-09-28T11:29:07Z", "2026-09-28T11:30:58Z"], ["https://vandrew.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=2098", "Congressman Van Drew Provides Update on Storm Response Across South Jersey", "2026-09-27", "2026", "2026-09", "Republican", "House", "NJ", "Jefferson Van Drew", "V000133", "vandrew.house.gov", "vandrew", "https://vandrew.house.gov/media/press-releases", "scraper", "Washington, DC - Today, Congressman Van Drew provided an update on the ongoing response to the nor'easter impacting South Jersey and the work underway to prepare for recovery efforts.\n\n\"Teams are already in the district assessing conditions and damage, and that work will continue throughout the week,\" said Congressman Van Drew. \"In the coming days, I will be personally meeting with officials from the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) and the Army Corps of Engineers, including the FEMA Administrator and the Secretary of the Army, both in the district and on the ground. We are going to stay on top of this and make sure our communities get every federal resource and dollar they are eligible for. We have been through storms like this before. South Jersey is strong, and we will recover. My office will be there every step of the way.\n\n\"If you are without power, or if there is another storm-related issue in your community that you believe needs attention, please fill out the form below. This will help my office know where problems remain so we can follow up with the appropriate agencies, utilities, or local officials.\n\n\"Finally, I want to thank our first responders, emergency management teams, utility crews, law enforcement, firefighters, and everyone else who has been working to keep our people safe. We are incredibly grateful for everything they have done and continue to do.\"", 1, "2026-09-28T11:29:07Z", "2026-09-28T11:30:58Z"], ["https://morgangriffith.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=405837", "Griffith Announces $160,000 FEMA Grant for Helene Relief", "2026-09-26", "2026", "2026-09", "Republican", "House", "VA", "H. Morgan Griffith", "G000568", "morgangriffith.house.gov", "morgangriffith", "https://morgangriffith.house.gov/news/", "scraper", "The U.S. Department of Homeland Security\u2019s Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) has awarded a Hurricane Helene-related grant to the Commonwealth of Virginia. The funding breakdown of the grant is as follows:\n\n$160,000 to the LENOWISCO Planning District Commission for All Hazards Mitigation Plan Update\n\nIn response to this grant notice, U.S. Congressman Morgan Griffith (R-VA) issued the following statement:\n\n\u201cTwo years into recovery from Hurricane Helene, local authorities continue to investigate disaster vulnerabilities in our infrastructure.\n\n\u201cThis FEMA grant for $160,000 helps the LENOWISCO Planning District Commission assess regional hazard mitigation strategies, tools and resources.\u201d\n\nBACKGROUND\n\nThe LENOWISCO Planning District Commission serves Ninth District localities, including the Counties of Lee, Scott, Wise as well as the City of Norton.\n\nFEMA funds are obligated to the Commonwealth of Virginia. The Commonwealth will be responsible for providing the funds to the sub-recipients.\n\nIn January 2025, Rep. Griffith announced $46.67 million in Helene relief to Virginia from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD).\n\nIn April 2025, Congressman Griffith announced nearly $6 million in Helene relief in a separate grant for Washington County water line repairs.\n\nIn January 2026, Congressman Griffith announced more than $4.2 million in Helene relief for a Wytheville wastewater treatment system.\n\nIn February 2026, Congressman Griffith announced more than $8.6 million in Helene relief for water line repair.\n\nIn April 2026, Congressman Griffith announced more than $1.7 million in Helene relief for bridge repair.\n\nIn June 2026, Congressman Griffith announced more than $2.8 million in Helene relief for road repair.\n\nIn July 2026, Congressman Griffith announced more than $9.3 million in Helene relief for waterline repair and $1.2 million in bridge repairs.\n\nIn July 2026, Congressman Griffith celebrated more than $7.3 million in federal funding for Helene relief projects in Southwest Virginia.\n\nAdditionally, Congressman Griffith announced more than $1.2 million in Helene relief for recovery projects in Tazewell County.\n\nIn August 2026, Congressman Griffith announced more than $1.4 million in Helene relief for Washington County Service Authority management costs.\n\n###", 1, "2026-09-26T09:43:57Z", "2026-09-26T09:44:55Z"], ["https://barrett.house.gov/media/press-releases/barrett-epa-administrator-zeldin-highlight-reliable-energy-environmental", "Barrett, EPA Administrator Zeldin Highlight Reliable Energy, Environmental Protection Efforts in Mid-Michigan", "2026-09-26", "2026", "2026-09", "Republican", "House", "MI", "Tom Barrett", "B001321", "barrett.house.gov", "barrett", "https://barrett.house.gov/media/press-releases", "scraper", "Stockbridge, Mich. \u2014 Today, Congressman Tom Barrett welcomed U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Administrator Lee Zeldin to mid-Michigan to highlight efforts to unleash reliable energy production and promote critical research to help protect the environment from harmful chemicals.\n\nThe officials visited Enbridge\u2019s Stockbridge Terminal and met with local energy leaders before heading to Michigan State University to see how researchers are studying the potential lasting effects and possible mitigation of PFAS chemicals. While at Enbridge, Barrett announced his support for pausing diesel exports to help rein in prices for transporting goods across the country.\n\n\u201cHard-working families deserve to have confidence that they\u2019ll be able to reliably heat their homes in the winter. Secure pipelines are the safest, most efficient, and most dependable way to transport fuel throughout our state,\u201d said Barrett. \u201cPrices at the pump and on utility bills are too expensive right now, and that\u2019s why I\u2019m continuing my work in Congress to unleash American energy production, expand refinery capacity, and protect the infrastructure that safely, cost-effectively transports fuel to and from those refineries. It\u2019s also why I support pausing diesel exports to rein in prices that make shipping groceries and other products more expensive. Thank you to Administrator Zeldin for coming to mid-Michigan to see the work so many in our region are doing to fuel our communities and to protect people and our natural resources.\u201d\n\n\u201cEnergy fuels every part of our lives, but for years, Washington bureaucrats abused power to restrict critical energy infrastructure,\u201d said Administrator Lee Zeldin. \u201cAt the Trump EPA, we are following the law, applying common sense, and helping to unleash U.S. energy dominance. As a result, good-paying energy jobs are being protected and created, and trillions of dollars in regulatory costs are being cut, while simultaneously fulfilling our statutory obligations and protecting our environment. It is great to be working alongside Representative Barrett to deliver for the American public.\u201d\n\nThe Stockbridge Terminal is a crude oil tank facility which allows for the temporary storage of crude oil as it moves through the Enbridge pipeline system in mid-Michigan, connecting supply with numerous regional refineries. It serves as an important hub in Enbridge\u2019s large North American network of critical pipelines, which are the safest and most affordable way to transport oil and natural gas. Barrett and Zeldin toured the facility and then met with leaders in Michigan\u2019s energy industry. During the roundtable conversation, the group discussed the importance of expanding reliable energy production and maintaining critical infrastructure to safely, efficiently transport fuel for Michigan residents. Industry leaders also emphasized the need to build more refinery capacity to process raw materials into usable fuels. Barrett has made boosting American energy production a priority, helping pass critical reforms in the Working Families Tax Cuts Act (H.R. 1) that will increase domestic production and help lower costs in the long run. He has long championed policies to promote competition and encourage production of affordable, reliable energy.\n\nBarrett and Zeldin then met with researchers and toured Michigan State University\u2019s Center for PFAS Research. University scientists are studying the impact on human health, agriculture, and the environment from per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances \u2014 long-lasting chemicals that break down very slowly \u2014 as well as how to mitigate any harm.\n\nBackground:\n\nThe Working Families Tax Cuts Act (H.R. 1) boosted American energy production by authorizing new oil and gas leases and undoing red tape imposed during the Biden administration. The historic law removed subsidies and carveouts for special interests, providing a level playing field that allows companies producing oil, natural gas, wind, solar, nuclear, or other energy sources to compete, innovate, and provide more efficient energy.", 1, "2026-09-27T10:23:37Z", "2026-09-27T10:25:08Z"], ["https://chrissmith.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=415873", "Storm Resources", "2026-09-26", "2026", "2026-09", "Republican", "House", "NJ", "Christopher H. Smith", "S000522", "chrissmith.house.gov", "chrissmith", "https://chrissmith.house.gov/news/documentquery.aspx", "scraper", "TOMS RIVER, NJ , Sep 26, 2026\n\nImportant Storm Resources:\n\nCall 911 for emergencies\n\nReport power outage to JCP&L - text \u201cOUT\u201d to 544487 or call 1-888-LIGHTSS (1-888-544-4877)\n\nIf you see downed power lines: Call 911 immediately if you see a downed power line. Stay at least 30 feet away and instruct others to do the same.\n\nState of NJ\u2019s 24-hour helpline: 211\n\nState of NJ\u2019s preparedness info: ready.nj.gov\n\nNational Weather Service for Central and Southern NJ\n\nAdditional resources:\n\nOcean County Sheriff\u2019s Office of Emergency Management (OEM): (732) 929-2044\n\nMonmouth County Sheriff\u2019s Office of Emergency Management (OEM): (732) 577-8700\n\n** Be sure to keep cell phones fully charged during this emergency**\n\nSept 2026 National Weather Service Map.", 1, "2026-09-27T10:23:37Z", "2026-09-27T10:25:08Z"], ["https://langworthy.house.gov/media/press-releases/congressman-nick-langworthy-proudly-announces-nearly-200000-federal-assistance", "Congressman Nick Langworthy Proudly Announces  Nearly $200,000 in Federal Assistance to Fire Fighters in Erie County", "2026-09-26", "2026", "2026-09", "Republican", "House", "NY", "Nicholas A. Langworthy", "L000600", "langworthy.house.gov", "langworthy", "https://langworthy.house.gov/media/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON, D.C. \u2013 September 26th...Today, Congressman Nick Langworthy (NY-23) announced $198,945 in federal moneys headed to 3 fire departments across Erie County through the FEMA AFG Grant Program. Congressman Langworthy was proud to support the funding of this important program and has long been a vocal advocate in favor of federal investment in our local first responders. In June this year, Congressman Langworthy hosted FEMA AFT for a virtual grant writing seminar to make applying easier for our local departments.\n\n\u201cOur firefighters are true heroes, and I am proud to announce that $198,945 is on its way to upgrade the safety equipment and technology that keeps our communities safe,\u201d said Congressman Nick Langworthy. \u201cThis direct federal investment will afford first responders with upgraded new radios, turnout gear, air packs, or other critical equipment that means the world in the heat of crisis. When our firefighters answer the call, I want them to have the support they deserve to do the job safely. As I meet with firefighters across the district, I hear repeatedly how meaningful this funding pipeline is to their department, and I am proud to continue the fight to fund this critical grant program.\"\n\nAccording to FEMA, the primary goal of these grants is to enhance the safety and effectiveness of first responders while also improving their ability to respond to emergencies and disasters. They aim to address the evolving needs of first responders, from advanced equipment acquisition and updating aging vehicles to safety improvement and training programs.\n\nOrganization Award Amount\n\nERIE COUNTY", 1, "2026-09-29T11:07:12Z", "2026-09-29T11:08:49Z"], ["https://langworthy.house.gov/media/press-releases/congressman-nick-langworthy-proudly-announces-nearly-400000-federal-assistance", "Congressman Nick Langworthy Proudly Announces  Nearly $400,000 in Federal Assistance to Fire Fighters in Stueben, Chemung, and Tioga Counties", "2026-09-26", "2026", "2026-09", "Republican", "House", "NY", "Nicholas A. Langworthy", "L000600", "langworthy.house.gov", "langworthy", "https://langworthy.house.gov/media/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON, D.C. \u2013 September 26th...Today, Congressman Nick Langworthy (NY-23) announced $382,298 in federal moneys headed to 4 fire departments across Stueben, Chemung and Tioga County through the FEMA AFG Grant Program. Congressman Langworthy was proud to support the funding of this important program and has long been a vocal advocate in favor of federal investment in our local first responders. In June this year, Congressman Langworthy hosted FEMA AFT for a virtual grant writing seminar to make applying easier for our local departments.\n\n\u201cOur firefighters are true heroes, and I am proud to announce that $382,298 bound for the Southern Tier to invest in critical equipment to our community safe,\u201d said Congressman Nick Langworthy. \u201cThis direct federal investment will take pressure off local taxpayers, and give first responders access to new radios, turnout gear, air packs, or other vital equipment that means the world in the heat of crisis. When our firefighters answer the call, I want them to have the support they deserve to do the job safely. As I meet with firefighters across the district, I hear repeatedly how impactful this funding pipeline is to their department, and I am proud to continue the fight to fund this critical grant program in Congress.\u201d\n\nAccording to FEMA, the primary goal of these grants is to enhance the safety and effectiveness of first responders while also improving their ability to respond to emergencies and disasters. They aim to address the evolving needs of first responders, from advanced equipment acquisition and updating aging vehicles to safety improvement and training programs.\n\nOrganization Award Amount\n\nSTEUBEN COUNTY\n\nCITY OF HORNELL $128,403\n\nVILLAGE OF SAVONA $167,619\n\nCHEMUNG COUNTY\n\nERIN FIRE DISTRICT $32,680\n\nTIOGA COUNTY", 1, "2026-09-29T11:07:12Z", "2026-09-29T11:08:49Z"], ["https://www.young.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/young-introduces-bills-to-protect-american-biotechnology-infrastructure-data-from-malicious-actors/", "Young Introduces Bills to Protect American Biotechnology Infrastructure, Data from Malicious Actors", "2026-09-26", "2026", "2026-09", "Republican", "Senate", "IN", "Todd Young", "Y000064", "www.young.senate.gov", "toddyoung", "https://www.young.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/", "scraper", "WASHINGTON \u2013 U.S. Senator Todd Young (R-Ind.), Chairman of the National Security Commission on Emerging Biotechnology (NSCEB), and Senator Maggie Hassan (D-N.H.) introduced two bills to protect biotechnology data and infrastructure from malicious actors.\n\nThe Protecting Biotechnology and Biomanufacturing as Critical Infrastructure Act would ensure that biotechnology and biomanufacturing infrastructure is protected as critical infrastructure. It would establish a mechanism to cover cross-sector infrastructure that does not neatly fall within current Critical Infrastructure Sectors designations.\n\nThe Protecting Biological Data as Critical Infrastructure Act would ensure coverage of genetic and other sensitive biometric data with the proper cybersecurity controls. The bill directs the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) to designate systems handling genomic sequences and sensitive biometric data as critical infrastructure and also mandates collaboration between CISA and biotechnology stakeholders to create security protocols and synchronize security concerns across sectors.\n\n\u201cBiotechnology infrastructure and data are becoming vital to America\u2019s economic and national security,\u201d said NSCEB Chair Senator Todd Young (R-Ind.). \u201cJust as we are serious about where the sensitive data of Americans is stored and who can access it, we should be equally serious about protecting our biological data and infrastructure. Designating biotech as critical infrastructure is about recognizing its strategic importance and making sure the capabilities America will depend on tomorrow remain resilient and protected from foreign threats.\u201d\n\n\u201cCyberattacks that target the genetic information and other personal health information of Americans can have devastating consequences for patients, providers, and our national security. As we continue to see increasingly sophisticated attacks, it\u2019s important that our cybersecurity agencies have the tools that they need to protect American biotechnology and our public health,\u201d said Senator Hassan (D-N.H.). \u201cI am glad to introduce these bipartisan, commonsense bills that will keep Granite Staters healthy and safe.\u201d\n\nIn its April 2025 report to Congress, the NSCEB assessed that malicious actors will increasingly target the biotechnology sector\u2019s infrastructure and data. Critical biotechnology infrastructure, such as hospitals and agricultural facilities, have already faced numerous cyberattacks. Biological data are not currently treated or protected as a strategic national resource. These bills reflect NSCEB recommendations.\n\nThe bills were also introduced in the U.S. House of Representatives by Representatives Ro Khanna (D-CA-17), Stephanie Bice (R-OK-05), and Scott Peters (D-CA-50).\n\nA detailed summary of both bills can be found here.", 1, "2026-09-29T11:07:12Z", "2026-09-29T11:08:49Z"], ["https://steube.house.gov/press-releases/rep-steube-introduces-flafo-act-to-rein-in-warrantless-flock-safety-surveillance/", "Rep. Steube Introduces\u00a0FLAFO\u00a0Act to Rein In Warrantless \u2018Flock Safety\u2019 Surveillance", "2026-09-25", "2026", "2026-09", "Republican", "House", "FL", "W. Gregory Steube", "S001214", "steube.house.gov", "steube", "https://steube.house.gov/category/press-releases/page/", "scraper", "WASHINGTON \u2013 U.S. Representative Greg Steube (R-Fla.) today introduced the Facilitating Liberty and Accountability for Flock Observations (FLAFO) Act, legislation prohibiting federal agencies from purchasing, leasing, operating, accessing, or sharing data with networked Automated License Plate Reader surveillance systems without a judicial warrant. The bill also conditions Department of Justice federal grant funding for state, local, and tribal law enforcement agencies on the adoption of substantially similar privacy regulations.\n\n\u201cThe Fourth Amendment is not optional. Americans should not be tracked everywhere they drive without a warrant,\u201d said Rep. Steube. \u201cFlock Safety\u2019s surveillance network is expansive, and we have seen several instances across the country where this technology is too easily abused. The FLAFO Act limits warrantless surveillance by ALPR systems because the government has no business tracking law-abiding Americans.\u201d\n\nAutomated license plate reader systems, or ALPR systems, utilize cameras, sensors, or associated hardware or software systems to automatically capture, record, analyze, process, aggregate, or store a motor vehicle license plate, image, location, date, time, or other identifying vehicle information or characteristic. Flock Safety is the industry leader, accounting for more than 80 percent of ALPR systems operating in the U.S., but the FLAFO Act would also cover any other company utilizing ALPR systems.\n\nAutomated license plate reader technology has expanded from localized tools for identifying criminal activity into large-scale surveillance mechanisms capable of aggregating sensitive location information across jurisdictions. By using artificial intelligence and machine learning, covered ALPR systems aggregate vehicle data into centralized databases, enabling detailed tracking of individuals\u2019 movements, associations, and daily routines without individualized suspicion.\n\nThe need for strict safeguards and federal oversight has been underscored by widespread reports of law enforcement officers abusing Flock camera networks to spy on personal acquaintances and conduct unauthorized searches. Recent investigations in Florida, Indiana, Illinois, and Wisconsin, have exposed officers using ALPR databases improperly, leading to administrative suspensions, resignations, and criminal reviews. Investigations across multiple law enforcement agencies have documented alleged misuse of Flock Safety technology, highlighting the severe gaps in centralized surveillance databases.\n\nCommercial operators and government entities have deployed networked ALPR systems across multi-jurisdictional databases with limited safeguards, allowing users to conduct historical searches across jurisdictions and track vehicles based on visual characteristics beyond license plate numbers. Federal agencies should not provide support or authorization for surveillance practices that infringe upon constitutionally protected civil liberties.\n\nThe FLAFO Act closes that gap by prohibiting federal agencies from purchasing, leasing, operating, accessing, or supplying data to covered ALPR systems without a judicial warrant, while preserving limited exceptions for immediate threats to life, safety, and national security.\n\nThe full text of the FLAFO Act is available here.\n\n###", 1, "2026-09-25T10:04:52Z", "2026-09-25T10:05:46Z"], ["https://bergman.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=1540", "Bergman, Van Drew, Davis, Golden introduce SMILE for Veterans Act", "2026-09-25", "2026", "2026-09", "Republican", "House", "MI", "Jack Bergman", "B001301", "bergman.house.gov", "bergman", "https://bergman.house.gov/news/documentquery.aspx", "scraper", "Last week, Reps. Jack Bergman, Jeff Van Drew, Don Davis, and Jared Golden introduced the SMILE for Veterans Act, bipartisan legislation establishing a Department of Veterans Affairs pilot program to reimburse community-based dental providers for care provided to rural Veterans.\n\nUnder current law, only about 15 percent of the nearly nine million Veterans enrolled in VA health care are eligible for VA dental services. Eligibility is generally limited to Veterans with a service-connected dental condition, a 100 percent disability rating, or former prisoner-of-war status.\n\n\u201cFor too many Veterans in rural communities, basic dental care is either too far away or simply out of reach,\u201d said Rep. Jack Bergman. \u201cThe SMILE for Veterans Act offers a practical solution by connecting Veterans with trusted dental providers already serving their communities. Rather than building an expensive new federal system from the ground up, this legislation uses existing local providers to deliver care efficiently and closer to home.\u201d\n\nEfforts to broadly expand dental coverage through the VA have faced significant cost and capacity challenges, including the need for additional personnel, facilities, and community-care infrastructure.\n\nThe SMILE for Veterans Act takes a targeted approach by creating a reimbursement pathway for existing community-based dental providers to serve rural Veterans. By leveraging providers and infrastructure already in place, the legislation would expand access to dental care in underserved communities without requiring the VA to build a new system from the ground up.\n\n\u201cI spent 30 years as a dentist, and I can tell you that putting off dental care usually only makes things worse,\u201d said Rep. Jeff Van Drew. \u201cFor veterans living in rural communities, sometimes the hardest part is simply finding a dentist close enough to get the care they need. That should not be the case. The SMILE for Veterans Act is a practical way to connect veterans with that care closer to home. To me, that is common sense.\u201d\n\n\u201cQuality dental care is a critical part of keeping our veterans healthy, and too often, veterans in rural communities face significant challenges getting the care they need. The bipartisan SMILE for Veterans Act would give community providers across eastern North Carolina a way to deliver that care closer to home. Our veterans kept their promise to our nation, and we must always keep ours to them,\u201d said Rep. Don Davis.\n\n\u201cVA health care is an essential benefit for our nation\u2019s veterans, but for too long a lack of dental coverage has been a massive gap in care. The mouth is part of the body, and our veterans shouldn\u2019t have to jump through hoops to get basic dental care. I\u2019m proud to work with Reps. Bergman, Davis and Van Drew on the SMILE Act, which takes a smart first step toward more comprehensive coverage by focusing on rural areas where barriers to care are the highest and community providers that can help close the gap,\u201d said Rep. Jared Golden.\n\nThe SMILE for Veterans Act is supported by AMVETS, the National Rural Health Association, and the CareQuest Institute for Oral Health.\n\nIn 2024, the CareQuest Institute funded 10 projects across the country to identify the barriers Veterans face in getting oral health care. The Upper Peninsula Commission for Area Progress (UPCAP) was among the recipients, and with the help of the funding, was able to hold community forums across the region. The forums brought together Veterans, servicemembers, families and caregivers, dental providers, insurers and health plans, and policymakers to discuss Veteran oral health and what keeps Veterans from getting care. The project, led by Frank Lombard, UPCAP\u2019s U.P. Veterans Program Manager, produced troubling findings about the dental health and unmet needs of Veterans in rural Michigan. One survey of 835 Veterans found:\n\nPoor oral health: More than a third of Veterans surveyed rated their oral health as only fair or poor.\n\nVeterans are pulling their own teeth: 32 Veterans reported extracting one of their own teeth during or after military service because they couldn't get in to see a dentist \u2013 1 in 8 of those who answered the question. Among Veterans who rated their oral health as poor, the rate was more than 1 in 4.\n\nWidespread tooth loss: More than 75 percent of respondents who answered reported losing two or more teeth to decay or gum disease. Nearly 40 percent have lost six or more.\n\nEnrolled in VA care, but no dental benefit: 83 percent of respondents are enrolled in VA health care, yet 44 percent reported they are not eligible for VA dental care, with another 32 percent unsure whether they qualify. Fewer than 2% reported being service-connected for dental care.\n\nNo dental insurance: Nearly 37 percent of Veterans reported having no dental insurance. Among those rating their oral health as poor, more than half are uninsured.\n\nCost is the leading barrier: Affordability was the most frequently cited reason for not visiting the dentist more often. That includes 43 percent of Veterans in poor oral health.\n\nLong gaps in care: Nearly a third of Veterans had not seen a dentist in more than a year. More than 20 percent had gone three or more years. Among Veterans in poor oral health, 58 percent had not had a dental visit in the past year.\n\n\u201cThe CareQuest Institute for oral health generously provided funding for the Upper Peninsula Commission for Area Progress to conduct a rural Veteran oral health survey across our region. The results revealed systemic issues regarding problems with Veteran access to dental care. Although the majority of the 835 Veterans who completed the survey reported being enrolled in VA healthcare (696/83%), only 162 (19.4%) reported being eligible for dental services through the VA. Approximately 34% of Veterans reported their oral health as being fair (166) or poor (123). 307 Veterans reported having no dental insurance and 15 reported being unsure if they had any coverage. Lack of eligibility for dental care through the VA and the cost of care were some of the most frequent barriers highlighted in the survey results. Those who reported paying the most out-of-pocket for dental care were middle and lower income categories. The survey also revealed that many Veterans are struggling with serious and painful dental problems such as broken and cracked teeth, cavities, and abscesses. 32 veterans who completed the rural Veteran oral health survey even reported having to extract one of their own teeth during or after military service because they could not get into a dentist in time. No Veteran should ever have to pull one of their own teeth after the sacrifices they have made. This is a problem that must be solved,\u201d said Frank Lombard.\n\n\u201cNo Veteran should struggle to get the dental care they need because of where they live. For veterans in rural communities, limited options and long distances can make accessing oral health care especially difficult, and we all have a responsibility to help close those gaps,\u201d said Melissa Burroughs, Senior Director of Public Policy at CareQuest Institute for Oral Health. \u201cThis legislation is an important step in addressing longstanding barriers to care for rural veterans, and it\u2019s encouraging to see leaders from both parties working together on such a critical need.\u201d", 1, "2026-09-26T09:43:57Z", "2026-09-26T09:44:55Z"], ["https://chrissmith.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=415871", "The Daily Wire exclusive article on Smith legislation'Federal Pro-Life Protection Hits Major Milestone As New Attacks Emerge'", "2026-09-25", "2026", "2026-09", "Republican", "House", "NJ", "Christopher H. Smith", "S000522", "chrissmith.house.gov", "chrissmith", "https://chrissmith.house.gov/news/documentquery.aspx", "scraper", "By Leif Le Mahieu\n\nPublished September 25, 2026\n\nFifty-years ago, a Republican congressman from Illinois named Henry Hyde took action to successfully protect American dollars from being used to end the life of an unborn child.\n\nTo honor the lawmaker\u2019s legacy, Senator James Lankford (R-OK) on Friday introduced a resolution calling for the continued support of the Hyde Amendment, a measure prohibiting the use of federal dollars to fund abortions. Lankford credits the amendment with saving over 2.5 million babies, according to a copy of a resolution first obtained by The Daily Wire.\n\nLankford\u2019s resolution marks the 50th anniversary of the passage of the Hyde Amendment, which occurred on September 30, 1976. Since that time, the Hyde Amendment has been repeatedly passed ensuring that federal dollars are not paying for abortions. In recent years, some Democrats have pushed to end the amendment and force Americans to pay for abortions.\n\nCredit: YsaL via Getty Images.\n\n\u201cFor 50 years, the Hyde Amendment has been an important protection for American taxpayers. Every child is valuable. No American should ever wonder if the check they\u2019re sending to the IRS on April 15 will be used to pay for someone\u2019s elective abortion,\u201d Lankford Told The Daily Wire. \u201cHyde was a bipartisan agreement five decades ago, and it has been included in appropriations bills every year since. We should keep that commitment in place.\u201d\n\nThe resolution says its purpose is to recognize the Hyde Amendment\u2019s \u201cenduring legacy of saving the lives of more than 2,600,000 unborn children and respecting the conscience rights of the American people.\u201d It adds that it wants to \u201cencourages the people of the United States to reflect upon the history and significance of the Hyde amendment and the loss of 63,000,000 babies through abortions that have taken place since Roe v. Wade.\u201d\n\nA companion resolution was introduced in the House by Rep. Chris Smith (R-NJ).\n\n\u201cI had the honor of serving alongside Rep. Hyde in the House for more than two decades, and I can personally attest to his unrivaled brilliance, unparalleled compassion, and unwavering commitment to protecting and defending the rights of the unborn\u2014the weakest and most vulnerable among us,\u201d he said.\n\nCredit: Photo by Diana Walker/Getty Images.\n\nThe Hyde Amendment, supported by members of both parties at the time, came three years after the Supreme Court ruled that there was a constitutional right to an abortion \u2014 a decision that would later be struck down by the high court in 2022.\n\n\u2018\u2018We who seek to protect that most defenseless and innocent of human lives, the unborn \u2014 seek to inhibit the use of federal funds to pay for and thus encourage abortion as an answer to the human and compelling problem of an unwanted child,\u201d Hyde said at the time.\n\nIn recent years, the Hyde Amendment has faced challenges from Democrats who have floated appealing the amendment. In 2019, then Senator Kamala Harris called for Hyde to be repealed claiming it was blocking access to \u201creproductive health care.\u201d Those efforts have so far fallen flat when Democrats controlled Congress and would likely require a 60-seat majority in the Senate.\n\nEarlier this year, President Donald Trump suggested that Republicans should be \u201ca little flexible on Hyde.\u201d\n\n\u201cYou have to be a little flexible on Hyde, you know that. You\u2019ve got to be a little flexible,\u201d Trump said. \u201cYou\u2019ve got to use ingenuity. You\u2019ve got to work. We\u2019re all big fans of everything.\u201d\n\nDespite that comment, Trump has moved to keep dollars from going toward abortions. The president signed an executive order in January 2025 to enforce the Hyde Amendment and crack down on taxpayer funding for abortion.\n\nThere still appears to be some federal dollars paying for abortions. A recent report from the Government Accountability Office found that almost a quarter of Affordable Care Act plans cover abortions. Some lawmakers argues this violates the provisions of the Hyde Amendment.", 1, "2026-09-26T09:43:57Z", "2026-09-26T09:44:55Z"], ["https://finstad.house.gov/2026/09/25/finstad-hosts-roundtable-with-biofuels-leaders-in-janesville/", "Finstad Hosts Roundtable with Biofuels Leaders in Janesville", "2026-09-25", "2026", "2026-09", "Republican", "House", "MN", "Brad Finstad", "F000475", "finstad.house.gov", "finstad", "https://finstad.house.gov/media", "scraper", "September 25, 2026\n\nNEW ULM, MN \u2013 Today, Congressman Brad Finstad (MN-01), member of the House Agriculture Committee, hosted a roundtable discussion with the Minnesota Biofuels Association, Guardian Energy, and local farmers for a conversation on homegrown energy production and a tour of the Guardian Energy facility. Representatives from Minnesota Corn and Cole\u2019s Electric were also in attendance.\n\nWith four locations across the Midwest, Guardian Energy is one of the largest ethanol production groups in the United States. Their Janesville location is currently undergoing a construction project to build one of the world\u2019s largest grain bins, with a 2.3 million bushel capacity.", 1, "2026-09-26T09:43:57Z", "2026-09-26T09:44:55Z"], ["https://fong.house.gov/media/press-releases/fong-celebrates-house-passage-water-resources-development-act", "Fong Celebrates House Passage of Water Resources Development Act", "2026-09-25", "2026", "2026-09", "Republican", "House", "CA", "Vince Fong", "F000480", "fong.house.gov", "fong", "https://fong.house.gov/media/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON, D.C. \u2014 Last week, the House of Representatives passed H.R. 9497, the Water Resources Development Act (WRDA) of 2026, bipartisan legislation that authorizes critical water resources infrastructure projects across the country. Congressman Vince Fong (CA-20) voted in support of the bill, successfully securing several key wins for the Central Valley.\n\n\u201cWater is the lifeblood of our communities, and this legislation builds on existing investments I\u2019ve helped secure and delivers critical funding in the water infrastructure our families and businesses rely on,\u201d said Congressman Fong. \u201cFrom expanding water storage projects to protecting our reservoirs from wildfires, I fought to secure needed initiatives and projects that will strengthen our region\u2019s water resilience and safeguard our future. These investments will ensure that the Central Valley has the resources to thrive for generations to come. I am grateful to see this move one step closer to becoming law.\u201d\n\n\u201cThe Friant Water Authority is grateful for Congressman Vince Fong\u2019s leadership and dedication to ensuring a sustainable water future for our region,\u201d said Johnny Amaral, CEO Friant Water Authority. \u201cHis efforts to incorporate the valuable findings from airborne snow observatories will significantly enhance our ability to optimize water resources. Furthermore, providing the Army Corps with additional authorities to proactively mitigate wildfire risks around our Valley\u2019s reservoirs and lakes is a crucial step in safeguarding our communities and natural resources. Thank you, Congressman Fong, for your commitment to advancing our water management strategies through the Water Resources Development Act.\u201d\n\n\u201cAs we continue advancing efforts to raise Pine Flat Dam and improve management of the Kings River watershed to reduce flood risk and strengthen long-term drought resilience, we strongly support the important provisions included in the House Committee-passed WRDA bill,\u201d said David Merritt, General Manager of the Kings River Conservation District. \u201cWe appreciate Representative Fong's continued leadership and support for these critical water resource projects and look forward to working together to advance durable, long-term solutions that benefit the San Joaquin Valley.\u201d\n\n\u201cAs we strive to raise Buchanan Dam and expand Eastman Reservoir as well as effectively manage the Chowchilla River watershed to mitigate flood risks and enhance drought resilience, we wholeheartedly support the provisions included in the House Committee Passed WRDA bill by Congressman Fong,\u201d said Brandon Tomlinson, GM Chowchilla Water District. \u201cWe are grateful for Congressman Fong's leadership and Congressman McClintock and Gray\u2019s support of our essential water resource projects and look forward to collaborating on enduring solutions for the San Joaquin Valley.\"\n\nWRDA is bipartisan legislation that Congress has passed every two years since 2014 to improve the nation's ports, harbors, inland waterways, flood protection, and water resources infrastructure. H.R. 9497 authorizes 133 new feasibility studies and 14 projects ready for construction, while streamlining U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) processes and empowering local stakeholders to deliver projects more efficiently.\n\nThanks to Congressman Fong's advocacy, H.R. 9497 includes the following wins for local communities:\n\nPine Flat Dam Raise\n\nAccelerates and expedites the completion of a feasibility study for the Pine Flat Dam Raise located in Fresno County, California, with the goal of advancing ecosystem restoration and bolstering water supply.\n\nEastman Lake Enlargement \u2014 Chowchilla Water Resiliency Project\n\nPlaces the Buchanan Dam Raise on the USACE's Expedited Projects List, accelerating a project that would increase Eastman Lake's capacity by 50,000 acre-feet and deliver approximately 8,750 additional acre-feet of surface water annually to Central Valley growers facing significant groundwater deficits.\n\nAirborne Snow Observatories (ASO/FIRO)\n\nDirects the USACE to incorporate Airborne Snow Observatory flights into reservoir water control manuals, providing real-time snowpack data to improve water storage decisions and reservoir operations across the Central Valley.\n\nWildfire Risk Assessments for USACE Dams and Reservoirs\n\nProvides new authorities for the USACE to proactively assess wildfire risk at USACE-owned reservoirs, develop mitigation action plans, and partner with non-federal entities to reduce wildfire-related threats to Central Valley water supply reliability. Local USACE projects include Redbank and Fancher Creek, Success Lake, Pine Flat Lake, Lake Kaweah, and Lake Isabella.\n\nAdditionally, H.R. 9497 delivers broader national benefits by:\n\nAuthorizing major infrastructure projects approved by the USACE.\n\nReauthorizing the High Hazard Potential Dam safety program through 2031.\n\nStrengthening flood risk management and levee maintenance programs.\n\nImproving inland waterway navigation to support American commerce.\n\nStreamlining USACE processes and reducing federal bureaucracy.", 1, "2026-09-26T09:43:57Z", "2026-09-26T09:44:55Z"], ["https://gallagher.house.gov/media/press-releases/reps-james-gallagher-and-josh-riley-improve-transit-access-rural-communities-through-bipartisan-bill", "Reps. James Gallagher and Josh Riley Improve Transit Access in Rural Communities through Bipartisan Bill", "2026-09-25", "2026", "2026-09", "Republican", "House", "CA", "James Gallagher", "G000607", "gallagher.house.gov", "gallagher", "https://gallagher.house.gov/media/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON, D.C. \u2014 Representatives Josh Riley (NY-19) and James Gallagher (CA-01) introduced the Improving Rural Transportation Act, bipartisan legislation that would establish a federal grant program to support rural transportation infrastructure. The bill would also help rural communities develop and expand ride-share and micro-transit programs, with an emphasis on public-private partnerships. The initiative will give rural communities additional tools and resources to address transportation needs and improve access to mobility options from Northern California to New York.\n\n\u201cRural communities deserve transportation options that actually work for them, not one-size-fits-all solutions designed for big cities,\u201d said Rep. Gallagher. \u201cThe Improving Rural Transportation Act gives smaller communities more flexibility to develop transportation services that fit their needs while bringing the private sector to the table. I\u2019m proud to co-lead this bipartisan effort with Congressman Riley and give rural America a better shot at the transportation investments it deserves.\u201d\n\n\u201cIn Upstate New York, getting to the doctor, the grocery store, or the post office can mean driving 20 or 30 miles. If you don\u2019t have a car or can\u2019t drive, that becomes a real problem real fast,\u201d said Rep. Riley. \u201cSmall towns should have the tools to come up with solutions that work for them. This bill gives rural communities more options, brings local leaders and businesses to the table, and helps make sure folks can get where they need to go.\u201d\n\nThe Improving Rural Transportation Act would do the following:\n\nCreate a Department of Transportation grant program for communities with populations under 200,000.\n\nHelp fund rideshare, microtransit, flexible-route, and other transportation programs.\n\nGive priority to projects that bring together local governments, private-sector partners, and nonprofit organizations.\n\nRequire state or local partners to cover at least 20 percent of project costs.\n\nYou can read the full text of the Improving Rural Transportation ActHERE.\n\n###\n\nClick the link here to subscribe to my eNewsletter!\n\nRep. James Gallagher | 408 Cannon House Office Building | Washington, DC 20515 US", 1, "2026-09-26T09:43:57Z", "2026-09-26T09:44:55Z"], ["https://gosar.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=9518", "Gosar Introduces VA Hiring Integrity Act to Keep Convicted Fraudsters Off VA Payroll", "2026-09-25", "2026", "2026-09", "Republican", "House", "AZ", "Paul A. Gosar", "G000565", "gosar.house.gov", "gosar", "https://gosar.house.gov/news/documentquery.aspx", "scraper", "WASHINGTON, D.C. \u2014 Congressman Paul Gosar, D.D.S. (AZ-09), issued the following statement in response to introducing H.R. 10556, the VA Hiring Integrity Act of 2026, legislation that would prohibit the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) from hiring or retaining individuals who have knowingly committed fraud involving federal funds.\n\n\u201cVeterans who risked their lives to defend our country deserve to know that the people entrusted with their care and benefits can be trusted. It is unacceptable for someone who has committed fraud against the federal government to turn around and collect a federal paycheck\u2014especially from the very department responsible for serving our veterans.\n\nThe need for stronger hiring protections is clear. A 2023 VA OIG report found four individuals on the Veterans Health Administration payroll who appeared on the HHS OIG exclusion list, including one convicted of health care fraud. The VA removed them only after the OIG identified the problem. As the VA itself recognizes, fraud, waste and abuse undermine the integrity of the agency and erode the trust veterans place in it.\n\nMy legislation gives the VA a common-sense tool to remove bad actors and protect veterans and taxpayers. There should be no such thing as a federal job for someone who has defrauded the federal government. We need to put veterans first, protect taxpayer dollars and make sure the VA has the authority it needs to deal with fraud and abuse,\u201d stated Congressman Gosar.\n\n\u201cVeterans have tremendous potential to continue serving and strengthening their communities long after they leave the military, and they deserve a VA that helps them do just that,\u201d added Michael Nudo, Federal Legislative Liaison for Concerned Veterans for America. \u201cThe VA Hiring Integrity Act is a commonsense safeguard that helps ensure bad actors don\u2019t undermine the care and support veterans need to thrive and continue contributing to our country.\u201d\n\nBackground:\n\nUnder the VA Hiring Integrity Act, an individual would be prohibited from employment at the VA if their conduct resulted in:\n\nA criminal conviction for fraud, theft, bribery, kickbacks, false statements, conspiracy to commit such offenses, or similar crimes involving federal funds;\n\nA final civil judgment establishing liability under the False Claims Act; or\n\nExclusion from federal health care programs as listed by the Department of Health and Human Services Office of Inspector General.\n\nThe bill also preserves due process protections. The VA would be required to establish an internal grievance process for health care employees subject to the legislation, ensuring the law is applied based on documented conduct and cannot be weaponized for political purposes by changing administrations.\n\nOriginal Cosponsors (34): Alford, Baird, Bean, Bergman, Biggs (SC), Bilirakis, Bost, Brecheen, Burchett, Carter (GA), Cloud, Davidson, Edwards, Fine, Finstad, Fry, Harrigan, Lawler, Luttrell, Mann, McDowell, McGuire, Messmer, Miller (OH), Moore (NC), Murphy (NC), Norman, Obernolte, Rose, Self, Sessions, Van Duyne, Van Orden, Wittman", 1, "2026-09-26T09:43:57Z", "2026-09-26T09:44:55Z"], ["https://jasonsmith.house.gov/2026/09/25/smith-helps-secure-more-than-45-million-for-rural-missouri-hospitals/", "Smith Helps Secure More Than $45 Million for Rural Missouri Hospitals", "2026-09-25", "2026", "2026-09", "Republican", "House", "MO", "Jason Smith", "S001195", "jasonsmith.house.gov", "jasonsmith", "https://jasonsmith.house.gov/category/press_release/", "scraper", "WASHINGTON, D.C. \u2013 This week, the Trump Administration announced more than $45 million in federal investment to upgrade rural Missouri hospitals, connect providers with behavioral and maternal health specialists, and grow the emergency care workforce in rural Missouri. This investment is part of the Rural Health Transformation Program\u2019s (RHTP) historic $50 billion investment in rural healthcare, which Rep. Jason Smith (MO-08) authored as part of the Working Families Tax Cuts, also known as the One, Big, Beautiful Bill.\n\n\u201cRural hospitals are the backbone of communities like the ones I grew up in. When a rural hospital shuts its doors, that often means an extra hour on the road to see a doctor, and that extra hour can be the difference between life and death,\u201d said Rep. Jason Smith. \u201cThat\u2019s exactly why I fought to create the Rural Health Transformation Program when I was writing the One, Big, Beautiful Bill. I knew we had to make a real investment in rural healthcare, so hospitals, clinics, and EMS crews have the resources they need to continue serving the families who depend on them. I was glad to see it pay off for my hometown recently when Salem Memorial hospital received $1.7 million through the RHTP, and this announcement is just further proof that the One, Big, Beautiful Bill is delivering for families and rural communities across the nation. I will never stop fighting to make sure our rural communities have access to the quality healthcare they deserve.\u201d\n\n\u201cPresident Trump understands that every American deserves high-quality healthcare, no matter where they live,\u201d said Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. \u201cWe are putting resources directly into rural communities to strengthen the health workforce, modernize infrastructure, expand access, and bring care closer to home. We are giving states the flexibility to build solutions around the people they serve, while demanding accountability for results. That is how we strengthen rural health, improve the lives of patients and families, and Make America Healthy Again.\u201d\n\n\u201cPresident Trump made a historic commitment to rural America, and these investments are turning that commitment into better care for patients in communities across Missouri,\u201d said Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services Administrator Dr. Mehmet Oz. \u201cThis is what rural health transformation should look like: federal investment that is putting patients first, driving lasting improvements and expanding healthcare for the hardworking Americans who call these communities home.\u201d\n\n\u201cA person\u2019s ZIP code should never determine whether they can see a doctor, receive emergency care, or access the services they need to live a healthy life,\u201d said Gov. Mike Kehoe. \u201cWith this investment, we can continue to deliver meaningful improvements in rural healthcare for generations to come. We\u2019re grateful to President Trump and the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services for their continued partnership as we work to build a stronger, healthier future for rural Missouri.\u201d\n\nBackground:", 1, "2026-09-26T09:43:57Z", "2026-09-26T09:44:55Z"], ["https://kiggans.house.gov/2026/09/25/kiggans-wittman-call-on-usda-to-provide-federal-assistance-for-virginia-oyster-growers-in-light-of-recent-algal-bloom/", "Kiggans, Wittman Call on USDA to Provide Federal Assistance for Virginia Oyster Growers in Light of Recent Algal Bloom", "2026-09-25", "2026", "2026-09", "Republican", "House", "VA", "Jennifer A. Kiggans", "K000399", "kiggans.house.gov", "kiggans", "https://kiggans.house.gov/feed/", "scraper", "WASHINGTON, D.C. \u2014 Today, Congresswoman Jen Kiggans (VA-02) and Congressman Rob Wittman (VA-01) sent a letter to U.S. Department of Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins regarding significant oyster mortality in the Chesapeake Bay and Coastal Virginia. The losses have coincided with recent algal blooms and low dissolved oxygen levels affecting oyster populations throughout the region. Reports from growers in Coastal Virginia have signaled significant mortality, leading to the loss of not only market-sized and grow-out oysters, but seed oysters as well. These are detrimental losses to this year\u2019s harvest and could impact next year\u2019s harvest if action isn\u2019t taken.\n\nThe letter requests that the Department of Agriculture\u2019s (USDA) Farm Service Agency (FSA) assess the losses suffered by the Commonwealth\u2019s commercial oyster growers and determine whether the impact of these blooms qualify for Secretarial natural disaster designation.\n\nCongresswoman Kiggans said, \u201cOur hardworking oyster producers and harvesters are critical to the Commonwealth\u2019s economy. As the representative of a coastal district and member of the House Committee on Natural Resources, I have a responsibility to ensure our producers have the resources they need when unforeseen circumstances threaten their livelihoods. These conditions could potentially impact harvests for years to come, which is why I\u2019m urging the USDA to assess whether the damage qualifies for federal assistance and help Virginia\u2019s oyster growers recover.\u201d\n\nIf USDA issues a Secretarial natural disaster designation, eligible oyster producers in designated primary and contiguous counties may apply for FSA Emergency Farm Loans to help recover from qualifying disaster-related losses. FSA evaluates each application individually based on the producer\u2019s losses, available security, repayment ability, and other eligibility requirements.\n\nHere is our draft quote: \u201cVirginia\u2019s oyster growers are facing significant losses that could impact harvests and livelihoods for years to come,\u201d said Rep. Wittman. \u201cRep. Kiggans and I are urging the USDA to act quickly to assess these losses and ensure affected growers have access to disaster assistance. Our watermen and aquaculture producers are vital to Virginia\u2019s coastal economy, and I will continue working to ensure they have the resources they need to recover.\u201d\n\nRead their letter here.\n\nIf you\u2019re an oyster producer experiencing serious production loss due to the algal bloom, the Office of Congresswoman Jen Kiggans encourages you to reach out to the Accomack County FSA Office at 757-787-0918.\n\nBackground:\n\nVirginia is a national leader in shellfish aquaculture, ranking first nationally in production of hard clams and Eastern oysters, according to the Virginia Institute of Marine Science (VIMS). Virginia shellfish aquaculture generated approximately $81 million in direct farm sales in 2024, up 52% from 2018.\n\nOn September 22, 2026, VIMS researchers reported that the recent harmful algal bloom expanded from the mainstem Chesapeake Bay into waters along Virginia\u2019s Eastern Shore, with bloom activity documented in Nassawadox, Hungars, and Cherrystone creeks. Researchers continue to monitor the bloom, associated low dissolved oxygen conditions, and impacts on shellfish and other marine life.\n\nIn their letter, Reps. Kiggans and Wittman ask USDA to work with VIMS, Virginia Tech, state and federal agencies, and other scientific partners to determine the scope and cause of the mortality and identify affected counties that may qualify for disaster designation and assistance.\n\nHarmful algal blooms are a recurring issue in the Chesapeake Bay. VIMS first conclusively identified Alexandrium monilatum in the Bay in 2007, and blooms have occurred nearly annually since, typically during the late summer months. The species produces goniodomin A, a toxin associated with harmful effects on oysters, oyster larvae, fish, and other marine life.\n\nPrevious blooms have raised similar concerns within Virginia\u2019s shellfish industry. In 2015, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) and VIMS documented an unusually extensive Alexandrium bloom across the lower Chesapeake Bay and Hampton Roads, accompanied by reports of oyster, fish, and crab mortality, although researchers did not establish a direct causal relationship at the time.", 1, "2026-09-26T09:43:57Z", "2026-09-26T09:44:55Z"], ["https://latta.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=407871", "Latta Commends Department of Energy Funding for Ohio Electric Grid Upgrades", "2026-09-25", "2026", "2026-09", "Republican", "House", "OH", "Robert E. Latta", "L000566", "latta.house.gov", "latta", "https://latta.house.gov/news", "scraper", "Today, Congressman Bob Latta, Chairman of the Energy Subcommittee on Energy and Commerce, commended the Department of Energy (DOE) for its recent decision to award more than $135 million in federal funding for the Public Utilities Commission of Ohio (PUCO) to help modernize the electric grid, upgrade transmission capacity, and lower expenses for Ohio ratepayers.\n\n\"Ohio is a key hub for multi-directional power transfer and faces many of the nation's grid challenges,\" said Rep. Latta. \"This funding will help maximize existing infrastructure, replace old assets, reduce congestion, and unlock constrained capacity within the grid. With rising electricity demand, our state must add capacity quickly to help ensure grid reliability and integrity while also lowering expenses for ratepayers. I was proud to lead a letter in support of this project, and I'm grateful to the Department of Energy for recognizing this need and awarding this funding that will greatly benefit Ohio's electric grid and the surrounding communities.\"\n\n\"As we work collectively to meet the moment, the Department of Energy funding will play an important role in the deployment of advanced transmission technologies across the country,\" stated PUCO Chair Jenifer French. \"The PUCO is so appreciative of the Department of Energy for choosing Ohio for this funding and we look forward to seeing the difference it can make in Ohio\u2019s communities.\"\n\nBackground:\n\nThe announcement comes after PUCO applied for DOE's SPARK program funding earlier this year. Congressman Latta led members of the Ohio delegation in sending a letter of support for the project to the Department of Energy. Read the letter of support for the funding application here.", 1, "2026-09-26T09:43:57Z", "2026-09-26T09:44:55Z"], ["https://lawler.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=6520", "Lawler Introduces Legislation to Update Tax Code for Widows and Widowers", "2026-09-25", "2026", "2026-09", "Republican", "House", "NY", "Michael Lawler", "L000599", "lawler.house.gov", "lawler", "https://lawler.house.gov/news/documentquery.aspx?DocumentTypeID=27", "scraper", "Washington, D.C. \u2013 9/25/26\u2026 This week, Congressman Mike Lawler (NY-17) introduced the Tax Relief for Surviving Spouses Act, legislation that would update the federal tax code so widows or widowers can claim surviving spouse status for up to two years after their spouse\u2019s death, regardless of whether they have a dependent child.\n\nUnder Internal Revenue Code Section 2(a), only surviving\u2011spouse filing status requires that the widow or widower have a dependent child, which does not always reflect in modern household structures. Many married couples have no children, adult children, or children who are no longer dependents, yet the financial disruption of losing a spouse is the same.\n\n\u201cLosing a spouse is an unimaginable loss, and I believe we should be doing everything we can to make the aftermath of a tragedy as manageable as possible for the American people. This small, targeted fix will deliver meaningful relief that eliminates an arbitrary distinction which has no connection to the financial need of a widow or widower,\u201d said Congressman Mike Lawler.", 1, "2026-09-26T09:43:57Z", "2026-09-26T09:44:55Z"], ["https://markharris.house.gov/media/press-releases/harris-calls-wnba-define-woman-biological-female-establish-clear-eligibility", "Harris Calls on WNBA to Define Woman as Biological Female, Establish Clear Eligibility Standards", "2026-09-25", "2026", "2026-09", "Republican", "House", "NC", "Mark Harris", "H001102", "markharris.house.gov", "markharris", "https://markharris.house.gov/media/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON, DC \u2014 Today, Congressman Mark Harris (NC-08) sent a letter to Women\u2019s National Basketball Association (WNBA) Commissioner Cathy Engelbert urging the league to define women as biological females under its Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA) and establish biological sex as the basis for eligibility in women\u2019s basketball.\n\nThe letter follows backlash against Indiana Fever player Sophie Cunningham after she publicly spoke out in support of protecting women\u2019s sports. Commissioner Engelbert subsequently addressed the controversy in a memo to teams but stopped short of announcing changes to the league\u2019s eligibility rules.\n\nEarlier this year, the International Olympic Committee (IOC) adopted a policy limiting eligibility in the female category to biological females beginning with the 2028 Los Angeles Olympic Games. Despite the WNBA\u2019s longstanding connection to Olympic basketball, the league has not announced plans to take similar action.\n\nKEY EXCERPTS FROM THE LETTER:\n\n\u201cSince then, the league has played a pivotal role in advancing women\u2019s sports and creating opportunities for female athletes. Preserving those opportunities requires a clear and consistent standard for eligibility and a commitment to maintaining the integrity of women\u2019s basketball.\u201d\n\n\u201cYet the league\u2019s Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA) leaves a critical question unanswered. Article XIII, Section 1(a) states, \u2018Only players who are women are eligible to play in the WNBA,\u2019 but the CBA does not define \u2018women\u2019 according to biological sex or establish a clear standard for determining eligibility. Without that clarity, female athletes and fans are left uncertain about the standard governing who may compete in a league created specifically for women.\u201d\n\n\u201cSophie Cunningham deserves recognition for having the courage to raise concerns about protecting women\u2019s sports and maintaining a fair competitive environment for female athletes. Athletes should feel confident that they can speak openly about legitimate issues affecting their sport without being subjected to controversy or backlash simply for doing so.\u201d\n\n\u201cI respectfully ask the WNBA to adopt a definition of \u2018woman\u2019 under its CBA that defines women as biological females and establishes biological sex as the basis for eligibility in women\u2019s basketball. Female athletes deserve certainty that the opportunities created for them\u2014and the integrity of women\u2019s basketball\u2014will continue to be protected.\u201d\n\nThe full text of Congressman Harris\u2019s letter can be found here.\n\n###", 1, "2026-09-26T09:43:57Z", "2026-09-26T09:44:55Z"], ["https://morgangriffith.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=405834", "Griffith Announces $592,397 HHS Grant to Edward Via VCOM", "2026-09-25", "2026", "2026-09", "Republican", "House", "VA", "H. Morgan Griffith", "G000568", "morgangriffith.house.gov", "morgangriffith", "https://morgangriffith.house.gov/news/", "scraper", "The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) has awarded the Edward Via Virginia College of Osteopathic Medicine (VCOM), based in Blacksburg, Virginia, a $592,397 grant. The funding supports research into back pain injury mechanisms to address chronic pain behaviors. In response to this grant notice, U.S. Congressman Morgan Griffith (R-VA) issued the following statement:\n\n\u201cSince 2003, the Edward Via College of Osteopathic Medicine has been a leader in research efforts to improve health care in Virginia.\n\n\u201cThis grant for nearly $600,000 helps the Edward Via College of Osteopathic Medicine research chronic pain.\u201d\n\nBACKGROUND\n\nAs a member of the House Committee on Energy and Commerce, Congressman Griffith serves as the Chairman of the Health Subcommittee.\n\n###", 1, "2026-09-26T09:43:57Z", "2026-09-26T09:44:55Z"], ["https://morgangriffith.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=405835", "Congressman Griffith\u2019s Weekly E-Newsletter 9.25.26", "2026-09-25", "2026", "2026-09", "Republican", "House", "VA", "H. Morgan Griffith", "G000568", "morgangriffith.house.gov", "morgangriffith", "https://morgangriffith.house.gov/news/", "scraper", "Two years ago, Southwest Virginia communities faced some of the most adverse weather conditions in recent memory.\n\nHurricane Helene damaged homes, businesses, infrastructure, farms, among other properties and items. Hundreds of thousands of people in Virginia\u2019s Ninth District were affected by other losses, including a loss of cellular telephone service in much of the District.\n\nPreparing for danger, Virginia Governor Glenn Youngkin took decisive steps.\n\nThe Wednesday before the storm hit, Youngkin called. He advised me that Virginia\u2019s Ninth District would be severely impacted by the incoming storm.\n\nDuring this time, Youngkin and his team were consulting with the National Weather Service in Blacksburg about the imminent threat.\n\nTo help the region prepare for the impending crisis, Youngkin declared a State of Emergency. This action mobilized emergency response resources into our region. Youngkin did so to coordinate agency communications and prepare our communities for the worst, including deploying statewide assets like swift water rescue teams and additional State police.\n\nThe deployment of statewide swift water rescue teams included the Bristol, Virginia, Swift Water Rescue Team, the only such team based in Virginia\u2019s Ninth District at that time.\n\nYoungkin prepared the region so well that Virginia delivered assistance to Tennessee as well.\n\nUnicoi County Hospital, operated by Ballad Health, was completely flooded during the disaster. More than 50 people were stranded and stuck on the roof of the hospital.\n\nWith the help of rescue helicopter crews from Abingdon and the Virginia State Police, those on the hospital roof were saved.\n\nSurviving the storm, however, was just the first test.\n\nIn the aftermath, I traveled to the impacted areas with Youngkin and surveyed the damages.\n\nFrom our borders with North Carolina and Tennessee to our borders with West Virginia, we saw homes lifted off foundations, infrastructure decimated and storm debris throughout the region.\n\nAccordingly, Youngkin submitted a request for a federal Major Disaster Declaration. I pushed for federal authorities to approve his request and helped secure federal approval.\n\nIn addition to Youngkin\u2019s Declaration request, I voted for a government funding package that included Helene relief.\n\nMoney and federal relief resources from this package continue to flow into Ninth District communities. These funds have been used to support various projects, including extensive repairs in Damascus and wastewater treatment system repairs in Wytheville.\n\nThanks to Youngkin\u2019s actions, lives were saved and relief resources are available.\n\nMore work is underway in Congress to promote life-saving measures in times of emergency.\n\nThe impact of Hurricane Helene left many without access to power, cell phone signal and public communications systems. Friends, neighbors and loved ones could not get in touch with local authorities, missed critical alerts and faced persistent danger.\n\nWhen surveying damages in our region with Josh Hess, my then-district director, we planned to meet in Independence. However, Josh failed to show up. Due to the mobile signal outage, I could not contact Josh to learn that his vehicle had gone into a sinkhole.\n\nWhile I later learned that Josh and his car were okay, it illustrated the distressing situations many endured from the lack of communications support.\n\nIn Asheville, North Carolina, where Hurricane Helene hit hardest, communities struggled with this reality.\n\nHow could they contact people to make sure they were okay?\n\nFortunately, a local AM radio station came to the rescue.\n\nCBS News detailed how WWNC host Mart Starling and producer Tank Spencer served as a lifeline for North Carolina residents. The station received scores of messages from residents who could deliver news and updates during the damaging storms.\n\nFaced with a natural disaster, AM radio provided life-saving communications access.\n\nThis story is a testament to the power, value and reliability of AM radio technologies, particularly for those who live in or drive through rural areas.\n\nAM radio is a trusted and reliable technology than can serve folks in real-time with real emergencies.\n\nAccordingly, I supported a bill requiring AM radio technology for new cars.\n\nAs a co-sponsor of the AM Radio for Every Vehicle Act, I voted in favor of the bill during a House Energy and Commerce Committee markup. Following the hearing, I pushed for House leadership to consider a vote on the bill.\n\nIn September, the House overwhelmingly passed the measure. I believe that the Senate should follow suit to support a life-saving technology that helps those in rural areas.\n\nAs your federal representative, I will continue to advocate for Ninth District access to natural disaster relief, community recovery resources and mitigation measures.\n\nIf you have questions, concerns, or comments, feel free to contact my office. You can call my Abingdon office at 276-525-1405 or my Christiansburg office at 540-381-5671. To reach my office via email, please visit my website at https://morgangriffith.house.gov/.\n\n###", 1, "2026-09-26T09:43:57Z", "2026-09-26T09:44:55Z"], ["https://morgangriffith.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=405836", "Griffith Announces $500,000 HHS Grant to Biotherapeutics, Inc.", "2026-09-25", "2026", "2026-09", "Republican", "House", "VA", "H. Morgan Griffith", "G000568", "morgangriffith.house.gov", "morgangriffith", "https://morgangriffith.house.gov/news/", "scraper", "The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) has awarded Biotherapeutics, Inc., based in Blacksburg, Virginia, a $500,000 grant. The funding supports research into therapies for Alzheimer\u2019s disease. In response to this grant notice, U.S. Congressman Morgan Griffith (R-VA) issued the following statement:\n\n\u201cThis summer, hero pilot Captain Sully Sullenberger became one of the latest figures to come forward about their Alzheimer\u2019s diagnosis. As more figures speak out, federal efforts will support the development of new treatments.\n\n\u201cThis grant for $500,000 helps Biotherapeutics, Inc. develop new therapies for Alzheimer\u2019s disease.\u201d\n\nBACKGROUND\n\nAs a member of the House Committee on Energy and Commerce, Congressman Griffith serves as the Chairman of the Health Subcommittee.\n\n###", 1, "2026-09-26T09:43:57Z", "2026-09-26T09:44:55Z"], ["https://morgangriffith.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=405838", "Griffith Announces $173,600 FEMA Grant to West Piedmont Planning District Commission", "2026-09-25", "2026", "2026-09", "Republican", "House", "VA", "H. Morgan Griffith", "G000568", "morgangriffith.house.gov", "morgangriffith", "https://morgangriffith.house.gov/news/", "scraper", "The U.S. Department of Homeland Security\u2019s Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) has awarded a Hurricane Helene-related grant to the Commonwealth of Virginia. The funding breakdown of the grant is as follows:\n\n$173,600 to the West Piedmont Planning District Commission for All Hazards Mitigation Plan Update\n\nIn response to this grant notice, U.S. Congressman Morgan Griffith (R-VA) issued the following statement:\n\n\u201cLocal authorities continue to investigate disaster vulnerabilities in our infrastructure.\n\n\u201cThis FEMA grant for more than $173,000 helps the West Piedmont Planning District Commission assess regional hazard mitigation strategies, tools and resources.\u201d\n\nBACKGROUND\n\nThe West Piedmont Planning District Commission serves Ninth District localities, including the Counties of Franklin, Henry, Patrick as well as the City of Martinsville.\n\nFEMA funds are obligated to the Commonwealth of Virginia. The Commonwealth will be responsible for providing the funds to the sub-recipients.\n\nAlthough the West Piedmont Planning District did not suffer as severe damages as some parts of Virginia, it is important for the area to be ready for the next big storm.\n\n###", 1, "2026-09-26T09:43:57Z", "2026-09-26T09:44:55Z"], ["https://nunn.house.gov/2026/09/25/nunn-delivers-2-million-minburn-water-investment-highlights-iowa-water-quality-record-with-usda-under-secretary-smith/", "Nunn Delivers $2 Million Minburn Water Investment, Highlights Iowa Water Quality Record with USDA Under Secretary Smith", "2026-09-25", "2026", "2026-09", "Republican", "House", "IA", "Zachary Nunn", "N000193", "nunn.house.gov", "nunn", "https://nunn.house.gov/category/news/press-releases/", "scraper", "\u201cWhether it\u2019s replacing 70-year-old water lines in Minburn or protecting the rivers and reservoirs our families depend on, every Iowan should be able to trust the water coming out of their tap,\u201d said Rep. Nunn. \u201cWe secured a $2 million federal investment to fix a problem Minburn families have dealt with for decades, and we\u2019re taking that same commonsense approach across Iowa. That means bringing our tax dollars home while giving Iowans the resources and flexibility to lead the solutions. That\u2019s why we secured real-time flood and drought monitoring for every county we serve and fought to protect Iowa\u2019s water supply from Saylorville to Rathbun Lake.\u201d\n\nMinburn\u2019s water system is more than 70 years old, with frequent line breaks leading to boil orders and limiting firefighters\u2019 ability to respond to emergencies. In 2024, Rep. Nunn fought to secure a $2 million federal investment that is now being distributed to replace the aging water lines and provide a long-term solution to infrastructure challenges that have affected the community for decades.\n\n\u201cAt USDA, we want to empower rural communities, create economic opportunities, and preserve our rural ways of life,\u201d said Under Secretary Smith. \u201cToday\u2019s investment in the city of Minburn demonstrates the Administration\u2019s clear vision to continue driving strategic infrastructure investments in Iowa and rural communities across the country. As a result, our nation becomes stronger and our people prosper.\u201d\n\n\u201cSmall, rural communities like Minburn often face many challenges, reliable and clean drinking water being one of them,\u201d said Mayor Joe Stuetelberg, City of Minburn. \u201cWith the recognition and support of Congressman Nunn and our partnership with the USDA Rural Development office, we can proudly say that Minburn will have one less challenge to deal with for many years to come. For a small community, partnerships like these are what make critical projects possible. On behalf of the Minburn community, thank you to everyone involved in helping make this happen.\u201d\n\n\u201cUSDA Rural Development is on a mission to strengthen rural Iowa communities,\u201d said Rural Development Iowa State Director Mike Sexton. \u201cThrough the leadership of President Trump and Agriculture Secretary Rollins, Rural Development is making vital investments in infrastructure to ensure folks have access to reliable water service.\u201d\n\n\u201cToday, limitations in Minburn\u2019s existing water system create challenges related to pressure and flow,\u201d said Gary Brons, Vice President of Water, McClure Engineering. \u201cWhile replacing and upsizing aging infrastructure may not be flashy, it\u2019s essential to protecting public health and safety. By improving capacity and reliability, this project will deliver the dependable drinking water service Minburn residents need now and for generations to come.\u201d\n\nToday\u2019s announcement builds on Rep. Nunn\u2019s broader efforts to tackle Iowa\u2019s water challenges:\n\nProtecting Iowa\u2019s Water Sources: Rep. Nunn secured four Iowa priorities in the House-passed Water Resources Development Act of 2026, including a study of Saylorville Reservoir to help Des Moines Water Works and Central Iowa Water Works continue providing reliable drinking water. The bill also expedites a wetland restoration to reduce the sediment and phosphorus reaching Rathbun Lake, the only water source for the Rathbun Regional Water Association, which serves more than 80,000 people.\n\nPromoting Iowa-led Water Quality Solutions: Rep. Nunn secured an amendment in the House-passed PERMIT Act establishing a voluntary, state-led pilot program to accelerate water quality projects in watersheds facing high nitrogen and phosphorus levels.\n\nEnhancing Districtwide Water Monitoring: Rep. Nunn secured funding to complete a real-time flood and drought monitoring network across all 21 counties in Iowa\u2019s Third District. The new hydrostations will track rainfall, soil moisture, and water levels, giving farmers, first responders, and local leaders better information to prepare for severe weather.\n\nStrengthening Watershed Resilience: Rep. Nunn secured provisions in the House-passed Farm Bill to increase federal cost-share assistance for watershed rehabilitation and allow damaged watershed infrastructure to be rebuilt stronger following natural disasters.\n\nState and local leaders welcomed the investment for the City of Minburn and highlighted Rep. Nunn\u2019s leadership in advancing clean water solutions for Iowa communities:\n\n\u201cClean water is non-negotiable. Our Farm to Faucet approach in Iowa recognizes that we must invest both upstream in agricultural conservation practices to reduce runoff and downstream by modernizing aging water infrastructure,\u201d said Iowa Secretary of Agriculture Mike Naig. \u201cWe are seeing record progress on conservation adoption across the Greater Des Moines Watershed, and we must match that momentum with investments in the drinking water systems that serve our communities. I appreciate Congressman Nunn\u2019s leadership in helping make this impactful project in Minburn a reality, and I look forward to continuing our work together to deliver clean water for all Iowans.\u201d\n\n\u201dFederal investment is a win for Iowans. The federal government is a key partner since safe, reliable drinking water protects public health and supports communities and businesses across the state,\u201d said Tami Madsen, Executive Director, Central Iowa Water Works. \u201cA sustained federal partnership helps Iowa address water quality challenges, replace aging infrastructure, and prepare for future growth\u201d\n\n\u201cInfrastructure is the foundation for a strong economy. The USDA\u2019s investment secured by Congressman Nunn in Minburn will improve water reliability, strengthen the community\u2019s ability to support businesses and residents, and position the City to realize the growth coming their way,\u201d said Rachel Wacker, Executive Director, Greater Dallas County Development Alliance. \u201cLikewise, investments in water monitoring and resilience across Dallas County give our communities and their leaders the information necessary to plan for sustainable growth, protect resources, and remain competitive.\u201d\n\n\u201cClean, reliable water is fundamental to strong communities, and I\u2019m grateful to Congressman Nunn for continuing to deliver results for Dallas County,\u201d said Dallas County Supervisor Kim Chapman. \u201cThis investment in the City of Minburn will help strengthen critical infrastructure for families today while preparing the community for future growth. Just as importantly, I appreciate the focus on Iowa-led solutions that bring local, state, and federal partners together to improve water quality while respecting the needs of our farmers and rural communities. That kind of partnership is how we make lasting progress for Dallas County and all of Iowa.\u201d\n\n###", 1, "2026-09-26T09:43:57Z", "2026-09-26T09:44:55Z"], ["https://pfluger.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=3045", "Rep. Pfluger Holds Roundtables with Midland and Odessa Chambers of Commerce", "2026-09-25", "2026", "2026-09", "Republican", "House", "TX", "August Pfluger", "P000048", "pfluger.house.gov", "pfluger", "https://pfluger.house.gov/media/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON, D.C. \u2014 Congressman August Pfluger (TX-11) joined both the Midland and Odessa Chambers of Commerce for roundtables with local business leaders, energy producers, and healthcare providers.\n\nThe roundtables brought together key stakeholders from across the Permian Basin to discuss the challenges facing local businesses. As Co-Chair of the Congressional Free Enterprise Caucus, Congressman Pfluger has been a leading voice in Washington for pro-growth, pro-business policies, and used the discussions to hear directly from West Texas job creators about how federal policy can better support their growth.", 1, "2026-09-26T09:43:57Z", "2026-09-26T09:44:55Z"], ["https://pfluger.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=3046", "Rep. Pfluger Helps Secure $20 Million for City of San Angelo Infrastructure Improvements", "2026-09-25", "2026", "2026-09", "Republican", "House", "TX", "August Pfluger", "P000048", "pfluger.house.gov", "pfluger", "https://pfluger.house.gov/media/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON, D.C. \u2014 Congressman August Pfluger (TX-11) has helped secure $20 million for the Christoval Road Improvement Project. By voting for the One Big Beautiful Bill Act (H.R. 1, P.L. 119-21) and the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2026 (H.R. 7148, P.L. 119-75), Rep. Pfluger helped fund the Department of War's Defense Community Infrastructure Program (DCIP).\n\nThis $20 million investment in San Angelo will help fund a $28.6 million transportation and utility infrastructure project along the south side of Goodfellow Air Force Base, extending from Paint Rock Road to South Chadbourne Street. The Defense Community Infrastructure Program is a competitive grant program administered by the Office of Local Defense Community Cooperation to help state and local governments address infrastructure deficiencies in the communities surrounding military installations. DCIP selects projects based on their ability to enhance installation readiness and mission assurance, improve quality of life for service members and their families, or strengthen installation resilience.\n\n\"The Christoval Road Improvement Project will modernize aging infrastructure along Goodfellow Air Force Base's south side, easing traffic, supporting utility upgrades, and helping San Angelo grow. I'm proud to have helped secure this funding and will keep fighting to make sure our military communities have the infrastructure they need to thrive,\" said Rep. August Pfluger (TX-11).\n\n\u201cThis is a tremendous investment in San Angelo, but just as importantly, it is an investment in Goodfellow Air Force Base and its national defense mission,\u201d said San Angelo Mayor Tom Thompson. \u201cOn behalf of the City of San Angelo, I want to personally thank Congressman August Pfluger and Senator Ted Cruz for their continued advocacy for Goodfellow and our community. Their support and recognition of Goodfellow\u2019s importance to our national security continue to make a difference here at home.\u201d\n\nOver the past year, Rep. Pfluger has been an outspoken advocate for directing federal resources back to the communities he represents in Congress. In the last appropriations cycle, Rep. Pfluger secured $20 million for Community Funding Projects across Texas-11.", 1, "2026-09-26T09:43:57Z", "2026-09-26T09:44:55Z"], ["https://rutherford.house.gov/media/press-releases/rutherford-statement-2026-south-atlantic-red-snapper-season", "Rutherford Statement on the 2026 South Atlantic Red Snapper Season", "2026-09-25", "2026", "2026-09", "Republican", "House", "FL", "John H. Rutherford", "R000609", "rutherford.house.gov", "rutherford", "https://rutherford.house.gov/media/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON, D.C. \u2013 On Friday, U.S. Congressman John H. Rutherford (FL-05) released the following statement on the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) Fisheries\u2019 announcement of the 2026 recreational red snapper fishing season in the South Atlantic in which the agency issued new Exempted Fishing Permits (EFPs) requested by Florida, Georgia, and South Carolina.\n\nFlorida\u2019s red snapper recreational fishing season in the South Atlantic will open for fourteen days this year from October 9th through October 22nd.\n\n\u201cFinally, the long-awaited South Atlantic red snapper season is here, and I encourage everyone to take advantage of Florida\u2019s beautiful waters and go fishing,\u201d saidRutherford. \u201cWhile it is fewer days than we hoped for, this season is a great opportunity for us to learn more about the red snapper fishery, collect high-quality data, and lay the groundwork for a longer and more predictable recreational season in 2027 and the years to come.\n\n\u201cAs a co-chair of the South Atlantic Red Snapper Task Force, I remain committed to advocating for proven methods of collecting reliable data, expanding sustainable harvests, and supporting our coastal economies that depend on this fishery. I look forward to continuing to work with President Trump, Secretary Lutnick, Governor DeSantis, and the Florida Fish and Wildlife Commission (FWC) to fight for recreational anglers in our community and across the Great State of Florida. Together, we can Make Fishing Great Again.\"", 1, "2026-09-26T09:43:57Z", "2026-09-26T09:44:55Z"], ["https://steube.house.gov/press-releases/rep-steube-introduces-legislation-to-lower-diesel-prices-and-boost-american-refining-capacity/", "Rep. Steube Introduces Legislation to Lower Diesel Prices and Boost American Refining Capacity", "2026-09-25", "2026", "2026-09", "Republican", "House", "FL", "W. Gregory Steube", "S001214", "steube.house.gov", "steube", "https://steube.house.gov/category/press-releases/page/", "scraper", "WASHINGTON\u2014U.S. Representative Greg Steube (R-Fla.) introduced the American Fuel Affordability Act, legislation to lower diesel prices immediately and expand American refining capacity to bring down fuel costs for the long term.\n\n\u201cAmericans are paying far too much for diesel, and that cost gets passed down to families on just about everything they buy,\u201d said Rep. Steube. \u201cMy bill gets rid of the federal diesel tax to bring prices down now and makes it easier to build new refineries here at home. We have the energy and the resources, and we should be producing and refining more of it.\u201d\n\nThe American Fuel Affordability Act repeals the federal excise tax on diesel fuel that is currently 24.3 cents per gallon. This legislation keeps the Highway Trust Fund and Leaking Underground Storage Tank Trust Fund whole through general fund transfers.\n\nTo expand American refining capacity, the bill creates a 35 percent tax credit for investment in the construction of new U.S. refineries and a 5-cent-per-gallon production credit for gasoline and diesel produced at qualifying new facilities during their first 10 years of operation. Property used in qualifying new refinery construction would be 100 percent expensable under the American Fuel Affordability Act.\n\nThe American Fuel Affordability Act takes a supply-side approach to fuel affordability by incentivizing additional domestic refining capacity without imposing export restrictions that could discourage refinery utilization and production.\n\nThe full text of the American Fuel Affordability Act is available here.\n\n###", 1, "2026-09-26T09:43:57Z", "2026-09-26T09:44:55Z"], ["https://taylor.house.gov/media/press-releases/congressman-taylors-office-surpasses-100000-responses-constituents", "Congressman Taylor\u2019s Office Surpasses 100,000 Responses to Constituents", "2026-09-25", "2026", "2026-09", "Republican", "House", "OH", "David J. Taylor", "T000490", "taylor.house.gov", "taylor", "https://taylor.house.gov/media/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON, DC \u2013 Congressman Dave Taylor (OH-02) today announced that his office has surpassed 100,000 responses to constituent emails, letters, and calls since being sworn into office on January 3, 2025.\n\n\u201cIt is my greatest honor to serve Buckeye families, and I\u2019m committed to ensuring every constituent knows their voice is heard,\u201d said Congressman Taylor. \u201cSince day one, my team has worked to provide Ohioans with assistance and information, and I\u2019m grateful to each person who has taken the time to contact my office. Surpassing 100,000 responses to constituents ultimately reflects the many questions, concerns, and ideas shared with us by hardworking Ohioans. If my office can be of assistance to you, please give us a call. We are here to serve.\u201d\n\nCongressman Taylor\u2019s office is available to assist constituents of Ohio\u2019s Second Congressional District with casework related to IRS issues, VA claims, Medicare issues, passports, and more. Additional details regarding services available to constituents and office contact information are available at taylor.house.gov.\n\n###", 1, "2026-09-26T09:43:57Z", "2026-09-26T09:44:55Z"], ["https://tenney.house.gov/media/press-releases/congresswoman-tenney-hosts-statewide-sheriffs-roundtable-discuss-hochuls-ban", "Congresswoman Tenney Hosts Statewide Sheriffs Roundtable to Discuss Hochul\u2019s Ban on Local Cooperation with ICE", "2026-09-25", "2026", "2026-09", "Republican", "House", "NY", "Claudia Tenney", "T000478", "tenney.house.gov", "tenney", "https://tenney.house.gov/media/press-releases", "scraper", "Oswego County, N.Y. \u2014 Congresswoman Claudia Tenney (NY-24) today hosted a roundtable and press conference with six New York sheriffs challenging the state\u2019s Local Cops, Local Crimes Act to discuss the law\u2019s impact on local law enforcement, public safety, and cooperation with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement.\n\nNew York\u2019s Local Cops, Local Crimes Act prohibits local governments and law enforcement agencies from entering into or remaining in agreements with ICE under the federal 287(g) program. Fifteen New York sheriffs filed a federal lawsuit on August 25 challenging the state\u2019s prohibition, including sheriffs from within and outside New York\u2019s 24th Congressional District. The federal 287(g) program allows ICE, under its direction and oversight, to authorize trained state and local law enforcement officers to perform specified immigration enforcement functions. While Governor Hochul and Attorney General Letitia James have sought to restrict cooperation between local law enforcement and ICE through the new law, the sheriffs\u2019 lawsuit challenges New York\u2019s authority to prevent local agencies from participating in the federal program.\n\n\u201cNew York\u2019s sheriffs are on the front lines of keeping our communities safe, and Albany should not be standing in the way of their ability to work with federal law enforcement,\u201d said Congresswoman Tenney. \u201cToday, I heard directly from sheriffs about what the 287(g) program means for their departments and the communities they serve. Governor Hochul\u2019s Local Cops, Local Crimes Act takes this decision away from locally elected law enforcement leaders and prohibits partnerships that help them do their jobs. Our sheriffs deserve the tools, resources, and cooperation necessary to protect New Yorkers, and I will continue standing with them as they fight to preserve their ability to work with federal law enforcement.\u201d", 1, "2026-09-26T09:43:57Z", "2026-09-26T09:44:55Z"]], "truncated": false, "filtered_table_rows_count": 14567, "expanded_columns": [], "expandable_columns": [], "columns": ["url", "title", "date", "year", "month", "party", "chamber", "state", "member_name", "bioguide_id", "domain", "scraper", "source", "date_source", "text", "has_text", "collected_at", "updated_at"], "primary_keys": ["url"], "units": {}, "query": {"sql": "select url, title, date, year, month, party, chamber, state, member_name, bioguide_id, domain, scraper, source, date_source, text, has_text, collected_at, updated_at from releases where \"party\" = :p0 and \"year\" = :p1 order by date desc limit 101", "params": {"p0": "Republican", "p1": "2026"}}, "facet_results": {"party": {"name": "party", "type": 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